The Feed is The Future.

At some point during whatever November 2024 was, I found myself deep in a TikTok doomscroll (as one sometimes does). Somewhere between DIYs and punditry from Jamelle, I met Paloma Diamond.

Okay. So she’s different. Special, even? Because if Ms. Diamond is any kind of sign, we’re heading toward the next evolution of social storytelling. It’s so cool and I like it.

Paloma isn’t just a TikTok star. She’s a whole vibe. A walking, talking, character-driven proof point that the next wave of entertainment might not look like what we’re used to… and that’s exciting. She’s showing us that binge-worthy doesn’t have to mean 60-minute prestige drama. It might just be vertical, scrollable, and living right on your phone.

Now, I get it. That idea makes some folks uncomfortable. Maybe even a little mad.

But the shift is happening whether we’re ready or not.

As I kept peeling back the layers of Paloma’s wild, brilliant little corner of the internet, I couldn’t stop thinking about a convo from a while back. Folks were begging Lorne Michaels to pull talent from TikTok and Insta to keep SNL relevant. And then when the new season was announced it looks like he may have listened. Bringing in Jane Wickline and tapping the TikTok comedy crew Stapleview for SNL’s 50th season? That’s not random. That’s strategy. Things are evolving, and it’s kind of fun!

Okay, and if you wanna dive just a teench deeper me check it:

Before Lorne first launched Saturday Night Live, TV comedy was stiff—polished variety shows, suit-and-tie stand-ups trying to be the coolest guy in the room. But Lorne saw the world for what it was: wars, recession, civil rights movements. He knew we didn’t need polish. We needed raw. Weird. Visceral. Unfiltered. He turned late-night into a mirror of real life and made staying home on a Saturday feel like a night out in NYC. That was GENIUS. He brought the street energy into our living rooms. And made us laugh our asses off. Something only a television can do.

Now? We’re at that kind of inflection point again.

Hollywood is changing. The culture is shifting. And the screen in your hand? That’s the stage. We’re consuming stories like popcorn. Bite-sized, scrollable, algorithm-approved. Quibi tried to capitalize on that moment (RIP), but they may have missed the mark. Too shiny. Too Hollywood. They went prestige when they should’ve gone Paloma.

The TV isn’t dead. It’s just been resized.

And the biggest stories? They might just be in 9:16.

Paloma Diamond is proof: the future doesn’t need to knock.

It’s already in the room. Scroll up.