Netflix's Tudum: A Mixed Bag of Stars and Shows

Netflix's Tudum event was a wild ride. It was held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood. The crowd was thin and quiet at first. A pre-show host tried to liven things up. He shouted out names of big stars and shows. The crowd finally roared when Lady Gaga's name was mentioned. She was there to perform in the second season of "Wednesday. " Once Tudum started, the crowd filled up. They cheered for the stars and shows. There were big names like Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Daniel Craig. There were also popular shows like "Squid Game, " "One Piece, " and "Wednesday. " But nothing beat Lady Gaga's performance. She closed the show with two songs. Her energy was unmatched. Tudum has been around since 2020. It's a big marketing move by Netflix. The idea is to show off all their shows and movies. But it's a lot to take in. Fans of one show might not care about another. For example, fans of "Outer Banks" might not be into pro wrestling. Or fans of "One Piece" might not be excited about a new "Knives Out" movie. Some parts of Tudum were fun. The cast of "Wake Up Dead Man" talked about murder mysteries. The stars of "Happy Gilmore 2" answered questions. Affleck and Taylor teased each other. But putting so many different things together was overwhelming. It was hard to get excited about any one thing. "Stranger Things" had one of the best moments. The stars shared old memories and a preview of the final season. But right after that, it was back to couples from dating shows. It was a jarring switch. Netflix's strategy is to show off everything they have. But it's not always the best way to connect with fans. Fans want a personal connection. They want to feel part of a community. That's something Lady Gaga has done well for years. It's no surprise she was the biggest draw at Tudum.