Showbiz Sandbox 388: Contemplating A Fox In The Mouse House

The Walt Disney Company reported earnings for the past year fell 1% as media networks help drag down profits. With revenue from its sports network ESPN declining, the entertainment conglomerate is now looking to get even bigger through acquisitions that will bolster its streaming media service. Specifically, Disney has been eyeing key assets of 21st Century Fox’s film and television holdings.

As the media landscape shifts, becoming more fractured, so too have the ways in which content such as movies and television shows is monetized. In an age where new entrants make their money selling electronic devices (Apple) or other products (Amazon) it would appear that size matters. Thus the reason investors are bullish on a deal between Disney and Fox.

Once again we can not avoid discussing the sexual harassment allegations that have erupted in Hollywood and started to spread into other industries, even politics. With each passing week another celebrity or power player sees their life fall apart amidst accusations of misconduct. The latest is comedian Louis C.K. who says the claims against him are all true.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including Taylor Swift’s latest album shattering sales records, Jennifer Anniston starring in Apple’s first scripted television series and Vanity Fair names a new editor-in-chief.

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comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of November 12, 2017
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-november-12-2017-300554331.html

Disney-Fox Rumors Underscore Changing Business Landscape, Even for Murdochs
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/disney-fox-rumors-murdochs-1202608371/#article-comments

21st Century Fox Quarterly Earnings Exceeds Expectations
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/21st-century-fox-quarterly-earnings-exceeds-expectations-1056289

Disney Quarterly Earnings Unimpressive, Stock Falls
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-quarterly-earnings-unimpressive-stock-falls-1056668

Disney’s ESPN Is Expected To Lay Off 100 More Employees
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-espn-layoffs-20171109-story.html

Paramount Loses Slate Financing Deal With China’s Huahua
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/paramount-china-huahua-1202609480/

Disney Ends Ban on Los Angeles Times Amid Fierce Backlash
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/business/disney-la-times.html

Star Wars Is Getting An All-new Trilogy From Rian Johnson
https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/9/16630902/star-wars-new-trilogy-rian-johnson-disney-lucasfilm

‘Dynasty’ Scores Full Season Order at The CW
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/dynasty-full-season-order-the-cw-1202610466/

Amazon Announces Deal for ‘Lord of the Rings’ TV series
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/13/amazon-announces-deal-for-lord-of-the-rings-tv-series/

You Don’t Own Me by Orly Lobel – BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2017/02/02/you-dont-own-me/

The Extra Woman by Joanna Scutts – BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2017/02/02/the-extra-woman/

Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ Blasts Out the Gate, On Track for 1.5 Million Sales Debut
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/taylor-swift-reputation-first-day-week-sales-1202612769/

Radhika Jones, Vanity Fair’s Surprise Choice, Is Ready to Go
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/business/radhika-jones-vanity-fair.html

Hasbro Said to Make Bid for Toy Rival Mattel
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/10/business/dealbook/hasbro-mattel-bid.html?_r=0

America Is Running Out of Cassette Tape
http://theweek.com/speedreads/735269/america-running-cassette-tape

U.S., AT&T at Odds Over CNN in Time Warner deal
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-time-warner-m-a/u-s-att-at-odds-over-cnn-in-time-warner-deal-idUSKBN1D81Z8

Apple Unveils Inaugural Scripted Series: Jennifer Aniston-Reese Witherspoon Morning TV Drama and ‘Amazing Stories’
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/apple-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-morning-shows-amazing-stories-1202610068/

Social-Media App Musical.ly Is Acquired for as Much as $1 Billion
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lip-syncing-app-musical-ly-is-acquired-for-as-much-as-1-billion-1510278123

Australian Drama Production Hits Record High
https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2017103049479/australian-drama-production-hits-record-high.html

Weinstein Work Pulls Lawyer Back Into an Ethical Debate
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/business/weinstein-lawyer-david-boies.html

Weinstein Co. Debt Tops $500 Million
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/harvey-weinstein-scandal-2-1202610386/

Replacing Kevin Spacey on ‘All the Money in the World’ Will Cost Millions
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/kevin-spacey-christopher-plummer-all-the-money-in-the-world-1202611975/

Louis C.K. Is Accused by 5 Women of Sexual Misconduct
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/arts/television/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct.html

FX, 3 Arts Entertainment Sever Ties With Louis C.K. Amid Sexual Harassment Scandal
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/3-arts-entertainment-louis-ck-sexual-harassment-management-client-1202612350/

Louis C.K.’s Controversial Film ‘I Love You, Daddy’ Cancels Premiere Ahead of N.Y. Times Story
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/louis-c-k-i-love-you-daddy-premiere-canceled-1202611014/

Louis C.K.’s Stand-Up Specials, ‘Lucky Louie’ to Be Removed From HBO On Demand Services
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/louis-ck-hbo-1202611621/

Louis C.K. Apologizes for Sexual Harassment: ‘These Stories Are True’
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/louis-c-k-apology-sexual-harassment-1202612104/

Gary Goddard Denies Anthony Edwards’ Molestation Claims
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gary-goddard-denies-anthony-edwards-molestation-claims-1057285

Warner Bros. Suspends ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Flash’ Showrunner in Wake of Sexual-Harassment Claims
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/warner-bros-suspends-supergirl-flash-showrunner-wake-sexual-harassment-claims-1057306

Hope Solo Accuses Sepp Blatter of Sexual Assault at Awards Ceremony
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/10/hope-solo-sepp-blatter-fifa-sexual-assault-accusation

George Takei Accused of Sexually Assaulting Former Model in 1981
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-takei-accused-sexually-assaulting-model-1981-1056698

Days After His Son’s Sexual Assault Reveal, Richard Dreyfuss Denies Harassing L.A. Writer
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/11/10/days-after-his-sons-sexual-assault-reveal-richard-dreyfuss-denies-harassing-l-a-writer/854122001/

Former ‘Mad Men’ Writer Accuses Matthew Weiner of Sexual Harassment
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mad-men-writer-accuses-matthew-weiner-sexual-harassment-1056825

Amazon Investigating Jeffrey Tambor Misconduct Claim
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amazon-investigating-jeffrey-tambor-misconduct-claim-1056360

LAPD Investigating Rape Allegation Against Ed Westwick
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/ed-westwick-rape-kristina-cohen-1202608732/

Ellen Page Accuses Brett Ratner of Homophobic Behavior on ‘X-Men’ Set
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/ellen-page-brett-ratner-slur-woody-allen-1202612134/

Liz Smith, Longtime Queen of Tabloid Gossip Columns, Dies at 94
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/12/arts/liz-smith-dead.html