A Mask You Can Drink Through; Netflix Names New Co-CEO After Subscriber Spike: Friday's First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. This Hard Seltzer Brand Created a Mask You Can Drink Through After hard seltzer brand Crook & Marker jokingly posted a mock-up of a 'Tastemask' with a valve in the middle for a straw to fit into, hundreds of Instagram users piled on begging the brand to actually make the masks. People even started calling about the masks. The brand obliged, of course, creating the real deal, but with a flap that snaps into place rather than a valve. The masks sold out within 24 hours, with all proceeds going to the US Bartenders Guild supporting service-industry workers. Acting on inspiration: The masks were produced in-house, a move that CMO Daniel Goodfelllow said is in keeping with the smaller brand's nimbleness that allows it to stand up to larger brands. This Space Suit-Like Device Takes PPE to the Next Level [kickout id="2"] How far are you willing to take your fashion choices to stop the spread of the coronavirus? Wearing a mask (which we should all do) is one thing, but what about a giant space helmet? PPE company Vyzr Technologies developed the BioVyzr, which completely seals in the wearer and purifies the interior air of pathogens, allergens and pollutants. The product was funded on Indiegogo almost immediately upon its launch, with interested parties including students, medical workers and those in other high-touch professions. Netflix Names Ted Sarandos Co-CEO Amid Second Shutdown-Driven Subscriber Spike After a second consecutive quarter of spiking subscriber numbers, Netflix promoted chief content officer Ted Sarandos to co-CEO and chief product officer Greg Peters to chief operating officer. The streamer anticipates that the spike will wane with time, but it hasn't entirely hit yet. It also saw far less disruption to its production plans than other streamers like the new Peacock and HBO Max because its 2020 shows have already been completed for the most part. In a letter to shareholders, the streamer released news of its recent big-ticket acquisitions, including Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, along with data about some of its top performers. On competitors: Netflix acknowledged the TikTok boom but declined to worry about it, instead electing to focus on the quality of its own service. Also in TV and streaming: Updates from NBCUniversal NBCU unveiled 11 new ad formats ahead of last night's upfront event, which was broadcast on NBC and doubled as a 30 Rock reunion, with the sitcom’s cast hosting the event in character. Linda Yaccarino answered all of your burning questions about the unorthodox upfront event. Executives at new NBCU streaming service Peacock say programming delays may work in their favor by sustaining interest in the service later into the year leading up to the 2021 Summer Olympics. Washington’s NFL Franchise Has Problems That Go Beyond Team Name Early in the day on Thursday, Adweek asked about a supposed "bombshell" report about the culture of the Washington NFL team that was rumored to be coming from The Washington Post. The report, which was released later in the day, detailed multiple allegations of sexual harassment by former Redskins employees. But before the story came out, a spokesperson told Adweek the allegations were "absurd." The team has also seen recent departures and hired a law firm to review "the team's culture, policies and allegations of workplace misconduct." A problematic history: The team has been hit with allegations of sexual harassment and sex trafficking in the past. More of Today's Top News and Highlights Havas Creative North America CEO Paul Marobella Is Leaving After 3 Years In the Role June’s Retail and Food Service Sales Indicate Complex and Uncertain Recovery LiveRamp Buys a French Startup to Bolster Its Safe Haven Product Johnson & Johnson’s Sales Slide 11% During the Pandemic Twitter Unveils the First Major Overhaul of Its API Since 2012 The Case—and the Cries—for More Diverse Visual Content New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tells America to Mask Up in National PSA Campaign Speaking of masks, Governor Andrew Cuomo is accompanying New York's road to recovery with eight PSAs reminding people to mask up. The spots were created in partnership with the Ad Council, director Kathryn Bigelow, producer Jane Rosenthal and stars including Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, Kaitlyn Dever, Jamie Foxx, John Leguizamo, and Rosie Perez. Watch the first two here. [kickout id="1"] More of the Latest Spotify Lands Exclusive Podcast Hosted by Michelle Obama This Riveting Footage Will Make You Want to ‘Drop Everything and Head Straight to Sapporo’ Klarna Launches Digital Shopping Pop-Up That Will Disappear After 48 Hours ThredUp and Zero Waste Daniel’s New Line Is Made Entirely From Used Clothing Pew Examines the Partisan Divide on Social Media Among the 116th Congress Coke’s Touchless Machines Serve Chilled Drinks With a Side of Peace of Mind

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A Mask You Can Drink Through; Netflix Names New Co-CEO After Subscriber Spike: Friday's First Things First

Plus, drama beyond the name of the Washington NFL team

This Hard Seltzer Brand Created a Mask You Can Drink Through

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This Hard Seltzer Brand Created a Mask You Can Drink Through

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Jess Zafarris