Showbiz Sandbox 412: Canceling “Roseanne” Was A No Brainer for ABC
June 4, 2018
Never before has a major broadcast network canceled a number one rated television show, let alone done so within hours of a brewing controversy sparked by one of its stars. Yet that’s exactly what happened last week when a racist tweet from Roseanne Barr caused ABC to ax the popular reboot of her eponymous hit sitcom. What’s remarkable is not only the unprecedented nature of the move, but more so the speed at which the decision was made and carried out.
Meanwhile the Tony Awards are being held next week to honor the best new Broadway productions, however there is little suspense over who will win since it’s already seen as a foregone conclusion. That’s why we look ahead to next year’s theater season and tell you which shows we’d back as investors.
And MoviePass is once again in the news, though this time it’s not for their subscription movie ticket service but rather a film they are co-distributing in North America. Turns out they may have an indie-hit on their hands.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including why YouTube stars are so stressed out, how much Taylor Swift is raking in with her latest tour and Neil Portnow will step down as the head of the Recording Academy.
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Showbiz Sandbox 217: In Hollywood You’re Nobody Till Somebody Sues You
December 17, 2013
The entertainment industry is marking the end of 2013 with a flurry of lawsuits all having to do, one way or another, with profit participation. Moguls Harvey and Bob Weinstein have filed suit against Warner Bros. over profits from sequels to “The Hobbit”, a property they originally owned. Then there’s the fired creator of “The Walking Dead” who is suing AMC claiming the network owes him tens of millions of dollars for the hit television series.
Filmmaker James Cameron is no stranger to legal battles since he is constantly having to fend off plagiarism lawsuits. Last week the director said he struck a tax deal with New Zealand to film not one, but three “Avatar” sequels in the country.
Golden Globe nominations were announced last week helping solidify awards season frontrunners such as “12 Years A Slave”, “American Hustle” and “Gravity” among others. Keep in mind, only about 90 international entertainment journalists get to nominate and vote for the Globes.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the new additions to the National Film Registry, the new members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and how Beyoncé surprised fans with a new album.
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