☀️Box Office Sets New Post-Thanksgiving Record
NETFLIX sets 2024 roast / NBA is in real TV ratings trouble / Joseph Gordon-Levitt gets next director gig
Evenin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, December 8, 2024.
Where I caught about 10 minutes of the GIANTS game this afternoon and then just went to the park — which I am confident was the right call given that upon my return, I saw they scored . . . 11 points.
Which also matches how many games they’ve now lost this year (note: they have played 13 games total). 🤦♂️
AND: NETFLIX is talking to Drew Brees and Scott Hanson about doing broadcaster work for the international version of its Christmas Day NFL games.
PLUS: Here are your L.A. Film Critics Association picks for 2024 with Anora leading the way, and the British Independent Film Awards, with Ireland’s Kneecap leading the way.
ALSO: Alisyn Camerota is leaving CNN after 9 years, as of . . . today.
OH: The UBS Global Media & Comms conference starts tomorrow A.M. — here is your entertainment-centric lineup (all times ET):
COMCAST CFO Dave Watson 9:45a
TKO COO Mark Shapiro 11:15a
FOX CFO Steve Tomsic at Noon
DISNEY CFO Hugh Johnston ~1:30 p.m.
AH: Here is your first 12-team CFP playoff bracket. Games begin Fri. Dec. 20. Sorry, 'Bama. 😉
THEN: 60 Minutes had a couple of great pieces tonight:
First on the very troubling conditions that existed inside of BOEING this decade that . . . are by no means over.
Second was this one on how AI is being integrated into the classroom . . . basically as a TA for kids in partnership with OPENAI and KHAN ACADEMY, and no — not as a way for kids to have their papers written for them when outside the classroom.
ALTHOUGH: The students featured were curiously not asked about that, ahem. 👀
FINALLY: Just a reminder here in the heart of the end-of-year holiday mayhem to find time for things you enjoy in your day tomorrow — this was a #goodread from the NYT about how radio & TV journalist Alison Stewart was having a regular day back in February . . . only to find that she was losing the ability to communicate clearly as her day went on, and it wasn’t a stroke.
Quite a story about what followed — and a reminder that nothing is guaranteed in life no matter the state of your health today, and also maybe put down the phone and stop scrolling every now and then . . . and focus on those right around you, IRL, or just get out for a walk in the sun and fresh air.
🎥 THE BOX OFFICE
Hey, if it ain’t broke . . .
Nothing new in the top 3 here this weekend as expected, but this was the biggest post-Thanksgiving weekend 💰 take ever at the theatrical box office, topping 2018 by about $12M, which yes . . . I know, if you account for inflation 🙄 — but let’s not be that guy.
Specialty also had a lot of new entrants — get your latest evidence of the health of that sector at the box office
Plus A look at how November totals rounded out as Hollywood enters the final month of the year
Then a 2024 snapshot of the India film business in the U.S. this year as it has begun to create a niche for itself here, and more.