Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY April 12, 2022.

Where it’s a slainte 🥂to Britney and Sam Asghari who are having a baby. And apparently some coffee.

Plus at 15 and 16, her 2 boys with K-Fed are just the right age to babysit 🙌 so it’s all coming together for Brit in 2022.

britneyspears

A post shared by Britney Spears (@britneyspears)

ALSO: Congrats to all winners at the CMT Fritos Awards last night. Seriously VIACOM how big was that Frito-Lay sponsorship check? Cuz I’d happily call this thing The Wakeup with Fritos for the right price (and free supply naturally).

But a big 🙌 to KELSEA BALLERINI for pivoting to co-hosting (and performing) at home with both humor and style at 12 hours notice when she got a positive covid diagnosis yesterday morning.

AND: Will Smith - give Michael Bay a call, he’s “absolutely” down for a re-team according to EW.

OTHERWISE: It was a relatively quiet day so Today will be quick, as unlike other daily reads…. I’ll spare you a long hot take on what the “Ambulance” performance means for “the future of action movies” at the box office (Absolutely nothing, they’ll continue to be led by existing franchises like… every other movie genre, and innovation can happen at any time. See you at TOP GUN 2).

📽 THE SILVER SCREEN

Will Ferrell joins WB “Barbie” pic directed by Greta Gerwig

As with every other casting besides Barbie & Ken (Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling)… no real details on characters (America Ferrara, Kate McKinnon and Simu Liu also on board) or plot avail on this one. /Deadline

ALSO IN MOVIES

• Carrie Brownstein directing “Witness Protection” comedy starring Annie Murphy at MRC. About a woman defined by her relationships who finds out who she really is when she goes into Witness Protection. I mean no one says you can’t use the time for self improvement… the name-change thing certainly helps. No streaming home yet. /Deadline

IN THE HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE

• ICM Agent John Burnham leaving to become a manager at ATLAS ARTISTS after 25 years at ICM. Will manage most of his clients, including William H. Macy, John Cusack, and Rob Reiner. /Deadline

• BERLANTI PRODS. pres David Madden leaving the company, his contract was up, no next destination indicated. /Deadline

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📺 THE TV SET

PEACOCK buys comedic thriller series from Jason Bateman and Exec Producer of “The Boys”

That would be Craig Rosenberg, who will write the series called “Based on a True Story” and he’ll showrun it as well.

Inspired by a bizarre event involving a Realtor, a Plumber and a former Tennis star… and a toilet. You had me until toilet - that just can’t be true. /Deadline

NETFLIX picks up YA series developed at TheCW, “Glamorous”

10 episodes about a young gender non-conforming queer man who gets a job for a legendary makeup mogul. The queer man is played by Miss Benny, the mogul role is still open.

TheCW developed it back in 2019. /THR

ALSO IN TV

• HBOMAX adds Susie Essman as a guest star in “Hacks” Season 2. Yeah that tracks. /Variety

• DISNEY+ casts lead role for “Percy Jackson” TV series - the kid from“The Adam Project”, Walker Scovell.

• Justin Bartha rejoining “National Treasure” franchise for the DIS+ TV series based on the movies. Will reprise his “Riley Poole” role. /THR

• ESPN sees 21% ratings bump for Day 1 of THE MASTERS last Thurs vs 2021. #terrrrrrific! /NextTV

💻 THE MEDIA BIZ

NETFLIX adds ability to give shows and movies “two thumbs up”

Ok admittedly this isn’t major news… but I really love using that gif. Also still baffles me how no one has brought back “At the Movies” in a fun way.

Oh right the feature - yeah you can still give a plain ol One thumb up if you just ‘like’ something 😂… but my love for “Derry Girls” really needs this kinda feature to be appropriately captured. /Variety

ALSO IN MEDIA

• Rachel Maddow going to Mondays-only schedule on MSNBC starting in May. /Deadline

• WWE doing first major stadium event in the UK in 30 years this Labor Day weekend. Finally a wrestler with a cockney accent? 🙏. /THR

• WBD doing a cross-brands (HBOMAX, DISCO nets etc) upfront preso on Wed May 18 from the HULU THEATER at MSG. /THR

🏦 STOCK NOTES:

Relatively even Monday

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👩‍💻 NEW TO WATCH:

Not new, but I finished the PBS “Benjamin Franklin” docu from Ken Burns and really enjoyed it, so just a plug - You can STREAM FREE on the PBS App (or here at pbs.org).

🎥 TRAILER HOUSE

NETFLIX “Senior Year” movie trailer. Rebel Wilson as a cheer captain who went into a coma for 20 years ago, and returns to high school when she wakes up 📣. Premieres Fri May 13 (this was produced by the now defunct PARAMOUNT PLAYERS division)

HBO “We Own This City” limited series trailer - From David Simon, based on a real story of police corruption within the Baltimore PD. Premieres Mon Apr 25.

HBOMAX “Marlon Wayans presents The Headliners” comedy special trailer - Marlon hosts a nice of sets from 5 comedians. Premieres Thu Apr 21

🎧 PLAYING ME OFF

Feels like we should all “keep it country”, crack open a bag of FRITOS for breakfast and enjoy some new Kane Brown before work.

Which for anyone who watched the end of the show last night… Kane Brown will definitely be late for today. 🥃 #LeaveYouAlone

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-SEAN MCNULTY

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