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It’s easy to forget amid the uproar over her on-air comments endorsing blackface, but back in January 2017, landing Megyn Kelly was considered a coup for NBC News. Her three-year deal — worth a reported $23 million annually — would weaken Fox News, where Kelly became one of the biggest stars in cable in part by challenging Republican newsmakers (including then-candidate Donald Trump on his history of misogyny). And it would allow NBC to launch a prime-time newsmagazine to challenge 60 Minutes as well as upgrade an hour of the network’s cash-cow Today franchise. Now, as Kelly’s 9 a.m. program ends in scandal and lower ratings than when she arrived, and as the onetime star broadcaster finalizes terms of her exit amid open criticism from NBC News chairman Andrew Lack…
↑ Film Queen Chaos Behind Bryan Singer’s Bohemian firing p. 14 Deals Cartoon Boom Why Netflix and CBS are launching ani studios p. 20 Drake Fueled by his appearance on Bad Bunny’s “MIA,” the rapper surpasses The Beatles to claim the crown for most Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits in a year with 12. Kevin Kay The Paramount Network chief, who oversaw its rebranding from Spike, is out after more than two decades with Viacom and is succeeded by Comedy Central president Kent Alterman. Dan Houser The Rockstar Games co-founder launches Western epic Red Dead Redemption 2 to $725 million in retail sales in its first three days of release. Louis C.K. The comic is greeted by protests (and later removed from a line-up) at his first advertised set…
What to do when your film’s real-life protagonist becomes embroiled in scandal? Sixteen days after Lionsgate picked up Jay Roach’s untitled film about the Fox News women who brought down Roger Ailes with their claims of sexual harassment, the project’s central character, Megyn Kelly, was on her way out of NBC following her comments about blackface. Though the filmmakers have been calling the drama an ensemble piece, Charlize Theron, who plays Kelly, is top-billed and also a producer. Production on the film began in Los Angeles on Oct. 22, three days before NBC canceled Megyn Kelly Today, leaving the filmmakers in an awkward position — move forward with a tarnished heroine or delay production by tweaking Charles Randolph’s script and refashioning Theron’s Kelly into a roman à clef. The movie…
Guest Column The hiring of Megyn Kelly by NBC News two years ago was a $69 million gamble by the news division’s chairman, Andrew Lack, on four separate propositions. Lack, it turns out, lived up to his last name, and his bet resulted in failure in all of those areas. 1 That star power of a celebrity journalist would increase ratings. A dozen years ago, CBS News threw its checkbook at Katie Couric. At the time, Couric was far more popular than Kelly was when she was hired from Fox News, yet Couric made no impact whatsoever on the evening newscast ratings race. If Katie could not do it, why on earth would Megyn be able to? Celebrity journalists come and go (look at the minimal change in audience numbers…
For executives who had worked with — and suffered through — Bryan Singer, the question was: Why? Why give him a shot at making Bohemian Rhapsody when the director had such an established reputation for causing chaos on set? What won the argument, sources say, was that this was Singer’s passion project. Given his enthusiasm, taking a risk even on a deeply troubled talent might have led to rich rewards for 20th Century Fox. But apparently, artistic rewards were not delivered in this case. Reviewers are praising Rami Malek’s portrayal of the late Freddie Mercury, but the movie is at just 55 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at press time. Still, powered by Queen hits, the film looks to open strongly. And even before those numbers are in, Avi Lerner’s…
This is the story of a murder. It hasn’t happened yet. But it will.” So began the unreliable narrator in Martin Amis’ celebrated 1989 novel London Fields. The passage also describes the Oct. 26 release of the film version, which has earned just $169,000, a near-record worst for a wide release. “I’ve read the reviews. I agree with them,” says director Mathew Cullen, speaking for the first time about the failure of the film, which received a rare 0 percent on RottenTomatoes. He also reveals some extraordinary details, including how a convicted felon became involved and how there were actually multiple versions released in theaters. In 2015, the $8 million movie starring Billy Bob Thornton and Amber Heard enjoyed high expectations when it was set to screen at the Toronto…
