Showbiz Sandbox 200: Should George Clooney Run For President?
August 5, 2013
Hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb began buying up Sony stock earlier this year and is now pressuring the electronics manufacturer to spin-off its entertainment divisions. After comparing two of Sony’s summer releases to historic flops such as “Waterworld”, actor/director/producer George Clooney could take no more. In an intelligent, coherent and well thought out rant, Clooney argues that, “ A guy from a hedge fund entity is the single least qualified person to be making these kinds of judgments.”
Karen Woodward, our former co-host, joins us for our 200th episode and was quick to point out that Clooney not only sounded smart in his statements, but also like a future political candidate. Given the state of American politics however, Clooney might find the back stabbing nature of Hollywood more friendly.
These days it seems a little political muscle is required to work in the entertainment industry. After all, Time Warner Cable has blacked out the CBS network for millions of customers over an ongoing retransmission dispute. Meanwhile, Hollywood studios haven’t been paid all year for movies they’ve released in China.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the Academy’s historic new leader, a new Doctor Who and how holograms are replacing musicians at concerts in Korea.
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NBCUniversal CEO: ‘Despicable Me 2’ Will Be Most Profitable Film in Universal’s History
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nbcuniversal-ceo-despicable-me-2-597070
Hollywood’s Big Bet on Broadway Adaptations
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/movies/hollywoods-big-bet-on-broadway-adaptations.html
Universal Pictures’ ‘Despicable Me 2’ Denied Release in China
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-universal-pictures-despicable-me-2-denied-release-in-china-20130723,0,4113325.story
Hollywood Studios Haven’t Been Paid by China in Months (Exclusive)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-studios-havent-been-paid-594939
Jeffrey Katzenberg Says ‘Turbo’ Fell Short Of Expectations But Will Be Profitable
http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/jeffrey-katzenberg-says-turbo-fell-short-of-expecations-but-will-be-profitable/
George Clooney To Hedge Fund Honcho Daniel Loeb: Stop Spreading Fear At Sony
http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/george-clooney-slams-sony-investor-daniel-loeb/
CBS And Showtime Go Dark On Time Warner Cable
http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/no-deal-cbs-goes-dark-on-time-warner-cable/
Research & Commentary: Retransmission Fee Update
http://heartland.org/policy-documents/research-commentary-retransmission-fee-update
CBS Corp. 2Q Profits Hit Record High Behind Licensing, Distribution Gains
http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/cbs-earnings-beat-expectations-sumner-redstone-endorses-les-moonves-107411
Album Sales Hitting Historic Low
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5638056/us-album-sales-hit-historic-lows
Tom Rothman Launching TriStar Productions at Sony
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tom-rothman-launching-tristar-productions-598030
Tom Rothman On New TriStar Venture: ‘My Job Is To Make Hits’
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-tom-rothman-tristar-20130801,0,6321189.story
Showtime: ‘Ray Donovan’ Exec Producer Takes Leave of Absence
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/showtime-ray-donovan-exec-producer-595019
Red Sox Owner Buys Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/business/news/2013/08/03/red-sox-owner-deal-purchase-globe-offer-bests-crowded-field-bidders/tzrAngGLKGXW1iwtK3N4jN/story.html
‘Spider-Man’ Broadway Musical Needs New Star
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5317992/spider-man-broadway-musical-needs-new-star
Justice Department Implores Judge to Punish Apple, Change iOS Content Ecosystem
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/justice-department-implores-judge-to-punish-apple-change-ios-content-ecosystem/
Apple Fires Back at “Draconian” DoJ Proposals
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/58592-apple-fires-back-but-non-credible-testimony-may-seal-its-fate.html
The Next Big Thing in Korea’s Music Industry: Holograms
http://asia.cnet.com/the-next-big-thing-in-koreas-music-industry-holograms-62221848.htm
Radio’s Art Bell Returning With Sirius XM Show
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/07/30/us/ap-us-radio-art-bell.html
New ‘Doctor Who’: It’s Peter Capaldi
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/08/04/new-doctor-who-star/2612947/
New Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs on Her Historic Election, the Oscars and Her Top Priorities
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-academy-president-cheryl-boone-597239
Why the Academy Is Going Back to Ellen
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/why-academy-is-going-back-598778
Wow: ‘Sharknado’ Sets Ratings Record In Its Third Airing
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/07/30/wow-sharknado-ratings-record-repeat/
Aimee Mann Files Huge Copyright Lawsuit
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/aimee-mann-files-huge-copyright-590747
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