What's news: It's magazine day! On the cover(s) this week are Hollywood's top stylists and the A-list clients who would be lost without them. Hollywood is remembering the late comedian Gilbert Gottfried. Elon Musk is being sued by Twitter shareholders. AMC Theaters has bought 66 former Bow Tie cinemas. Plus: WB confirmed it cut "gay" scenes from Fantastic Beasts 3 for its China release — Abid Rahman
THR's Power Stylists 2022
►On the covers. After two years of virtual awards shows and at-home shoots, the town’s most in-demand image makers returned full of gusto to in-person red carpets and all that goes with them. THR goes behind the scenes with our Stylist of the Year Law Roach as well as stylists for Michael B. Jordan, Selena Gomez, Kristen Stewart, Mary J. Blige and more as they reveal their style secrets, from fittings to, yes, those Oscars: "The red carpet gives people something to look at — it sparks joy." The cover story.
—Wu-Tang is forever. Critically acclaimed debut albums by Wu-Tang Clan and Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin’s Latin pop megahit “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” are among the recordings being inducted this year into the National Recording Registry. The story.
—Bullish about the future. AMC Theatres is continuing its movie theater acquisition binge by picking up seven former Bow Tie Cinemas locations with 66 screens. The former Bow Tie theaters are the latest additions to the AMC circuit after theaters were acquired in the Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Chicago markets, all of which have already reopened or will reopen in 2022. The story.
—Don't say gay. Warner Bros. confirmed it has removed some dialogue from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore to appease the Chinese government. The studio has taken out clear references to Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and Gellert Grindelwald’s (Mads Mikkelsen) romantic past. The cuts amount to just six seconds of the film’s 143-minute runtime, but are rather pivotal to establishing the characters. The story.
—"False and misleading." Twitter investors who sold their shares in the 11 days that Elon Musk was late in notifying financial regulators that he’d acquired a considerable stake in the company have sued the Tesla CEO. They claim that Musk’s omission saved him roughly $143 million, while they missed out on significant profits when Twitter shares skyrocketed in light of the news. The story.
Zaslav's WBD Empire Takes Shape: Less Red Tape, More "Accountability"
►"He wants to call you … and get an answer." As David Zaslav takes the helm of the newly minted Hollywood giant Warner Bros. Discovery, THR's Alex Weprin and Georg Szalai write that the CEO's first big moves, including choosing his top execs, signals a less formal approach to running the company. The analysis.
—"I resented Arya because I couldn’t express who I was becoming." Maisie Williams is sharing her feelings about playing Arya Stark on HBO’s Game of Thrones, a role and series that the English actress was cast in at the age of twelve. In a new interview, the star reflected on how growing up as Arya conflicted with her sense of womanhood. The story.
—Finding hope in divorce. THR's resident This Is Us expert Jackie Strause spoke to series stars Chrissy Metz and Chris Sullivan about the "Katoby" episode and the unraveling of Kate and Toby's marriage and how the final season explores their co-parenting future. Warning spoilers.The interview.
—"I can’t just go and smoke a joint." Bad girl Riri opened up to Vogue magazine about her pregnancy, but revealed she isn't all that bad after all after giving up her coping mechanism in weed. Rihanna also spoke about her partner rapper ASAP Rocky, her maternity style and what she's planning as a mother. The story.
IMDb TV Rebranded as Amazon Freevee (Yes, Really)
►Eh? You what? IMDb TV is being rebranded, from April 27 the ad-supported streamer will be known as Amazon Freevee. The thinking behind the name is that it helps to better reflect the cost of its service and better distinguish it from the IMDb website. At least they didn't go down the plus route, I guess. The story.
—Dana's on board. ABC’s forthcoming drama Avalon, from David E. Kelley and Michael Connelly, has found its showrunner. Dana Calvo has joined the series and will serve as showrunner and EP. Avalon, a mystery drama set on Catalina Island, will be part of ABC’s 2022-23 lineup after landing a straight to series order in February. The story.
—Worth checking out. A new showcase at L.A.'s Skirball Cultural Center, titled I’ll Have What She’s Having, will highlight the cultural influence of the Jewish American deli and trace its origins from pushcarts serving tenement dwellers to pop-culture centrality on Seinfeld, Mad Men and more. The story.
—This Week in TV.THR's Rick Porter runs down the TV premieres, returns and specials over the next seven days. Among the things to look out for over the coming week include the premiere of the final season of AMC's Better Call Saul, the Kardashians' return to TV with Hulu, the series finale of Black-ish, the debut of the fourth season of Mayans MC and Showtime's The First Lady. The full guide.
Gilbert Gottfried 1955-2022
►"I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates." Gilbert Gottfried, the high-strung comedian with the shrill voice known for his performances equal parts chaotic, clever and crude, has died. He was 67. Memorable as a stand-up and in Aladdin and Beverly Hills Cop II, he ran into trouble by making jokes — perhaps too soon — in the wake of catastrophes. The obituary.
—"A softie on the inside." Hollywood and the world of comedy have been remembering Gilbert Gottfried. The likes of Conan O’Brien, Kathy Griffin, George Takei, Dane Cook, Michael Ian Black, Jason Alexander all took to social media to pay tribute to the late comedian. The reaction.
—"Gilbert Gottfried does the script, and then he just starts going." Gilbert Gottfried had a breakout role in the 1990 surprise hit Problem Child, the film's director spoke to THR about working with the comedian on the film that brought him into the mainstream. The interview.
TV Review: 'Russian Doll' S2
►"Nearly meets impossibly high expectations." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews the second season of Netflix's Russian Doll. Natasha Lyonne's Emmy-winning high-concept comedy trades time loops for time travel, but that's only the beginning of a second season that should be spoiled as little as possible. The review.
—"Often beautiful, pointedly environmentalist, but not always sufficiently distinctive." Dan reviews Netflix’s Our Great National Parks. This five-episode look at natural preserves from Hawaii to Chile to Kenya to Indonesia features President Barack Obama as an on-camera presenter and ubiquitous narrator. The review.
"A bizarre mismatch of style and subject." THR TV critic Angie Han reviews Netflix's Anatomy of a Scandal. Michelle Dockery, Sienna Miller and Rupert Friend lead David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson's courtroom thriller about a high-profile politician accused of a shocking crime. The review.
—"Slim but effective." Angie reviews HBO Max’s Not So Pretty. Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick's four-part docuseries dives into the ugly side of the beauty industry, exposing the hidden dangers that cosmetics and personal care products pose to workers and consumers alike. The review.
—"Toned and polished to uncanny, and mostly uneventful, effect."THR critic Lovia Gyarkye reviews Hulu's The Kardashians. America’s favorite reality television clan returns on a different network, as Kim, Khloé, Kourtney, Kendall, Kylie and Kris continue to navigate work, family and life in the public eye. The review.
—Great story on how Twitter bots helped build the cult of Elon Musk and Tesla and who might be behind them [LAT]
—Kenzie Bryant on how the Johnny Depp–Amber Heard trial has the makings of a “remarkable” moment in American celebrity [VF]
—Critic James Poniewozik on TV becoming addicted to docudramas based on real life, but how rarely the shows live up to the reality [NYT]
—Russian journalist who protested war on live TV hired by German media group Welt [Bloomberg]
—Brutal story CNN+'s abject start and looming cuts to the service [Axios]
Today...
...in 2001, Renée Zellweger brought Bridget Jones’s Diary to U.S. theaters. The R-rated rom-com, based on Helen Fielding's best-selling book, grossed north of $280 million worldwide and spawned two successful sequels. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Paul Sorvino (83), Bokeem Woodbine (49), Ron Perlman (72), Allison Williams (34), Glenn Howerton (46), Courtney Peldon (41), William Sadler (72), Hannah Marks (29), Erick Avari (70), Ricky Schroder (52), Edward Fox (85), Tony Dow (77), Caroline Rhea (58), Dylan Penn (31), Ruben Östlund (48), Yoo Ji-Tae (46), Bill Conti (80)
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