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After weeks of seeing his private life flooded into the public, Jeff Bezos went online today to accuse Donald Trump’s pals at the National Enquirer of attempting to strong arm him with intimate photos, texts and an intent to ruin him with Amazon shareholders. “Any personal embarrassment AMI could cause me takes a back seat because there’s a much more important matter involved here,” the world’s richest man and owner of the Washington Post wrote, regarding National Enquirer parent company American Media’s desire to shut down the investigation Bezos has started of how information about his marriage and other personal affairs became public knowledge. “If in my position I can’t stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can? (On that point, numerous people have contacted our investigation team about their similar experiences with AMI, and how they needed to capitulate because, for example, their livelihoods were at stake),” the Amazon founder wrote. … [Read more...] about Jeff Bezos Rips National Enquirer With “Extortion” Claims, Defends WaPo

Sky is seeking inspiration from Happy Vall ey for its next hit show as programs boss Zai Bennett says the pay-TV giant is taking a ‘less is more’ approach to original content. Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild event this morning, Sky Studios Director of Original Drama Meghan Lyvers said conversations are taking place with producers about shows that have “an investigative spine with complicated, dysfunctional, flawed, human and relatable characters at the center,” evoking Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire ’s Catherine Cawood. She responded “perhaps yes” when questioned if the next big Sky drama could be led by a Cawood-esque figure and talked up the way in which the BBC One/AMC+ sensation places an older woman front and centre of the story. A similar show, the Kate Winslet-starring Mare of Easttown, was launched by Sky and HBO in 2021 to critical acclaim. “There are always trends in terms of trying new shows and reaching new audiences but older women … [Read more...] about Sky Seeking Next ‘Happy Valley’ As Content Boss Zai Bennett Teases Less Is More Approach

The furor over a Chinese spy balloon that flew over U.S. airspace has further chilled D.C.-Beijing tensions, but the entertainment industry already has been swept up in the heightened atmosphere of American hawkishness. Hollywood studios and producers are poised to get a new level of scrutiny over their dealings with China — reflecting a bipartisan hardline toward Beijing and escalating concerns over its influence. A little publicized provision of a recently passed defense bill restricts the U.S. government from spending funds on movies that, to gain entry into the Chinese marketplace, are altered in the face of Chinese government dictates. The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act , approved in a bipartisan vote of Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in December, is the latest example of an increased focus on China’s role, not just in the entertainment industry but also in sports and social media. While Republicans have led attacks on … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s China Predicament: New Law Restricts U.S. Cooperation On Projects Modified To Appease Beijing

Podcast content creators at Crooked Media , complaining about the “degradation of our working conditions,” have unionized with the WGA East . According to the guild, an “overwhelming majority” of the podcast company’s 55 content creators have signed cards to unionize and are calling on management to voluntarily recognize the guild as their collective bargaining representative. Founded in 2017 by former President Barack Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor, Crooked Media produces podcasts including Pod Save America , What a Day , Hall of Shame and Lovett It or Leave It . “As audiences and creative opportunities expand for podcast storytelling, the guild is proud to work with the storytellers to gain a voice on the job and to improve conditions in this vital sector,” said WGA East Executive Director Lowell Peterson. In a letter delivered today to management, the company’s 55-member bargaining unit said they’re organizing because “Crooked has … [Read more...] about Podcast Content Creators At Crooked Media Unionize With WGA East

If revenge is a dish best served cold, then President Donald Trump is delivering ice to one of his arch-rivals. The Commander-in-Tweet has capped off a day of online blasts by skewering embattled Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , who just happens to own the Washington Post , one of Trump’s biggest critics and a constant source of ire. This time, Trump turned the tables, gloating on Twitter about Bezos’s recent marital troubles, which are being covered with the fervor of a contested election by the celebrity press. Bezos and wife MacKenzie are divorcing, but salacious details of his romance with his new squeeze, former Fox newsperson Lauren Sanchez , have set the tabloids on fire with tales of texts, emails, intimate pictures and other nuggets. The National Enquirer took particular delight in the revelations, detailing in an article that claimed it conducted a four-month investigation of l’affaire Bezos. The tabloid claimed it followed Bezos and Sanchez “across … [Read more...] about Trump Calls Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos “Bozo” On Twitter, Tweaks Tab Reports

The next generation of creative voices from underrepresented communities has been named to join Nickelodeon ’s annual Writing and Artist Programs. This year’s programs are back in person at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank for the first time since 2020. Group members will develop their skills with hands-on work as the Writing Program enters its 23rd year, with 2023 marking the 12 th year for the Artist Program. Both are overseen by the Paramount Office of Global Inclusion and aligned with the company’s “Content for Change” initiative. “We are thrilled to welcome the new participants and future storytellers to the Nickelodeon Writing and Artist Programs,” said Marva Smalls, Paramount’s EVP, Global Head of Inclusion. “For over 20 years, this program has been a catalyst for many people in the creative community to learn and develop the tools needed to launch their careers. Programs like these continue our commitment to an inclusive talent pipeline and diverse … [Read more...] about Nickelodeon’s Annual Writing and Artist Programs Announce 12 New Participants

Amidst continuing controversy over alleged sexual misconduct, it turns out Woody Allen isn’t turning the other cheek to the end of his multimillion-dollar and multi-picture deal with Amazon. The Oscar winner on Thursday hit the studio division of the Jeff Bezos -founded company with a $68 million lawsuit over the cancellation of a four-film agreement and Amazon Studios killing distribution of Allen’s long-completed and shelved movie A Rainy Day in New York . “In June 2018, however, Amazon backed out of the deals, purporting to terminate them without any legal basis for doing so, while knowing that its actions would cause substantial damage to Mr. Allen, Gravier, investors and the artists and crew involved in making the films,” reads the complaint, citing breach of contract, filed by lawyers for Allen and his Gravier Productions in federal court ( read it here ). “Amazon has tried to excuse its action by referencing a 25-year-old baseless allegation against Mr. … [Read more...] about Woody Allen Hits Amazon With $68M Suit Over Killed Film Deal & “Baseless Allegations”

Chris McCarthy has been speaking about a franchise strategy for Showtime since he took over the network a couple of months ago. That strategy will include expanding successful series with multiple spinoffs in the mold of the Yellowstone universe as the premium cable network starts its integration with Paramount+ and getting a new moniker , Paramount+ with Showtime. Deadline has been hearing for awhile about potential Billions offshoots from series co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Showtime would not confirm the plan but McCarthy did it in an interview with WSJ , revealing that the four projects in the works are spinoffs set in Miami, the self-proclaimed crypto capital, and London, the world’s financial hub, as well as offshoots Millions , about up-and-coming financiers, and Trillions, a soap about the ultra rich. (You can find more details about all four Billions series in development at the bottom of the story.) McCarthy also confirmed that … [Read more...] about ‘Billions’ Spinoffs In Works At Showtime; ’Dexter’ Prequel Confirmed

EXCLUSIVE: Following a competitive bidding war, Warner Bros. TV has landed the Mac Smullen spec pilot Souvenir, Alaska . Carly Wray will exec produce and oversee the development while Lee Toland Krieger will exec produce and direct the pilot (both have overall deals with WBTV ). WBTV had no comment on the project. Sources say four other networks were chasing the pilot before WBTV put in the winning bid and while plot details are being kept under wraps, sources close to the pilot describe it as a cross between a Stephen King and Michael Crichton story. Wray has become one of the more seasoned producers in television working on such acclaimed shows as Westworld, The Leftovers and Watchmen , which she won an Emmy for. She is repped by WME and Grandview. Krieger’s past credits include You, Shadow and Bone and Superman & Louis. He is repped by WME and Anonymous Content. The sale is the first for emerging writer Smullen, who won the AMC Austin Pilot … [Read more...] about Warner Bros. TV Lands Pilot ‘Souvenir Alaska’ From Mac Smullen With Carly Wray Overseeing And Lee Toland Kreiger Directing

Comedian and Grammy presenter Randy Rainbow has heard all the Valhalla jokes. “Yes, I totally had a Travolta/Adel Dazeem moment,” he says in an apology tweet today. Presenting the first-ever Grammy for video game music during the pre-show Premiere Ceremony, co-host Rainbow mangled the pronunciation of the winner Assassin’s Creed Valhalla , saying something like “Assassin’s … .Creed Valaha .” In a tweet titled “With sincerest apologies to Assassin’s Creed VALHALLA,” Rainbow — who was nominated in the Best Comedy Album category — explains: “It was the second category of the show, I was still finding my footing and don’t know video games. And of the many phonetic spellings I had to contend with as host, that one wasn’t included so I just started speaking in tongues.” The award was presented during the Sunday afternoon ceremony to composer Stephanie Economou for her music in Ubisoft’s video game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok , a billion-dollar-plus … [Read more...] about Grammy Presenter Randy Rainbow Apologizes For ‘Valaha’ Flub: “I Just Started Speaking In Tongues”