Jon Stewart Isn’t Laughing

►On the cover. Six years after he stepped down from hosting duties at The Daily Show, Jon Stewart is back with his new Apple TV+ show The Problem With Jon Stewart. Two years in the making, the biweekly current affairs series strives to tackle a single issue, or "problem," every episode. 

Speaking to THR's Lacey Rose, Stewart understands if people are delighted by the prospect of his return to TV. But like the subjects he'll cover on The Problem, his comeback is a little more complicated: "It’s The Daily Show, but less entertaining — but also maybe more complete." The cover story.

—"Everything is an evolution." For The Problem, Jon Stewart hired a showrunner (news veteran Brinda Adhikari) and head writer (comedian Chelsea Devantez), then assembled a diverse staff very different from the mostly white comedy writers that made up his staff on The Daily Show. The story. 

—I am become death, the destroyer of Warners. In a huge blow to Warner Bros., Christopher Nolan is leaving his longtime home and moving to Universal for his next movie which will be about WWII scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The move comes after the Brit director, a strong proponent of the theatrical experience, spoke out last year against Warners decision to send its 2021 slate day-and-date to HBO Max. The story. 

—"This was not the story I agreed to tell." Alanis Morissette will not be supporting Jagged, the HBO doc that charts her rise to fame and the release of her seminal album Jagged Little Pill. In a statement, Morissette says, “I was lulled into a false sense of security and their salacious agenda became apparent immediately upon my seeing the first cut of the film." The story. 

—Down 5 million. Amazon is canceling HBO subscriptions today after the WarnerMedia company leaves its Prime Video channels service. The move will see HBO lose some 5 million of its subscribers, but the company is expected to provide a special offer for Amazon subscribers after their subscriptions are canceled. The story. 

Norm Macdonald 1959-2021

►"No one was funny like Norm." Norm Macdonald, the deadpan, caustic comedian who made a name for himself as the host of "Weekend Update" on Saturday Night Live, as the star of his own sitcoms and from appearances in such films as Dirty Work and Funny People, died Tuesday. He was 61.

Macdonald died after a nine-year, private battle with cancer, his rep confirmed to THR. The obituary. 

—"We lost a comedy giant today." Norm Macdonald's death prompted his fellow comedians and friends to remember his unwavering ability to make everyone laugh. The likes of Seth Rogen, Steve Martin, David Letterman, Whitney Cummings, Jim Carrey, Gilbert Gottfried and more posted their tributes and thoughts on social media. 

Jon Stewart tweeted, “No one could make you break like Norm Macdonald. Hilarious and unique." Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote on Instagram, "Thank you Norm. Your work lives and the bar is set high. A comics comic – he would have hated me repeating that cliche." The reaction. 

—"There was nobody quite like him." On Tuesday's episode of The Late Late Show, James Corden dedicated a portion of the show to remembering Norm Macdonald. "I felt privileged anytime I got to be in his orbit. He leaves us as one of the all-time greatest comics, perhaps the single greatest guest in the history of late-night television." The story. 

—"He will continue to be the gold standard." Seth Meyers also paid tribute to Macdonald on Late Night. Meyers spoke to the work and legacy of the late comedian on the show which taped just hours after news of Macdonald's passing broke. The story.

Total Recall: Newsom Prevails

►No more trips to French Laundry. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has prevailed over a recall effort aimed at removing him from the state’s top job. Less than an hour after polls closed Tuesday night, the AP projected the majority of California voters voted “no” in the recall election. Forty-six candidates, including reality television star Caitlyn Jenner and YouTuber Kevin Paffrath, ran to replace Newsom in the special election. The story. 

—"WTF with all the tax money wasted on this farce of a recall." A host of Hollywood stars, including Michael Moore, Alyssa Milano, Rob Reiner, Questlove and Elijah Wood, took to social media on Tuesday night to react to Newsom’s win. The reaction. 

—Talks. Disney CEO Bob Chapek will be at the White House today to meet with President Joe Biden. Chapek will be part of a panel of business leaders set to discuss the Biden Administration's vaccine mandate. The story. 

—"Don't worry folks." Britney Spears is taking a break from social media following her engagement with Sam Asghari. The singer suddenly deleted her Instagram account on Tuesday which had fans concerned briefly before she tweeted an explanation. The story. 

Paramount Overhaul Sets Up Clash With Filmmakers  

►As the ViacomCBS mogul ousts Paramount Pictures chief Jim Gianopulos and shakes up the executive management, insiders tell THR's Kim Masters that they expect the legacy studio to start churning out low-cost, often mediocre features for Paramount+ driven by Shari Redstone’s determination — even desperation — to feed and build the streaming business. The story. 

—An unhappy first. HBO Max has what may be its first scripted cancellation. Generation, the LGBTQ-themed high school dramedy from exec producer Lena Dunham and created by teenager Zelda Barnz and her father, screenwriter Daniel Barnz, will not return for a second season on the streamer. The story. 

—Who's afraid of the big, black bat? Hasan Minhaj will voice the Riddler in Batman Unburied, the Spotify podcast hailing from The Dark Knight scribe David S. Goyer. The hotly anticipated series has also cast Lance Reddick, Toks Olagundoye, John Rhys-Davies and Ashly Burch. The story. 

In other news...

—West Side Story drops grandiose trailer for Spielberg remake.

—TIFF film review: Rebeca Huntt's Beba. 

—TIFF film review: Mohammed Abugeth and Daniel Carsenty’s The Devil’s Drivers. 

—TIFF TV review: HBO’s Jagged.

—TV review: FX on Hulu’s The Premise.  

—Academy Museum opening: Piper-Heidsieck to serve as champagne partner for launch celebrations.

—Power Lawyers: New York nominations are open.

—Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch calls TMZ buy "very modest."

—Stephen Curry’s Unanimous Media signs global talent partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal.

—Amber Ruffin Show renewed for second season on Peacock.

What else we're reading...

—"Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show" [Wall Street Journal]

—"Halle Berry’s Fight For The Director’s Chair" [New York Times]

—"The D’Amelio Kids Are Not All Right" [Vox]

—"John Mulaney Doesn’t Owe You Squat" [Slate]

—"UMG’s $2.2 Billion Talent Splurge Shows Rise of New Rivals" [Bloomberg]

Today... 

...in 1977, NBC revved up a new one-hour police drama, CHiPs, featuring Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox. The series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons, plus one reunion television film in October 1998. The original review.  

Today's birthdays: Tommy Lee Jones (75), Tom Hardy (44), Ingrid Bisu (34), John Bradley (33), Oliver Stone (75), Ben Schwartz (40), Josh Charles (50), Rebecca Miller (59), Barry Shabaka Henley (67), Colin McFarlane (60), Jimmy Carr (49), Pawel Pawlikowski (64), Heidi Montag (35)