Showbiz Sandbox 226: Back To The Future – Why TV Networks Suddenly Love Old People Again
February 24, 2014
Broadcast television networks are finally catching on to what most of us have known all along; people over the age of 50 actually watch a lot of TV. In a never-ending pursuit to attract younger viewers, networks discovered that baby boomers make up a large portion of their audience. Surely we’ll be seeing a lot more programming meant to appeal directly to this new found demographic.
Maybe some of these new, more mature shows can be turned into movies one day. That seems to be the new trend in Hollywood as studios get set to release two movies that are spun-off from canceled series (“Veronica Mars”) or are have actually already appeared on television as mini-series (“Son of God”).
Speaking of Hollywood studios, it turns out that despite crying poor on a perennial basis, they all managed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in profit during 2013. Not revenue… actual profit.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Cee Lo Green quitting “The Voice”, CNN quitting Piers Morgan and the end of Moviefone’s movie listing service.
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‘Ghostbusters’ Star Harold Ramis Dies at 69
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/harold-ramis-dead-at-69-1201118556/
‘Lego Movie’ Sequel Sets Release Date
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lego-movie-sequel-sets-release-682407
Box Office: ‘Hobbit 2’ Opens to Huge $32.7 Million in China
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-hobbit-2-opens-682657
Box Office (Global): ‘Pompeii’ Struggles Internationally With $22.8 Million
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-global-pompeii-struggles-682665
R-Rated ‘Anchorman 2’ Hitting Theaters for One Week
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/r-rated-anchorman-2-hitting-682273
‘Anchorman 2’ Returns (Call It 2½)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/movies/anchorman-2-returns-call-it-2.html
Studio Profit Report: Who’s Up and Who’s Down
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/movie-tv-studio-profit-report-681784
Churches Buy Out Multiplexes for ‘Son of God’ Opening
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/churches-buy-out-multiplexes-for-son-of-god-opening-1201104736/
‘Veronica Mars’ Movie: Coming to a Living Room Near You
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/veronica-mars-movie-coming-a-682506
Pilot Season: 4 Hot Trends for 2014
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pilot-season-4-hot-trends-680994
TV Pilot Season 2014: By the Numbers
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-pilot-season-2014-by-681459
Fox Adds Family Drama From Jerry Bruckheimer
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fox-adds-family-drama-jerry-682726
NBC’s ‘Heroes’ to Return as Miniseries in 2015
http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/nbc-to-revive-heroes-franchise-as-miniseries-in-2015-1201116954/
Jennifer Lopez Drama Ordered Straight to Series at NBC
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jennifer-lopez-drama-ordered-straight-682502
How Actors With No Leverage Get Screwed in TV Contracts
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-actors-no-leverage-get-681841
Exclusive Media: Financial Backers Aren’t Bailing Out
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/media-financial-backers-arent-bailing-682470
Thank You, Rolling Stone
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/thank-you-rolling-stone-20140220
Piers Morgan and CNN Plan End to His Prime-Time Show
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/business/media/piers-morgan-and-cnn-plan-end-to-his-prime-time-show.html
Cee Lo Green: I’m Not Returning to ‘The Voice’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cee-lo-green-im-not-681487
Indie Numbers Fall Below 1,000 For the First Time
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-numbers-fall-below-1000-first-time.html
Brit Awards 2014: Winners List in Full
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/brit-awards-2014-winners-list-in-full-9139674.html
Emmys: Movie and Miniseries Returned to Separate Categories
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/emmys-movie-miniseries-returned-separate-682270
Dish Networks Fights Dennis Hopper Estate Over ‘Hopper’ Name
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/dish-networks-fights-dennis-hopper-682446
Moviefone Is Hanging Up, but Its App Will Go On
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/business/media/moviefone-is-hanging-up-but-its-app-will-go-on.html
Netflix to Pay Comcast for Smoother Streaming
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405….
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