• The Federal Trade Commission filed an antitrust lawsuit that would block Microsoft Corp.’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc., saying the deal could quash competitors to Microsoft’s Xbox console and its games subscription business. The FTC said Microsoft’s previous acquisition of developer Bethesda Softworks was an example of the company making certain future titles exclusive to Xbox after Microsoft told European regulators it would not do so. (The Associated Press)
• Dozens of employees of the NFL’s Washington Commanders were harmed for more than 20 years due to a “toxic work culture,” according to a new report from the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which cited the team’s owner Daniel Snyder for intimidating witnesses. The report also criticized the NFL for ignoring the workplace mistreatment, saying the league failed to restrict Snyder’s “abusive tactics.” (NBC News)
• “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” showrunner David Graziano, who joined the hit NBC show in June, has been accused of bullying, racism and sexual harassment by several women and employees of color on set, which reportedly led to Haley Cameron, a script coordinator, to quit the series. Graziano denied the allegations in a statement, while a source told the Los Angeles Times that NBCUniversal investigated the claims and found no signs of unprofessionalism. (Los Angeles Times)

What Soccer Fans Around the World Really Think of Other Men’s National Teams

Morning Consult

Jerrod Carmichael Named Host of the Golden Globe Awards

Michael Schneider, Variety

Emmy-winning comedian Jerrod Carmichael has signed on to host the 80th Golden Globe Awards as it returns to NBC next month.

Starz Hires Jimmy Hilburn as Chief Marketing Officer, Susan Ievoli as Senior VP of Publicity; Robin Chacko Promoted

Joe Otterson, Variety

Starz has hired Jimmy Hilburn to serve as its new chief marketing officer.

Allison Wallach Lands Top Fox Unscripted Job

Peter White, Deadline

Allison Wallach has been promoted to oversee unscripted programming for Fox.

Disney+ Advertising-Supported Tier Launches With New Bundles, 100 Launch Sponsors

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

Disney+ Basic will cost $7.99 per month, with the ad-free tier rising to $10.99 per month. There will also be new streaming bundles with Hulu and ESPN+, starting at $9.99 per month.

Hasbro defends Magic: The Gathering strategy, says ‘there is no evidence’ cards are overprinted

Sarah Whitten, CNBC

Hasbro is defending its strategy for its popular Magic: The Gathering game.

Hundreds of authors give support to striking workers at HarperCollins

Andrew Limbong, NPR News

More than 500 authors have signed a letter supporting members of the HarperCollins Union, who are currently on strike.

‘Top Gun’ named best film by National Board of Review

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press

“Top Gun: Maverick,” 2022′s biggest box-office hit, has been named the best film of the year by the National Board of Review.

Tom Cruise to get Producers Guild’s David O. Selznick Award

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

Tom Cruise is getting his first major honor of awards season.

James Gunn Says DC Plan Will “Build Upon What Has Worked” and “Rectify What Has Not”

Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter

The filmmaker and DC Studios boss shared a statement on Twitter a day after The Hollywood Reporter published a piece examining a transitional period at DC.

Kristen Stewart To Lead 2023 Berlinale International Jury

Max Goldbart, Deadline

Kristen Stewart is to head the International Jury of the Berlinale 2023.

Reese Witherspoon to Star in and Produce ‘Election’ Sequel ‘Tracy Flick Can’t Win’

Brian Welk, IndieWire

Alexander Payne will write and direct the follow-up to his 1999 comedy at Paramount+.

Michelle Yeoh to Star in ‘Wicked’ Movies as Madame Morrible

Marc Malkin, Variety

Michelle Yeoh has joined the star-studded cast of Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” movies, Variety can exclusively reveal.

Jackie Chan Says ‘Rush Hour 4’ Is in the Works, Recalls Fight With Bruce Lee: ‘I Wanted Him to Hit Me Again’

Leo Barraclough, Variety

Jackie Chan revealed he is in talks for a “Rush Hour 4.”

Luca Guadagnino-Directed Adaptation Of ‘Queer’ With Daniel Craig In Works

Anthony D’Alessandro and Justin Kroll, Deadline

Luca Guadagnino has been looking to mount a feature take of the William S. Burroughs novel “Queer” with Daniel Craig in the lead as his next project. The “Call Me By Your Name” Oscar nominee is the process of raising financing for the project.

Tearful Trevor Noah Says Goodbye To ‘The Daily Show’, Praises Black Women & Thanks Fans

Peter White, Deadline

Trevor Noah is saying goodbye to The Daily Show after seven years.

Little Britain, Big TV: Inside the BBC’s Streaming Strategy

Josef Adalian, New York magazine

The Beeb’s most popular shows are spread out across American streaming services. That’s by design.

Harry and Meghan slam British tabloids in new Netflix series

Danica Kirka and Jill Lawless, The Associated Press

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, stick to a familiar script in a new Netflix series that chronicles the couple’s estrangement from the royal family, chastising Britain’s media and the societal racism they believe has fueled coverage of their relationship.

IndyCar to showcase series with docudrama on The CW Network

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press

IndyCar has landed its own “Drive to Survive” type docudrama that will showcase the buildup to next year’s Indianapolis 500.

‘Batwheels’ Renewed for Season 2 as Cartoon Network Boss Details Warner Bros. Discovery’s Animation Strategy

Michael Schneider, Variety

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen knows you have questions about the fate of the two networks in the new, belt-tightened Warner Bros. Discovery era. And it has changed. But “we’re not dead,” he insists.

‘Dark Tower’ Series Adaptation in the Works from ‘The Haunting’s’ Mike Flanagan

Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter

The ‘Doctor Sleep’ writer-director and producing partner Trevor Macy have rights to Stephen King’s novels.

In ‘White Lotus,’ Beauty and Truth Are All Mixed Up

Carina Chocano, The New York Times

This season focuses on the willful delusion of the wealthy — and how easily preyed upon people who evade reality can be.

Godwin’s Country

Dylan Byers, Puck News

ABC News’s Kim Godwin, enduring a hellish year in the industry, gets her turn in the TV news barrel.

Activision Blizzard Sues California State Agency in Connection with Sexual Harassment Probes

Cynthia Littleton, Variety

Hours before Activision Blizzard learned that the Federal Trade Commission aims to block its $69 billion sale to Microsoft, the video game giant filed a lawsuit Thursday against two California state agencies that have probed allegations of sexual harassment and pay discrimination at the company.

Amazon Is Launching TikTok-Style Feed in Bet on Social Commerce

Matt Day and Spencer Soper, Bloomberg

Amazon.com Inc. has launched a TikTok-style service that will let shoppers buy merchandise from a curated feed of photos and video. 

Reddit’s end-of-year Recap experience rolls out with personalized shareable cards

Aisha Malik, TechCrunch

Reddit is rolling out its annual end-of-year Recap experience to give users a way to reflect on the time they spent on the platform in 2022.

As influencer marketing grows up, brands, agencies experiment with new content tools like bots

Antoinette Siu, Digiday

Influencer marketing is maturing as a business for many marketers and media agencies as they find ways to leverage creator content and gain new audiences.

Taylor Swift Wins Top Platinum Album of 2022, Future Earns Top Single in RIAA Year-End List

Jem Aswad, Variety

The Recording Industry Association of America today announces the 13 albums and 68 singles released and awarded this year in its Gold & Platinum program.

Lawsuit accuses Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter of rape, infecting teen girl with HPV

Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times

A woman has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter of raping her and infecting her with HPV when she was 17.

ABC pulls Backstreet Boys’ holiday special after Nick Carter rape allegation

Richard Pollina, Page Six

ABC will no longer be airing the Backstreet Boys’ Holiday special “A Very Backstreet Holiday.”

Aerosmith Cancel Remainder of Las Vegas Residency Due to Steven Tyler’s Illness

Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone

“On the advice of doctors, Steven has to sit these out,” band says after final Deuces Are Wild shows called off.

What Happens to Songwriters When AI Can Generate Music?

Kristin Robinson, Billboard

As the emerging class of generative AI companies matures, can their technology transform the way songs are written?