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As most of this year’s Oscars displayed, there are few things that Hollywood loves more than a big show. Now Disney , Fox, NBCUniversal and Warner Bros . are officially on board with what could be one of the biggest spectacles of the next decade: the 2024 Olympics in Los Angeles. With Disney boss Bob lger having joined the board as Vice-Chair of the Casey Wasserman-led effort for the City of Angels’ third Olympic Games back in June, the presence of the House of Mouse is no surprise. However, it was revealed today that LA 2024’s board now will include WB chief Kevin Tsujihara, NBCUniversal Film head honcho Jeff Shell and Fox princeling James Murdoch. Along with serving as consultants to the city’s bid process and engaging in undefined creative “partnerships,” all three studios also are putting their money were their execs are. Disney, Fox, NBCU and WB have come on as significant donors to attempt to bring the summer games to L.A. seven years from now. “We … [Read more...] about Disney, Fox, NBCUniversal & Warner Bros. Formally On L.A. Olympics Bandwagon

Disney CEO Bob Iger has been named Vice Chair of the board of directors of Los Angeles 2024, the city’s bid to host the Summer Olympics that year. Iger joins LA 2024 Board Chairman Casey Wasserman, along with fellow Vice Chairs Janet Evans, four-time Olympic champion; Lakers legend and business leader Earvin “Magic” Johnson; nine-time Paralympian Candace Cable; and labor leader María Elena Durazo. “The Olympic Movement celebrates the indomitable human spirit and brings people together across continents and cultures in a powerful, shared experience,” Iger said in a statement. “It’s an important endeavor, and I’m proud to support LA 2024’s effort to bring the Games back to Los Angeles and to reimagine them in ways that engage the global community, elevate the movement, and inspire a new generation.” Rome, Paris, Budapest and Hamburg also are vying to host the world’s biggest sporting event. The International Olympic Committee will select the winner after voting at … [Read more...] about Disney CEO Bob Iger Joins Los Angeles 2024, City’s Bid For Its Third Olympics

EXCLUSIVE : Brillstein Entertainment Partners is exploring a sale of its venerable management/production company. Several are circling, but sources said Casey Wasserman has emerged as a front-runner to bring BEP into the fold alongside his formidable sports and music divisions. Like every possible deal, this one could fall apart and BEP principals could decide to stay independent. It would be the latest move in management after 3Arts made a deal with Lionsgate , and Anonymous Content, with investment from Laurene Powell Jobs, recently linked with Automatik . If this did happen, it would invoke the legacy and memory of some storied Hollywood figures. Start with Wasserman, the grandson of the legendary Lew Wasserman. He always has resisted the urge to get into mainstream Hollywood, and instead built a formidable management business specializing in sports and music, the latter most recently including the acquisition of Paradigm’s lucrative music touring businesses . His … [Read more...] about Brillstein Entertainment Partners Explores Sale; Casey Wasserman In Pole Position: The Dish

EXCLUSIVE: Nacelle , the studio behind Down to Earth with Zac Efron and Grant, Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History , has struck a deal to distribute a feature-length doc filmed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine . The company has taken worldwide rights to Comedy of War: Laughter in Ukraine . The doc comes from filmmakers Christopher Walters and Krista Liney, who runs producer Maiden, and shows the brutal reality of the conflict through the lens of stand-up comedians touring in war-torn Ukraine. Nacelle plans to take the doc to film festivals before launching worldwide sales. The documentary follows four rising stars of Ukrainian stand-up comedy, each with a unique perspective on the war currently being waged in their homeland. Performing in converted bomb shelters, they laugh in spite of the war, not at it. The Russian invasion of Ukraine began almost a year ago and has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. Comedy of War ’s filmmakers say that, … [Read more...] about Nacelle Boards Maiden’s Feature Doc ‘Comedy Of War: Laughter In Ukraine’

The Olympics are coming to Los Angeles, but a bit later than initially aimed for. Originally bidding for a third summer games to come to the City of Angels in 2024, L.A. will now see the Olympic and Paralympic Games here in 2028, sources close to the situation confirm. In an agreement struck with the International Olympic Committee, the 2024 Games will be held in Paris, L.A.’s lone remaining rival in the bid for the Games. Mayor Eric Garcetti is expected to make the announcement official later today at a press conference. There has been nothing official from the Mayor’s office or the Casey Wasserman -led LA 2024 but City Council member Gil Cedillo did tweet out this morning that “hashtag goes from #LA2024 to #LA2028” as reports surfaced in the L.A. Times of the deal. With the awarding of the XXXIII Olympiad, it will be a century since Paris last hosted the games. The French capital had long made it clear that they preferred ’24 over ’28. Here in L.A., … [Read more...] about Los Angeles Awarded 2028 Olympics In Deal With IOC; Paris Gets 2024 Games

Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury has renewed hit game show Family Feud through the 2025-26 season, taking the Fremantle-produced show into its landmark 50th year on television. Leading station groups Fox, CBS, Nexstar, Scripps and Tegna have signed multi-year renewals for the nationally syndicated ratings juggernaut, hosted by Steve Harvey . Now in its fifth consecutive season as television’s No. 1 first-run syndicated show in women 25-54, Family Feud is posting a 1.5 rating season-to-date in the key demo, according to Nielsen. “Demand for a proven demo and household ratings winner like Family Feud has been intense,” said Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein. “We are extremely pleased to be able to continue our long-term relationships with our incredible broadcast partners, while providing our dedicated viewers of all ages with much-needed laughter and enjoyment throughout the coming years.” “We are thrilled to have the confidence and … [Read more...] about ‘Family Feud’ Renewed Through 2025-26 By Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury

Apple and Major League Soccer lit up their Season Pass streaming service today, bringing exclusive coverage of games and related programming to more than 100 countries in a groundbreaking venture. The service costs $14.99 a month (or $99 for the full season) for those who do not subscribe to Apple TV+. For Apple TV+ subscribers, the cost is $12.99 a month ($79 for the season). While the pricing is toward the higher end of the general market spectrum, in the burgeoning area of sports streaming , it is below what many regional sports networks and others charge. Viewership, technology and strategy in the sports media business are all moving incrementally toward digital platforms, with Amazon and Google both joining Apple in making big bets on sports content recently. Disney’s ESPN+, NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Paramount+ and HBO Max have also made investments in sports. Despite the larger shifts in the landscape, and the precedent set by Season Pass in terms of the extent … [Read more...] about Apple And Major League Soccer Throw The Switch On Season Pass Streaming Venture

EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4 has renewed Celebrity Cooking School for a second season for youth portfolio channel E4 . Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Motion Content Group’s format, in which celebrity non-chefs are pitted against each other overseen by a professional, will enter production later this year and greenlight announcement is imminent, Deadline understands. The first season was overseen by Michelin starred chef Giorgio Locatelli and saw the likes of Kerry Katona, Melvin Odoom and Shaun Ryder take part. One celebrity was knocked out every week and the winner was First Dates star Laura Tott. Season two celebrities will be revealed shortly. Former Sony-backed indie Electric Ray developed the format but has since been absorbed by SPT, which is now producing its shows. Celebrity Cooking School is reflective of E4 controller Karl Warner’s desire to order more factual-entertainment formats following a good year for the likes of Married At First Sight UK and … [Read more...] about Channel 4 Serves Up Second Helping Of ‘Celebrity Cooking School’ For E4

EXCLUSIVE : The Frasier sequel series for Paramount+ has rounded out its series regular cast by adding Toks Olagundoye ( The Neighbors ). From writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, the multi-camera comedy is executive produced by Kelsey Grammer who is reprising his signature character, psychiatrist-turned-radio host Frasier Crane. The sequel sees Frasier (Grammer) off to a different city with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge, and an old dream or two to finally fulfill. Olagundoye will play Olivia, head of the psych department at an Ivy League university. She projects confidence, warmth, and professionalism—in other words, the opposite of how completely unglued she feels on the inside. Olivia must contend daily with her colleague (and Frasier’s old college buddy) Alan (Nicholas Lyndhurst), who resents Olivia’s seniority over him. The two of them disagree on just about everything, but they both admire Frasier—and each hopes to use him to further their own … [Read more...] about ‘Frasier’: Toks Olagundoye Joins Paramount+ Sequel Series

American Cinemas Editors has cut together the nominees for its 73rd annual ACE Eddie Awards , which will be handed out next month. See the list for all 14 categories below. Vying for the marquee prize of Best Edited Feature Film (Drama, Theatrical) prize are the editors behind All Quiet on the Western Front, Elvis, Tár, Top Gun: Maverick and The Woman King . The Comedy Theatrical race will be among The Banshees of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Menu and Triangle of Sadness. Since the turn of the 21st century, the Eddie winner for theatrical drama has gone on to score the Academy Award for Best Editing 13 of 22 times — but none of the past three years. In 2022, King Richard took that ACE trophy , but Dune went home with the Oscar. Banshees of Inisherin, Elvis, Everything Everywhere, Tár and Maverick are up for the Editing statuette as the Oscars on March 12. RELATED: 2023 Awards Season Calendar … [Read more...] about ACE Eddie Awards Nominations: ‘Everything Everywhere’, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, ‘Woman King’, ‘Banshees of Inisherin’ & More