Open Thread

Variety reports: Handing out pink slips to dozens of beloved small-market local TV news weathercasters would be ill-advised even in the best of times. But to do it right as unpredictable and dangerous weather disasters tear across the country this month — from wildfires in California to a historic freeze in the south — was particularly tone deaf. And yet, …

Variety reports: Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg‘s “Flight Risk” is facing no traffic on the runway, lifting off to an easy No. 1 opening in what is turning out to be another sleepy weekend at the January box office. The Lionsgate thriller carried on $4.4 million from 3,161 locations across Friday and preview screenings. Lionsgate held the review embargo for …

Variety reports: Here comes a plot twist: As Skydance Media and RedBird Capital Partners work to close the Larry Ellison-backed takeover of Paramount Global this spring, a consortium of investors who previously bid on the storied media conglomerate is mounting an eleventh-hour $13.5 billion offer. Variety has obtained a legal letter that is being sent to Paramount’s board Friday, Jan. …

Deadline reports: The Associated Press has weighed in on how it will respond to President Donald Trump‘s executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and the name of Alaska’s Denali back to Mount McKinley. The guidance is significant as the AP Stylebook has widespread acceptance across the news industry. In a note …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Just when the winds seemed to be dying down, a new blaze has erupted in fire-ravaged Los Angeles. Dubbed the Hughes Fire, the wildfire broke out around 10:30 am and went from 50-100 acres to 500-1000 acres at noon to more than 8,000 acres by 4 p.m. That’s according to local TV outlets, all of which preempted …

Variety reports: Netflix is increasing subscription prices in the U.S. and other markets — including the first hike on its ad-supported plan. The streamer revealed the price increases along with its Q4 2024 earnings results Tuesday, when it announced its biggest-ever quarterly increase in subscribers with a gain of 18.9 million for the period. Under the new pricing in the …

Variety reports: Paul Schrader is sounding off in support of using ChatGPT to come up with ideas for films. In a recent Facebook post, the “Taxi Driver” writer and “First Reformed” director said he asked the AI platform to generate plots for movies by famous filmmakers, including himself, and was impressed by the results. “I’M STUNNED,” Schrader wrote. “I just …

Deadline Hollywood reports: With this weekend’s business, Disney’s Moana 2 has topped $1B in global box office, becoming the third release of 2024 to reach the mark. This new milestone means Disney scored a hat trick of $1B worldwide grossers from 2024; the only studio with movies released during the year that crossed the coveted threshold. In total, 56 movies …

Deadline Hollywood reports: As Donald Trump prepares to take office again, a trip to Los Angeles is on his itinerary in the wake of recent devastating wildfires. Although he confirmed he has yet to speak to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the president-elect noted he plans to make the visit “probably, at the end of the week” after his inauguration on …

Variety reports: At this moment, millions of American TikTok users are contemplating bidding adieu to the viral video app that has been their source of entertainment, news and community, or even income, for the past several years. The app has built empires – securing footwear brands and reality television slots, also launching careers for Lil Nas X and, more recently, …

Variety reports: Brad Pitt has reacted to the viral story of a 53-year-old French woman who was swindled out of $850,000 by someone pretending to be the actor. The story broke on Sunday on the TF1 show “Sept à huit,” which aired the testimony of Anne, a French interior decorator who described how she had been scammed by a fake …

Variety reports: Although Drake withdrew his legal petition against his label, Universal Music Group, on Tuesday, he doubled down Wednesday, suing the company for defamation and harassment, spreading the “false and malicious narrative” that he is a pedophile via Kendrick Lamar’s brutal diss track, “Not Like Us,” according to the lawsuit. In the documents, Drake claims that UMG knew that …

Variety reports: Whoopi Goldberg showed some support to Carrie Underwood on “The View” amid backlash against the “American Idol” winner and country music star for her decision to perform “America the Beautiful” at Donald Trump‘s inauguration on Jan. 20. The EGOT winner has been outspoken against Trump for years but said she stands behind Underwood, although Goldberg will not be …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Hollywood has been coming together to support each other as the devastating wildfires continue to ravage the city of Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel is the latest to offer tangible support for those displaced, as he and his late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! have established a donation center. “Fellow Angelenos — if you’re looking for a way to …

Variety reports: With the Grammy Awards exactly three weeks away, the wildfires that continue to rage across the event’s long-running home city of Los Angeles have led many in the industry to speculate whether or not the show will be postponed. Even if the wildfires are contained by then and the city is on the road to recovery, the sheer …

The Daily Beast reports: Fans of Saturday Night Live are outraged that controversial comedian Dave Chappelle has been named as the first host of its latest season. The episode is set to air Jan. 18, with Chappelle at the helm, and rapper Glorilla as the musical guest. But many have questioned why the embattled comedian has continued to be invited …

Variety reports: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are calling on others to lend their support to the victims of the wildfires raging across Southern California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live with their two children in Montecito, Calif., posted a statement Thursday on their official website that reads: “In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have …

Deadline Hollywood reports: As the conflagration in the Palisades continues to spread, Hollywood has already felt the effects of the event with several premieres set for Wednesday night canceled and production on television shows paused for the time being. The Producers Guild pushed nominations announcements for its annual awards show to Sunday, Jan. 12. The Writers Guild said it is …

Variety reports: Production came to a halt in Los Angeles on Wednesday as fires continue to sweep across the neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Sylmar. NBCUniversal said production has been suspended on “Hacks,” “Loot,” “Ted,” “Suits: L.A.” and “Happy’s Place” with Reba McEntire. CBS Studios shut down “NCIS,” “NCIS: Origins,” “After Midnight,” “Poppa’s House” “The Neighborhood” and tapings for …

Variety reports: Hulk Hogan is one of the most iconic wrestlers in the 72-year history of the WWE, but upon his debut at Netflix‘s “Monday Night Raw” on Jan. 6, his reception was less than welcoming.   Joined by Jimmy Heart, Hogan was welcomed by a sea of boos from the crowd as he plugged his Real American Beer brand …