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☆ Hollywood studios racing to avoid actors' strike at midnight
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] People attend a demonstration held by the Writers Guild of America as the film and TV writers' strike continues, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 21, 2023. SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's largest union, is demanding higher compensation in the streaming TV era plus safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence (AI). They would join about 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who went on strike in early May. A strike by SAG-AFTRA would force more sets to shut down and pile pressure on studios to find a resolution. The studios and the WGA have not held talks since the writers' strike began on May 2.

Persons: Mike Blake, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Walt Disney, Lisa Richwine, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Writers Guild of America, REUTERS, SAG, Hollywood, WGA, Screen, Netflix, Disney, Comcast, Paramount Global, Alliance, Television Producers, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hollywood's

☆ Actors are poised to go on strike against studios and streaming services
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The actors could be on strike themselves without a last-minute deal with studios and streaming services on Wednesday. Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980. Just before the last deadline, it seemed as if an actors strike could be avoided.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Robyn Beck, It’s, Tom Nunan, Jonathan Handel, Handel, “, it’s, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, —, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Drescher, –, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., Federal Mediation, Conciliation Service, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, AMPTP, Gabbana’s Locations: New York, AFP, Moda, Southern Italy

“We will not be distracted from negotiating in good faith to secure a fair and just deal by the expiration of our agreement,” said the statement from SAG-AFTRA, the actors union. If they go on strike, they will be joining more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America on picket lines against major studios and streaming services. The writers have been on strike for more than two months. SAG-AFTRA said that news reports were published about management’s desire for mediation even before the request was made of union negotiators at the bargaining table. “The AMPTP has abused our trust and damaged the respect we have for them in this process,” said the union’s statement.

Persons: ”, AFTRA Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Alliance of Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros . Discovery Locations: New York

☆ With actors poised to join film and TV writers on strike, Hollywood insiders lay out the dream and nightmare scenarios: 'There's going to be no cash flow'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For the first time since 1960, Hollywood actors and writers could be on strike at the same time. If the actors union, SAG-AFTRA, hits the picket lines, it would cause an even deeper disruption to the entertainment industry. Stakes were high enough with the writers' strike. The movement is having a moment, as has been evidenced by other unions — from teachers to truck drivers — joining Hollywood writers on the picket line. A combined writers' and actors' strike "could well go into the end of the year," Handel said.

Persons: Jonathan Handel, that's, Handel, —, AFTRA, it's, Paul Hardart, Bob Iger, Peter Chernin —, Fox —, Iger, Alan Bergman, Dana Walden, I've, he'd, Hardart Organizations: Hollywood, Guild of, SAG, WGA, Alliance, Producers, Netflix, Disney, Guild of America, Entertainment, Media, Technology, NYU's Stern School of Business, News Corp, Disney Entertainment, United Locations: California, Hollywood, United States

☆ The fear driving Hollywood writers to strike — and soon, maybe actors too — is the same one roiling every industry: Robots are coming for our jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Hollywood writers are entering their third month on strike. Film and TV writers say they're among those who have fared the worst as their industry has been remade, even as others reap the rewards. Either way, the bottom line is this: Everyone in Hollywood is afraid that the robots are coming for their jobs, Terminator-style. Now, they're some of the dominant forces controlling new content development in the entertainment industry. Recently, I reported on how the Hollywood writers' strike is dispiriting industry hopefuls at the outset of their careers — you can read it here.

Persons: Everything's, Adam Conover, Ted Sarandos, Bob Iger, Goldman Sachs, You've, We've, Jonathan Handel, Puck, they'll, Zayd Dohrn, —, Dohrn, Reed Alexander Organizations: Morning, NBC, Nickelodeon, Disney, Hollywood, Netflix, Wall, ., Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, WGA, Apple, Big Tech, Northwestern University Locations: Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York, Chicago

☆ How A.I. took center stage in the Hollywood writers' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Kate Sammer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The implementation of generative AI could mean sweeping changes for the entertainment industry. Advocates for AI technology see it as a tool that will uplift content creators and break down the barriers to entry. "And you don't have to have any sort of skills as a visual effects artist or as someone in the entertainment industry." Since the last writers' strike in 2007, widespread consumer adoption of video streaming has exemplified how novel technologies can upheave the entertainment industry. Discovery , losing billions and billions and billions of dollars a year."

Persons: Justine Bateman, Caleb Ward, Dan Rayburn, —, Rayburn Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, — Disney, Warner Bros, Discovery, Writers Guild of America, Hollywood

☆ The best new shows of 2023, halfway into a strike-disrupted year
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

‘Bill Russell: Legend’ (Netflix) and ‘The Luckiest Guy in the World’ (ESPN)Bill Russell in 'Bill Russell: Legend.' ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ (Amazon’s Prime Video)Riley Keough as Daisy Jones in "Daisy Jones & the Six." ‘The Night Agent’ (Netflix) and ‘Hijack’ (Apple TV+)Luciane Buchanan as Rose Larkin, Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland in episode 'The Night Agent.' ‘Beef’ (Netflix)Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in the Netflix series "Beef." ‘A Small Light’ (NatGeo/Disney+)Margot Frank, played by Ashley Brooke, and Miep Gies, played by Bel Powley in 'A Small Light.'

Persons: ” “ Barry, ”, Maisel, Ted Lasso ”, It’s, Bella Ramsey, Storm Reid, Liane Hentscher, Pedro Pascal, Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, ‘ Bill Russell, Guy, Bill Russell, Bill Walton’s, Wilt Chamberlain, “ Goliath, Stephen Curry, ‘ Daisy Jones, Riley Keough, Daisy Jones, Fleetwood, Elvis Presley’s, Dominique Fishback, Donald Glover, Janine Nabers, Dominique Fishback’s, ’, Luciane Buchanan, Rose Larkin, Gabriel Basso, Peter Sutherland, Idris Elba, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Margot Frank, Ashley Brooke, Miep Gies, Bel Powley, Dusan Martincek, Anne Frank’s, Gies, Liev Schreiber, Otto Frank Organizations: CNN, Writers Guild of America, HBO, Netflix, ESPN, Celtics, NBA, Showtime, Apple, Fleetwood Mac, FBI, Geographic, Disney Locations: Atlanta, London

☆ Hollywood actors extend contract talks, temporarily averting strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LOS ANGELES, June 30 (Reuters) - Hollywood's actors union and major Hollywood studios agreed on Friday to keep negotiating through mid-July, staving off the immediate threat of a second labor strike in the entertainment business this summer. SAG-AFTRA voted in early June to give its leaders the authority to call a work stoppage if talks were to break down. Negotiations were taking place during a difficult time for Hollywood studios. The studios and the WGA have not held talks since the writers' strike began on May 2. The last writers' strike in 2007 and 2008 cost the California economy an estimated $2.1 billion.

Persons: staving, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, AFTRA, Lisa Richwine, Hanna Rantala, Sarah Mills, Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien, Cynthia Osterman, Simon Cameron, Moore, William Mallard Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Hollywood, California, Los Angeles, London

☆ Hollywood faces possible second strike as actors' talks near deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The letter came after union negotiators issued a video saying their talks had been "extremely productive," a possible sign that a deal was within reach. A strike by SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 actors, would turn up the heat on Hollywood studios already grappling with a nearly two-month work stoppage by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Any ongoing filming would have to halt if actors also strike. The studios and the WGA have not held talks since the writers' strike began on May 2. The last writers' strike in 2007 and 2008 cost the California economy an estimated $2.1 billion.

Persons: Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Phoebe Waller, Indiana Jones, Waller, AFTRA, Judd Apatow, Lisa Richwine, Hanna Rantala, Sarah Mills, Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co, SAG, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Reuters, Television Producers, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, London, California, Los Angeles

☆ How the writers' strike is crushing Hollywood's next generation, as job-seekers face 'skyrocketing' debt, crumbling hope, and endless hours 'just doom-scrolling LinkedIn'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Hollywood development and production have mostly ground to a halt amid the film and TV writers' strike. Young workers hoping to break into entertainment say the strike has made a competitive job market even tougher. Sears, who is currently unemployed, graduated this year with a master's degree in entertainment industry management from Carnegie Mellon University. Now, she's attempting what feels like a herculean feat: getting her career off the ground in the midst of a months-long Hollywood writers' strike, the first labor stoppage to grind the industry to a halt in 15 years. Contact this reporter to share your experience during the writers' strike.

Persons: Young, Delaney Sears, — there's, Sears, they've, —, Joanna Sucherman, Sucherman, Trevor Romero, Romero, Dan Green, grads, Green, Nabha, She's, Purohit, they'd, execs, he's, haven't, Kody Proctor, Proctor, he'd, We've, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Carnegie Mellon University, Writers Guild of America, SAG, WGA, Disney, Warner Bros, JLS Media, Fox, United Talent Agency, Young Entertainment, Carnegie Mellon's Heinz College of Information Systems, Public, Savannah College of Art, Alliance, Television Producers, Paramount Pictures, Melrose, Paramount, University of Southern, North Dakota, Carnegie, E, Victoria Cheyenne Locations: California, Angeles, LA, Chicago, Fremantle, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Georgia, Elm, Mumbai, India, University of Southern California, North, North Hollywood, Victoria, Bolivia

☆ Actors poised to join writers on strike against studios and picket lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Industry experts like Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shutdown by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. There has been no visible progress in ending the writers strike since it started. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: Jonathan Handel, ”, Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Interestingl, Drescher, “, “ It’s, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Actors delay potential strike against studios and streaming services, extending contract negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A union representing about 160,000 actors has put plans to go on strike against major studios and streaming services on hold. But that doesn’t mean that a strike will now be avoided, said Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. The actors union has not been on strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: “, ”, Fran Drescher, Drescher, Jonathan Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, ”, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Hollywood, Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., AMPTP, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ California is about to give Hollywood studios a lucrative tax deal during the writers’ strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The state of California is about to give movie and TV studios a new lucrative tax perk. The new, refundable tax credits come as competition for film and TV production from other states and countries is on the rise. In a 2020 SEC filing, Netflix said it had $250 million in California R&D tax credits — far more than it could use. In addition to refundable tax credits and stricter safety standards, the bill establishes specific diversity requirements. The bill also adds a new member to the state’s film commission with diversity, equity, and inclusion expertise.

Persons: Gavin Newsom’s, Newsom, Alec Baldwin’s, Wendy Carrillo, ‘ Rust, Dave Cortese, Baldwin, Halyna Hutchins, ” Cortese, Carrillo, ”, Chris Hoene, that’s, Hoene, ” Carrillo, “ Organizations: CNN, Netflix, SEC, Disney, Comcast’s Universal Studios, Democratic, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Hollywood, Guild of America, SAG, WGA, California Budget, Policy Center Locations: California, States, New York, Georgia, Angeles County, Los Angeles

Weekly orders this year now average 26 as the strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) halted many film and TV productions, Elyea said. Florists, caterers, costume suppliers and others have seen orders dwindle as many are still recovering from disruptions caused by COVID-19. No new talks are scheduled between major Hollywood studios and the writers, who are seeking higher pay and guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence. The strike's impact would be magnified if the SAG-AFTRA actors union also goes on strike when its contract expires on Friday. "Now, there's the writers' strike, and we're losing the movies that have been so good to us."

Persons: Pam Elyea's, Elyea, Kevin Klowden, Klowden, You've, Ross Garner, Danni Sapp, Sapp, Cristina, John Iverson, Cristina Iverson, Iverson, we're, hadn't, Lisa Richwine, Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway, Rollo Ross, Mary Milliken, Sandra Maler Organizations: Hollywood, Hire, Writers Guild of America, SAG, WGA, Milken Institute, NFP's Entertainment Group, Services, Netflix, HBO, Television Fund, Vogue, FBI, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Los Angeles, California, United States, COVID, New Mexico, Santa Fe, Waco

LOS ANGELES, June 23 (Reuters) - Film and television directors voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year labor contract with major Hollywood studios on Friday, averting a second work stoppage that would have added to upheaval caused by an ongoing writers' strike. The DGA represents 19,000 directors, assistant directors and others who work on film and TV productions. During the last WGA strike in 2007 and 2008, a studio deal with the DGA prompted writers to head back to the bargaining table. Striking writers have insisted that the directors' latest deal will not influence their position this time. Hollywood actors, meanwhile, are in the middle of their own labor talks with studios.

Persons: Lisa Richwine, Steve Gorman, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Hollywood, of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Guild of America, WGA, DGA, SAG, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Los Angeles

☆ Hollywood Directors Ratify Their Contract as Writers Continue to Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Unionized movie and television directors approved a new three-year contract with Hollywood studios on Friday, with 87 percent voting in support. No talks are scheduled between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of studios. The writers and studios left the bargaining table on May 1 very far apart on the major issues. The contract between studios and SAG-AFTRA, the guild that represents about 160,000 actors, expires next Friday. (About 65,000 members cast ballots, or 48 percent of eligible voters, with 98 percent supporting a strike.)

Organizations: Hollywood, of America, Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG

☆ Emmys May Be Pushed Back Because of Writers’ Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The writers’ strike, which is in its eighth week, is nowhere near a resolution. Talks between the major Hollywood studios and the Writers Guild of America, the union that represents the writers, broke down in early May. The writers contend that their pay has stagnated and that their working conditions have deteriorated even as television production has exploded during the streaming era. This month, the studios and the guild that represents Hollywood directors reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. A postponement of the Emmy Awards would be the latest disruption for Hollywood since the strike started.

Organizations: Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Entertainment, Wall, Alliance, Television Producers

AI-only work is banned, but some music created with AI help may qualify in certain categories, the academy's updated rulebook reads. "A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any categories." Music creators must now contribute to at least 20% of an album to earn a nomination. WGA writers went on strike in early May and have yet to agree with studios on the use of AI, among other issues. Actors could go on strike as well if SAG-AFTRA cannot reach a deal over similar concerns.

Persons: OpenAI, Danielle Broadway, Richard Chang Organizations: Recording Academy, Microsoft Corp, Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, WGA, SAG, Thomson

June 16 (Reuters) - "Only human creators are eligible" for the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy declared on Friday, as the body that grants the world's most recognized music awards seeks to curb the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry. AI-only work is banned, but some music created with AI help may qualify in certain categories, the academy's updated rulebook reads. Music creators must now contribute to at least 20% of an album to earn a nomination. The first Grammy Awards ceremony took place in 1959, to reward music creators from 1958. WGA writers went on strike in early May and have yet to agree with studios on the use of AI, among other issues.

Persons: OpenAI, Danielle Broadway, Richard Chang, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Recording Academy, Microsoft Corp, Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, WGA, SAG, Thomson

☆ Motor vehicles, building materials lift US retail sales in May
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose in May as consumers stepped up purchases of motor vehicles and building materials, which could help to stave off a dreaded recession in the near term. Retail sales increased 0.3% last month after rising 0.4% in April, the Commerce Department said. SLOWER MOMENTUMExcluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales gained 0.2% last month. Data for April was revised slightly lower to show these so-called core retail sales rising 0.6% instead of the previously reported 0.7%. With price pressures easing in May, economists estimated that core retail sales increased 0.2% after adjusting for inflation.

Persons: ”, Robert Kavcic, Mike Graziano, Ben Ayers, Unadjusted, Conrad DeQuadros, Tim Quinlan Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Reserve, Fed, Wednesday, BMO Capital Markets, Commerce Department, Reuters, Saks Fifth, REUTERS, RSM, Consumers, Nationwide, Labor Department, Treasury, Atlanta Fed, Writers Guild of America, Brean, Manufacturing, Federal Locations: Minnesota, U.S, Toronto, New York City, Columbus , Ohio, Texas, California, Writers Guild of America . Georgia, Florida , Illinois , Indiana , Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Wells, Charlotte , North Carolina

☆ New 'Black Mirror' season begins by tackling actors' anxiety about AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, June 15 (Reuters) - In the new season of Netflix Inc's (NFLX.O) sci-fi show "Black Mirror," an office manager finds that a streaming service is replaying her life using an avatar of Salma Hayek. Hayek, in the episode released on Thursday, has sold her digital image to Hollywood for use in programming created with artificial intelligence (AI). The story highlights real-world concerns of actors and writers, said "Schitt's Creek" star Annie Murphy, who plays the office manager. Murphy said she and Hayek discussed the issue during filming of "Black Mirror." "Her image has been used in so many terrible and disrespectful ways, so we did have conversations about that," Murphy said.

Persons: Salma Hayek, Hayek, Annie Murphy, Murphy, It’s, Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Rollo Ross, Lisa Richwine, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Netflix, Guild of America, WGA, Actors, SAG, Hollywood, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

☆ Unscripted or Not, the Tonys Were Mostly Predictable
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Jesse Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

No writers’ names crawled up the screen at the end of Sunday night’s telecast of the Tony Awards, and though the writers might not like to hear it, their absence made little difference. The names of the show’s producers and director were the same as always, and in television as in the theater, they call the game. Mostly those things bore out the predictions, and many people’s predilections too. “Kimberly Akimbo,” the sweet, intimate, tragicomic “nerdical” by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, won the most musical prizes, including one for its star, Victoria Clark, and one for the show itself. “Some Like It Hot” followed with a reasonable haul, and though “Parade” picked up just two, they were good ones: best direction of a musical and best musical revival.

Persons: Awards, —, “ Kimberly Akimbo, Jeanine Tesori, David Lindsay, Abaire, Victoria Clark, ” Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Paramount, Broadway

☆ 'Kimberly Akimbo,' Tom Stoppard’s 'Leopoldstadt' among winners on writerless Tony night
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Kathryn Lurie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] The cast of “Kimberly Akimbo” perform at the 76th Annual Tony Awards in New York City, U.S., June 11, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McdermidJune 11 - “Kimberly Akimbo,” about a teenager who ages in reverse, and Tom Stoppard’s autobiographical “Leopoldstadt” were among the winners Sunday as the Tony Awards went on despite the Writers Guild of America strike. The three-hour telecast on CBS was hosted by Tony- and Academy Award-winner Ariana DeBose. Patrick Marber, who won best director of a play for “Leopoldstadt,” was among several winners who used their acceptance speeches to express support for the strike. The pre-show included the award for best regional theater, which went to the Pasadena Playhouse, and the Isabelle Stevenson Award, which went to director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

Persons: “ Kimberly Akimbo ”, Tony, Brendan Mcdermid, “ Kimberly Akimbo, Tom, Tony Awards, Ariana DeBose, Joel Grey, John Kander, Patrick Marber, “, ”, Marber, I’m, ” “ Kimberly Akimbo ”, Victoria Clark, ” Clark, Sean Hayes, Oscar Levant, Oscar, ” J, Harrison, Alex Newell, Newell, Lulu, Jodie Comer, Tessa, “ Prima, ” Michael Arden, Julianne Hough, Skyler Astin, Tonys, Isabelle Stevenson, Jerry Mitchell, Kathryn Lurie, Donna Bryson, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Writers Guild of America, CBS, Pasadena Playhouse, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Washington Heights, Manhattan, York , New York, Piazza, London, “, “ Shucked

☆ Tony Awards Viewership Increases to 4.3 Million
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

(The writers had already successfully disrupted the MTV Movie & TV Awards last month, which prompted the cancellation of the live ceremony; MTV and CBS share the same corporate parent, Paramount.) The Tony Awards represent a vital marketing tool for Broadway as it still makes its slow recovery out of the pandemic. Given the relatively low viewership of the Tonys, the show has always been more of a prestige play for CBS than a profit machine. relented, and the end result was an awards show that went heavy on live performances and introductory videos, and went without scripted material or pre-written bits. Thank you to attendees wearing #WGAstrong pins, and to everyone who showed solidarity with the writers during last night’s unscripted awards show.”The unscripted ceremony, which was hosted by Ariana DeBose, was mostly well received.

Persons: W.G.A, Ariana DeBose, Jesse Green Organizations: CBS, MTV, Paramount, Writers Guild of America, The Locations: York

☆ ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ Wins Best Musical Tony and ‘Leopoldstadt’ Best Play
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Michael Paulson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Kimberly Akimbo,” a small-scale, big-hearted show about a teenage girl coping with a life-shortening genetic condition and a comically dysfunctional family, won the coveted Tony Award for best musical Sunday night. The award came at the close of an unusual Tony Awards ceremony that almost didn’t happen because of the ongoing screenwriters’ strike. Only an intervention by a group of playwrights who also work in film and television saved the show: they persuaded the Writers Guild of America that it would be a mistake to make the struggling theater industry collateral damage in a Hollywood-centered dispute, and in the end the telecast aired without pickets, without scripted banter and without a hitch. “I’m live and unscripted,” the ceremony’s returning host, Ariana DeBose said at the start of the show, after an opening number that began with her backstage, paging through a binder labeled “Script” filled with blank pages, and then dancing wordlessly through the theater and onto the stage. She then pointed out the absence of teleprompters, offered her support for the strikers’ cause, and declared, “To anyone who thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say, ‘Darlings, buckle up!’”

Persons: “ Kimberly Akimbo, Tony, ’, Ariana DeBose, “, ‘ Organizations: Writers Guild of America Locations: Hollywood

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