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☆ Hollywood's franchise frenzy: More than half of top studios' 2025 movies are existing IP
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The 2024 box office has been inundated with sequels, prequels and remakes, with the top 10 titles of the year all coming from existing intellectual property. Looking at the current 2025 calendar, between 50% and 70% of the movies from the six major studios — Universal , Disney , Warner Bros. , Paramount , Sony and Lionsgate — will be related to existing IP. Craig T Fruchtman | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesEven before Hollywood was disrupted by the pandemic and the meteoric rise of streaming content, the domestic box office was heavily reliant on franchise titles. While that's a 11.3% drop from last year and lags 25% behind pre-pandemic levels, the haul is better than box office analysts had expected. "Some of the most well-received box office hits in recent memory have been sequels or films based on existing brands and there is still a variety of original content out there."

Persons: There's, Paul Dergarabedian, Guy, Bob Marley, Craig T Fruchtman, Kung, Dergarabedian, Kraven, Hunter, King, Shawn Robbins, Bridget Jones, MEGAN, Downton, Michael, John Wick Organizations: Marvel, Disney, — Universal, Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, Comscore, Getty, Hollywood, Universal, Century Fox, Warner Locations: Shanghai, China, Kingdom, New York City, Peru

Maggie Smith in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." The following year, Smith played Desdemona in Olivier's "Othello." Smith played a celebrated British actor reckoning with her complex marriage to a closeted gay man played by Michael Caine. She was also regularly recognized by the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. When the British newspaper The Telegraph asked Smith why she took the role, she quipped: "Harry Potter is my pension."

Persons: Maggie Smith, Oscar, McGonagall, Harry Potter, Dowager, Smith's, Chris Larkin, Toby Stephens, Dame Maggie Smith, Prince, Everett, Larkin, Stephens, Smith, Miss Jean Brodie, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess Grantham, Nick Briggs, Tony, Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret Natalie Smith, Shakespeare’s, Laurence Olivier, Desdemona, Olivier's, Ronald Neame, Vincent Canby, Jean Brodie, Neil Simon, Michael Caine, Rowling's Harry Potter, Minerva McGonagall, Nobody Organizations: Warner Bros, PBS, Oxford Playhouse School, Britain's, Evening, New York Times, British Academy, Golden Globes, Screen, British, The Telegraph, Focus, NBC Locations: Downton, Lovage, Essex, England, U.S, London, Edinburgh, California, Los Angeles, British, Gosford

☆ Maggie Smith, Oscar-winning actor known from Harry Potter and 'Downton Abbey,' has died at age 89
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Actress Dame Maggie Smith arrives at the Royal Film Performance and World Premiere of the film, "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", at Leicester Square, London February 17, 2015. Smith's sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said in a statement that Smith died early Friday in a London hospital. You have to get up very, very early in the morning to outwit Maggie Smith." "Jean Brodie," in which she played a dangerously charismatic Edinburgh schoolteacher, brought her the Academy Award for best actress, and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) as well in 1969. English actress Maggie Smith, UK, 8th March 1974.

Persons: Dame Maggie Smith, Peter Nicholls, Maggie Smith, Miss Jean Brodie, dowager Countess of Grantham, Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter, Smith's, Chris Larkin, Toby Stephens, Smith, Clair Dobbs, Vanessa Redgrave, Judi Dench, Smith drily, McGonagall, Richard Eyre, I've, Jean Brodie, Oscar, Judith Hearne, Mussolini, Tony, " Smith, Richard Burton, Peter Hall, Frank Rich, Coward, Wilde, Noel Coward's, It's, Margaret Natalie Smith, one's, Maggie, Margaret Smith, Laurence Olivier, Joyce Redman, Emilia, Desdemona, Stuart Burge's, Shakespeare's Organizations: Leicester Square, British Academy Film Award, Vaudeville Theatre, Getty, Golden Globes, Globe, New York Times, Oxford Playhouse School, National Theatre, Shepperton Studios, Moviepix Locations: Leicester, London, Downton, British, Edinburgh, Hay, Ilford, Oxford, Surrey

☆ Maggie Smith, 2-time Oscar winner and 'Harry Potter' star, dead at 89
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Smith was well known for roles in the television series "Downton Abbey" and the "Harry Potter" films. Smith later became well known for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" films, a role she said helped her bond with her grandchildren. Related storiesBut her most prolific TV role was as Violet Crawley on "Downton Abbey," which earned her three Emmy awards. The series ran for six seasons, and Smith returned for two subsequent "Downton Abbey" films, which were released in 2019 and 2022. She was later diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and went through chemotherapy while filming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Persons: Dame Maggie Smith, Tony, Oscar, Smith, Downton, Harry Potter, —, Maggie Smith, Toby Stephens, Chris Larkin, Miss Jean Brodie, Minerva McGonagall, Delahunty, Violet Crawley, dames Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright, Sir Christopher Hampton's, Brunhilde Pomsel, Propaganda Joseph Goebbels, Graves, Prince, Sir Robert Stephens, Stephens, Alan Beverley Cross, Anjelica Oswald Organizations: Service, Business, Oxford Playhouse, Broadway, British Academy of Film, Television Arts, HBO, dames, Nazi Locations: British, Umbria, Nazi Germany

☆ Maggie Smith once said starring in the 'Harry Potter' films 'wasn't satisfying' for her as an actor
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Hayley Peppin | Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Maggie Smith once said that starring in the "Harry Potter" films "wasn't satisfying" for her. She added that she and Alan Rickman used to complain that their work on the films was mainly reaction shots. AdvertisementDame Maggie Smith is being remembered for her portrayal of the no-nonsense Professor McGonagall following her death at age 89. However, the British actor once said that being part of the Harry Potter films "wasn't satisfying" enough. "I am deeply grateful for the work in 'Potter' and indeed 'Downton,' but it wasn't what you'd call satisfying," she said, referring also to "Downton Abbey."

Persons: Maggie Smith, Harry Potter, Alan Rickman, —, McGonagall, Oscar, Potter, Downton, Severus Snape, Warner, Violet Crawley, Dowager, Miss Jean Brodie, Tony, Toby Stephens, Chris Larkin Organizations: Service, Evening, British, Warner Bros Locations: British, Grantham, Downton

☆ Maggie Smith, beloved ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Harry Potter’ star, dead at 89
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Hilary Clarke | Caitlin Danaher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Dame Maggie Smith, one of Britain’s best-known actresses whose long career ranged from starring opposite Laurence Olivier in “Othello” on stage and screen, to roles in “Harry Potter” and “Downton Abbey,” has died, her sons announced in a statement shared by their publicist Clair Dobbs. “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. Everett CollectionSmith was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990, and from then on was widely known as Dame Maggie Smith. She came to the notice of younger viewers as the strict but fair witchcraft teacher Minerva McGonagall in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001), also appearing in several “Harry Potter” sequels. In her later years, Smith became a role model for ageing gracefully, a process she handled with her customary charm and wit.

Persons: Maggie Smith, Laurence Olivier, “, ”, “ Harry Potter ”, Downton, Clair Dobbs, Dame Maggie Smith, ” Smith, Smith, William Shakespeare’s “, Olivier’s, Miss Jean Brodie, Neil Simon’s, Judith Hearne, Dowager Countess, Everett, Mussolini, Franco Zeffirelli, Minerva McGonagall, “ Harry Potter, Harry Potter, Violet Crawley, Dowager, Robert Stephens –, –, Beverley Cross Organizations: CNN, Chelsea, Westminster Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford Playhouse School, Oxford University Dramatic Society, The Old, British, Acclaim, Atlantic Locations: Ilford, London, Oxford, “, ”, California, British, Florence, Italy, Grantham, “ Downton, Los Angeles

☆ Dan Stevens on His Best Movie, TV Roles: 'Downton Abbey,' 'Legion'
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Advertisement"I think career is defined as much by what you say no to as what you say yes to," Stevens tells Business Insider. He famously devastated "Downton Abbey" fans by requesting to leave the beloved period drama, which necessitated killing off his fan-favorite character Matthew Crawley. "There was a real openness to see actors try things that they've not necessarily been seen in before over here, and that was very, very appealing to me," Stevens says. AdvertisementOn the excitement and terror of leaving 'Downton Abbey'Dan Stevens was one-half of the most popular couple on "Downton Abbey." AdvertisementAnd one that I particularly enjoy is when people say how much they enjoyed "High Maintenance," which was a show that I really really loved being a part of.

Persons: Dan Stevens, It's, King, Abigail, Stevens, Charles Dickens, Matthew Crawley, Herr König, terrorizes, Hunter Schafer, he's, Cousin Matthew, Felix Dickinson, it's, Downton, Al Pacino, ITV It's, I've, you've, —, Emma Watson, Emma, Harry Potter, that'll, You've, haven't, Robert Eggers, Lisa Frankenstein, Zelda Williams, We've, they've Organizations: Business, ITV, Marvel, HBO Locations: Queens, Downton, Russian

We've compiled a comprehensive guide on where to watch Emmy-nominated shows, including series from the outstanding drama and comedy categories. With Succession over and out of the running, the best drama series category has opened up for a new potential champion. Slow HorsesWhile Apple TV+ shows often fly under the radar, three programs snagged best series nominations across both drama and categories this year. 3 Body Problem received six nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and five technical categories. Reservation DogsThe punchy and poignant Reservation Dogs finally picked up an Outstanding Comedy nomination in its third and final season.

Persons: it's, We've, Ted Lasso, Hulu, Max, Fflyn Edwards, Elizabeth Debicki, Rufus Kampa, Daniel Escale, Netflix's Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana's, Imelda Staunton, Walton Goggins, Downton, Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston's, Witherspoon, Aniston, Smith Donald Glover's, Smith ., Francesca Sloane, Glover, Maya Erskine, Erskine, James Clavell, Gary Oldman, Liu Cixin's, Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Gilles Mingasson Abbott, Jeremy Allen White, Ayo, Larry David's, David, Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Meryl Streep, Kristen Wiig's, Carol Burnett, Laura Dern, Ricky Martin, D'Pharaoh Woon, Matt Berry Organizations: Business, Netflix, Apple, The, Downton Abbey, Hulu, ABC, Abbott, FX Locations: Palm, York, America, Atlanta, British intelligence's, Philadelphia, Chicago, Vegas, Hulu, Beach, Oklahoma, California, Staten

☆ I gifted myself an adult gap year for my 30th birthday. I've never been this happy and I'm the most broke I've ever been.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Jane Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I immigrated to Canada from Nigeria when I was 22 for my master's degree and started working right after graduating. I had thought about starting my own clothing brand for years, so I started working on ideas for that too. One of the biggest things I'm taking away from this sabbatical is realizing that a lot of things are not that serious. I've never been this happy, and I'm the most broke I've ever been. AdvertisementIf you took a sabbatical and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at janezhang@businessinsider.com.

Persons: Alma Rex, Ezonfade, —, I'm, would've, I'd, what's, I've, Jane Zhang Organizations: Service, YouTube, Google, Abbey Locations: Toronto, Canada, Nigeria, Caribbean, Europe, Punta Cana, janezhang@businessinsider.com

☆ 'Vanderpump Villa' isn't 'Vanderpump Rules' in the French countryside. Meet the cast and let them tell you why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

No, the new reality show "Vanderpump Villa" isn't just a remixed version of "Vanderpump Rules." "This is not Château Shitshow," a frustrated Vanderpump tells a pair of servers at the start of the second episode of her latest reality show, "Vanderpump Villa." AdvertisementUnlike in 'Pump Rules,' the villa staff must work together — and that raises the stakesLisa Vanderpump and the chateau staff in "Vanderpump Villa." 'Vanderpump Villa' is more like 'Below Deck'Lisa crowns Harlan, a villa guest, at her "Rebirth" party in episode three. The first three episodes of "Vanderpump Villa" are now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes released weekly.

Persons: isn't, —, Lisa Vanderpump, Joseph, Vanderpump, Hannah, Marciano Jax, Marciano, Gilles Mingasson, Jax Taylor, Hannah Fouch, Stassi Schroeder, Jax, Stassi's, Stassi, that's, We're, they'll, Hulu It's, Villa, Marciano —, Andre Mitchell, Mitchell, Grace Cottrell, Gabriella Sanon, Eric Funderwhite's flirtations, Caroline Byl, Emily Kovacs, Emily, Lisa, Harlan, Hulu Vanderpump, Kristen Doute Organizations: Service, Hulu, Hollywood resto, of Reality, Villa, Bravo Locations: Château Saint, Vanderpump's, Downton

☆ Enough With All-White Kitchens. Why the ‘Layered’ Look Will Rule in 2024.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Sophie Donelson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

“I WANT a traditional kitchen—but make it cool.” Today, younger, hipper homeowners are texting designers with such seemingly irreconcilable desires. They want a look they can relate to. The layered kitchen, a neo-traditional approach that artfully patches together materials and styles. Cabinets typically vary, too: Paint might coat the lower set, often Shaker style, while the upper set sports glass fronts edgily framed in blackened steel. Next to this look, the standard monolith of same-color cabinets seems as dated as a matching lipstick, blouse and pumps.

Persons: hipper, “ Downton, ”, Victoria Sass Organizations: Prospect Refuge Locations: Minneapolis

☆ Matthew Perry was an imperfect person, which made him the perfect Chandler Bing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Analysis Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Something to sip on…"Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," Matthew Perry's memoir, published in 2022. It feels incomprehensible to imagine Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer without Perry. HIs romantic, sweet, yet sarcastic portrayal of Chandler made Perry feel like the heart and soul of the show. But Perry still managed to pour the best of himself into Chandler, bringing laughter to audiences around the world for multiple generations. In his imperfection as a human being, Perry was able to give us a brashness mixed with vulnerability on the small screen.

Persons: “, ” Read, Matthew, Julia Weeks, Matthew Perry’s, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Perry, ”, Chandler Bing, Chandler, … Adele, Kevork Djansezian, Adele, I’ve, … Jungkook, Arturo Holmes, Jungkook, Forbes, Alison Cohen Rosa, I’m Organizations: Western, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Crypto.com Arena, Las, North, Getty Locations: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Great, New York City, North America, “ Downton, York City

☆ The Kids of Rutherford County, Episode 3: ‘Would You Like to Sue the Government?’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +43 min

And it meant going back to the Rutherford County Juvenile Court, going back in front of Judge Davenport. meribah knightAnd more importantly —wes clark I was definitely thinking about how we could sue somebody for what happened. wes clark I just remember being giddy, like a kid, like this sentence, this is fucking bonkers, that this exists. And this is The Kids of Rutherford County, Episode 3: Would You Like to Sue the Government? Even more, Rutherford County would likely continue to jail kids at an extraordinary rate.

Persons: Wes Clark, Mark Downton, Judge Davenport, They’d, Clark, downton, —, Here’s Mark, Wes, Mark, wes clark, wes clark Oh, they’re hustling, It’s, we’ve, wes clark Yep, It’s jargony, I’m, I’ve, wes clark That’s, Davenport, wes clark There’s, there’s, ” I’m, Sue, Mark didn’t, Wesley, — he’d, There’s, Mark doesn’t, I’ll, who’d, Kyle Mothershead, Kyle’s, kyle mothershead, Bradley Cooper, meribah, Kyle, he’s, Let’s, “, Wes couldn’t, you’re, Rutherford, Lynn Duke, wasn’t, Duke, shouldn’t, Wes didn’t, Lynn Duke’s, Zeb, zeb smotherman, Smotherman, Grace, Thomas, thomas I didn’t, thomas, Brandon, brandon, brandon I, thomas I, yank, Quintarius Frazier, quintarius frazier I’m, Dylan, dylan I, You’re, they’d, — you’re, I’m Wesley, WGNS, bart, Donna Scott Davenport, donna scott davenport, Bart, Davenport wouldn’t, Rutherford County’s, Bart Walker III, ’, we’re, Judge Davenport’s, Rich Campbell, she’d, Here’s Wes, you’d, Waverly Crenshaw, that’s, wes clark Yes, Judge Crenshaw, who’ve Organizations: ACLU, Juvenile Court, The New York Times, Rutherford County’s Police, truancy, Civil, downton, Juvenile, WGNS, South Locations: Downton, Lake Louise, Rutherford, Hobgood, Tennessee, Rutherford County, Davenport, downton, waiving, Murfreesboro, WGNS, that’s, State, Nashville’s

☆ ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ star Maggie Smith, 88, is the face of Loewe’s new campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Dame Maggie Smith, the British actress acclaimed for her appearances both on stage and in cinema, has taken on a new role — and this time it’s in the world of luxury fashion. Loewe has cast the 88-year-old, known for roles such as Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, in its spring/summer 2024 pre-collection campaign. The pointed hat and cape of Hogwarts are a distant memory as Smith sports three cosy and stylish looks for the campaign. In another, Smith is adorned in a floor-length faux fur coat and holds Loewe’s signature Puzzle bag. The actress is one of several older women who have fronted fashion lines and magazine covers in recent years.

Persons: Maggie Smith, Loewe, McGonagall, Harry Potter, Smith, Juergen Teller, Dakota Fanning, Greta Lee, Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor, Taeyong, Rachel Jones, Fei Fei Sun, Heartstopper, Sebastian Croft, Jonathan Anderson, “, Juergen Teller Smith —, Countess Violet Crawley, —, Oscar, Miss Jean Brodie, ”, Apo, Od, Dame Judi Dench Organizations: CNN, Loewe Creative, Broadway, Vogue Philippines, British Vogue Locations: British, Hogwarts, American, South Korean, ”, California

☆ Hugh Dancy’s great-grandmother was murdered. He’s now starring in a podcast about the case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Naomi Dancy was found murdered in 1937, killed by two gunshots to the face. When, years later, he discovers that subsequent occupants of the same house have been visited by the ghost of a faceless woman, he’s curious,” the press release states. Could there be a connection between the ghost and the murder?”Redman decided to take on the case and delve into the family secrets of his wife. But when you find out there might be one in your bedroom, and that it might be linked to a family murder: how could you not investigate?” Redman said in a statement. “I’ve spent two years reporting this story and I’m excited for people to hear it.

Persons: Naomi Dancy, Tristan Redman, Hugh Dancy, “ Hannibal ”, ” Redman, doesn’t, –, ”, aren’t, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, Pineapple Street Studios

☆ Luxury homes like Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Malibu estate take a staff of up to 50 to maintain — and could cost owners $1 million a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"These homes run like a well-oiled machine," Jenny Greenwood Huber, owner and founder of Heritage Estate Management, told Insider. Heritage Estate ManagementHeritage Estate Management provides household staffing and property management services for West Coast estates in places like Beverly Hills and Malibu, where the Carters' new home is located. With a staff of 20, property owners could be paying nearly $5,000 a day — or $1.8 million a year. Heritage Estate Management charges $150 per hour of property management service. Heritage Estate ManagementAccording to Huber, her staff could work 20 hours to 50 hours a month at a single estate.

Persons: Jenny Greenwood Huber, Huber, Beyoncé, Downton, nannies, Jay, housekeepers, Anthony Barcelo Huber Organizations: Service, Heritage Estate Management, Heritage Estate Management Heritage Estate Management, nannies, butlers, Heritage Locations: West, Wall, Silicon, Malibu, West Coast, Beverly Hills, chauffeurs, Los Angeles

☆ Reliance's JioCinema signs content streaming deal with NBC Universal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, May 29 (Reuters) - JioCinema, the streaming platform run by India's Reliance Industries Ltd (RELI.NS), has signed a partnership with NBC Universal Media in a push to increase Hollywood content on the platform for Indian viewers, the companies said on Monday. The multi-year deal will give JioCinema's premium subscribers access to popular shows such as "Downton Abbey", "Suits" and "The Office," the companies said in a joint statement. This comes after JioCinema signed a content streaming deal with Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD.O) in April for shows such as "Succession" and "Game of Thrones". JioCinema announced its premium pricing earlier this month, moving away from free content model to fight rivals like Netflix (NFLX.O) and Disney (DIS.N) in the content streaming space. Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ British Spies, Japanese Teens and a German Cop’s Wild Ride
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Mike Hale | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It has been a quiet season for international television on American screens — nothing has grabbed attention on a “Squid Game” or “Downton Abbey” scale. But barely a day goes by, in the streaming age, without an interesting series washing up from some foreign shore. Here are four recent shows worth tracking down, from an elegant British thriller to a Chinese dramedy about a demon god and an immortal warrior who meet cute on the mortal plane. ‘A Spy Among Friends’Alexander Cary, a writer and executive producer on “Homeland,” wrote this six-episode spy thriller as a leisurely, literate, three- or four-dimensional game of chess. Tightly controlled yet somehow relaxed, Lewis gives a performance in which the coldblooded manipulator and the sentimentally loyal bro coexist at every moment.

Prince William honored his father with a few words during Sunday night's concert - the first ever to be staged at Windsor Castle, home to monarchs for almost 1,000 years. Royals dance the night awaySeveral members of the royal family got their groove on throughout the concert. Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesMesmerizing drone displayA fabulous drone display lit up the sky over the coronation concert, earning audible gasps from the crowd below. Crowds watch illuminated drones creating a light display above Windsor Castle. But when Miss Piggy, dressed in a cerise pink evening dress and glittering necklace, recognized “Downton Abbey” star Bonneville she had other things in mind, thinking he was a real lord.

☆ Former FCC Chair Newton Minow, who called 1960s TV 'vast wasteland', dies at 97
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Bill Trott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On May 9, 1961, he addressed the National Association of Broadcasters convention and had some stark criticism for television executives. "When television is good, nothing - not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers - nothing is better," Minow said. "I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland," he said. The speech draft had referred to a "vast wasteland of junk" but Minow excised "of junk" so as not to offend his audience too deeply. Minow headed the FCC for two years and in 1965 became a partner at the Chicago law firm of Sidley Austin.

☆ Maggie Smith’s Muse Is Central Ohio
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Elisabeth Egan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Here’s a writing tip from Maggie Smith: You don’t need to travel too far afield for ideas. The poet and memoirist — not to be confused with Maggie Smith, the dowager countess of “Downton Abbey” — has built a career on inspiration drawn from her neighborhood in Bexley, Ohio, only 25 minutes from her childhood home in Westerville. “I don’t live here necessarily because of the place; I live here because my people are here,” she said in a phone interview. We have dinner at my childhood home every Sunday.”In her memoir, “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” which debuted at No. She writes in her memoir, “I kept us here with words” — specifically, the advance for “Keep Moving.”

☆ ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ Review: Battles Royal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

India Amarteifio Photo: NETFLIX‘Bridgerton” isn’t exactly “Downton Abbey,” or Coca-Cola, but it is certainly a brand, one poised to provide ample opportunities for prequels, sequels, different flavors and, to judge by “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” even a diet option, if storylines had calories. The original series, based on Julia Quinn ’s fanciful period novels, has thus far been Royalty Lite, but has included a colony’s worth of characters, many of whom could be the subject of their own spinoffs. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Thursday, Netflix“Queen Charlotte,” developed by star producer Shonda Rhimes , concerns the imperious sovereign (Golda Rosheuvel) who ruled over the first two seasons of the original “Bridgerton” and has reason to be tart: Her husband, George III , is mad. Her feckless son is running the country. And she distracts herself by manipulating the social hierarchy, atop which she presides with her outlandish headpieces aspiring further heavenward, like the spires on a cathedral.

☆ U.S. and Russia clash over drone, the Fed’s risky path and Downton’s staff problem: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Confrontation over the Black Sea raises stakes between U.S. and Russia. Price stability Vs financial stability -- the Fed’s tricky balancing act. Downton can’t get the staff – worker shortages in the UK. Nor'easter buries New England and New York, storms soak California. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/5] A general view of Highclere Castle, the stately home known around the world as the venue for "Downton Abbey", in Highclere, Britain, March 10, 2023. Highclere Castle in southern England, where the early 20th century period drama about the lives of aristocrats and their servants was filmed, is facing a serious staffing crunch. "We have stopped being able to offer any weddings of any substantial size because of Brexit," Carnarvon, a countess who owns Highclere with her husband, the eighth Earl of Carnarvon, said. Since leaving the European Union, Britain has faced worker shortages at various stages in areas such as manufacturing, construction and logistics. 'WRAPPED IN RED TAPE'Just outside Highclere Castle, in the grounds designed by 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown, dozens of chairs and a few tables lie stacked and unused.

☆ Staying in British castles may be easier — and cheaper — than you think
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Lucy Handley | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Storied Collection is a travel website that lists heritage hotels and homes — including private castles — so vacationers who love history can easily find accommodations that suit them. The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is located inside the Royal Crescent, a row of terraced houses built between 1767 and 1775. Hauge and Goldin, with the help of former CEO of Best Western UK Rob Paterson, launched Storied Collection in 2022. Surnames of previous owners include Cooper, Bingham and Synge, according to Storied Collection. The drawing room of the Sir Percy Blakeney Suite at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa in Bath, England.

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