Sarandos Reaffirms Support for Chappelle as Trans Staffers, Allies Plan Walkout

►"Real-world harm." At least one thousand Netflix employees are expected to participate in a virtual walkout to protest Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ recent comments in support of Dave Chappelle’s special, The Closer. 

Trans staffers and allies at Netflix are planning to stage the virtual walkout on Oct. 20, after Sarandos sent two memos to staff — one on Oct. 8 and another to all staffers on Monday — stating that the company would not be removing the special, in which Chappelle mocks gender identities and defends J.K. Rowling’s transphobic remarks, among other comments.

In the second memo, sent on Monday, Sarandos argued that “content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm,” according to a copy reviewed by THR. The story.   

—Date and time set. Unless an agreement is reached with the AMPTP in the coming days, 60,000 IATSE film and TV workers will go on strike on Monday, Oct. 18, at 12:01 a.m. PDT. IATSE president Matthew D. Loeb said that the union will continue bargaining with the producers this week in the hopes of reaching an agreement that addresses core issues, such as rest periods, meal breaks and minimum wages. The story.

—"I am overwhelmed. I had no idea." William Shatner successfully traveled into space aboard New Shepard NS-18, of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, on Wednesday. The 90-year-old Star Trek icon became the oldest person to leave Earth when he blasted off from the West Texas launch site. The story.

—$725 million! SpringHill, the content and consumer product company founded by NBA superstar LeBron James and Maverick Carter, has raised a new round of financing that values the company at $725 million. Investors in the new round include RedBird Capital, Nike, Fenway Sports Group and Epic Games. James and Carter will remain majority owners of the company. The story.

—Going back to the well. Apple is expanding its relationship with Jason Segel, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein. The streamer has handed out a straight-to-series order for Shrinking, a 10-episode scripted comedy starring Segel, who will write and exec produce the show alongside Ted Lasso showrunner Lawrence and Emmy-winner Goldstein. The story. 

'Dopesick' Team Hopes Hulu Series Leads to Change  

CNN's Erin Burnett on 10 Years At the Network

►"CNN has changed massively." This year, CNN anchor Erin Burnett celebrates 10 years presenting the cable news channel’s 7 p.m. hour, Erin Burnett Outfront. She speaks to THR's Alex Weprin about reaching the milestone and how much things have changed at the network and in the world of television news. The interview. 

—"I just didn’t have to dodge any 300-pound lineman while doing it." In a rare interview, Colin Kaepernick discussed his upcoming Netflix scripted series Colin in Black & White, which he co-created with Ava DuVernay, and its appeal to different audiences. The athlete and activist, who is on the cover of Ebony next month, also opened up about being adopted by a white family and whether he still wanted to play for an NFL team. The story.

—It never ends. Tiger King’s Carole Baskin is investigating the treatment of big cats at the zoo formerly owned by Joe Exotic — and with the help of his niece — in a new docu-series for Discovery+. Carole Baskin’s Cage Fight will document Baskin’s investigation into the treatment of these animals alongside her husband, Howard, and their team. The story.

—Bubble economics. Fox’s plans in the digital collectibles space are beginning to get a little clearer. The company will launch its first set of NFTs, tied to its celebrity singing competition The Masked Singer. The company will also launch a marketplace and community in which users can buy, sell, or trade Masked Singer NFTs, which it is calling The MaskVerse. The story. 

—Put it in the diary. Adele has finally announced when her long-awaited fourth album will be released. In an Instagram post, the Grammy-winning singer revealed that 30 — on which she reteams with 25 co-writers and producers Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Shellback — will officially drop Nov. 19. The story.

Review: HBO Max's 'What Happened, Brittany Murphy?' 

►"Badly structured and easily distracted by the tawdriest aspects of the story." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews Cynthia Hill's two-part HBO Max documentary What Happened, Brittany Murphy? The film explores the life and death of the Clueless and 8 Mile star, as well as her shady husband, Simon Monjack. The review.

—The one who knocks. M. Night Shyamalan's next thriller has an official title: Knock at the Cabin. The filmmaker and Universal also announced that the movie will shift its theatrical release from Feb. 17, 2023 to Feb. 3, 2023. The story.

—Coming back for more. Netflix’s has handed out an early fourth-season renewal for You, the stalker drama starring Penn Badgley. The pickup comes days ahead of the Oct. 15 launch of season three of the series from Warner Bros. TV, Alloy Entertainment, showrunner Sera Gamble and exec producer Greg Berlanti. The story.

—This Week in TV. THR's Rick Porter runs down the TV premieres, returns and specials over the next seven days. The things to look out for over the coming week include the return of HBO's critical darling Succession and Netflix's You which are both back for their third season. Kate Beckinsale's dark comedyGuilty Party debuts on Paramount+ and the highly anticipated Queens debuts on ABC. On cable, the 19th season of Project Runway premieres on Bravo and Fear the Walking Dead returns on AMC. The full guide.

In other news...  

—Theater review: Keenan Scott II’s Thoughts of a Colored Man.

—TV review: NBC's Home Sweet Home. 

—TV ratings: La Brea steady, Dodgers-Giants scores.

—Halloween Kills team on future of film series: "It’s next level, which fans of this franchise want and need."

—The Beatles: Get Back trailer dazzles with in-depth look at legendary band’s final live performance. 

—Why Food Network is doing its first scripted project … for Discovery+.

—Raven-Symone says she “got catfished” when asked to join The View.

—Disney+ unveils first major slate of 18 originals from Asia-Pacific region.

—Larry David returns to hating people in Curb Your Enthusiasm season 11 trailer.

—Ben Affleck advises Tye Sheridan in trailer for George Clooney’s The Tender Bar.

—Netflix, UNESCO launch competition to find next generation of African filmmakers.

—Melissa Leo signs with APA.

—Netflix picks up Studio Ghibli’s Earwig and the Witch for all markets outside U.S., Japan. 

—Dolby Atmos-supported live performance venue launches at Las Vegas' Park MGM.

What else we're reading...

—"Michael Keaton Was Scared To Take On His Latest Role. That’s Why He Did" [Washington Post] 

—"EA Sports Is Planning for a FIFA Without FIFA" [New York Times] 

—"The Timothée Chalamet Stan Who Leaked Wonka Speaks Out" [Vulture]

—"What Went Wrong With The Exploitative Brittany Murphy Docuseries?" [The Guardian]

—"I Found ClickHole’s “Worst Person You Know”" [Slate]

Today... 

...1994, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, the frenetic follow-up to his debut feature Reservoir Dogs, hit theaters after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival earlier that year. The film went on to make over $200 million at the box office and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning the Oscar for best original screenplay. The original review. 

Today's birthdays: Ben Whishaw (41), Lori Petty (58), Steve Coogan (56), Chen Chang (45), Udo Kier (77), Stacy Keibler (42), Mekai Curtis (21), Jay Pharoah (34), Usher (43), Natalie Maines (47), Jack Farthing (36), Rowan Blanchard (20), Jon Seda (51), Greg Evigan (68)