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☆ 'The Rings of Power' appears to be struggling to connect with younger viewers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon's "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" may have struggled to attract young viewers. 71% of the show's audience is 35 years or older in the US, according to Nielsen's latest streaming data from Thursday, which measured through the show's fourth episode. Google Trends data shows that searches for "House of the Dragon" have greatly outpaced "The Rings of Power" over the last month. Julia Alexander, director of strategy at Parrot Analytics, tweeted recently that "The Rings of Power" is "a hit, except it feels like it's not." The two-episode premiere of "The Rings of Power" was watched by 12.6 million viewers in the US in its first three days.

☆ 'The Rings of Power' creators promise that if you were disappointed with season 1, you'll like the second season
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The first season of "The Rings of Power" concluded on Friday with a reveal about who Sauron was. The creators are confident fans who wanted more of the villain in season one will dig the second season. Payne and Patrick McKay promise that if viewers were disappointed with season one's story because they expected more Sauron, then they'll dig the second season, which started filming earlier this month. "There may well be viewers who are like, 'This is the story we were hoping to get in season one!,'" McKay told The Hollywood Reporter. "I hope after the last episode airs, viewers watch the whole season again, which is now a different experience," McKay told THR.

☆ Poshmark is the latest company to tap into the $25 billion livestream shopping market. Here's how entrepreneurs are making thousands of dollars per stream.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Li did not disclose how applications are vetted, but Popshop Live is accepting more applications as the company's team grows, she said. Virgile Ollivier, a cofounder and the CEO of Livescale, told Insider livestream shopping would soon become just as important for brands as social-media marketing. Livestream-shopping platforms pick up where Instagram falls shortApps focused solely on livestream shopping show a disconnect on traditional social-media platforms. Nguyen designed her own characters for merchandise in addition to the squishy and plushy toys she sells on Popshop Live. Most sellers livestream at least once a week, at the same time so their followers always know when to expect a show.

☆ 'American Idol' runner-up Willie Spence dies at 23 after car crash
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Former "American Idol" runner-up Willie Spence died following a car accident on Tuesday, according to a preliminary report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Spence, 23, finished as runner-up to Chayce Beckham in the show's 19th season, which aired last year. Just hours before the crash, Spence posted a video of himself singing "You Are My Hiding Place" on his Instagram page. Katharine McPhee Foster, who finished as the runner-up on season five of "Idol" and performed a duet with Spence on season 19, posted news of the death to her Instagram story. Spence planned to perform at a show in London next month, according to a post on his Instagram.

☆ Ye’s ‘The Shop’ episode pulled after he used ‘more hate speech,’ producers say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An episode of an online talk show featuring Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will not be aired after the rapper used "hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes" during the taping, the show's producers said late Tuesday night. "Unfortunately, he used The Shop to reiterate more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes," he said. "While The Shop embraces thoughtful discourse and differing opinions, we have zero tolerance for hate speech of any kind and will never allow our channels to be used to promote hate," he said. Hate speech should never have an audience,” he added. The post has since been deleted from Ye’s account.

☆ Mary Fitzgerald: I actually hate reality TV and watching people fight — but life after 'Selling Sunset' has meant I don't touch homes worth less than $2 million anymore
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Mary Fitzgerald has starred on 'Selling Sunset' for 5 seasons. It's definitely a different show than "Selling Sunset," as the agents are younger and they have a lot more drama going on. That being said, being on "Selling Sunset" has been good for our business. Working in the Oppenheim Group office has also changed a lot since "Selling Sunset." Some of the agents just didn't want to be on "Selling Sunset" — they don't want to put their lives out there, which is understandable.

☆ Analysis: 'Bling Empire' is still shining in its third season
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-08 | by ( Analysis Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Three things to watch‘Bling Empire’ Season 3(From left) Feuding "Bling Empire" cast members Christine Chiu and Anna Shay are pictured in happier times, during an episode from the reality show's second season. So, color me thrilled that the new season of “Bling Empire” picks up right where last season’s high-stakes drama ended. “The Problem With Jon Stewart” Season 2Jon Stewart is pictured during an episode of "The Problem With Jon Stewart" on Apple TV+. Something to sip onStanley Tucci in pictured in a scene from the second season of "Searching for Italy." “That they appreciate the effort that people go through to grow good food, to raise good food,” he said.

☆ 'Borgen' character drew inspiration from Danish PM
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COPENHAGEN, Oct 7 (Reuters) - The screenwriter of hit series "Borgen" says the main theme in the show's latest season - the darker side of holding power - drew inspiration from Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has been criticised for centralising authority. "We have a premise for Borgen ... Can you remain in power and still remain true to yourself?," Price told Reuters during an interview in Copenhagen. 1/3 Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaks during a news conference in front of Marienborg in Copenhagen, Denmark October, 5 2022. "Naturally, we are also inspired by elements in the character of our current Prime Minister," Price said, adding that Nyborg's character was also influenced by many other current and former political personalities. "I'm sure a lot of people in the UK would enjoy that, especially if we weren't very friendly towards Brussels," Price said.

☆ Netflix reportedly pitched a $250 million 'Marvel approach' to 'Lord of the Rings' TV shows, but it 'freaked out' the Tolkien estate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Netflix pitched the Tolkien estate on "Lord of the Rings" TV shows before Amazon landed the rights. It took a "Marvel approach" that "freaked out" the estate, according to The Hollywood Reporter. HBO also pitched the estate on a TV series, THR reported, on essentially remaking the film trilogy. One source told THR that Netflix took a "Marvel approach, and that completely freaked out the estate." THR also reported that Netflix bid $250 million for the rights, which has been widely reported to be the number Amazon paid for the series.

☆ I binge-listened to tech podcasts for a week, and what I learned about Silicon Valley is kind of scary
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

2: The hosts don't know what they don't knowThe problem is, VC podcasts don't stick to the core issues of venture capital. 3: The hosts want us to believe what they don't knowThere's a shocking amount of this kind of drivel on the tech podcasts. This is what a good tech podcast should do: Use access to the best and most successful investors and innovators to illuminate the way Silicon Valley works. But that's not what matters in the world of tech podcasts. But after 40 hours of listening to tech podcasts, I feel kind of bad about it.

☆ I got paid to test 'Survivor' challenges. It's like competing, but you stay in resorts instead of the wild.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Kaila Yu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He worked on "Survivor" for two seasons as part of the show's "Dream Team," which tested challenges before they aired. I got the job because my girlfriend was working in the art department for the showIn 2009, getting a "Survivor" job was more about who you knew. It was fun because everyone would make side bets on which "Dream Team" players would win. The "Dream Team" would stand in on set to help with camera angles and lighting. I didn't return for Season 22 for personal reasons, but I would highly recommend working on "Survivor's Dream Team."

☆ 'Jeopardy!' champ Amy Schneider shares photos of her wedding
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

champion Amy Schneider on Tuesday tweeted photos of her wedding, calling it one of the best days of the last year "by far." Schneider said that a year ago, she was in Los Angeles ahead of her first "Jeopardy!" "The year since has been full of good days, but by far the best one was May 9th, when Genevieve and I got married," Schneider tweeted, alongside photos from her wedding day. "Without her, none of the other good days would have happened. The photos from Schneider's wedding follow her announcement earlier this year that she and Genevieve Davis were engaged.

☆ Constance Wu’s harassment claims reveal a painful trade-off women of color face
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

But the fact that she did not speak out points to an added layer of hesitation many women of color face when confronted with such harassment, experts say. She had been hoping for a “fresh start.”Advocates and scholars say Wu’s comments reflect a familiar issue that women of color regularly contend with: the pressure to uphold racial solidarity, regardless of the harm they face. In her upcoming book “Making a Scene,” which will be released on Oct. 4, Wu detailed the alleged harassment. The expectation women face to place race before any gender-based misconduct or abuse means that they often do not get to define what being Asian American means, she said. Bringing issues of harassment into the public domain oftentimes forces people to contend with long-ignored problems, she said.

☆ Jesse Watters' rise at Fox, from Bill O'Reilly's ambush man to Tucker Carlson wannabe
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Noah Hurowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

At the time, Watters was best known for pulling off elaborately planned ambush interviews on "The O'Reilly Factor," then Fox News' top-rated show. When Grim picked his phone up and trained it again on Watters, the smile was gone from Watters' face. Watters on the set of his show "Jesse Watters Primetime." In early 2022, "Jesse Watters Primetime" debuted, airing right before "Hannity." Watters, whose entire career has been at Fox News, might be a safer bet, according to Muto, the former O'Reilly producer.

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☆ Why it might be better to wait and watch the new 'Star Wars' series 'Andor' in batches of episodes, not every week
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's tempting to wait to watch each block instead of watching one episode every week. "I knew where it was going to end up," Gilroy said during an interview last week on The Watch podcast. It's definitely the best "Star Wars" series since "The Mandalorian," as I was disappointed by "The Book of Boba Fett" and "Obi-Wan Kenobi." But I also appreciate the episode format "Andor" is striving for, and watching every week might ruin the experience. Gilroy has said that the entire series will take place over two seasons with 24 total episodes.

☆ Donald Trump privately slammed Ron DeSantis, calling him 'fat,' 'phony,' and 'whiny': book
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump slammed DeSantis in private, wrote New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman in her new book. Citing sources, Haberman wrote that Trump had called DeSantis "fat" and "whiny." I didn't know I had that big of a weight problem," Trump told Haberman, per her account. I have so many rich friends and nobody knows who they are," Haberman wrote of Trump's response. In July, a DeSantis representative told Insider that DeSantis remains "focused on Florida and running for reelection as governor this year."

☆ Rihanna to headline Super Bowl 2023 halftime show
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Rihanna will headline the halftime show at next year's SuperBowl, the pop singer, her record label, the NFL and new halftime show sponsor Apple Music announced Sunday. Apple Music, which the NFL announced earlier this week would replace previous sponsor Pepsi as the upcoming halftime show's sponsor, also confirmed the news in a tweet. @rihanna will take the stage for the first ever Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show on 2.12.23," the tweet read. Super Bowl LVII is scheduled for Feb. 12, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. In an interview with Vogue earlier this year, the 34-year-old pop singer said she was working on a new album.

☆ How political candidates are targeting you on social media based on your music tastes, shopping habits and favorite TV shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Casey Tolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

(CNN) Marco Rubio hopes to sway voters interested in Chick-fil-A, Ram trucks, and Duck Dynasty. "Political campaigns are using that to their advantage." Rogan, a controversial figure who's popular on the right, attracted more attention from campaigns targeting Facebook ads than any other interest topic in the period analyzed by CNN. The targeting data shows a wide variety of approaches. But most people likely have no idea that they're seeing certain political ads because of their interests in a band or TV show, Woolley noted.

Drag entertainer and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumnus Shangela made history Monday night on the hit competition show “Dancing With the Stars.”On the show’s 31st season premiere, Shangela, whose real name is D.J. Pierce, became the first drag queen to compete in the U.S. version of the international franchise. “We’ve never had anyone like Shangela,” Savchenko, who has been part of the show since season 16, said in an interview with E! The international “Dancing With the Stars” franchise is no stranger to bending gender norms. And in 2018, gay fashion designer Giovanni Ciacci and his dance partner, Raimondo Todaro, made history on the Italian version of “Dancing With the Stars” as the first male couple to compete regularly throughout the season.

☆ A NYFW show that couldn't quite bridge the chasm between the 'insular, and male' world of web3 and fashion
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Caroline Haskins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

At New York Fashion Week, veteran designer Vivienne Tam showcased a metaverse-themed collection featuring various NFT characters. Kerry Chrapliwy — CEO of a marketing agency representing Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange platform that co-sponsored the show — said web3 world has a reputation for being geeky, insular, and male, which needs to change. A divide became clear, though, despite the overlap between the fashion world and the NFT world — like being environmentally disastrous and needing disposable income to participate — their communities do not easily merge, even in a space dedicated to facilitating just that. They didn't seem to know about the NFT element of Tam's collection, didn't care, or both. Their jobs involve a combination of working with the clothes, with models, and in the case of this collection, with people in the NFT world.

☆ 'Queer Eye' star Karamo Brown debuts new talk show
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

(CNN) Karamo Brown's new talk show, "Karamo," debuts Monday. Brown, known as one of the Fab Five on the hit Netflix series "Queer Eye," will still appear on the show giving people advice in their every day lives. He started filming the talk show in August with NBC Universal Syndication Studios. Brown will use personal experiences to address a variety of topics, including family dynamics, infidelity, race and complicated relationships, according to a description of the show." allowfullscreen>Producers posted upcoming topics to the show's official website that address those themes.

☆ How the creators of 'The Starters' built a hit NBA podcast for The Athletic after losing their TV show
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"No Dunks'' is an NBA podcast from the creators of "The Basketball Jones" and "The Starters." In 2019, after their NBA TV show contract ended, the creators signed a deal with The Athletic. The quintet is a far cry from the 20-man team and TV studio that Turner Sports' NBA TV provided during their six-year run with the network. How 'The Starters' became 'The Free Agents'"The Starters" got off in 2013 to a rough start on NBA TV as they struggled to translate their hour-long podcast to TV. Wasserman said the show is The Athletic's biggest NBA podcast and one of its highest-rated out of 77 podcasts.

☆ Trump is fuming over the attention DeSantis is getting for sending migrants to Martha's Vineyard: Rolling Stone
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two sources close to Trump say he is annoyed at the attention DeSantis is getting. Last week, DeSantis sent planeloads of migrants to Martha's Vineyard as a political stunt. Specifically, Trump was concerned about the political stunt DeSantis pulled last week, when he chartered two planes to bring 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard. For his part, DeSantis claimed the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard "hit the jackpot" and said he plans to continue flying migrants out to other states. Trump suspects DeSantis timed the Martha's Vineyard stunt to boost his profile among GOP voters, per Rolling Stone's sources.

☆ Analysis: 'The Handmaid's Tale' gets a new season
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Analysis Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Gone are the days when you had to wait week by week for a hit show's new episodes. Three things to watch'The Handmaid's Tale" Season 5Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford is shown in a scene from the fifth season of "The Handmaid's Tale." 'Atlanta' Season 4Donald Glover as Earnest "Earn" Marks in a scene from season four of "Atlanta." If you watched the show's third season earlier this year, you either loved it or hated it. Death Cab for Cutie "talked about past relationships, failed relationships, our parents' relationships, and relationships that have lasted forever."

☆ 'Phantom of the Opera,' Broadway's longest-running show, announces final curtain call
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

(CNN) Broadway's longest-running show, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera," will play its final five months before closing its doors for good, a spokesperson for the show told CNN Friday. The final performance will take place on Saturday, February, 18, 2023, at Broadway's Majestic Theatre, Michael Borowski of The Publicity Office said in an email. Prior to the Broadway show's conclusion, "Phantom" will celebrate its 35th anniversary on January 26 with director Seth Sklar-Heyn at the helm, Borowski said. Ticket sales had slowed for Broadway shows during the pandemic and "Phantom" was no exception, recently dropping from 255,000 weekly attendees in May to about 180,000 attendees in September, according to The Broadway League. The show's flagship London production will celebrate its 36th year on October 9 and the recently premiered Melbourne version will likewise continue.

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