Emmy Predictions: Scripted Variety — Pending ‘Last Week Tonight’ and ‘SNL’ Showdown Proves This Category’s Definition Still Needs Work

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Big media companies and Nielsen have battled for months over the exact way to count TV viewers who no longer watch traditional TV when they want to see a favorite sitcom or drama. One media agency wants to test a different tactic. Mediahub, a media-buying agency that is part of Interpublic Group, has been asking big media companies to consider ad deals that involve not just guarantees of audience impressions, as has long been the norm. but commitments to other sorts of measures that examine whether the commercials spur the people who saw them to take new action. Such a deal could put “more skin in the game from media partners,” says Carrie Drinkwater. the agency’s chief investment officer. “It also helps them change the conversation to get away from the Nielsen linear discussion.”

Alison Herman TV Critic A popular reading of superhero mania holds that it’s our era’s substitute for shared mythology; instead of Zeus shooting lightning bolts from Mount Olympus, we have Cyclops shooting beams from his eyeballs. So it’s fitting that the coming-of-age tale “American Born Chinese” streams on Disney+, the service that’s a one-stop shop for all things Marvel; Destin Daniel Cretton of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” the first Marvel film to star an Asian American hero, even directs the pilot. But “American Born Chinese” flips the script: rather than use superheroes for modern-day mythmaking, it infuses centuries-old myths into genres (action, bildungsroman) now dominated by superheroes.

Alison Herman TV Critic The Apple TV+ comedy “Platonic” is a reunion of the 2014 movie “Neighbors” (and its 2016 sequel “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising”), again pairing stars Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne with the writer and director Nicholas Stoller. But “Platonic” also models itself after another, more enduring classic: Nora Ephron’s “When Harry Met Sally,” a film explicitly referenced in the pilot of “Platonic” and the greatest work of art drawn from the essentially trite question of whether (straight) men and women can be friends. In “Neighbors,” Rogen and Byrne played spouses. In “Platonic,” they’re long-estranged besties who rekindle their codependent bond. As premises go, it’s a thin one. Ephron’s opus is now 34 years old, and even “When Harry Met Sally” was less seriously engaged with the idea of friendship between the sexes than using the setup as a showcase for Ephron’s wit, Meg Ryan’s charm and Ryan’s chemistry with Billy Crystal. “Men and women don’t really hang out with each other at our age,” says Sylvia (Byrne), a former lawyer who’s now a stay-at-home mother of three. Her argument is half-hearted, unconvincing and immediately dismissed by her husband Charlie (Luke Macfarlane), who encourages Sylvia to get in touch with craft brewer Will (Rogen) in the wake of his divorce. 

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Margot Robbie’s “Barbie” movie casts Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Alexandra Shipp, Kate McKinnon and more as different iterations of the iconic Mattel doll, but the first actor Robbie envisioned as a Barbie in the film was none other than Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot. She wasn’t available, but Robbie explained to Vogue that Gadot’s “Barbie energy” became a template for casting all of the film’s Barbie roles. What exactly is Barbie energy? “Gal Gadot is Barbie energy,” Robbie said. “Because Gal Gadot is so impossibly beautiful, but you don’t hate her for being that beautiful because she’s so genuinely sincere, and she’s so enthusiastically kind, that it’s almost dorky. It’s like right before being a dork.”

Rita Wilson is setting the record straight about those pics of her and Tom Hanks appearing to scold a man on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

Kim Kardashian is trying her best to make things work with her growing children away from the camera.

EXCLUSIVE: Max has boarded Mermicorno: Starfall, an animated series from Canada’s Thunderbird Entertainment.

Kristen Stewart, Josh O’Connor and Elle Fanning are to lead The Match Factory and Mubi’s Rosebushpruning from Firebrand director Karim Aïnouz.

EXCLUSIVE: Bridesmaids co-writer Annie Mumolo has signed on to co-create animated kids series Lulu and the Help You Crew.

WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels sees advertising on HBO content as a major untapped revenue stream as the compay relaunched its HBO Max streaming service yesterday as Max.

Kelsea Ballerini is bringing it on home with Chase Stokes. The "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" singer shared a glimpse into her recent hometown visit to Knoxville, Tennessee, with boyfriend Stokes joining her for the ride. In a series of photos posted to her Instagram Story, Ballerini shared images of a famed Dolly Parton mural, a menu from Litton's Market Restaurant and Bakery, and herself riding shotgun while putting on a pair of pink socks. «A heart fillin 24 hours at home,» she wrote over one image. Ballerini teased her beau with a selfie on the track at her alma mater, Central High School, with a reference to his viral -inspired meme.

, Helen Holland died at the age of 81 after her family says she fought «for her life for nearly two weeks,» following a May 10 incident in London, England.Holland was struck by a member of the duchess' police escort in the Earl's Court neighborhood of London, and, according to her family, sustained «irreversible damage to her brain,» multiple broken bones, and was in a coma.On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace said the duchess was «deeply saddened» and sent her «deepest condolences» to her family.The  said that Sophie will be reaching out to Holland's family privately.  Sophie is the wife of Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.Chief Superintendent Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police's Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit, told the that the «tragic outcome is being felt by colleagues across the Met» and «thoughts are very much with the woman's family and loved ones.»«Officers know that their actions, both on and off duty, are open to scrutiny and following our referral of the incident, the IOPC launched an independent investigation — we continue to cooperate with and support that inquiry,» he added.

teary Mattea Roach on Tuesday, expressing his condolences to the contestant after their father passed away earlier this month.“In your very first appearance on Jeopardy, we asked you what your most prized possession was,” said Jennings. “And you mentioned a denim jacket on extended loan from your dad, right?” Roach, who uses they/them pronouns, answered that he was correct though sadly it was now “on permanent loan.” “Unfortunately, my dad actually passed away at the start of the month very suddenly,” said Roach, 24.

Sylvester Stallone knows how to break bad news.

Ariana Madix is not holding back on Call Her Daddy.

EastEnders star Danielle Harold has got a brand new TV gig after filming her final scenes as cancer-stricken Lola Pearce on the BBC soap, according to reports. In October 2022, Danielle's hairdresser character received a devastating terminal cancer diagnosis, with doctors telling her she has just months to live. The character has now moved home to spend her final moments with loved ones, with BBC set to air her heartbreaking death scene next week.

Scarlett Johansson showed off her extensive tattoo collection during the red carpet premiere of Asteroid City at the Cannes Film Festival. The 38 year old movie star looked stunning as she displayed her eye-catching inkings in a figure-hugging, pink Prada gown - which she accessorised with a dazzling pair of earrings from David Yurman.

EastEnders star Debbie Arnold has claimed that Phillip Schofield should not host the British Soap Awards as it will ‘all be about him’. The 67 year old actress, who has also appeared in Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, claimed that Philip’s presence at the ceremony could take the spotlight away from actors nominated for gongs.

Brooke Vincent has opened up on how realising her fiancé Kean Bryan was her son's favourite parent was "the most hard situation to navigate." The 30-year-old shares sons Mexx, three, and Monroe, two, with West Bromwich Albion footballer Kean, 26. Former Coronation Street star Brooke joined her longtime friend Scott Thomas on his Learning As I Go podcast to discuss her time on the hit soap, parenting and learning to prioritise herself when she made the revelation.

Lily-Rose Depp is one proud daughter!

robbed,” and took to social media to express their disappointment.“Awful ruling against Ben Chan on tonight’s #Jeopardy,” someone tweeted.“Since when does being off by one letter count in final jep? There’s no other character he could have meant,” another wrote.“Lynn doesn’t finish spelling ‘Juliet’ yet it’s ruled as a complete (albeit incorrect) response, and Ben misspells Benedick by one letter and is ruled incorrect. Clearly they knew what he was going for and yet ended his run on a terrible technicality,” a fan pointed out.“The thing I hate about #Jeopardy is if Ben had said that response he would have got it correct, but writing it was wrong.

East Kilbride Thistle boss Aaron Connolly admits the next week is “as big as it comes” as they look to pull off a great relegation escape on the 40th anniversary of the club’s Junior Cup win.

A garden expert has revealed the exact time of day to water outdoor plants to keep them lush and alive.

The biggest Aldi store in Scotland is set to double the size of its alcohol sales area, as part of a major refit that will see it close for a week in July.

Newly updated research has discovered that during the ongoing cost of living crisis, people in the UK claiming their State Pension entitlement only just break even despite a record-breaking increase to weekly payment rates in April. The research, conducted by pension advisors Almond Financial, looked at the uprated State Pension in comparison to the average cost of living in the UK.

Stephen Flynn has told Rishi Sunak to "get real" over food inflation as prices continue to rise.

It’s all about family.

There’s something about her. Ariana Madix is continuing to open up about her shocking split from Tom Sandoval amid his affair with Vanderpump Rules costar Raquel Leviss.

A moment of reflection. Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss are taking things slowly in the aftermath of their affair, a source exclusively reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly.

A bridge too far. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been “shocked” by the response to their frightening car chase experience, a source exclusively reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly.

You may not yet know filmmaker, writer/director, and actor Julio Torres, but you should, given the fact that A24 and Tilda Swinton co-signed on him seemingly immediately for his feature-length debut. Torres is best known as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and as the co-creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO series “Los Espookys.” While the latter HBO comedy was short-lived, those who saw it clearly loved it.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Many TV networks have struck measurement deals with VideoAmp, one of a handful of companies eager to provide an alternative to Nielsen’s tabulation of audiences. Now a company that buys TV time for blue-chip advertisers has done the same. Horizon Media, a large media-buying firm that works for clients including Corona and the National Football League, will use VideoAmp’s audience-measurement tools to help negotiate and transact ad deals between select clients and sellers for national linear TV inventory. Horizon will also use VideoAmp for planning, analytics, and measurement. “There has been a more meaningful movement this year to actually participate with alternative currencies and transact on them,” says David Campanelli, Horizon’s chief investment officer, in an interview. The bulk of the deals, he says, “are still happening on advanced audience targets, versus what we commonly think of with Nielsen ratings, which are demo and impressions counting.”

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Michael Keaton isn’t the only blast from DC’s past in Warner Bros.’ upcoming superhero tentpole “The Flash.” During an interview with Esquire Middle East, “The Flash” director Andy Muschietti revealed that none other than Nicolas Cage is making a cameo in the movie as Superman. It’s a shocking and full circle moment for comic book movie fans and Cage, who was cast in Tim Burton’s failed “Superman Lives” 25 years ago. “Nic was absolutely wonderful,” Muschietti said. “Although the role was a cameo, he dove into it…I dreamt all my life to work with him. I hope I can work with him again soon.” “He is a massive Superman fan. A comic book fanatic,” Muschetti added.

Lewis Capaldi’s brand new album ‘Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent’ has sold more than Ed Sheeran’s ’Subtract’ sold in its entire first week, making it the fastest-selling album of 2023 so far, the Official Chart Company has confirmed.

East Kilbride Thistle and Cambuslang Rangers will come together to remember their former player and manager, Alan Paterson, with a memorial match next month.

CANNES – For someone who is notoriously media-shy, Wes Anderson was in a delightful mood at the press conference for his new film, “Asteroid City.” And considering the star power alongside him on the dias, he dominated the conversation. Maybe that shouldn’t be a surprise considering the power of his cinematic brand.