September 21, 2021

What's news: Looks like it's on as the IATSE seeks approval for a nationwide strike of entertainment industry workers. UMG had a fast start after it debuted on the Amsterdam stock market today. The first trailer for Jon Stewart's Apple show has dropped. Plus: Scott Bakula has been having "significant conversations" about a Quantum Leap reboot — Abid Rahman

IATSE to Hold Strike Authorization Vote

►Stalled contract talks. Hollywood union IATSE is set to hold a historic strike authorization vote after the latest contract talks between the organization and producers faltered. Union president Matthew D. Loeb and 13 West Coast Local leaders sent a message to tens of thousands of entertainment workers on Monday saying that they will "proceed with a nationwide strike authorization vote to demonstrate our commitment to achieving the change that is long overdue in this industry."

THR's Katie Kilkenny writes that the IATSE leadership's decision arrives after a protracted summer of stops and starts in negotiations between the union representing much of the industry’s crew members and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios and producers. The story.

—Stellar start. Universal Music Group’s shares jumped in their stock market debut on Amsterdam’s Euronext exchange on Tuesday. Early Amsterdam time, the stock was trading at 25.74 euros ($30.19), giving the company a market capitalization of 46.67 billion euros ($54.7 billion), after opening at 25.25 euros ($29.61). The story.

—First look trailer. In a matter of weeks, Jon Stewart will be back on TV with Apple's The Problem with Jon Stewart. Ahead of the show's debut on Sept. 30, a teaser trailer dropped this morning. The trailer.

—Super job title. Marvel veteran Victoria Alonso is taking on a new role as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand. Alonso has been promoted to president, physical and postproduction, visual effects, and animation production for Marvel Studios. The story.

Emmys Ratings Rise

►Three-year high. The Emmys bucked a recent trend for major awards shows, early figures have the show up in viewers after two straight years of all-time lows. Sunday’s telecast on CBS averaged about 7.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That’s a 16 percent improvement on the 6.36 million viewers for last year’s Emmys and the highest for the awards since 10.2 million watched on NBC in 2018. The ratings.

—"I think it’s going to change my life." Amy Schumer revealed she is recovering from surgery after having her uterus and appendix removed due to "painful and debilitating" endometriosis: "I’m gonna try to share this story at some point to raise awareness because so many people don’t even know the word endometriosis." The story.

—Return to producing? Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has raised $2.5 billion for his private equity fund, Liberty Strategic Capital, and will seek investments in the technology sector, financial services, as well as in "new forms of content." The story.

—More Martin Henderson! Netflix is spending considerably more time in Virgin River. The streamer has renewed the strong performing drama series starring Alexandra Breckenridge and Kiwi icon Martin Henderson for two more seasons. The pickup will take the series through its fifth season. The story.

—Giveth with one hand, taketh with the other. The Virgin River team might be celebrating, but the producers behind Hit & Run will be drowning their sorrows after Netflix canceled the espionage series after one season despite a major cliffhanger ending. The story.

Scott Bakula Talks 'Quantum Leap' Reboot

►Oh boy. Quantum Leap fans may be in for another jump as Scott Bakula said talks are underway for a possible reboot of the iconic sci-fi TV series. A guest Monday on Bob Saget’s podcast, Bakula did not tip his hand as to what specifically he knows, but said there was a chance the series, which ran on NBC for five seasons, could be brought back. The story.

—Karaoke, biscuits and birthday cake. THR's nicest man Chris Gardner has the goods on the nicest Emmy afterparty for the nicest show on TV, Apple's Ted Lasso. Emmy winners Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham and other cast and crew headed to a strictly “friends and family” afterparty in the heart of West Hollywood that featured karaoke, the famous biscuits and even a birthday cake for Ted Lasso himself. The story.

—The third woman. Betty Gilpin has boarded Showtime's Three Women, the straight-to-series drama based on Lisa Taddeo’s book of the same name, joining Shailene Woodley and Dewanda Wise in the cast. The story.

—George Holliday, the plumber who in the early morning hours of March 3, 1991, captured on his bulky video camera a group of white L.A.P.D. officers viciously beating Rodney King, has died from complications related to COVID-19. He was 61. The obituary.

Why David Chase Chose Journey Song for 'Sopranos' Finale

►"I didn’t know Journey was the answer." David Chase had three songs in mind that he wanted to use in the final moments of The Sopranos — and he went with the one the crew hated. Speaking on WTF With Marc Maron podcast, the writer-director had no interest in rehashing what the ending means (sadly) but did say he had multiple songs in mind for the iconic moment before ultimately choosing "Don’t Stop Believin’." The story.

—Comically large trophy. Anchorage, Scott Monahan’s dark drama about two brothers who take off on an ill-advised drug-running mission to Alaska, has won the 2021 Oldenburg International Film Festival, taking the German Independence Award for best film. The story.

—Grand opening, grand closing. The Tokyo International Film Festival will open with the Japanese premiere of Cry Macho, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, on Oct. 30 and close with the Japanese premiere of Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen on Nov. 8. The story.

In other news...

—TV review: Fox's The Big Leap.

—TV review: NBC's Ordinary Joe.

—San Sebastian film review: Claudia Llosa's Fever Dream.

—TIFF film review: Bent Hamer's The Middle Man.

—Oldenburg film review: Phil Tippett's Mad God.

—Venice film review: Stefano Mordini’s The Catholic School (La Scuola Cattolica).

—Feinberg Forecast: First look at the Oscar race.

—Golden Globes: HFPA appoints three advisors to help guide the recruitment of new members.

—CanneSeries unveils competition lineup.

—K-pop stars BTS dip into global diplomacy at UN gathering.

—Tom Hanks sci-fi movie Finch from Game of Thrones director releases first trailer.

—Halloween Kills trailer unmasks Michael Myers.

—Sarah Dash, Labelle member of "Lady Marmalade" fame, dies at 76.

—Gayle King announces the arrival of first grandson: "I am so nuts about him."

What else we're reading...

—"Apple’s Ted Lasso Emmy Wins Give Boost to Streaming Strategy" [Bloomberg]

—"Biz Markie Had Exactly What Hip-Hop Needed" [Vulture]

—"How Billy Eichner Became Matt Drudge in Impeachment: American Crime Story" [Daily Beast]

—"Netflix Offers Free Plan In Kenya To Entice New Subscribers" [Reuters]

—"Apple Is Working on iPhone Features to Help Detect Depression, Cognitive Decline" [Wall Street Journal]

Today...

...in 1998, NBC debuted a new comedy, Will & Grace, during the 9 p.m. hour. The most successful show ever with a lead gay character, it ran for eight seasons till 2006 and returned for a second run on NBC on Sept. 28, 2017 to April 23, 2020. The original review.

Today's birthdays: Billy Porter (52), Bill Murray (71), Maggie Grace (38), Joseph Mazzello (38), Luke Wilson (50), Nancy Travis (60), Stephen King (74), David Wenham (56), Ethan Coen (64), Cheryl Hines (56), Angus Macfadyen (58), Jerry Bruckheimer (78), Ricki Lake (53), Alfonso Ribeiro (50), Kareena Kapoor (41), Michael Potts (59), Caleb Deschanel (77), Faith Hill (54), François Cluzet (66), Nicole Richie (40)

Anthony Johnson, the Compton comedian and actor who memorably played Ezal in Friday and appeared in House Party, Menace II Society and Lethal Weapon 3, has died. He was 55. The obituary.

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