“Pay The Writers You AI-Holes”: Plane Flies Banner Over LA Studios In Solidarity With WGA

Kiefer Sutherland has joined the cast of Clint Eastwood's new movie 'Juror No. 2'. 92-year-old actor and filmmaker Eastwood will direct the upcoming movie for Warner Bros and Sutherland is set to star alongside Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Still all about sports! Kyle Martino has transitioned from playing soccer to commenting on the game.

The CW that audiences see when they tune in this fall won’t look like the CW of years past – but it also won’t look like the CW that new owner Nexstar actually intends to offer consumers moving forward.In a move similar to its broadcast competition, the CW released a fall schedule meant to be practically immune to the effects of the ongoing writers strike. It’s an acquisition-heavy lineup that’s a mix of comedies (Canadian sitcoms including “Children Ruin Everything” and “Run the Burbs”), dramas (former AMC series “61st Street”) and unscripted fare (the salvaged HBO Max hit “FBoy Island”). The only potential hiccup would be a strike-related production delay for “All American,” one of two CW shows that new network president Dennis Miller and entertainment president Brad Schwartz have decided to keep moving forward.As much as Schwartz doesn’t like the perception that there is anything wrong with an acquisition, he and Miller told Variety that isn’t the center of their scheduling strategy, but rather a path they had to take this first year because of production uncertainties.Here, Variety speaks with Schwartz and Miller about the network’s plans for adult dramas, programming to Black audiences following the success of “All American,” going hard on unscripted with “FBoy Island,” and the path to making the former Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery-owned channel profitable for Nexstar.

“This is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” said Warner Bros Discovery ad boss Jon Steinlauf in opening his company’s second Upfronts presentation as a merged company.

EXCLUSIVE: New indie film financier Mizzel Media is launching in Cannes with what we understand to be a healthy six-figure investment in feature The Girl From Köln, the next film from Holy Spider and The Tale outfit One Two Films.

Warner Bros. Discovery is reaching back to its past to celebrate a century of entertainment in a new, four-part documentary series.

Flavor Flav is showing his support for members of the Writers Guild of America!

Picketers gathered outside Warner Bros. in Burbank today found themselves buoyed by a unique presence: Flavor Flav. The hip-hop icon-turned-reality star showed up to cheers from the assembled WGA supporters.

Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav thinks consolidation is in the cards for streaming platforms, but not necessarily through traditional M&A. “There should be a consolidation, but it is more likely to happen in the repackaging and marketing of products together. That’s what I think makes sense. We have to, as industry, reach that point,” he said during a Q&A at a media conference today.

Warner Bros. studio, founded in 1923, all the way to present-day. Talking heads include a cavalcade of stars from George Clooney and Keanu Reeves, to directors Baz Luhrmann and Martin Scorsese.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said CNN is rebuilding itself to be a news network that presents “both sides” of every issue rather than an “advocacy network” — comments coming as CNN continues to face a backlash over the town hall with Donald Trump last week. Zaslav, speaking at the MoffettNathanson Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in New York, said that previously the overall impression of CNN’s brand was “left-leaning.” That’s now changing, he said, citing a new YouGov poll finding an 11-point improvement in U.S. viewers’ trust in CNN. “Our view is, there’s advocacy networks on either side. We have the best journalists in the world. We need to show both sides of every issue,” he said.

“Republicans are back on the air. Republicans weren’t on the air,” on CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav told a media conference Thursday as he said the storied brand is moving to become less of an “advocacy network” under new leadership.

Naman Ramachandran The London Action Festival has revealed a packed program for its second edition. Highlights of the first round of programming that has been unveiled include: Anatomy Of A Set Piece where The Raid franchise creator Gareth Evans and others to be announced will break down chosen set pieces from their works; a screening of “The Raid 2” + Q&A with Evans; The Showrunner’s Story, where, in association with World Productions, “Bodyguard” and ‘Line of Duty” Jed Mercurio creator will explore the work of a showrunner in the creation and production of shows; and The Villains of John Wick, in association with Lionsgate, where Mark Dacascos (Zero in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum”) and Scott Adkins (Killa in “John Wick: Chapter 4”) – two of the most memorable villains from across the $425 million box office smash-hit John Wick franchise will discuss their work.

The CW programming chief Brad Schwartz took a gentle swipe at the network’s previous business model as he revealed its fall schedule.

EXCLUSIVE: Sky wanted to start 2023 with a bang. Comcast’s European pay-TV giant gathered journalists at London’s salubrious Soho Hotel and laid on a banquet table heaving with Danish pastries. A smorgasbord of upcoming Sky content was also on the menu, but there was really only one show on everyone’s lips. The Last of Us had recently premiered and Pedro Pascal’s blockbuster apocalypse series was in the mood to steal Sky’s thunder.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Jeremy O. Harris is best known as the playwright of “Slave Play,” which picked up a record-setting 12 Tony Award nominations in 2021, but he’s also a producer on HBO’s Emmy-winning “Euphoria.” During an interview as part of Variety and Kering’s Women in Motion talks at Cannes, Harris called on Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav “to make a deal” so that the ongoing writers strike can end and “Euphoria” Season 3 can go into production as scheduled. “All I’ll say is Sam Levinson is not a scab,” Harris said about the “Euphoria” creator not crossing picket lines to go into production. “He’s not a scab. David Zaslav, make a deal. That’s what I’ll say about Season 3 of ‘Euphoria.’ Make a deal, David. It’s easy. Just come to that table.”

The advance buzz for The Flash continues to grow. The latest warm words about the movie come from the “King of Horror” Stephen King.

Weezer have become the latest band to show their support for striking writers in Hollywood amidst the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.The band’s Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell and Scott Shriner joined striking writers at a picket line outside of Paramount Picture’s studio, where they performed an acoustic set to entertain the strikers.A clip of the set, which was captured by striking Disney writer Brittney Jeng, shows Weezer performing their hit ‘Buddy Holly’ has strikers singalong. Per clips obtained by TMZ, Weezer also performed ‘Beverly Hills’ and ‘Island In The Sun’.Jeng wrote on Twitter: “Thanks [Weezer] for keeping our spirits up and supporting the writers on the picket line! Best Day Ever!!!!”What happened? This happened!!! Gah! Impromptu performance at the Paramount lot! Thanks @Weezer for keeping our spirits up and supporting the writers on the picket line! Best Day Ever!!!! #WritersStrike #WGAStrong #WGAstrike #weezer pic.twitter.com/iGhivf3RfF— Brittney Jeng (@PurpleBJenga) May 18, 2023Earlier this month, Imagine Dragons surprised striking writers with an acoustic performance outside of Netflix’s headquarters, playing hits like ‘Radioactive’, ‘Whatever It Takes’ and ‘Enemy’.Frontman Dan Reynolds shared his support for the writers, telling TMZ: “We just want fair compensation for people who put in the time and are incredible creators.

With just the CW left tomorrow, the near-talent-free upfronts are winding down, and shows are still being shuttered in New York City, while on the picket lines in LA there was Mariachism, tacos, tunes and some Mandalorians to galvanize the troops.

Producers Guild Awards at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on February 25, 2024.The Producers Guild Awards is a major predictor for the Academy Awards as a vast number of the voting members of the PGA are also members of the producers branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Thirteen of the last sixteen winners of the PGA’s Best Theatrical Motion Picture Award have gone on to win the Oscar for Best Picture, including this year’s winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The PGA Awards are also a predictor for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, as the last eight winners in that category have also won at this ceremony.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor The major broadcast networks are trying very hard this year to do what they do best – create franchise drama series built around the adventures of larger-than-life characters. Kathy Bates, Kaitlin Olson, Carrie Preston and Shanola Hampton are among the female actors hoping to click as distinctive protagonists with new series in the 2023-24 season. Bates will bring to life a next-generation “Matlock,” while Preston limns a new chapter for Elsbeth Tascioni, the attorney character she has played on and off on CBS’ “The Good Wife” and Paramount+’s “The Good Fight” since 2010. This is good news for the hundreds of international television buyers heading to Los Angeles for next week’s LA Screenings market. Another welcome development is that the largest media congloms are now on a big push to reopen their doors to third-party buyers, after a few years of holding back the biggest shows for in-house streaming services.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “And Just Like That” Season 2 has set its official premiere date at HBO Max (soon to be renamed Max). The second season of the “Sex and the City” followup will bow on June 22. The announcement was made at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. It had previously been reported that the show would return in June but no solid date had been set. In the show’s first season, overseen by executive producer Michael Patrick King, the worlds of Carrie, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) expanded when new characters played by Nicole Ari Parker, Sarita Choudhury, Karen Pittman and Sara Ramírez were added to the ensemble. John Corbett will also appear in Season 2, reprising the role of Aidan.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Warner Bros. Discovery kicked off its 2023 upfront presentation in a no-frills way, with an overall brand sizzle and ad chief Jon Steinlauf giving a few remarks on stage at the Theater at Madison Square Garden Wednesday. While the presentation covering HBO, Max, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery and more Warner Bros. Discovery brands was shorter than last year’s show (which was the company’s first since the merger that created it last April) the tight 90-minute presentation still covered each of its key divisions. Albeit, with much less sizzle, with no stars in attendance amid the writers strike. “Let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with the writers,” HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys said, adding that he hopes for a return of talent to the stage, “making this a far more entertaining show” compared to “me and my clips.”

Sarlanis, linear and streaming president of Turner Networks, Investigation Discovery and HLN said in a statement. “In rebooting this classic for a modern, savvy audience, it gives us the opportunity to comment on the often absurd and hilarious tropes of reality television in ways our viewers will love.”MTV Entertainment Studios and Fly on the Wall produced “The Joe Schmo Show” for TBS withoriginal creators, Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick (Deadpool).The project was announced during Warner Bros.

HBO Programming Chief Casey Bloys had a word or two to say about the ongoing strike while speaking at this morning’s Warner Bros Discovery Upfront in New York City.

The Lazarus Project, a British drama series starring I May Destroy You’s Paapa Essiedu, doesn’t launch until next month on TNT.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As Amazon Freevee’s hoax reality series “Jury Duty” is currently garnering huge amounts of attention, the format originator is staging a comeback. TBS is set to announce Wednesday that it has ordered a revival of “The Joe Schmo Show,” which will air next year on the cabler. The original “Joe Schmo” premiered in 2003 on Spike TV, with a follow-up in 2004 and then a third season revival in 2013. Created by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (both of whom went on to a successful screenwriting career, including the “Deadpool” films), “Joe Schmo” made waves when it first debuted for parodying the then-relatively new and white-hot reality competition genre.

BreAnna Bell Jason Momoa will lead Discovery Channel’s Shark Week as it returns for its 35th year, as the master of ceremonies. The network shared the announcement as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Upfront’s appearance on Wednesday. “As the host of Shark Week, I am beyond excited to take you along on this journey,” said Momoa. “This project means more to me than a week of talking about sharks. It’s a chance for me to learn and share my connection to these amazing creatures. My love of sharks came long before my time as Aquaman – it began several generations before me.” Over the course of Shark Week, Momoa will set up the jaw dropping events, epic journeys, first-time revelations, and groundbreaking scientific findings that make up the summer spectacle. WBD promises that fans can expect adrenaline-inducing original hours of sharks from new and continuously explored destinations, all captured on-camera by Discovery’s dedicated science and research field teams.

J. Kim Murphy Investigation Discovery has partnered with Michael Bay, with the filmmaker slated to executive produce a new true crime documentary series for the network. Kathleen Finch, chairman and chief content officer for the U.S. Networks Group at Warner Bros. Discovery, made the announcement Wednesday morning during the company’s Upfront presentation. The series is set to premiere in 2024 and will “expose a terrifying, yet little known, true crime story.” “When Michael Bay first approached us to collaborate on a true crime project, we instantly knew we wanted to join forces,” Jason Sarlanis, president of crime and investigative content for linear and streaming at ID, said in a statement. “Michael Bay is an incredibly dynamic filmmaker and producer whose vision and storytelling appeals to audiences far and wide. This partnership will be the perfect addition to our blockbuster nights on ID.” 

Selena Gomez is joining the Food Network.

The Love & Marriage franchise is heading to the Midwest with Love & Marriage: Detroit. The newest series in the franchise, from reality producer and Detroit native Carlos King, is set to premiere June 24 at 9 PM on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network following a new episode of Love & Marriage: Huntsville. The new installment was announced Wednesday during Warner Bros. Discovery’s 2023 Upfront at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Jason Momoa will be taking a bite out of Discovery’s Shark Week celebration as the celebration’s Master of Ceremonies, it was revealed during Warner Bros. Discovery’s Upfront Presentation on Wednesday. The Momoa-hosted programming runs from July 11-18.

The Joe Schmo Show has been in the cultural lexicon in recent months following the successful launch of Amazon Freeve prank show Jury Duty.

TNT is launching a second night of professional wrestling with AEW: Collision, a live, two-hour, in-ring show, which will debut June 17 and air Saturdays. The announcement was made Wednesday by Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, during the company’s 2023 Upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Warner Bros. Discovery announced at its upfront presentation Wednesday the launch of WBD Stream, a new digital video offering bringing together all properties in its portfolio for advertisers.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor A lot of TV companies are judged by how quickly they can introduce new shows. Warner Bros. Discovery thinks it may find some gains by developing new ways to introduce audiences to series and content that already exists The strategy has been playing out in open view on some of the company’s biggest cable networks. Audiences watching NBA basketball games have been pushed to sample series such as Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions,” HGTV’s “Rock The Block” and Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” And some portion decided to follow the programs back to their original homes for more. According to company research, 12% of TNT sports viewers who sampled “Tournament” went on to watch it on Food Network. Likewise, 10% of basketball fans that tried “Rock The Block” followed it to HGTV while 7% of viewers who tested “Deadliest Catch” watched more of it on Discovery.