General
Comscore Film SVPs Steve Buck & Jim Zak Exit Box Office Data Corp
Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline Hollywood
Deadline hears that Steve Buck, Comscore’s SVP of Business Relations and Jim Zak, SVP of International Theatrical have departed the show business data corporation as it seeks to reduce 8% of its workforce expenses before the end of the quarter in an effort to chop costs by $20M.
Woody Allen Defends His Record: “I’ve Done Everything That the #MeToo Movement Would Love to Achieve”
Rhonda Richford, The Hollywood Reporter
The director also predicted ‘Rainy Day in New York’ may still get a U.S. release.
Judge approves moves to streamline Weinstein case
The Associated Press
A judge is signing off on changes meant to streamline Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault case after a recent flurry of activity.
‘She Said’: New Book Reveals More Details About Harvey Weinstein Investigation
Rebecca Rubin, Variety
A forthcoming book about sexual harassment and abuse allegations leveled against Harvey Weinstein is bringing more details to light about the disgraced mogul.
Director of M.I.T.’s Media Lab Resigns After Taking Money From Jeffrey Epstein
Marc Tracy and Tiffany Hsu, The New York Times
Nearly a month after his death, Jeffrey Epstein continues to haunt some of America’s most prestigious institutions.
Sony just did the one thing it couldn’t afford to do: Enrage Spider-Man fans
Sarah Whitten, CNBC
With great power, comes great responsibility. It’s an old Spider-Man adage that Sony should be familiar with by now.
Superfans: A Love Story
Michael Schulman, The New Yorker
From “Star Wars” to “Game of Thrones,” fans have more power than ever to push back. But is fandom becoming as toxic as politics?
Film
Box Office: ‘It: Chapter Two’ Terrifies With $91M U.S. Debut, $185M Globally
Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter
While the sequel didn’t match the opening of the 2017 film, it’s still the second-best horror showing of all time; overseas, the R-rated pic launched to $94 million.
At the Movies, It’s the Best of Times and the Worst of Times (Again)
Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott, The New York Times
Amid reports of the end of moviegoing and the dominance of Disney, our critics look at Hollywood’s half-empty, half-full glass.
Marinelli, Ascaride win top acting prizes at Venice Film Festival
Marie-Louise Gumuchian, Reuters
Italian actor Luca Marinelli won the best actor award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday for his portrayal of a poor, aspiring writer in “Martin Eden” while French actress Ariane Ascaride won the best actress award.
Television
The NFL kicks off to big ratings in a big year for the league
Frank Pallotta, CNN
The first game of the NFL’s 100th year wasn’t much fun to watch, but that didn’t stop people from tuning in. The game, which ended in a 10-3 road win for the Green Bay Packers over the Chicago Bears, averaged 22 million viewers for NBC.
How Reality Dating Shows Finally Got More Queer
Laura Bradley, Vanity Fair
From Bachelor in Paradise to Are You the One? to Dating Around, mainstream shows have begun exploring the full spectrum of sexuality: “If it’s called reality TV, it should represent the reality out there.”
Justices tuning in to cable television civil rights lawsuit
Jessica Gresko, The Associated Press
Comedian and media mogul Byron Allen wants TV viewers to watch the channels his company produces — from one that runs “Judge Judy”-like shows all day to those dedicated to comedy, cars, food and pets. But while many distributors carry Allen’s channels, two cable giants have refused.
Mark Halperin ‘Threatened’ MSNBC Chief Phil Griffin for Nixing His Comeback
Maxwell Tani, The Daily Beast
Sources said the disgraced political reporter became hostile in a phone chat with his ex-boss after reports emerged that MSNBC brass axed plans for Halperin to return to punditry.
Technology and New Media
Facebook, Google face off against a formidable new foe: State attorneys general
Tony Romm, The Washington Post
The nation’s state attorneys general have tangled with mortgage lenders, tobacco giants and the makers of addictive drugs. Now, they’re setting their sights on another target: Big Tech.
Antonio Brown Released By Oakland Raiders After Bizarre YouTube, Instagram Posts – Loses $29M
Bruce Haring, Deadline Hollywood
Antonio Brown was only unemployed for a few hours. The wide receiver has signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who spoke to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Spotify Taps Former CBS Exec to Help Expand News Offering
Jessica Toonkel, The Information
Spotify has tapped former CBS News President David Rhodes as a consultant to help drive an expansion into news programming, say people familiar with the situation.
Apple Lands Bryce Dallas Howard Documentary ‘Dads’ at TIFF
Matt Donnelly and Brent Lang, Variety
Tech giant Apple has acquired worldwide distribution to the Bryce Dallas Howard documentary “Dads,” ahead of its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, multiple insiders tell Variety.
Amazon’s ‘Jack Ryan’ TV series lambasted for promoting Venezuela ‘invasion’
Brian Ellsworth et al., Reuters
Venezuela’s culture minister has accused Amazon television series “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” of promoting an invasion of the South American nation, following a trailer for the second season that appears to put Caracas at the center of a global conspiracy involving nuclear weapons.
Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special is offending critics, but viewers don’t care
Daniel Bukszpan, CNBC
Comedian Dave Chappelle’s latest stand-up comedy special, “Sticks and Stones,” premiered on Netflix last week — and it immediately faced a firestorm of criticism for its jokes.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
Why I Quit the Writers’ Room
Walter Mosley, The New York Times
Earlier this year, I had just finished with the “Snowfall” writers’ room for the season when I took a similar job on a different show at a different network.
Taylor Swift, Philosopher of Forgiveness
Scott Hershovitz, The New York Times
The pop superstar offers genuine insight about “moving on.”
How Hollywood Can (and Can’t) Fight Back Against Deepfake Videos
David Singer and Camila Connolly, The Hollywood Reporter
Legislative fixes and contractual protections are meant to police the dissemination of misinformation from hyperrealistic (but fake) videos. A look at the proposals and consequences of a crackdown.
Saturday Night Live Loses One of Its Most Dynamic Stars
David Sims, The Atlantic
Leslie Jones’s departure comes just as the show enters a big election year, seemingly with few other cast shake-ups.
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