Showbiz Sandbox 471: A Harsh Verdict from Former “America’s Got Talent” Judges
December 9, 2019
After just one season on “America’s Got Talent” celebrity judges Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough had done what they were hired to do; increase the show’s social media footprint. Yet their contracts were not renewed for a second season and Union gained a huge amount of attention for her claims the show has a toxic culture. The show’s producers and network NBC are being very careful in how they handle the situation.
In Hong Kong, mass protests continue to disrupt the city and its significant entertainment industry. The ongoing demonstrations have affected Asian year-end awards, Hong Kong’s box office and generally made it harder to do business for entertainment companies who are both trying to please China yet show they have a moral compass.
Meanwhile, it looks as if this year won’t set any North American box office records, though it might be the second highest on record. Disney, however, has nothing to worry about as they set theatrical earnings records thanks to a string of billion dollar releases.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Golden Globe nominations, the bidding war ver Ali Wong’s next comedy special and Comcast looks to expand in the United Kingdom.
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Showbiz Sandbox 298: Predicting The 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
October 12, 2015
Among the 2016 nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced this past week were legendary musical acts like The Smiths that will surely be inducted, unheralded backing groups such as the J.B.s that are a long shot and even a popular 1970s funk band, Chic, that has now been nominated ten times. The nominations that generated the most media discussion were probably for pop star Janet Jackson and N.W.A., the hip hop group which popularized gansta rap. We debate which of this year’s nominees are deserving of induction and which are real head scratchers.
Meanwhile government and film industry regulators in China agreed to allow greater oversight into their box office receipts through a public website. Only time will tell whether this was a symbolic gesture meant to assuage Hollywood studios or a true step toward more transparency.
We’ll also dip back into book publishing, where despite recent setbacks many companies are trying to launch all-you-can read subscription services.. Given the numbers revealed by Amazon for its Kindle Unlimited program, it appears authors don’t have much to gain.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including a lifetime achievement award for composer John Williams, the plans to adapt Nancy Drew for television and Woody Allen goes digital.
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