Tag: Herb Allen

July 8, 2025July 11, 2025

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2025 – Day 1 – As If We Never Said Goodbye

Welcome back, they said!

I think they mean it this year because there were pillow mints (on my pillows) and a bottle of Jack next to my bed and it was on the house!

So, yep, I made it to Sun Valley and the MOGULS ARE BACK! It’s been a fucked up couple of years. But we survived.

Though getting here almost killed us all.

Manka Bros. used to have the most awesome private jet in Hollywood – but now, after a few years of not really keeping up – we are woefully behind.

I was terrified when we landed this afternoon. The Meta and Amazon planes were something out of a Mad Max movie and could have just destroyed us with whatever weapons of mass destruction they had on board.

I never used to be scared of shit – but now I’m in my 60s (which sucks) and everything terrifies me outside of Beverly Hills or the south of France.

Sad to say, but us moguls from the Hollywood of yore have become insignificant and our private jets and boats are laughed at by the tech bros.

But I digress…

I am at Herbie Allen’s conference for the (I don’t know) twentieth straight year and I’m actually happy to be back.

As I’ve chronicled here, I’ve gone through a rough patch lately.

Because of covid and some time in jail, I missed the past couple of years, but now I’m here and looking forward to doing nothing.

The Herb Allen Sun Valley Conference is renowned for some pretty big deals but not for us.

No one is buying Manka Bros. Studios – despite still being the World’s Largest Media Company – and I’m not selling anyway.

Hard to say if anything will happen this week other than kayaking, getting shitfaced and golf.

I’m sure Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast will be huddled in corners until they pass out drunk.

Poor little Paramount has 1/70th of the market cap of Netflix (how the fuck did that happen?) and they are soon to be under billionaire management – not that that will help.

Perhaps David Ellison has a plan to… (further comment deleted by Manka Bros. Corporate).

I’m just here for the breakfast buffet and the best goddamned dirty martini ever at Tha Drankin’ Hole. (And… don’t tell anyone… perhaps U2 is playing an acoustic set – a little birdy name Rupert Murdoch told me it’s possible.)

(The above was written on the tarmac while we waited for a place to park the plane. I think we ended up in a corn field, far away from where we used to be – but times have changed.)

As I arrived at the Sun Valley Lodge, I breezed past THE reporter covering it (Julia BoorstinJ, I think) – yes, only one standing in a little guinea pig pen across from the lodge entrance so we couldn’t possibly hear anything she yelled at us.

I entered the lodge with Jeff Katzenberg (with all that Quibi money) and Lachlan Murdoch (with all that Disney money) who were talking about some dumb ass bullshit that either won’t happen or will go out of business within six months.

They went left and I went right – right into the bar. (I won’t repeat my bar conversation which is exactly the way it has happened in past years, and those links are below.)

Don’t get me wrong, I have a fond affection for Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conferences from years ago when Hollywood was King and people like Michael Eisner wrote songs for the occasion (see DAWN OF THE MOGUL) – but now, we’re just old dudes pushing movies and TV shows in a business that Barry Diller calls ‘so fucking boring.’

I don’t agree with Barry (and I don’t think Barry agrees with Barry.) I read his book. He loves show business and probably just wishes it was the old days as well.

We may not make the money we used to in Hollywood, but goddamn it’s a much better job than speculating on crypto.

My friends Bin and Vin Trahn are still running the bar at Tha Drankin’ Hole (The Duchin Lounge) and they are still the best goddamned bartenders in the world.

Bin got me hammered in five minutes – so I just said hello to a few other drunken moguls on my way out. I was going to grab a few bites from the famous Taco & Salsa Buffet – but Ted Sarandos had pulled up a chair at the front of the buffet and was scooping with his hands from all the bowls and I didn’t want to interrupt.

So I just went to my room.

I learned from past experience that nothing good ever happens on the arrival night other than getting so drunk that Day 2 becomes a fog and another wasted day. So I hit the sack early and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

I’m happy to be back, but it’s different now.

Warren (Buffet) has retired, Herb (Allen) has trouble walking… Barry (Diller) is now (officially) gay (duh!)…

Certain moguls – who were all powerful – are talking about selling their art collections to put in their charitable trusts, etc. It’s as though the fun is over and all that is left is the preparation for death.

This doom and gloom scenario is only for Old Hollywood – not for the Tech Bros – they now rule everything.

Can’t wait for the A.I. bullshit presentation in the morning.

Khan Manka, Jr. – Chairman & CEO – Manka Bros. Studios – The World’s Largest Media Company

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2025 – Day 1 – As If We Never Said Goodbye

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2025 – Day 2 – The Kid’s Table

2024 – Did Not Attend – Was In Jail

2023 – Did Not Attend – Was In Jail

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2022 – Day 1 – The New Guard… Not!

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2022 – Day 2 – Shit Storm

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2022 – Day 1 – The New Guard… Not!

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2022 – Day 2 – Shit Storm

This is Day 2 of what the press now regularly call “Herb Allen’s Summer Camp For Moguls.”

I’ve been thinking all day about the term “Shit Storm” (mostly because the all day panels about supply chain and how to lead in a crisis have been… shit.)

We say that term a lot in society but I’ve never really thought about it… literally.

Imagine you’re in a thunder storm – raining, thunder, lightning – but instead of rain… it’s SHIT that’s coming down on you from the sky and it just keeps coming. You are being pounded with shit.

This is what a SHIT STORM is.

And, I imagine, it’s not a pleasant experience.

That’s kind of where we are on Day 2 in Sun Valley.

This week in July on the mogul calendar is meant to be a week where we feel we are all so fucking important that we actually feel good about ourselves and what we have chosen to do with our lives.

The truth is, in Hollywood (as I mentioned in my drunken Day 1 commentary), the moguls in Hollywood are getting older and the moguls in tech seem to be getting younger (sounds like a Matthew McConaughey line from ‘Dazed & Confused’).

This is a problem.

And, as I mentioned last night, the young executives at Manka Bros. keep leaving for “better jobs” at “better companies.”

Fuck them.

I have to stay to keep the lights on. We’ve been in business for over 100 years and we sure the fuck aren’t shutting down just because… [Manka Bros. lawyer note: “Rest of sentence has been purged from the blog.”]

My daughter, Connie (but on the Board of Directors), is only 14 and probably too young to take over the family firm and my CFO (currently my #2) Barb Gonzalez is a machine in which we use A.I. technology to do her job.

Hollywood is in trouble.

And to top it off, we can’t even make this a decent vacation – free from the worries of the shit storm outside of the shit storm. This was the breakfast this morning – which they called the “Warren Buffett.”

Herb Allen Sun Valley Conference – 2022 – Day 2 – The Warren Buffett

After breakfast, a few moguls ran, a few moguls road bikes, a few moguls played golf, many were walking fast past reporters acting like they were on the phone.

Oh, think twice, it’s just another day for you and me in mogul-dice.

What was lacking… was substance. And if you look at the Manka Bros. Film Library from the past 100 years – you would know Manka Bros. has always been about about substance.

The biggest problem with this conference I’ve seen over the years is that the Hollywood people hang out with Hollywood people, the nerds hang out with nerds, the dorks hang out with dorks. There doesn’t seem to be a brotherhood or sisterhood of billionaires. We’re all in different clubs.

Which brings me back to Trivia Night on Day 1. I teased that if nothing exciting happened on Day 2 – I would write about Day 1 trivia at Tha Drankin’ Hole.

Herb Allen’s Trivia Night – Sun Valley Conference 2022

It did not disappoint (on a shit storm scale):

Barry Diller thought the capital of Arkansas was “Bum Fuck.”

Mark Zuckerberg thought a quart of orange juice cost $50.

Rupert Murdoch thought the current Australian prime minister’s name was “my bitch.”

Jeffrey Katzenberg opined that the battle for freedom in America starts with the Malibu City Council.

On the plus side, almost everyone knew the latest Gulfstream was the Gulfstream 800.

But it all came down to one question and Peter Thiel could have won the whole thing for the “Tech” side when asked the question: “Who won the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election?” Thiel – without pause – said “Donald Trump.”

With that answer, Tech lost to “liberal” Hollywood.

Who knows what Day 3 will bring – but I promise you this, it will be another SHIT STORM.

Khan Manka, Jr. – Chairman & CEO – Manka Bros. Studios – The World’s Largest Media Company

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2022 – Day 2 – Shit Storm

July 5, 2022July 7, 2022

Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Conference – 2022 – Day 1 – The New Guard… Not!

Yes, I did make it here.

And, yes, it sucks again – and it’s just the first night. I am dictating this to my assistant, Vicky Adler-Modry at 1:30am on July 6th.

There was drunkening tonight at Tha Drankin’ Hole (thanks to the fucking greatest bartender on the planet – Vin Tran – read the past posts at the bottom to prove his legendary status) and this may not come out as coherent – but Vicky has learned over the years how to translate from drunk to English so we’ll see how it goes.

That said, it was an epic night of old white men drinking heavily and continuing to be out-of-touch with everyone, basically, the world. (And I include myself in that description – and I’m not an out-of-touch hypocrite – I’m in an in-touch hypocrite.)

I arrived at Tha Drankin’ Hole with two twenties and a ten burning a hole in my pocket (movie nerds will get that reference) and excited to see my great friend Vin.

Vin Tran: Mr. Khan – so great to see you again!

I then checked my wallet and, turns out, I was a little light on cash.

Khan Manka, Jr.: Vin, how’s my credit here? I seem to be a little light.

Vin Tran: Your credit is fine, Mr. Khan. And, not to worry, Herb Allen is picking up the tab.

Khan Manka, Jr.: Normally, I would appreciate that, Vin, but Herbie Allen has stiffed me so often on poker bets, golf bets, personal loans… if you ever give him a dollar, he will try to pay you back in expired South African Kougarands.

Vin Tran: Well, this one is on the house.

I barely got one sip of my perfect dirty martini from Vin when Bob Chapek came into the bar and sat next to me – even though there were several empty barstools further away from me available.

Bob Chapek: Is it safe?

Khan Manka, Jr.: The fuck.

Bob Chapek: Just kidding, I know it’s not safe. Can I buy you a drink, Khan?

Khan Manka, Jr.: Supposedly, Herb Allen is picking up the tab.

Bob Chapek: (laughs) – Have you ever played poker with that prick?

Khan Manka, Jr.: I was just saying that! He has always been a dine and dash kind of guy.

Bob Chapek: Bartender, Johnny Walker Blue – double.

Vin Tran stares at Bob Chapek, confused.

Khan Manka, Jr.: Bob, you didn’t say the magic word.

Bob Chapek: Magic word.

Khan Manka, Jr.: Gay.

Bob Chapek: Ha ha, ha. This is Idaho, Khan, you can’t say “gay” here either but where’s the media pointing that out?

Khan Manka, Jr.: Touche.

Bob Chapek: So how’s your year looking… oh, fuck.

Bob Iger entered – seemingly on a cloud – not really touching the floor and approached the bar.

Bob Iger: Vin Tran, you son of a bitch, so great to see you!

They embraced.

Vin Tran: Mr. Iger–

Bob Iger: ‘Bob,’ you know that.

Vin Tran: Bob, my favorite – what will it be.

Bob Iger: When in Sun Valley, and my favorite bartender from Vietnam is here – bring on the Mekong River Eel Wine.

Vin Tran: We keep it in stock just for you, Mr. Bob.

Bob Iger put several hundred dollar bills on the bar.

Bob Iger: Keep the change.

Vin Tran: Mr. Herb Allen is covering the bill this week.

Bob Iger: Herb Allen, what a guy! He always picks up the check! Hi Khan… Bob… Chapek.

Khan Manka, Jr.: Hi Bob. How’s retirement treating you?

Bob Iger: Retirement?! I’ve never been more busy. All those charities aren’t going to philanthropize themselves!.

Khan Manka, Jr.: Still hanging from that bar?

Bob Iger: Four hours a day. Keeps me young.

Bob Chapek: Are you just here for the hikes and golf? I can’t imagine you have any business interest here.

Bob Iger: That’s the problem with you, Bob. You can’t IMAGINE. How’s the happiest place on earth?

Bob Chapek: Vin, I’ll have another.

Khan Manka, Jr.: Guys, come on, we’re all moguls. Enjoy it. I hear Herbie is planning a trivia night tonight. That could be fun.

Bob Iger: Vin, keep the river eel shit coming.

I had both Bobs from Disney on either side of me and needed a distraction before this became a full man-on-man pathetic slap fight. And… thank God, I got one in spades.

Rupert Murdoch entered the bar.

Rupert Murdoch is 91 but appeared no older than 90. He is newly-single from his fourth wife, Jerry Hall, and, it appeared, he was ready to mingle.

Rupert Murdoch: Motherfucking, Bob and Bob… and Khan!

Khan Manka, Jr.: Mick Jagger called. He wants his ex-wife back.

Rupert Murdoch: No, he doesn’t. That’s the fucking problem. Are we drinking?

Khan Manka, Jr.: Yeah.

Rupert Murdoch: Are you my wingman tonight?

Khan Manka, Jr.: For who? Sheryl Sandberg. There aren’t many women who come to this conference.

Rupert Murdoch: I mean a waitress, a valet – anything that moves.

Khan Manka, Jr.: No, not your wingman.

Over the next two hours, the Bobs, Rupert and I drank heavily. I didn’t learn much about what was happening at their businesses other than they truly think they are on top of it – so no need for new blood.

Manka Bros. has always looked to the future and have lead the way with every new innovation that the other studios either stole or copied exactly. We’re even starting a podcast division!

But I look at the Bobs and Rupert and his kids and all the other Hollywood moguls and fear we’re leaving generations of fans behind.

I can’t retire because my CFO is an Artificial Intelligence machine – Barb (innovation!) – and all my number twos keep leaving for “better jobs” (their words).

So, I’m managing this shit down until I live out my days in my house in the Seychelles.

Herb Allen (speaking of out of touch) came into the bar and made a brief painful speech about the future of some sort of bullshit.

Herb Allen: We are on the precipice of… blah blah blah…

Preach on, 84-year-visionary.

The tech CEOs, who are destroying the world’s mental health, entered a few minutes later – as robots… OK, just Zuckerberg – not drinking and really only there to try to destroy the boomer moguls in trivia.

Good luck, jack fuck!

A local actor in a regional production of ‘Ragtime’ – Jerome Todd – was the one tasked with running the trivia night to a group of drunken billionaires. Being one of the only actors of color to have a theater job in Idaho was an impressive feat – not that it meant anything to Rupert or Barry Diller who were just hoping to guess the name of the dog in ‘Wizard of Oz’ before the tech nerds.

If nothing happens tomorrow that is interesting (future of streaming, theatrical and television), I will recount the disaster tonight that was Trivia at Tha Drankin’ Hole.

Khan Manka, Jr. – Chairman & CEO – Manka Bros. Studios – The World’s Largest Media Company