  |  | | | | | | What's news: Data behind why people are ditching their cable and satellite subscriptions. Plus: Sony posts strong quarterly earnings, behind the flashy costumes of Bohemian Rhapsody and critics debate the fall TV season to date. — Will Robinson |  | | ^Behind cutting the cord: A whopping 90 percent of Americans say that the most important factor when deciding to subscribe to a TV or streaming service is cost, Paul Bond reports: | | + Priced out: 56 percent say cable is "unaffordable" and 47 percent say the same about satellite, while just 17 percent deem streaming unaffordable. “People are just honing in on affordability, especially younger consumers,” says Morning Consult vp Tyler Sinclair. | | + Hard to win back: In 2015, there were 205.4 million subscribers to traditional TV, according to eMarketer, but that will drop to 169.7 million by 2022. If TV executives intend on wooing some of those defectors back, they have their work cut out for them, as the THR/Morning Consult poll indicates that 72 percent of those who have cut the cord have little or no interest in re-subscribing. Full results. | | | | | | Lessons for Big Tech |  | | | | Transparency, please: Amazon, Apple, Facebook and other Silicon Valley giants are spending billions on content, but these companies are a black box to their creative partners as the "goalposts keep on moving," veteran executive Jordan Levin writes: | | + Explain content strategy: Netflix, Amazon and Hulu rarely, if ever, share either the insights or performance metrics that inform decision-making. This makes it nearly impossible for content providers to understand why a series was ordered, renewed or even canceled. For many creators, it feels as though the goalposts keep on moving. | | + Respect creative process: Producing premium content is complicated and requires specific knowledge, but tech companies have frequently made the mistake of not bothering to learn or understand the production process. Not distinguishing what it means to be a studio or a network. Not knowing the nuance that differentiates business affairs from business development dealmaking. Believing in a one-size-fits-all approach. Full column. | | Elsewhere in film... | | ► Sony film unit posts $209 million quarterly profit. Sony Corp. raised its full-year profit forecast to $8.65 billion while the pictures division enjoyed a strong quarter, thanks to Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and a new accounting standard. | | * Not counting Venom: The antihero pic, which has already passed the half-billion-dollar mark at the global box office, was released at the beginning of this month, after the quarter had closed. | | ► Lena Dunham bringing refugee survival tale to big screen for Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams. The Paramount Pictures movie will see the Girls creator adapt A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea, a book by Melissa Fleming, the story of a mother and her two kids fleeing Egypt for Sweden. | | ► Russo Bros., World War Z writer team for true life Iraqi War story Mosul. Screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan is making his directorial debut with the project, which was shot in secret in Morocco. | | ► Ryan Reynolds filmed new scenes for PG-13 Deadpool 2. The new cut will open Dec. 21 and features material shot by director Dave Leitch. | | ► It filmmaker Andy Muschietti to direct Attack on Titan. The director is developing the adaptation of the popular manga series for Warner Bros., coming from Harry Potter producer David Heyman. | | ► Dev Patel to make directorial debut with Monkey Man. The Oscar nominee will also star in the Mumbai-set action revenge film, steeped in Indian mythology. | | ► Film Commissioners Association launches new resource for global producers. The web-based Global Production Network Tool helps link producers with film commissions looking for their business and ready to help. | | ► Rachel Bloom to host SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Patron of the Arts Awards. Kristin Chenoweth has joined the lineup of performers at the evening honoring Harrison Ford, Lady Gaga, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Spike Lee. |  | | ^Re-creating Freddie Mercury's style: Costume designers behind the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody break down the rock 'n' roll inspirations for Rami Malek's boundary-pushing Mercury and the "country Stagecoach Festival vibe" seen on Lady Gaga in Bradley Cooper's hit A Star Is Born remake, Booth Moore reports: | | + Starting from scratch: In addition to doing research at London's Queen archives, Bohemian Rhapsody designer Julian Day tapped a who's who of British fashion to help with the style icon's gender-bending looks. Day also reproduced many of the performer's most memorable looks from scratch, starting with multiple pairs of black velvet pants. "We cut so many, we nicknamed them the Freddie flare." | | + Gaga's looks: When Ally begins touring with Jack (played by Bradley Cooper), she finds her voice and her style, picking up vintage pieces along the way for "a country Stagecoach Festival vibe," says costume designer Erin Benach, noting the performance when Ally wears a white embroidered jumpsuit reminiscent of cowboy couture label Nudie Cohn. "That was the apex of when she started to feel like a star," explains the designer. Full story. | | Casting call... | | ► Anna Kendrick to star in sci-fi thriller Stowaway. YouTube star turned filmmaker Joe Penna of MysteryGuitarMan fame will direct the XYZ Films project. | | ► Mel Gibson to star with Charlie Hunnam, Eiza Gonzalez in action-thriller Waldo. Based on Howard Gould's books, the AFM-bound project is being helmed by Tim Kirkby, who directed episodes of Veep and Fleabag. | | ► Liam Neeson, Micheal Richardson team for comedy Made in Italy. The film is the directorial debut of Dunkirk star James D'Arcy and is being introduced at the AFM. | | ► Jon Bernthal, Evan Peters, Charlie Plummer, Josh Gad unite for Snow Ponies. The film, which is being relaunched at AFM with Sierra/Affinity looking after international sales, is being helmed by Darrin Prescott, a second unit director on such films as Baby Driver, Deadpool 2 and Black Panther, from a 2006 Black List script by Pat Healy. |  Judge refuses to let notorious media foe redact "copyright troll" from ruling. "Even if it were appropriate to consider this request for a 'redaction' under Rule 60, Mr. [Richard] Liebowitz has failed to explain what the refiling of the February 22 Opinion with a redaction would accomplish," responds the judge. | | | | | | | | Fall TV Report |  | | | | Best and worst of the season: Daniel Fienberg and Tim Goodman lament broadcast mediocrities, celebrate under-the-radar cable/streaming gems and ponder whether stars really matter on the small screen: | | + Unconvincing offerings: DF: A few weeks in, I'm not prepared to commit to any [new network comedy], nor to a broadcast drama field in which the flawed and derivative All American on The CW may be the best this autumn has to offer. No judgment, but at this moment is there a single network drama, new or returning, that you're watching and enjoying, Tim? | | * Dearth of quality drama: TG: No. Stray drama series I run into out of curiosity or accident don't end up holding my attention for the entire hour. It's not even that the playing field is uneven — which was a good excuse and mostly true for a while — but the network shows just don't hold up to most cable or streaming dramas. So why would I waste my time on them? Full debate. | | Elsewhere in TV... | | ► Megyn Kelly, NBC grapple over money and NDA in exit talks. Sources say the talks naturally slowed somewhat over the weekend, but ramped up again on Monday. Sources tell Marisa Guthrie that Kelly is resisting an NDA. Such clauses are standard in exit agreements, even those that are not fraught. But NDAs have also come under new scrutiny in the #MeToo era. | | * Al Roker condemns whiteface amid Kelly controversy. The longtime Today host denounced on Twitter Marlon and Shawn Wayans' 2004 film White Chicks, and also addressed Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel's histories wearing blackface: "Of course, it makes me cringe. Horrible. And do I think wish they never did it? You bet. But I don’t have a time machine." | | ► Democratic strategist says "no more" to Fox News — will more guests follow? Personalities, contributors and talent are under the microscope as the network faces backlash over its Trump administration coverage. | | * Taking a stand. "I can't go on the program and come home and look at myself in the mirror and say that in the grand scheme, this is pushing the ball forward," Zac Petkanas tells Jeremy Barr. "I think everyone should have that conversation, especially in light of the violent attacks over the past week." | | ► Fox RSNs draw outside interest. Joe Flint, Andrew Beaton and Miriam Gottfried report: "Potential suitors include private-equity firms Apollo Global Management LLC, Blackstone Group LP, KKR & Co. and Providence Equity Partners LLC. ... Rapper and actor Ice Cube has emerged as the face of one bid, teaming up with investors from his 'Big 3' basketball league and others in a minority-owned conglomerate." [The Wall Street Journal] | | ► Nickelodeon taps Awesomeness' Shauna Phelan to oversee live-action scripted content. Nickelodeon president Brian Robbins has hired his longtime colleague for the newly created role. | | ► Heathers episodes pulled in wake of Pittsburgh shooting. The two episodes that were to air featured a storyline involving students at the school's central high school undergoing active shooter training, Lesley Goldberg reports. | | ► Vanessa Hudgens, Tinashe and Valentina among cast of Fox's live Rent. Kiersey Clemons, Brandon Victor Dixon, Jordan Fisher, Brennin Hunt and Mario round out the cast, with Keala Settle performing the famed track "Seasons of Love." The musical airs Jan. 27. | | ► Fox sets midseason premiere dates. Gotham will return to Fox's Thursday lineup for its final season starting on Jan. 3. Season two of The Orville and new dramas The Passage and Proven Innocent are also on tap for early 2019. Schedule. | | ► Scandal grad stays in Shondaland, inks Netflix overall deal. Chris Van Dusen will remain at his longtime home at Shondaland and create and produce other new series for the streamer beyond the previously announced untitled Bridgerton project. | | ► Jeopardy will now stream on Netflix and Hulu. Netflix announced Monday that it has acquired 45 episodes of the quiz show — all of which are currently available on rival Hulu. | | ► Ottoman Rising limited series lands at Netflix. The six-episode series, a blend of scripted and documentary elements, will chronicle the rise of Ottoman ruler Mehmed II. | | ► Strange Angel renewed for season two at CBS All Access. The series, which launched in June and wrapped its season in August, becomes the latest scripted original to earn a second season at CBS' SVOD, joining Star Trek: Discovery, The Good Fight and No Activity, all of which have scored sophomore orders. | | ► Bob Saget returns to ABC for Videos After Dark; AFV renewed through season 31. Saget, the original host of AFV, will front an "edgier" video clip show that will air later in the evening. | | ► Harry Shum Jr. signs with Paradigm. The Crazy Rich Asians actor is in the running for People’s choice male TV star for his Shadowhunters role. | | #MeToo roadblocks... | | ► Actress faces obstacles in filing complaint. Amy Kaufman reports on sexual misconduct allegations levied against Marvel's Runaways actor Kip Pardue: "But for five months, [actress Sarah Scott] was frustrated by what she saw as slow movement and conflicting advice from industry and production leaders." [Los Angeles Times] |  | | ^Reality of teaching on-set: Teaching child actors requires rigorous training and high emotional intelligence — not to mention the moxie to protect kids from rule-bending auteurs, on-set educator Matt Babb writes: | | + Beyond any normal classroom: Our job is undeniably different from classroom teaching: our students are not just students, they're also working in a highly competitive, often stressful industry, and we have to work within time constraints and in unusual situations. | | It's not out of the ordinary for studio teachers to travel to our students' houses to tutor them, or teach them in unique situations that would occur only in our industry — like when I quizzed a student while he was being painted blue. Full column. | | Pittsburgh shooting... | | ► RIP Joyce Feinberg. Among the 11 people killed by a gunman at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday was a close relative of THR critic Daniel J. Fienberg, who writes about the tireless energy she devoted to celebrating the family she loved: "Nobody loved chronicling our family like my Auntie Joyce, a pursuit she followed from Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris to the savannas of Africa." Remembrance. | | ► Pittsburgh shooting suspect appears in court. Federal prosecutors set in motion plans to seek the death penalty against Robert Gregory Bowers, who is being held without bail for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. | | Media threats continue... | | ► NYPD investigating suspicious package sent to New York Times. An official for the NYPD said that an envelope with paper in it was delivered to the building and that an investigation is ongoing. | | White House vs. the media... | | ► Trump criticizes media for handling of Pittsburgh shooting, suspicious packages. On the issue of the media and Trump's labeling of "fake news" as an enemy of the people, the president told Ingraham, "You have news out there that is so fake, and I can do the greatest thing ever — North Korea as an example.” | | ► Sarah Huckabee Sanders attacks CNN for "outrageous" bomb threat response. "A major news network's [CNN's] first public statement was to blame the president and myself included," she said. "That is outrageous that anybody other than the individual who carried out the crime would hold that responsibility." | | Ratings notes... | | ► World Series ends with multi-year lows. The Boston Red Sox's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers recorded a 12.3 rating in metered-market households, easily the best of the series but down from Game 5 in 2017 (12.8), as has been the case for the prior four games. The 2018 series, despite featuring teams from two top-10 media markets, was the least-watched since 2014. | | Apu controversy update... | | ► Simpsons producer addresses claims that Apu is leaving. "Adi Shankar is not a producer on the Simpsons," wrote Al Jean. "I wish him the very best but he does not speak for our show." The character has recently become controversial, with critics arguing that he pushes negative South Asian stereotypes. | | * Background: Shankar told IndieWire that via "multiple sources," the show was planning on dropping Apu and won't "make a big deal out of it." | | Talking points... | | ► Fox News defends segment after Matt Drudge's attack. "There was absolutely no joking or laughing about the events of this weekend," the network said in part. | | Legal briefs... | | ► Donald Trump sued by investors in company he endorsed on Celebrity Apprentice. A lawsuit filed Monday accuses Trump of tricking consumers into investing in a multi-level marketing company that he was secretly being paid millions to endorse. | | Digital digest... | | ► U.K. to launch tax on online, social media giants. "From April 2020, large social media platforms, search engines and online marketplaces will pay a 2 percent tax on the revenues they earn which are linked to U.K. users," the government says. | Pharrell Williams sends Trump legal threat letter for playing "Happy" after synagogue shooting. "There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose," states the letter. | | | | Klum's Halloween Bash |  | | | | Going all-out: With 18 star-studded Halloween parties — and an array of headline-making costumes — under her belt, Heidi Klum's name has become synonymous with the spooky holiday, Evan Real reports: | | + Necessary policy: "The majority of guests were not super-dressed [at the inaugural party]. So, after that, I implemented a 'no costume-no entry' rule. We quickly taught people that if you don't come in a costume, you're not getting in. The costumes get bigger and better every year. And that's because guests know they won't get in unless they bring it." | | + Favorite outfit: "I definitely loved being turned into the old lady in 2013 because it wasn't me becoming someone else. It was me becoming me — just older! I was looking into the future, really. I personally loved that a lot." Full interview. | | Best looks from the season... | | + This year's top costumes: From Harry Styles' Elton John getup to Joe Jonas' turn as fiancee Sophie Turner's Game of Thrones character, see the celebrity greatest outfits from Halloween 2018. Gallery. | | What else we're reading... | | — "Zoe Kravitz, American Woman." Josh Eells profiles the actress: "Maybe it’s because she grew up near the spotlight, but Kravitz seems happy in the sweet spot of fame, successful but relatively anonymous. ... 'I’m getting better, and I wasn’t ready to be working with the kind of people I’m working with now. So I’m happy with the pace of the ride.'" [Rolling Stone] | | — "Barbra Streisand Can’t Get Trump Out of Her Head. So She Sang About Him." Maggie Haberman speaks with the actress and singer: "Truth has always worked for me, so to see the truth defiled every day is very, very painful for me. I only can do what I can do. I probably will turn a lot of people off. When I’m creating an album there has to be musicality — there has to be beauty in the music." [New York Times] | | — "Lisa Nishimura Takes the Career Questionnaire." Fast Company interviews the Netflix comedy exec — her worst habit: "I over-program my schedule. One of the challenges of loving what you do is that you always want to do 'one more thing.' But having a family has been a gift and made me more efficient." [Fast Company] | | — "Behind the Scenes of a Royal Tour." Photographer Chris Jackson details his many trips: "Every tour is different, and every country is different, but royal tours can certainly be grueling and often hair-raising experiences." [Vanity Fair] | | — "The Singular Joy of the Dumb, Slasher-Movie Threequel." Brian Raftery celebrates: "The third entry is often the most interesting installments of a long-running series, an attempt to break away from the films that came before and salvage a storyline—no matter how ridiculously." [WIRED] | | What else we're watching... | | + "Bill Burr got into a fight at Red Sox-Dodgers World Series game." [Jimmy Kimmel] | | + "Kerry Washington converts political frustration into motivation." [Late Show] | | + "Rami Malek discusses his Freddie Mercury transformation." [Tonight Show] | | + "Amanda Peet can't impress her kids." [Late Night] | | From the archives... | | + On Oct. 30, 1938, Orson Welles broadcast his radio adaptation of H.G. Wells sci-fi drama The War of the Worlds on CBS' radio station. The drama, while boosting Welles' profile, sparked panic in some communities: "In Newark ... more than twenty families rushed out of their houses with wet handkerchiefs and towels over their faces to flee what they believed was to be a gas raid." [New York Times] |  Today's birthdays: Janel Parrish, 30, Ivanka Trump, 37, Matthew Morrison, 40, Nia Long, 48, Kevin Pollak, 61, Harry Hamlin, 67, Henry Winkler, 73. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
