Today In Entertainment

JANUARY 08, 2021

What's news: TV news journalists discuss covering the Capitol Hill riot, tens of millions turned to TV to watch the mayhem unfold,  Simon & Schuster cancels Sen. Josh Hawley's book deal, Facebook cracks down further on President Trump. Plus: Roku acquires Quibi's library, why Hollywood isn't lobbying hard for early COVID vaccine access, and how WarnerMedia can solve its streaming strife. --Alex Weprin

 Capitol Fallout

►"There was definitely resistance to us being there": TV news journalists talk covering the riot on Capitol Hill. on Thursday I spoke with CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell, ABC News White House correspondent Rachel Scott and NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander and discussed the marathon day of reporting, and keeping safe amid the chaos: "I have my security guy with me and put my head down."

--“I had a sense that this was heading in the wrong direction when I saw the crowds approaching the Capitol,” O’Donnell said. “I think the moment we realized that this was very dangerous was when the Vice President was being pulled out of the ceremonial chair to preside over the Senate.”

--“There was one particular instance, where I was in front of the U.S. Capitol, we were not live, we were recording the stand-up, I was in front of the camera explaining what was happening behind me, and we have it on tape, a man came charging towards me in what looked like an attempt to tackle me,” Scott says. “I am so grateful that we have security, and security was able to block that person from reaching me, but he didn’t just do that once, he did it twice, he circled back around and tried to do it again. At that point, we had to move out of that area, and get out the way where people were gathering. There was definitely resistance to us being there.” The story.

+One of the most viewed takes on social media came from ITV correspondent Robert Moore, who delivered his report from the middle of he mob. "There is a lot of hostility from that crowd towards the media, all elements of it. But their real dislike is of American media, Moore told THR's Kirsten Chuba. "So once we've explained to them that we're an overseas TV network they were, if not, friendly. They didn't regard us as a hostile presence." The interview.

►Millions watched the madness unfold. Nearly 29 million people watched afternoon coverage of the riot on the Capitol grounds and in the halls of Congress as members gathered to certify Joe Biden's presidential victory, Rick Porter writes. Continuing coverage in primetime, which eventually shifted back to the Electoral College certification, drew upward of 33 million viewers on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. CNN had the most watched day in its 40-year history, averaging 5.22 million viewers for the 24-hour period. It also led all networks both in the four-hour block of riot coverage in the afternoon and in primetime. The story.

►Facebook cracks down further: Facebook is extending its block on Donald Trump's account in the most sweeping action that a social media platform has taken against the president. The block will limit Trump's access to his Facebook and Instagram account for at least the final two weeks of his term. The story.

+Twitter, meanwhile, reinstated the president's account after suspending it Wednesday. President Trump then posted a video to the platform on Thursday emphasizing that he will ensure a smooth transition of power to incoming President-elect Joe Biden. More.

►Why Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors is so "disturbed by the double standard" at the U.S. Capitol. "We have to come to terms about who this country truly protects and who it does not," a lead organizer of the protest movement tells THR's Degen Pener of pro-Trump rioters storming Capitol Hill. The interview.

►Simon & Schuster will no longer publish Senator Josh Hawley's forthcoming book. The publication announced Thursday they have cancelled the June publication of Hawley's The Tyranny of Big Tech after the former attorney general of Missouri and Republican senator has been accused of helping incite the mob of Trump supporters that resulted in the violent riot that took place at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Hawley responded by referring to the company as being run by a "woke mob," and falsely saying it infringed on his First Amendment rights. The story.

►Media and entertainment CEOs weigh in: Disney CEO Bob Chapek said that the violence marked a "sad and tragic day for our country" that was "unlike any other in our history." "What we saw was an egregious and inexcusable assault on America's most revered institution and our democracy," he wrote. "Thankfully, the democratic process that we hold dear ultimately prevailed." “Freedom, democracy and rule of law are America’s bedrock and must never be usurped," AT&T CEO John Stankey said. "We congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their Electoral College victory. There is much to be done to move the country forward.”

 Roku-Quibi Deal

►Just in: Roku has acquired Quibi's library. The deal, terms of which were not disclosed (though are reportedly less than $100 million), means that 75 shortform shows like Veena Sud's The Stranger and Liam Hemsworth starrer Most Dangerous Game will continue to have a home despite Quibi's shutdown late last year. The shows will live on the company's free ad-supported Roku Channel. Natalie Jarvey has the story.

►Why Hollywood isn’t lobbying hard for COVID-19 vaccines. Given that on-set safety has been such an unimpeachable priority during the pandemic, one would think the film and television industry would be pushing hard to obtain access to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. But that hasn't quite happened, Peter Kiefer reports. Rather, a mix of political wariness and confidence in the status quo has compelled industry leaders to, at least for the moment, exercise restraint when it comes to lobbying for the vaccine. The story.

 Solving Streaming's Economic Dilemma

►How WarnerMedia can solve its streaming strife. The studio and guilds must navigate what’s known as "employer’s gross" amid a digital revolution spurred by the pandemic, writes the entertainment attorney and Los Angeles film czar Ken Ziffren.

--"The guilds should have a seat at the table whenever a picture is going to be licensed to any affiliated entity. Whether prior to photography or after the picture has been screened/delivered, the studio must make disclosure and discuss valuation and/or alternatives with the guilds before licensing to an affiliate or related party. I’m reasonably confident that there will be 'comparable pictures' available for analysis and a marketplace solution will result. In the absence of conferring and revealing data as I suggest, the end result could be dozens of guild arbitrations, not desired by anyone." The column.

►Lucasfilm has found the writer for its Kevin Feige-produced Star Wars feature project. Michael Waldron, the writer and executive producer behind Marvel’s upcoming Loki series, has nabbed the high-coveted gig of penning the script. The project is seen as being on a tier onto itself because it is being produced by Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, a separate arm from Lucasfilm, which oversees all things Star Wars. Feige originated the project and is producing with Lucasfilm, headed by Kathleen Kennedy. More.

►Netflix, Hulu can't hide behind Internet Tax Freedom Act in Missouri fee fight. As streamers face an escalating battle with American cities over local utility fees, one judge issues a first-of-its-kind ruling as another judge hears First Amendment arguments over the digital transmission of Queen's Gambit and Cobra Kai, Eriq Gardner reports. The story.

+In other legal news: The cost of taking another songwriter's work without permission and illicitly leaking a remade version is $450,000. That's what Nicki Minaj will be paying Tracy Chapman to satisfy her copyright infringement claims over "Sorry," a derivative of "Baby Can I Hold You." More.

►Streaming ratings: Netflix viewers got in some hefty viewing of The Office in one of its final weeks before the show moved to rival streamer Peacock. The beloved comedy tops the Nielsen streaming charts for Dec. 7-13, with Netflix users in the United States watching 1.28 billion minutes' worth of the show. The numbers. 

►NBC News shakes up its White House team. According to a memo sent Friday morning by NBC News president Noah Oppenheim, Kristen Welker and Peter Alexander will become NBC's chief White House correspondents. Current chief White House correspondent Hallie Jackson will shift to a new role as senior Washington correspondent, and will also supplement her current MSNBC hour with a new streaming show for NBC News Now and Peacock. More.

Revolving door: Warner Bros. has hired Josh Goldstine as its new president of worldwide marketing, the studio said Thursday...Film executive Daria Cercek is moving to Paramount, where she will act as co-president of film. She joins film co-president Michael Ireland, who joined the studio in November... Creative Artists Agency has promoted CFO James Burtson to president of the Hollywood talent agency. Carol Sawdye, a former COO of the global PwC network of firms, will also join CAA as its new chief financial officer... May Hong HaDuong has been appointed director of the UCLA Film & Television Archive...

►TV reviews: Robyn Bahr reviews season 2 of Apple TV+'s Dickinson, writing that "Dickinson may dehydrate history into digestible chunks, but as one character murmurs to another, 'Well, who cares if it's real — as long as it looks good, right?'" The review.

+Daniel Fienberg reviews HBO's docoumentary Tiger, writing that "Boosted by great golfing and behind-the-scenes footage, plus a few memorable interviews, Tiger surely proves that Woods transcended his sport, but a bigger-picture contextualizing of his stardom, and of the man himself, proves beyond the documentary's reach." The review.

►Awards Chatter podcast: In this episode Will Ferrell reflects on his circuitous route to comedy, followed by his rapid ascension up its ranks; his long and fruitful collaboration with Adam McKay, both at SNL and on films; and his most recent project, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which is Grammy-nominated. Listen.

►TV's Top 5 podcast: During this week's podcast, hosts Daniel Fienberg and Lesley Goldberg are joined by the host of TBS' Full Frontal, Samantha Bee, to preview season six and Austin Winsberg, who opens up about the big changes on his NBC's musical dramedy Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Listen.

In other news...

--SiriusXM, the home of Howard Stern, said it expects to record a $1 billion non-cash impairment charge for its Pandora music streaming service, due mainly to the impact of per-play royalty payment costs.

--GKIDS announced its U.S. release plans for Studio Ghibli’s newest feature, Earwig and the Witch. The film will open in select theaters on Feb. 3 in both Japanese subtitled and English dub versions, via longtime partner Fathom Events, as well as in independent theater circuits. That will follow with a Feb. 5 release on HBO Max, the exclusive U.S. streaming home of the Studio Ghibli catalog.

--Mean Girls has concluded its run on Broadway due to the COVID-19 pandemic and continued industry-wide shutdown of entertainment venues.

--Deluxe has acquired Sundog Media Toolkit, a U.K.-based mastering and versioning services business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

--Steven Manios Sr., the former owner and president of Century Precision Optics who developed wide-angle and telephoto lenses for film and television production, died Sunday from COVID-19 complications, his family announced. He was 82.

--Vera Farmiga is set to star in and produce Bad Bloom, Bryce McGuire's feature directorial debut.

What else we're reading...

--"The pro-Trump media world peddled the lies that fueled the Capitol mob. Fox News led the way" [Washington Post]

--"Ajit Pai is distancing himself from President Trump" [Protocol]

--"The race if on to succeed Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek" [LA Times]

--"Comscore enters deal with Charter, Qurate Retail, and Cerberus" [WSJ]

--"Sheryl Crow's life lessons" [Vanity Fair]

Today's birthdays: Shirley Bassey, 84, Betsy DeVos, 63, Noah Cyrus, 21, Charles Osgood, 88.

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JANUARY 08, 2021

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