☀️HBO New Comedy Expansion; Tariff Qs
NBC trims ‘Chicago’ costs / David O. Russell sets another pic / LGF gets Pine action pic
Mornin! 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 TUESDAY, May 6, 2025.
Where sadly both LeBron and I had to miss last night’s Met Gala due to knee injuries. Granted — mine is 35 years old, but man did that chilly rain really make it creaky last night.
So, just know that I wore a very fancy outfit as I wrote most of this column while watching the KNICKS come back from a 20-point deficit to take the CELTICS in game 1 last night in Boston. 🙌
PLUS: This just in — news business, you’re not immune to tariffs either . . . as all news reported outside of the U.S. will now be subject to a tariff.
Okay no, that’s not real — but it’s kinda sad that we’re already at the point in Trump 2.0 where you may have half-thought that it was. So yes . . . instead of Indies and Studio films, we now have Imports and Domestics. Finally, my beer biz and Hollywood worlds collide!
I update below where things stand as of this morning — and some important bigger-picture distinctions that make Trump’s Hollywood focus a much different situation in regards to labor than the auto, fashion or toy businesses.
AND: Gotta love Trump’s rep already being at the point just 3 months into his Presidency where he needs to specify “I’m not looking to hurt the industry.” Off to a great start!
BTW: Add TYSON to the list of companies indicating flashing red lights about American spending habits — this time in regards to buying less beef.
BTW: Brendan Carr is coming for broadcast TV networks! Or at least their agreements with local TV station groups. Some key new areas of focus:
Allowing greater flexibility for local stations to opt-out of some TV broadcasts from their affiliated network, although no specific examples were cited.
Which . . . okay, yes, can affect NIELSEN numbers for a CBS or NBC on a given program (again, not sure exactly what we’re talking about here), especially in more rural markets . . . but in the age of streaming — this is certainly less of a big deal.
Station groups tell Carr they want the ability to offer more programming targeted to their local communities, also TBA there on details.
And of course, Carr is still touting to work on the ability for station network group owners to own more local stations.
Oh and no, the Trump 60 Minutes thing has no influence whatsoever on his review of the PAR/SKYDANCE deal, why do you ask?
OH: Apparently OPENAI’s latest update to CHATGPT in April made it more of a suck up. Who says politics don’t have an effect on technology innovation?
AND: According to The Information — APPLE’s iPhone plans for the next couple of years are as follows (wherever they’re actually made, although definitely not here):
A thin model this fall
A foldable phone with up to an 8” display in fall ’26
An ‘edge to edge’ screen in ’27
AH: If you have outstanding federal college loans that you haven’t been paying, the Trump administration restarted collections yesterday.
THEN: The NFL Draft will be on the National Mall in April 2027.
Of course, that comes with Goodell then having to keep a straight face right behind Trump while he talks for 3 minutes about Alcatraz on national TV. You don’t get paid the big money for nothing.
🎥 THE SILVER SCREEN
