Showbiz Sandbox 198: One Flop Does Not A Studio Break
July 15, 2013
Though the media might like to focus on Hollywood’s failures whenever a big blockbuster tanks, the reality is most movie studios can weather a flop or two. Modern-day entertainment conglomerates include music, merchandising, consumer products and travel divisions of which the movie studio is much smaller part. Disney, for instance, made nine times as much revenue in 2012 on its television media holdings than it did with its movie studio.
Even so, without a pipeline of even modestly successful movies, an entertainment company’s entire operation can eventually suffer. That’s why even though mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer is in a bit of a dry spell lately, (see “The Lone Ranger”) someone in Hollywood will always be willing to bet on his next project.
The past week also saw a seemingly endless supply of news stories concerning the health of celebrities. Placido Domingo was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism, Randy Travis is in serious condition after suffering a stroke, Elton John canceled a tour after emergency surgery for appendicitis and it was all topped by the untimely death of “Glee” star Cory Monteith at age 31.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the Meredith Vieira’s return to television, a Twitter storm over “Sharknado” and Joan Rivers’ dispute with the Writers Guild.
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Bill Cosby to Release His First Stand-Up Special in 30 Years
http://www.vulture.com/2013/07/bill-cosby-is-releasing-a-new-stand-up-special.html
Jerry Bruckheimer’s Disney Future in Question As Moguls Defend His ‘Lone Ranger’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-bruckheimers-disney-future-question-582560
Disney Is Not a Movie Company; It’s a Television Company
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/07/disney-is-not-a-movie-company-its-a-television-company/277680/
Depp Finalizing Alice Sequel
http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/johnny-depp-finalizing-alice-in-wonderland-2/
‘Jungle Book’ Live-Action Reboot in the Works at Disney (Exclusive)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jungle-book-live-action-reboot-582283
China Box Office Up 36 Percent to $1.79 Billion in First Half of 2013
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-up-36-583085
Plácido Domingo Plans to Return to Work
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/plcido-domingo-plans-to-return-to-work/
Randy Travis Undergoes Surgery After A Stroke
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/randy-travis-undergoes-surgery-after-a-stroke/
Sir Elton John: I Nearly Died
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/5005726/Elton-John-appendix-abscess-cancels-tour.html
Glee Star Cory Monteith Dies
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/glee-star-cory-monteith-dies-584965
Cory Monteith Dead: How Will ‘Glee’ Move Forward?
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-cory-monteith-glee-future-20130714,0,2574003.story
Meredith Vieira Launches Daytime Talk Show
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/meredith-vieira-launching-daytime-talk-582252
William Lynch Leaves CEO Post at Barnes & Noble
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/william-lynch-leaves-position-of-barnes-noble-ceo-other-leadership-changes/
Judge Rules Against Apple; They Will Appeal
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/technology/judge-rules-against-apple-in-e-books-trial.html
Netflix In Talks for Another Season of ‘Arrested Development’
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-11/netflix-in-talks-for-another-season-of-arrested-development-.html
‘Ender’s Game’ Boycott Planned Over Orson Scott Card’s Anti-Gay Views
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/enders-game-boycott-planned-orson-581693
Lionsgate Calls ‘Ender’s Game’ Author’s Anti-Gay Views ‘Completely Irrelevant’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lionsgate-enders-game-orson-author-584673
A Detective Story’s Famous Author Is Unmasked
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/books/a-detective-storys-famous-author-is-unmasked.html
‘Sharknado’ Creates A Social Media Storm
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-sharknado-social-media-twitter-20130712,0,2988809.story
‘Sharknado’ Ratings: Lot of Wind, Little Bite
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/07/12/sharknado-ratings/
Rivera Memoir A Hit In Multiple Formats
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/58190-rivera-memoir-a-multiple-hit.html
Elizabeth Hasselbeck Joins FOX News
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/elisabeth-hasselbeck-leaves-view-fox-582399
Hulu Sale Called Off
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hulu-sale-called-584610
Joan Rivers Faces Writers Guild Trial In ‘Fashion Police’ Dispute
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-joan-rivers-wga-trial-writers-guild-20130710,0,6050248.story
Joan Rivers Faces Potential Fine, Expulsion in WGA East Trial
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fashion-police-joan-rivers-faces-584703
CineTechGeek Videos From CinemaCon
www.youtube.com/cinetechgeek
It looks like “R.I.P.D.” (which didn’t even screen early for critics) is another major bellyflop — this time with a $130 million budget. Spielberg is right in a way — with budgets so big, even minor movies like this seem like big disasters. But will it change Hollywood? Nope. Hollywood always wants lean budgets and big stars and huge event pictures. Guess which one of those three is the first to fall by the wayside?