Those of you who read this space regularly know that I’m a tad obsessed with accuracy and data, qualities that tend to serve me well professionally. When it comes to personal life, sometimes that skill is a curse. Today’s an anniversary that I dread to memorialize, but the harsh reality is that I’ll never forget … Read more
While an awful lot of people actually left their homes to watch TOP GUN: MAVERICK in a movie theatre over the holiday weekend, an awful lot of other households apparently chose to watch TV somewhere else. Both Netflix and Disney+ set records with the respective launches of seasons of STRANGER THINGS and the OBI-WAN KENOBI … Read more
It was a pretty good week for Bob Bakish and Shari Redstone. TOP GUN: MAVERICK, the long-awaited sequel to the iconic ’80s original, literally blew away the theatrical box office to the tune of more than $150 million. Warren Buffett decided to invest a few billion in their company. And none of the employees contemplated … Read more
My friend Marc Berman, the author of PROGRAMMING INSIDER, is as detailed and passionate a champion for keeping alive memories and respect for content and personalities that would otherwise be forgotten. So the fact that a Sony digi-net, getTV, recently hired him to help them get their social media straight is both earned and apropos, … Read more
AUTHOR’S NOTE: If the following looks familiar to you, it’s because you already follow our sister site, thedoubleovertime.com, which takes Leblanguage into the domain of sports passions exclusively. I’m honestly not in a mood today to post anything on media or life–it’s a holiday, I’m exhausted, and, frankly, the news cycle from Texas has me … Read more
Leave it to the brilliant Nellie Andreeva, now of DEADLINE, to unlock the real winner of this year’s upfront cycle. While it’s true that the overwhelming majority of series come from vertically integrated production partners, three sitcoms that did get ordered are in partnership with Lionsgate Television, that little independent studio with roots in Canada. … Read more
So it appears Memorial Day weekend is a delineation point for talk show history again. Just like Johnny Carson did when he stepped down from the TONIGHT SHOW thirty years ago today, yesterday Ellen DeGeneres ended her 19-year run as a daytime talk show host, bringing back first show guest Jennifer Aniston, appearing emotional when … Read more
So we’ve somehow made it to the precipice of the summer of ’22, which for the past couple of decades has meant that the broadcast television networks shifted into cost-cutting mode and put their scripted series strategy on hold to introduce schedules primarily made up of game and competition shows. This coming summer, there will … Read more
The Media Insights and Engagement Conference of 2022 is winding down, and I’m told they exceeded their attendance goal. And from the looks of the happy faces, most of which we could actually see, and the many business cards and swag in my suitcase, I can attest it feels like there is some degree of … Read more
Got to Nashville a little early and at the suggestion of a friend who has done lots of business here I played tourist and mosied over to the Country Music Hall of Fame. At first blush it would be the least likely destination for someone with my musical tastes and urban background to appreciate. … Read more