Showbiz Sandbox 386: Keeping Up With Hollywood Sex Scandals Becomes A Full Time Job

October has been a particularly horrific month for Hollywood this year, and not just because of the run up to Halloween. After a record setting September, North American box office dropped to a ten year low in October as major releases failed to attract audiences. Then there was the flood of industry-wide sexual harassment claims, an ongoing story with no end in sight.

What started with egregious allegations against indie-mogul Harvey Weinstein has led to actors and actresses coming forward with more stories of harassment, including one against two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, who has been accused of making sexual overtures to a 14-year-old boy over 30 years ago.

Meanwhile, the publishing industry has some good news about book sales and we’ll explain why lists announcing the best books of 2017 have already been compiled by trade publications, two months before the year is over.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how the Disney Channel is introducing a gay storyline, a virtual reality project wins a special Oscar and the latest Star Trek series will get a second season.

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comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of October 29, 2017
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-october-29-2017-300545223.html

China Box Office: ‘Geostorm’ Blows to $33 Million Win as ‘Blade Runner’ Flops
http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/china-box-office-geostorm-victory-blade-runner-flops-1202602049/

Regal Cinemas Plan May Let You Pay Less for Flops, More for Hits
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-24/regal-cinemas-plans-to-test-new-pricing-to-fill-empty-seats

Adult Trade, Children’s Categories Posted Six-Month Gains
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/75205-adult-trade-children-s-categories-posted-six-month-gains.html

Australia’s Amazon Book Battle
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/books/australias-amazon-book-battle.html

Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017
https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2017/top-10

Hitler in Los Angeles by Steven J. Ross
http://amzn.to/2ihuLjb

The Trees by Conrad Richter – BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2016/10/19/the-trees-2/

Disney Channel Breaks Ground With First Gay Storyline
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/disney-channel-breaks-ground-first-gay-storyline-1051791

Alejandro G. Inarritu’s Virtual Reality Installation ‘Carne y Arena’ to Receive Special Award
http://variety.com/2017/film/awards/oscars-alejandro-g-inarritus-virtual-reality-installation-carne-y-arena-to-receive-special-award-1202601265/

One Direction Ties The Beatles as Only Groups With Three Members With Solo No. 1 Albums
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8015059/one-direction-beatles-group-number-one-solo-album

‘Walking Dead’ Season 8 Premiere Draws Lowest Opening Ratings Since Season 3
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/walking-dead-season-8-premiere-ratings-1202596402/

Bruce Moves In On Bette As ‘The Band’s Visit’ Strikes Up $872K At Broadway Box Office
http://deadline.com/2017/10/bruce-moves-in-on-bette-as-the-bands-visit-strikes-up-872k-at-broadway-box-office-1202193258/

CBS Has Renewed Star Trek: Discovery For a Second Season
https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/23/16520316/star-trek-discovery-renewed-cbs-all-access-season-2

Weinstein Company Will Not Get Planned Cash Infusion
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/business/media/weinstein-company-colony-capital.html

New York Attorney General Launches Investigation Into Weinstein Co.
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/new-york-attorney-general-weinstein-co-investigation-1202596608/

Fired Nick Showrunner Chris Savino Responds to Sexual Harassment Allegations: ‘I Am Deeply Sorry’
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/loud-house-showrunner-chris-savino-sexual-harassment-allegations-1202596465/

Joe Lewis Exits Amazon Studios; Sharon Tal Yguado Takes Over Scripted Series
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/joe-lewis-amazon-studios-1202597324/

Report: Terry Richardson Blacklisted by Top Fashion Magazines
https://www.thedailybeast.com/report-terry-richardson-blacklisted-by-top-fashion-magazines

Bill O’Reilly Now Dropped by Literary Talent Agency Also
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-oreilly-dropped-by-talent-agency-32m-settlement-reveal-1051472

Motion Picture Academy Moves to Institute Code of Conduct
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/27/movies/motion-picture-academy-code-conduct.html

Actor Anthony Rapp: Kevin Spacey Made A Sexual Advance Toward Me When I Was 14
https://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/anthony-rapp-kevin-spacey-made-sexual-advance-when-i-was-14

Kevin Spacey’s Apology Slammed by Dan Savage, Rose McGowan, Billy Eichner
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/kevin-spacey-apology-anthony-rapp-gay-celebrities-1202602129/

Lionsgate Exec Andrew Kramer Exited After Harassment Allegation
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-exec-andrew-kramer-exits-harassment-allegation-1052209

LAPD Investigating Former APA Agent Tyler Grasham Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lapd-investigating-apa-agent-tyler-grasham-sexual-assault-allegations-1052799

NBC News Terminates Mark Halperin’s Contract
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/nbc-news-terminates-mark-halperin-1202602216/

Amazon Studios Unscripted Head Conrad Riggs Departs
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/amazon-studios-unscripted-1202597972/

Marilyn Manson Splits With Bassist Twiggy Ramirez After Rape Accusations
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8013964/marilyn-manson-splits-bassist-twiggy-ramirez-rape-accusations

George H.W. Bush Apologizes to Second Actress After Sexual Assault Allegations
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/george-hw-bush-apologizes-after-sexual-assault-allegations-w510188

Bjork Label Founder Defends Singer’s Lars Von Trier Harassment Claims
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bjork-label-founder-defends-singers-lars-von-trier-harassment-claims-w510151

CBS Diversity Showcase Director Rick Najera Exits Amid Harassment Allegations
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/cbs-diversity-showcase-director-rick-najera-exits-harassment-allegations-1202600365/

Gal Gadot Backs Out of Awards Dinner Honoring Brett Ratner
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/gal-gadot-brett-ratner-jewish-national-fund-1202599549/

Robert Guillaume, ‘Benson’ Emmy Winner, Dies at 89
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/robert-guillaume-dead-benson-actor-920459

Fats Domino, Early Rock ’n’ Roller With a Boogie-Woogie Piano, Is Dead at 89
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/obituaries/fats-domino-89-one-of-rock-n-rolls-first-stars-is-dead.html

Walter Lassally Obituary
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/24/walter-lassally-obituary

Patricia Llewellyn Dies: Gordon Ramsay Producer & Former Optomen Boss Was 55
http://deadline.com/2017/10/patricia-llewellyn-dies-british-tv-producer-gordon-ramsay-jamie-oliver-optomen-1202193708/