Showbiz Sandbox 269: When Journalists Make Headlines Instead of Report Them
February 17, 2015
Last week a number of respected journalists who have won praise after decades of reporting the news actually wound up in the headlines themselves. First Brian Williams, the anchor of NBC Nightly News was suspended for six month by the network when allegations arose that he exaggerated his experiences while reporting on the Iraq War. Then, esteemed New York Times media columnist David Carr suddenly died after collapsing in the newsroom leading to an outpouring of condolences.
Ironically, overshadowing both of these events was an announcement from Jon Stewart, a self-professed “fake journalist” that he would be leaving “The Daily Show” after 17 years as it’s host. Such news must have executives at Comedy Central reeling, since it comes on the heels of Stephen Colbert’s departure from the network.
On the other hand, Spider-Man isn’t going anywhere. He’s going to stay at Sony, however will be loaned to Disney for appearances in Marvel’s multi-character movies. The studio also plans to once again reboot the Spider-Man franchise by recasting the role.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the huge opening weekend for “Fifty Shades of Grey”, Netflix heads to Cuba and the latest awards season winners.
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‘Fifty Shades’ Heads for $235M-Plus World Domination
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/global-box-office-fifty-shades-770990
‘Fifty Shades’ Box Office: Country-by-Country Breakdown
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fifty-shades-box-office-country-773600
‘Fifty Shades’ Release Canceled in United Arab Emirates
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fifty-shades-release-canceled-united-773879
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Banned in Russia’s North Caucasus
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fifty-shades-grey-banned-russia-772804
Women Behaving Badly at “Fifty Shades” Screenings
http://celluloidjunkie.com/2015/02/17/women-behaving-badly-fifty-shades-screening/
B&Q ‘Memo’ Tells Staff to Read Fifty Shades of Grey To Prepare for Surge In Bondage Prop Sales
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bq-memo-tells-staff-to-read-fifty-shades-of-grey-to-prepare-for-surge-in-bondage-prop-sales-10033883.html
WGA Awards: The Winners List
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-awards-winners-list-773595
‘Birdman’ Takes Top Film Trophy At ASC Awards: Winners List
http://deadline.com/2015/02/ascaward-winners-2015-american-society-of-cinematograhpers-awards-winner-list-1201373498/
Jon Stewart Leaving ‘The Daily Show’
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/jon-stewart-daily-show-host-leaving-comedy-central-1201430431/
Who Will Miss Jon Stewart Most? Book Publicists
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/02/11/who-will-miss-jon-stewart-most-book-publicists/
Comedy Central Ponders How to Replace Jon Stewart
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/business/media/comedy-central-ponders-how-to-replace-jon-stewart.html
TV Ratings: ‘Empire’ Still Ignoring Gravity
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-empire-still-ignoring-772732
Brian Williams and the Smoking Gun That Isn’t
http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/brian-williams-and-the-smoking-gun-that-isnt-20150214
Bob Simon, ‘60 Minutes’ Correspondent, Dies at 73 in Manhattan Car Crash
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/nyregion/bob-simon-cbs-correspondent-is-killed-in-manhattan-car-crash.html
David Carr, Times Critic and Champion of Media, Dies at 58
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/13/business/media/david-carr-media-equation-columnist-for-the-times-is-dead-at-58.html
MTV’s Last Executive Link to Its Music Programming Past, Van Toffler, Is Leaving the Network
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/van-toffler-exit-viacom-april-774343
‘House of Cards’ Season 3 Temporarily Leaks on Netflix
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/house-of-cards-season-3-netflix-online-1201431388/
Emile Hirsch Charged With Felony Assault on Woman
http://variety.com/2015/biz/news/emile-hirsch-assault-sundance-actor-woman-1201432805/
WME Signs Justin Bieber’s Church
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wme-signs-justin-biebers-church-772175
WME Signs Slew of YouTube Stars, Including Lohanthony, Bart Baker
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wme-signs-slew-youtube-stars-774051
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Now Accepts Self-Published Authors
http://goodereader.com/blog/e-book-news/science-fiction-and-fantasy-writers-of-america-now-accepts-self-published-authors
Filmmakers Fight WNET Plan to Push Aside Documentaries
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/filmmakers-fight-wnet-plan-to-push-aside-documentaries-exclusive-1201424227/
Waterstones Cuts Losses as Daunt Looks Ahead With ‘Optimism’
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/waterstones-cuts-losses-daunt-looks-ahead-optimism?et_mid=722464&rid=240996315
Netflix Launches in Cuba Today
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-netflix-launches-cuba-20150209-story.html
Darren Criss to Rock Broadway’s ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’
http://variety.com/2015/legit/news/darren-criss-hedwig-broadway-1201435187/
With Marvel Deal, Sony Opts to Lease Rather Than Sell Spider-Man
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvel-deal-sony-opts-lease-772251
Spider-Man: How Sony, Marvel Will Benefit from Unique Deal
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/details-spider-man-appear-in-sony-and-marvel-movies-1201429039/
Louis Jourdan, Star of ‘Octopussy,’ ‘Gigi,’ Dies at 93
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/louis-jourdan-star-of-octopussy-gigi-dies-at-93-1201434557/
Ed Sabol, NFL Films Founder, Dies at 98
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/ed-sabol-dead-nfl-films-founder-98-1201429094/
‘Laugh-In’ Announcer Gary Owens Dies at 80
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/laugh-announcer-gary-owens-dies-773328
Lesley Gore, Teenage Voice of Heartbreak, Dies at 68
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/17/arts/music/lesley-gore-teenage-voice-of-heartbreak-dies-at-68.html?_r=0
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