☀️BOOK CLUB 2 adds to FOCUS's bad run, as CANNES projects heat up
NETFLIX gives trim to 2023 spending / NBC sets Fall sched, some shows in lurch / VICE officially bankrupt
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on MONDAY May 15, 2023.
Where, for a time of year that was long dominated by end of season cliffhangers / finales in Broadcast TV shows (is there even one of note right now that “America” is talking about? And no, Succession doesn’t count)… Sports is doing a great job of filling that void this year.
Congrats to the LAKERS who took care of GOLDEN STATE this weekend (and good luck with DENVER 😬), and to the CELTICS who tossed the SIXERS back to Philly handily to move onto MIAMI. Expect the big TV ratings run to continue - much to the relief of WBD and especially DISNEY (LAKERS vs. CELTICS final anyone?).
HOWEVER: While the NHL is having a playoff season that no one anticipated… which has been good for ratings so far - CAROLINA vs. FLORIDA and VEGAS vs. DALLAS (or SEATTLE) as your final four teams? Pretty sure the WBD & DISNEY Ad sales teams are gonna focus the narrative on hoops.
ALSO: Here are your BAFTA TV Award winners, with the Irish winning both Best Comedy and Drama series 🇮🇪👏.
BUT: There will be no televised TONYS this year on June 11, as the WGA denied a waiver request from the show.
HMM: TIKTOK is setting up a new #NewMusic hub on the app, touted as an area for ‘discovery’… while also touting music from the Jonas Brothers and Niall Horan. ahem.
THEN: Another Yellowstone boom that PARAMOUNT is missing out on - “Dutton” and “Kayce” were the 2 fastest-growing baby boy names last year, according to the Social Security Administration.
BAD LOOK: Rolling Stone had a revelatory read about the toxic atmosphere at The Kelly Clarkson Show created by the show’s senior producing staff, that NBC seemed to do little about… despite many complaints lodged. The affected staff said Kelly was not privy to the behavior, and she was apologetic for it on IG this weekend.
AND: UTA has suspended their representation of Jimmie Allen after the sexual assault charges made against him in a lawsuit last week.
PLUS: Johnny Depp is getting $20+ Million to sell cologne at DIOR for 3 more years.
UPFRONTS: NBCU at Radio City in the AM, FOX at the Manhattan Center in PM.
Speaking of… Semafor had some interesting “greatest hits” from Linda Yaccarino deriding social media buys during her time at NBCU. We’ll see if the spirit of those is still maintained on stage this morning.
WAKEUP BOX OFFICE CREW:
Yeah ya’ll called this one (at least in a majority sense), as 55% of you took the under $9 Million for Book Club 2.
IN TODAY’S EDITION:
FOCUS adds to a 12-month list of 🥴 Box Office performers - a look at their year-ish in review as Book Club 2 gets off to a slow start… and Guardians silences the Week 2 doubters, as Specialty once again - well, ya know. #oof
Mel Gibson sets next directorial outing backed by LIONSGATE, A24 pics up NA rights to a movie that feels very A24, and Idris Elba sets a 2nd directorial outing… plus other news of note as CANNES kicks off.
NETFLIX reportedly gives a slight trim to their 2023 spending.
FANATICS makes gambling biz buy.
Vice is officially bankrupt, as Forbes is officially owned by a 28-year-old laser entrepreneur.
NBC sets Fall schedule, leaving 3 current series with a ?, ABC cancels 3 shows and much more in the Fall TV picture.
🪧 STRIKE UPDATES
Seth MacFarlane & writing/showrunning staff are pens down & all showrunning duties down at Family Guy and American Dad, although Dad has about 3 months of scripts, v/o etc done for their next season already. /Deadline
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
