Feed aggregator

The Silicon Valley company, which is undergoing a chief executive transition, also reported a 19 percent increase in profit.

We visit Hasbro headquarters to take a closer look at the prototype for Ultimate Grogu, a $600 high-end animatronic from Star Wars. The collectible brings the character to life with advanced motion and detail. It goes up for preorder on April 30.

Artificial intelligence that can "reason" is now capable of diagnosing real-life medical scenarios as well as or better than physicians, according to the results of a study published Thursday in Science.

The researchers used previously unknown clinical cases to test OpenAI's reasoning model o1 against the company's older model, GPT-4, as well as physicians and medical residents in training.

In a range of experiments, the o1 model often improved significantly on GPT-4's diagnostic ability and bested physicians, too. When tested with the electronic health records of random emergency department cases from a Boston hospital, the o1 model was diagnostically accurate more than two-thirds of the time at initial triage. Two expert attending physicians had correct diagnoses roughly half of the time.

SEE ALSO: What AI can tell you about your blood test

Dr. Robert Wachter, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, described the study's findings as "important" and suggested it's now "indisputable" that modern AI will outperform older large language models and doctors when asked to identify the right diagnosis and next step. He was not involved in the study.

However, Wachter, author of "A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future," added that more research is necessary before AI is fully implemented in clinical practice.

"The question is how closely this replicates real life, and the answer is moderately well but not perfectly," Wachter wrote in an email.

As the study's authors acknowledge, the experiments were limited to text-only input and didn't include the visual and auditory clues and cues that doctors often rely on for diagnosis. These can include a patient's level of distress and medical imaging.

"GenAI can probably begin to integrate these inputs but for now, a test of a written, and often artificially 'clean' clinical case scenario is not the same as going into an ER and dealing with the chaos," Wachter said. "Just watch The Pitt."

SEE ALSO: When is 'The Pitt' Season 3 coming out?

Based on their findings, the study's authors highlighted an "urgent" need for further studies and prospective clinical trials to determine how AI systems can improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.

"The rapid pace of improvement in LLMs has substantial implications for the science and practice of clinical medicine," wrote the authors, many of whom are based at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where the study was conducted.

An accompanying article, also published in Science and written by two experts at Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute in Adelaide, Australia, who were not involved in the study, agreed with its urgent implications. They also argued against replacing doctors with AI, instead envisioning a style of collaboration that provides oversight, contextual judgment, and accountability.

"Without robust demonstrated effectiveness, equity, and safety, many AI systems will remain insufficient for clinical use," the experts wrote.

One of Elon Musk’s abiding fears is that A.I. could one day threaten humans. But the jurors deciding his suit against OpenAI probably won’t hear about it.

The latest AI-powered scam alert: Online grifters are using AI deepfakes of Hollywood faves, including Taylor Swift and Rihanna, to bait TikTok users into signing up for fraudulent rewards programs.

According to a new report by Copyleaks, TikTok has seen a rise in fake red carpet videos of AI-generated celebrities, like Kim Kardashian, that appear to encourage users to sign up for "fraudulent or malicious services." Examples include late night clips of Swift advertising a mysterious "TikTok Pay" feature and press circuit clips of Rihanna schilling a views-for-rewards program.

SEE ALSO: You can now own your own little Artemis II 'Rise' plushie

The synthetic impersonations aren't entirely convincing, with typically unsettling facial movements and unsynchronized audio, but that's not stopping alleged scammers. Many of the clips use TikTok branding and add textured filters to seemingly bypass the platform's AI detection tools. When users click on the videos, they are redirected to third-party sites that then solicit personally identifiable information.

Copyleaks has reported a rise in AI-enabled deepfake scams across social media platforms, some of which include hyper-sexualized, nonconsensual deepfakes of celebrities. Meta was recently the target of a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of the Consumer Federation of America, alleging the company profited from Facebook advertising scams.

Meanwhile, Hollywood still hasn't come up with a sweeping solution for nonconsensual celebrity deepfakes. Earlier this week, Swift reportedly filed to trademark her voice and likeness amid AI-generated deepfakes and growing public attention on posthumous legacy projects. Other celebrities have done the same.

Microsoft's stellar Surface Laptop is overdue for a refresh, and we just got some pretty concrete evidence that a new model is coming soon.

An unreleased Surface Laptop 8th Edition with an Intel Panther Lake processor and a 13.8-inch display appeared in two Geekbench 6 listings earlier this week. The listings, which were viewed by Mashable and captured in screenshots by Notebookcheck, were removed by Thursday morning.

A cached Google search result still shows one of the laptop's Geekbench 6 listings. Credit: Screenshot via Google

Primate Labs' Geekbench 6 is a popular benchmark for measuring devices' CPU performance. (We run it on every laptop we review.) Geekbench 6 results are automatically uploaded to a public online database unless the user enters a paid license key. Presumably, someone at Microsoft or Intel forgot to do so before benchmarking the device in question.

Microsoft hasn't confirmed any new Surface PCs for 2026 yet, though it announced significant price hikes for its current-gen devices earlier this month, citing "recent increases in memory and component costs." When reached for comment about this week's Geekbench 6 leak, a rep for the company said, "Microsoft has nothing further to share at this time."

What the leak tells us

The mysterious Surface Laptop's Geekbench 6 results revealed that it runs on a high-end Intel Core Ultra X7 368H chip with Arc B390 graphics and 32GB of RAM, per Notebookcheck's screenshots. It scores on par with other newer Windows laptops powered by the slightly lesser Core Ultra X7 358H chip, and with the M5 MacBook Air (in multi-core scenarios like video editing).

SEE ALSO: Memory wars: Microsoft announces big price increases for Surface laptops

The laptop's full name is "Microsoft Corporation Surface Laptop for Business 13.8in 8th Ed Intel," indicating that Microsoft will continue to earmark Intel configurations for business customers. The company originally launched its current Surface Laptop 7 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processors in May 2024; pricier enterprise models with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chips arrived in January 2025.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 came in two sizes and four colors: platinum, sapphire, dune, and black. Credit: Microsoft

That schedule might be flipped for the next generation. Earlier this month, Windows Central reported that Microsoft is planning on releasing Intel-based Surface Laptops and Surface Pros this spring. Snapdragon X2 variants for consumers will likely follow later in the summer, possibly due to supply shortages of those chips.

The new Surface Laptop will reportedly feature a similar design, new colors, improved haptics, and an optional OLED display, per Windows Central.

UPDATE: Apr. 30, 2026, 1:39 p.m. EDT This story was updated with comment from a Microsoft rep.

SAVE $43.07: The Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement (10345) is on sale at Amazon for $66.92, down from the list price of $109.99. That's a 39% discount and a sale price that comes within $1 of the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement (10345) $66.92 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $43.07   Get Deal

Mother's Day is next Sunday, May 10. If you're stumped on finding the best Mother's Day gift this year, you're not alone. Somehow, moms are incredibly hard to shop for. Instead of buying her flowers that need her attention to stay looking fresh and will eventually wilt, get her a Lego bouquet. There's a beautiful build on sale today at Amazon she'll love.

As of April 30, the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement (10345) is on sale at Amazon for $66.92, marked down from the standard price of $109.99. That works out to a savings of $43.07 from a giant 39% discount. This sale price comes within $1 of the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.

Mom deserves some Zen chill-out time and building a Lego bouquet certainly fits that bill. The Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement has 1,161 bricks and 14 flowers with peonies, hydrangeas, lilies, ranunculus, camellia, and more. The white chalice vase is also part of the build.

SEE ALSO: Unique Mother's Day gift idea alert: These Bouqs flower bouquets come bundled with matching Lego sets

In total, the display is about 10 inches tall and 12 inches wide, which is a great size for adding to a bookshelf or a side table. Not only is this a great Mother's Day gift for the mom who loves to garden, it can be a kind gesture to the mom who deals with pollen allergies and can't have live flowers in the house.

Before time runs out on this deal, get mom the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement this year for Mother's Day while it's under $67. It'll be a bright, cherry reminder of her family's love that she can display all year long.

SAVE $200: As of April 30, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is on sale at Amazon for $1,299.99. That's $200 off its original list price of $1,499.99. It also comes with one free month of Xbox Game Pass.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $200   Get Deal

If you want to get into PC gaming, but the cost and sheer amount of accessories feels inaccessible, a gaming laptop is the way to go. A laptop built specifically for gaming packs everything you need under the hood without you needing to shell out for a bunch of extra components. Of course, gaming laptops can also cost an arm and a leg, but there are plenty of budget options (and deals!) as well.

The bad news is it's not traditionally one of the best times to be looking for a new laptop at a discount. The good news is this ASUS ROG Strix model is breaking the rules. As of April 30, you can get the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $1,299.99 instead of its original list price of $1,499.99. That's $200 you get to keep in your pocket. Plus, you'll get a free month of Xbox Game Pass with your purchase.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

This configuration comes with some serious firepower for the price, including an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB of DDR5 RAM for speed and efficiency, and a spacious 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD for seamless multitasking. While its 165Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time could certainly be faster, but for this price, corners have to be cut somewhere.

If you're new to PC gaming or looking for a more portable (yet affordable) gaming rig, the ASUS ROG Strix G615JMR-AS74 is a solid pick at full price. At $200 off, it's an excellent value.

SAVE $30: The Kobo Libra Colour is on sale at Amazon and Kobo for $199.99, down from the list price of $229.99. That's a 13% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kobo Kobo Libra Colour $199.99 at Kobo
$229.99 Save $30   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kobo Kobo Libra Colour $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30   Get Deal

Finding the perfect gift for a mom can be a struggle. If she's a reader and doesn't own an e-reader or a model that comes with color, this deal could make for the perfect gift.

As of April 30, the Kobo Libra Colour is on sale for $199.99 at both Amazon and Kobo, marked down from the standard price of $229.99. That works out to a 13% discount or a savings of $30.

Gone are the days of lugging hardbacked books on vacation. We now have digital e-readers that are perfect for packing along on vacation or bringing along on the commute to work. On the list of Mashable's favorite e-readers, the Kobo Libra Colour earns the top spot as the best color e-reader.

SEE ALSO: Mother's Day is sorted — the Kindle Colorsoft Essentials Bundle is 31% off right now at Amazon

Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard reviewed the Kobo Libra Colour and mentioned that it's the perfect portable size without feeling too small. It has a seven-inch E-ink Kaleido 3 screen and a major 32GB of storage. In black and white, it has 300 PPI (pixels per inch), and it uses 150 PPI for color content.

In her guide to the best e-readers, Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino says, "For serious readers who don't mind splurging a little, the Kobo Libra Colour delivers an upgraded e-reader experience. And if you're an annotator, you can highlight and mark up your pages in different colors to stay organized. In the Kindle family, only the Scribe supports scribbling, and with a higher price tag."

In addition to those features, the Kobo Libra Colour is waterproof, which makes it a great poolside accessory. It also has excellent Libby integrations and a long battery life.

Kobo mentions the brand does not directly sell via Amazon. Buying a Kobo at Amazon means you're purchasing from a third-party seller, which is something Mashable doesn't typically encourage. The Amazon seller featuring the $199.99 sale price is listed as Kobo US and comes with overall positive feedback within the last year. If you're more comfortable purchasing directly from Kobo, you'll also find the $199.99 sale price listed, and shipping is free.

In either case, gifting Mom the Kobo Libra Colour is bound to earn you the title of best gift this Mother's Day. It's something she can enjoy every day for years to come.

The global memory shortage has been a challenge for consumers in 2026, and Samsung doesn't think the situation will improve in 2027.

The Korean tech behemoth released its quarterly earnings report this week, revealing record profit driven by chip demand, per Reuters. However, while that may be good for Samsung's books, the company readily acknowledged that the high demand for memory for AI data center construction will continue to put pressure on the global supply.

SEE ALSO: New Samsung Galaxy smart glasses reportedly leaked

"Our supply falls far short of customer demand," Samsung executive Kim Jaejune said in an earnings call. "Based solely on the demand currently received for 2027, the supply-to-demand gap for 2027 is set to widen even further than ⁠in 2026."

In less business-y language, that means the memory shortage will be worse next year than it is now. That's not great for anyone other than the companies that manufacture memory. The ongoing shortage has led to increased prices on some products and indefinitely delayed the release of others. For example, Sony raised prices on PlayStation 5 consoles in March, Motorola raised prices on its mid-range phones this month, and we still have no idea when Valve's enticing new Steam Machine console is coming out, even though the controller will be available next week.

But other than that, everything is going great.

Prepare for Brat Prince Summer.

Interview with a Vampire returns June 7 with Season 3, titled The Vampire Lestat. Fans of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, on which Rollin Jones' scintillating TV series is based, know this title means we'll be getting Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) making the leap from the Théâtre des Vampires stage to full-blown rock star. And lucky fans can see Reid perform in character live at a special one-night-only concert ahead of the season premiere.

SEE ALSO: 'The Vampire Lestat' trailer sees Lestat embracing his inner rock god We want to go to there. Credit: AMC

On June 2, at the Beacon Theater, The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only – LIVE will offer an advanced screening of the premiere episode of The Vampire Lestat, followed by Reid performing songs from the show.

Fans have already been streaming The Vampire Lestat's songs on Apple Music, including "Long Face," "All Fall Down," and a cover of Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself." Other songs written and composed by Daniel Hart could debut there.

But how can fans get in on the fun?

Are you ready for rock star Lestat? Credit: AMC

Out of the AMC Upfronts, TV Insider reports that complimentary tickets will be offered.

To get these much-coveted tickets, go to The Vampire Lestat One Night Only Live on May 6, at 12 a.m. midnight ET. Supply is limited. (The Beacon has fewer than 3,000 seats.) And it's an 18-and-over show, so age restrictions apply.

At the Upfronts, Reid said of the event, "I’m really proud of Daniel’s music....and there are songs that we’ll be playing that haven’t been released yet."

And for those wondering if Jacob Anderson will be in the audience — as Louis is in the Vampire Lestat trailer — he told TV Insider, "I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

How to watch: The Vampire Lestat premieres June 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.

SAVE $1,099.01: The Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale for $899.99, down from the normal price of $1,999. That's a 55% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix F2000 $899.99 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,099.01   Get Deal

We're already at the end of April and that means summer camping season is nearly here. For those who prefer to stay connected while camping with a phone or other devices, keeping them charged up has often be a challenge. Instead of trying to conserve phone battery this summer, pack along a portable power station. There's a hefty model on sale today at Amazon.

As of April 30, the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale for $899.99, marked down at Amazon from the standard list price of $1,999. That's a 55% discount that takes off a massive $1,099.01.

Anker put an emphasis on the portable aspect of the Solix F2000. Instead of hauling around the 2,048Wh power station that weighs almost 70 pounds, Anker added a telescoping handle and all-terrain wheels. With an stable output of 2400W, you'll be able to keep heavy-duty items powered up at the campsite like an electric kettle, blender, portable freezer, electric grill, air fryer, or a mini fridge in the RV.

The Solix F2000 is also a great model if your summer plans include getting work done in the yard. Instead of running a massive extension cord from the house to the yard, the Solix F2000 can power up the electric chainsaw or a corded weed whacker.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C2000 power station is half off at Amazon right now — save over $700

If you'll be out camping this summer, recharging via solar might be a great bet. The Solix F2000 is compatible with up to 1,000W of solar input. With that amount, Anker says it'll take about 2.5 hours to fully recharge the F2000. With 400W solar input, it'll take about 5.7 hours to recharge.

In total, the Solix F2000 has 12 ports including four standard AC, three USB-C, two USB-A, and a TT-30, to spotlight a handful.

Before camping season kicks into high gear, upgrade your setup this year with the Anker Solix F2000. You'll be able to keep everything charged up and ready to go, espeically when recharging with solar panels.

SAVE $300: As of April 30, get the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 gaming monitor for just $699.99. That saves you $300 off its $999.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor $699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300   Get Deal

You don't need to be a professional to take your gaming setup seriously. If the worlds you're exploring in games deserve to stretch beyond your laptop or monitor screen, it may be time for an upgrade. If you want to go supersized, it's time for a screen that's over four-feet long.

We're all over the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9. As of April 30, get the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor for just $699.99 at Amazon. Typically $999.99, this Samsung monitor has dipped in price by 30%. That means you'll save $300 on the giant monitor.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

But are you just paying for its size? No, there's plenty more offered in this gaming unit that makes it an exceptional buy. It delievers at 32:9 aspect ratio for the widest view of your game, or allowing for multiple screens at once. The 49-inch screen has dual QHD quality and a peak brightness of 1000 nits. It has an extensive contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and paired with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, it provides vivid detail seamlessly.

Shop the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey gaming monitor at Amazon for just $699.99 now.

There are certain things you expect from a Resident Evil movie, and it certainly looks like Zach Cregger's upcoming adaptation of the Capcom game series will have the gore aspect firmly covered.

In the teaser above we follow Austin Abrams as he struggles through the snow to an abandoned house, making a panicked call to his girlfriend while cut aways show him navigating a nightmarish world filled with multi-limbed monsters and splatting corpses.

Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser, and Johno Wilson also star in this new film from the writer/director of Weapons.

Resident Evil is in theaters Sept. 18.

Want more of the latest entertainment news, reviews, trailers, and interviews? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

SAVE $322: As of April 30, the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor (27GX704A-B) is on sale at Amazon for only $477.99. That's a 40% price drop from its usual $799.99 and just $12 away from its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor (27GX704A-B) $477.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $322   Get Deal

Just like TVs, OLED monitors offer extremely high contrast, with true blacks and a wide color gamut. They make excellent choices for everything from gaming to streaming your favorite shows, but the market is wide and varied. If you want to upgrade without emptying your wallet, we recommend this deal on an entry-level LG UltraGear OLED model.

As of April 30, the typically $800 LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor (27GX704A-B) is on sale at Amazon for only $477.99. That's 40% or over $300 in savings and only $12 away from its lowest price ever on record.

LG's UltraGear gaming monitors are some of the most popular models on the market for several reasons: premium specs, excellent build quality, reliability, and performance. As far as specs go, the UltraGear 27GX704A-B packs a 27-inch glossy 1440p OLED panel with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400, a 240Hz refresh rate, and 0.03ms response time for fluid gameplay. Sure, they make monitors now with up to 1000Hz refresh rates, but that's overkill for most people. As our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) noted, most people won't notice a huge difference beyond the 240Hz mark.

There's plenty of ports for your gaming peripherals on board, including dual HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.2 upstream and two 3.2 downstream ports. And yes, it's NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compatible.

While the LG UltraGear 27GX704A-B's premium specs might be out of reach on a normal day, this 40% price drop knocks it down closer to budget-friendly territory.

In his own words, Jonah Evarts is "just some guy that talks about books on the internet." But with more than 158,000 followers on TikTok, the Kansas-based creator has built a devoted audience around his love of reading, especially high fantasy. Since 2023, Evarts has transformed that passion into a full-time career, landing a spot on the reality competition series Destination X and publishing his debut novel, Reaper's Bend.

The return of BookCon after a six-year hiatus offered a rare chance for the online BookTok community to connect in person. We caught up with Evarts at BookCon 2026 to talk about turning a hobby into a career, choosing the independent publishing route, and what's next for his growing platform.

SEE ALSO: You wrote a book! Now make a viral TikTok about it. We sat down with Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Adobe Stock Mashable: When did you start your BookTok account?

Jonah Evarts: I started my BookTok account about three years ago, and I think I'd been posting for a couple of months before I really started even having anybody see my videos, which was crazy. And now, three years later, it's my job, which is crazy.

Are you doing it full-time now?

I've been doing it full-time for a year and a half, which feels really weird. Sometimes I wake up, and I'm like, "What am I gonna do for work? Oh, I'm gonna read a book."

How has it felt turning this passion for books into a career in content?

It happened so organically for me. When I first started posting, it was just for fun. None of my friends back home read, so I needed to put this energy somewhere, and I started making videos. I almost immediately started building a huge community of people who were also interested in the books I read. It just feels so strange to think that so many people like the same thing as me.

Has your relationship to reading changed since becoming a creator?

A little, sadly. At different times throughout the past three years, it's felt like I have to read this [book], because that's what's going to get views even if it's not what I'm in the mood for. I've had to grapple with that. I don't want to just read books because they're gonna get views. I think people can tell if I'm not super passionate or excited about a book. So I try to mood-read as much as possible. But sometimes people really want me to talk about a book, and it's hard not to get carried away with the crowd.

You're also a writer and an author, too. Was writing always a part of your content, or did you bring it in later?

I kept it hidden from everyone. None of my followers knew that I was a writer until I was already done with my book. So when I made a post saying, "I wrote this book, and it's coming out later this year," the general reaction was like, "Wait, what, you write books?"

It makes sense, writing is such a personal and often vulnerable thing to share.

That's part of the reason I kept it hidden. It's different to present yourself as a book reviewer rather than an artist. As an artist, you're the one being judged.

Now that you're in both spaces as a creator and writer, how have you navigated that?

There hasn't been a ton of crossover yet because most of the readers are my friends. I think a lot of that is because I went indie. Most of the people reading my book have followed me for years. So far, I haven't really had to branch out of my circle or my own audience. It's been really cool because everyone's been really supportive and affirmed me as an artist.

Do you feel that being a creator allowed you to take the indie publishing route?

When I first started writing, I was so certain I was going to try to go the traditional route. But for me, I wanted [this project] to be something where I could just overcome my fear of being seen as an artist. Going indie felt a little more like confronting my fear rather than seeking affirmation because I got a book deal. And I knew I could take that risk and invest in an editor and a book cover, expecting a return, because I knew some people in my audience might buy it. So [being a creator] let me take a bit bigger risk than I would have otherwise.

What's it like to interact with fans at BookCon when so much of your audience interactions happen online?

It's been crazy. The first time someone stopped me and asked, "Are you Jonah?" I freaked out. I feel famous right now, but I'm just some guy who talks about books on the internet. I went to Dragonsteel last year, and I expected to be a little more recognized there because that's my specific niche: epic fantasy books. The coolest part for me is seeing a bunch of other creators that I've known for years and bumping into them. Everyone's so friendly and supportive.

Also, you were on the show Destination X last year. Was that a fun side quest, or something you'd been dreaming of doing?

It was just a fun side quest. I got on the show because of BookTok. A casting agent found me on TikTok and asked if I would do an interview. And I said, "Sure," and two months later, I was in Belgium filming the show. It came out of nowhere, and it was crazy, but I represented BookTok.

What's next for you and your platform?

I am writing another book, and I'm really hoping to get a traditional deal with this one. And I'm hoping to progress my content in the same way. Maybe I'll start talking more about writing, because right now, it's mostly still just me talking about other people's books, but I love writing as much as I love reading. I would like to move in that direction eventually. I know other people in the space who have done so. I know there's a path for that, and I want to go after it.

There are few filmmakers who can say they established the formula for an entire genre of film. Well, the Zucker Brothers and Jim Abrahams certainly did! If you look at the most celebrated spoof films of the past 50 years, if they weren't made by them, they were inspired by them. It's hard to believe that some of their biggest hits almost didn't even get made.

As David Zucker told Mashable's Executive Producer, Mark Stetson: "Airplane was turned down by every studio. Believe me, it's the story of my life!"

Lucky for them, Michael Eisner, President of Paramount at the time, heard about the Airplane script and wanted to make it. "You're in," he said. "You don't even have to pitch this. I want to make this movie." Airplane ended up grossing $80million, over 5 times the film's budget.

Their next project was a short-lived tv series called, Police Squad, which ended up being the precursor to Naked Gun films. The tv show format wasn't quite right fit for the now iconic character Frank Drebin, so they had to "put a pin it" until they could make the film. In the meantime, they took their obsession with WWII spy films and made the tragically lessor-known cult classic, Top Secret, starring Val Kilmer. After the films moderate success, they finally made The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad, and the rest is movie history!

David Zucker will be presenting a special screening of The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad at the Netflix is a Joke Fest on May 5th.

You can learn directly from David by joining his comedy community on Master Crash.