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0519 WV Showtime_BARCODE_CVR1 REV.indd 1 5/15/20 2:32 PM AFTER SHOW

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Tune-in to Variety After-Show for exclusive live interviews with the stars and creators of your favorite shows.

AFTER-SHOW AIRS ON VARIETY’S INSTAGRAM LIVE FOLLOWING NEW EPISODES OF HIT TV SERIES EXCLUSIVE COVID-19 CONSUMER REPORT: HIGH ANXIETY

Costly Jump-Start

Hollywood is anxious to roll cameras again — but at what price?

BY Kate Aurthur AND Adam B. Vary P.26 An Exclusive Screening of

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 5 PM PDT / 8 PM EDT

Plus Q+A with series stars, Matthew Macfadyen, Sian Clifford, Michael Sheen and writer & executive producer, James Graham

Moderated by MICHAEL SCHNEIDER Senior Editor, TV Awards, Variety

REGISTER NOW VARIETY.COM/AMCQUIZ P.2 6 P.3 4 P.4 2 An Uphill Climb Media’s Big Getting Back to Studios are making plans to return to work, but it will Money Men Funny Business The industry’s top leaders garner huge After a seven-year hiatus following “The require new safety protocols, scheduling delays, lots of salaries in good times — and bad. Office,” Greg Daniels returns with two VFX and more. What’s the new cost of doing business? By DAVID LIEBERMAN comedies: “Upload” and “Space Force.” By KATE AURTHUR and ADAM B. VARY and BRENT LANG By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER (COVER) PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DARREN BRAUN; (THIS PAGE) ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN STAUFFER BY ILLUSTRATION (THIS PAGE) BRAUN; DARREN BY ILLUSTRATION PHOTO (COVER)

VARIETY 3 CONTENTS

TOP BILLING

11 STAGE FRIGHT A new study shows that audi- ences may not rush back to theaters or concert venues

16 NEW LEGENDS OF FALL Broadcast TV networks broaden horizons for content suppliers as lockdown lingers

19 IN THE RUNNING A growing crowd of Emmy contenders is rising out of the coronavirus lockdown

20 THE BIG TICKET Nicole Avant talks about the doc she produced about music-exec father Clarence Avant P.4 9

“Muppets Now” on EXPOSURE Disney Plus is one of 12 upcoming shows highlighted 21 DEVOUR in our Summer TV Pass the time with sci-fi thriller Preview ALSO “Into the Night” on Netflix INSIDE

24 DIRT Elizabeth Banks finds a buyer quickly for Studio City home 8 FIELD NOTES Musings on hot topics FOCUS 9 PLUGGED IN 56 THE ESSENTIAL What’s trending An examination of the work at Variety.com of filmmaker Mark Romanek P.2 3

ARTISANS Theatrical marketing exec Matt Brubaker lists home in the hills above Sunset Strip 59 HISTORY LESSON “The Sit-In” looks at Harry Belafonte’s guest host gig on “The Tonight Show” in 1968

60 SUPER COMPOSER Pinar Toprak flies to another superhero project with the score for Disney Plus’ “Stargirl”

61 ON THE RIGHT TRACK VFX and design pros share how they created the train at P.6 3 the center of “Snowpiercer”

“The Lovebirds” REVIEWS review “It’s hard for me to imagine a scenario where I’d say, ‘No, I’m too 63 FILM busy to put on whatever the latest “The Lovebirds” version of the suit is and go play Phil Coulson.’ I really learned with this 64 TV character to never say never.” “Quiz” “Agents of SHIELD” star Clark Gregg on whether he’d portray the beloved Marvel character again 65 MUSIC after playing him in the “Avengers” movies and on “Notes on a Conditional Form” the ABC series P.66 MUPPETS NOW: DISNEY+; LOVEBIRDS: SKIP BOLEN/NETFLIX; GREGG: MITCH HAASETH/ABC MITCH GREGG: SKIP BOLEN/NETFLIX; LOVEBIRDS: DISNEY+; NOW: MUPPETS

4 VARIETY FROM THE DIRECTOR OF BLUE VALENTINE AND THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES MARK MELISSA ROSIE ARCHIE JULIETTE KATHRYN RUFFALO LEO O'DONNELL PANJABI WITH LEWIS AND HAHN

“++++... A REMARKABLE DOUBLE PERFORMANCE FROM MARK RUFFALO... AN EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENT” – TV GUIDE “SPECTACULAR ACTING… “REMARKABLE FILMMAKING, ALMOST EVERYONE IS GIVING EXACTING PERFORMANCES, A CAREER-DEFINING PERFORMANCE” AND POIGNANT PERSONAL DISCOVERIES” – THE WALL STREET JOURNAL – INDIEWIRE “MARK RUFFALO GIVES TWO PERFORMANCES OF A LIFETIME” – TIME

“ASTONISHING… AN EXPANSIVE STORY AND PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCES” – UPROXX “TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCES... “BRILLIANT... A TOUR DE FORCE FOR RUFFALO” PROFOUNDLY SOULFUL AND MOVING” – THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER – THE PLAYLIST “EXCELLENT… A POIGNANT, STIRRING MESSAGE AND JOURNEY” – THE DAILY BEAST “STELLAR PERFORMANCES OF AN IMPECCABLE CAST” – THE A.V. CLUB

“GRIPPING…RAW AND INTENSE” – CNN

YOU DON'T JUST GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.

BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING NOVEL SUNDAYS AT 9PM AND STREAMING SOON ON

Untitled-1 1 5/19/20 10:46 AM Michelle Sobrino-Stearns

GROUP PUBLISHER & CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

SALES MARKETING Donna Pennestri Dea Lawrence

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6 VARIETY Untitled-1 1 4/23/20 1:08 PM FIELD NOTES

This Week’s Cover: A VARIETY IS OWNED & PUBLISHED BY PENSKE MEDIA CORPORATION Testament to Teamwork Jay Penske CHAIRMAN & CEO

GEORGE GROBAR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER SOME MIGHT VIEW the word “team- of COVID hopefully slows in some GERRY BYRNE work” as hackneyed. But whether parts of the world. VICE CHAIRMAN SARLINA SEE or not it’s overused, the concept Kate Aurthur and Adam B. Vary CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER should never be discounted or co-authored the piece, with con- CRAIG PERREAULT taken for granted. tributions from 12 — count ’em, EVP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TODD GREENE In fact, companies that don’t 12! — writers from our Los Ange- EVP, BUSINESS AFFAIRS & GENERAL practice and pride themselves les, New York and London bureaus. COUNSEL DEBASHISH GHOSH on collegiality are by nature dys- Wow. Call me crazy, but I’m going to MANAGING DIRECTOR, functional, in my opinion. It’s not name each and every one of them INTERNATIONAL MARKETS unusual for bosses to pit their because they deserve recognition JENNY CONNELLY SVP, PRODUCT employees against each other for all the work they did to help KEN DELALCAZAR because they think people will make this feature rich with anec- SVP, FINANCE work harder if they have to com- dotes and varied voices: Leo Barra- TOM FINN SVP, OPERATIONS pete with their colleagues. clough, Tim Dams, Matt Donnelly, NELSON ANDERSON It doesn’t work; it’s totally Daniel Holloway, Angelique Jack- VP, CREATIVE counterproductive. son, Brent Lang, Cynthia Littleton, JONI ANTONACCI VP, PRODUCTION OPERATIONS One of my former bosses — Gene Maddaus, Marc Malkin, Dave REBECCA BIENSTOCK who shall remain nameless — was McNary, Manori Ravindran and VP, TALENT RELATIONS famous for this. I would always say Jazz Tangcay. GERARD BRANCATO to him, “Hey, it’s not us against us, How Kate and Adam, who also VP, PMC DIGITAL ACQUISTION JACIE BRANDES it’s us against them,” meaning our reported the hell out of the story, VP, PORTFOLIO SALES rivals. He clearly didn’t get it. pulled together all the feeds from ANNE DOYLE I refused to follow his lead a dozen people and turned it all into VP, HR MARA GINSBERG when I became a manager. I have a cohesive report is beyond me. VP, HR always encouraged members of my When you take a read, I hope you YOUNG KO staff to help each other in every will find the piece to be as incredi- VP, FINANCE way they can — passing along tips, bly informative and comprehensive GABRIEL KOEN VP, TECHNOLOGY sharing sources where possible, as I did, and the illustrations and KEVIN LABONGE brainstorming ideas and collabo- thoughtful layout — the result VP, GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS & LICENSING rating on reporting and writing of of another true collaboration with NOEMI LAZO VP, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE stories where warranted. our outstanding art department — AND MARKETING OPERATIONS I’m very proud to say that the to be as visually impactful. BRIAN LEVINE VP, REVENUE OPERATIONS “Companies that writers and editors of Variety are Please enjoy! don’t practice JUDITH R. MARGOLIN the ultimate team players. VP, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL and pride Take this week’s cover story, JULIE TRINH themselves a deep report on how production VP, GLOBAL TAX on collegiality LAUREN UTECHT costs are going to balloon when VP, HR & CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS are by nature movies and TV shows finally get Claudia Eller MIKE YE back into production as the spread Editor-in-Chief VP, STRATEGIC dysfunctional.” PLANNING & ACQUISITIONS CHRISTINA YEOH VP, TECHNICAL OPERATIONS JULIE ZHU VP, AUDIENCE MARKETING & SUBSCRIPTIONS NICI CATTON ASSOCIATE VP, PRODUCT DELIVERY KARL WALTER ASSOCIATE VP, CONTENT Uncovered GURJEET CHIMA SENIOR DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS “I jumped at the chance to produce EDDIE KO Variety SENIOR DIRECTOR, ADVERTISING this conceptual photo for ,” says OPERATIONS photographer Darren Braun, adding ANDY LIMPUS that these days he can usually be found SENIOR DIRECTOR, TALENT ACQUISITION AMIT SANNAD telling “horrible dad jokes to my 9-month- SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT old son while getting blank stares from CONSTANCE EJUMA my incredibly patient and understanding DIRECTOR, SEO LAURA ONGARO wife.” The award-winning photographer EDITORIAL & BRAND DIRECTOR, has a client list that includes The Atlantic, INTERNATIONAL Time, ESPN, Scientific American, Esquire, KATIE PASSANTINO DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Wired and Bloomberg Business Week, to DEREK RAMSAY name just a few. DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

8 VARIETY PLUGGED IN WHAT’S ON VARIETY.COM

News Stars of Weinstein’s Extradition Delayed Upcoming TV Premieres said Los Angeles D.A. spokesman Greg Risling. Weinstein is being housed at Wende Correc- tional Facility, a maximum-security prison near 488 Buffalo, where he has begun to serve his 23-year sentence for committing a criminal sexual act Stephan James and third-degree rape. Homecoming His attorneys have filed a notice of appeal, He’s aiming to recall the slightly higher number he but have yet to file their full memorandum lay- had at the start of April. ing out all the grounds for the appeal, said Wein- stein’s spokesman, Juda Engelmayer. Weinstein was sentenced on March 11 — just before the coronavirus caused a massive shut- 38 down of many court functions in New York and Los Angeles. On March 13, L.A. authorities filed JoAnna Garcia Swisher a detainer — a formal notice instructing New Sweet Magnolias York prison officials not to release him. She hopes this series, set in South Carolina, helps send The L.A. prosecutors filed an amended com- her Vscore north. plaint against Weinstein on April 10, charging him with an additional count of sexual battery by restraint in connection with an incident at HARVEY WEINSTEIN will not be coming to Los PANDEMIC PAUSE a Beverly Hills hotel in May 2010. He also faces 388 Angeles anytime soon. Harvey Weinstein, four charges related to two incidents at hotels sentenced on March 11 The incarcerated producer is awaiting extra- in February 2013. If convicted on all counts, he Eliza Taylor in New York to a 23- dition to face five charges of rape and sexual year term, is in prison faces up to an additional 29 years in prison. The 100 assault in Los Angeles. awaiting extradition About 400 of L.A. County’s 580 courtrooms Her score is up four points to face charges in in advance of the seventh The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s have been closed for the past two months, with Los Angeles. season of this survival tale. Office said March 11 it was beginning the extra- courts handling only essential and time-sensi- dition process. But as of May 18, it had yet to file tive functions. The county has announced it will its extradition request with authorities in New reopen closed courtrooms on June 10 and that Vscore, powered by Variety Business York. “It’s fair to say that the virus has delayed • For the full story, hearings will resume on June 22, with masks Intelligence, identifies the social footprint, familiarity and availability of over 25,000 head to Variety.com. actors. For more info please visit Vscore.com the processing of the extradition paperwork,” and social distancing measures required. FISHER/SHUTTERSTOCK HALE: DAVID JONES/SHUTTERSTOCK; KATIE AYLOR:

Variety Poll SaySa What?

Quantifying “The“The show is about being your most authentic self, so I’m glad tthatha The CW and our writers and producers have allowed these COVID-19’s Box chcharactersa to shine. One day, hopefully, we won’t even have to hhave conversations about it being normal or not normal [to Office Impact seseee on TV], but for right now, there are people who need to see ththoseo characters because it makes them feel not as alone.” Last weekend’s movie theater returns of $86,628 were 1,942 times lower than what StarStar Lucy Hale on the diversity in “Riverdale” spinoff “Katy Keene” domestic theaters raked in during the same weekend in 2019. Since it’s unclear how long “Obviously“Obv Mindy [Kaling has] got a great history as a writer social distancing guidelines will remain in andand actress, but it was definitely a left-field shot for me to be place, it could be a long time until the box narratingnar a whole series. … I was hopeful people would look at office take begins to match its usual level. thisthis and go, ‘Whoa. Why the hell is John McEnroe doing this?’ AndAnd by the end, [they would think], ‘Hey, Mindy made a good choice.’cho That actually worked out, in a bizarre way.” May 8-10, 2020 JohnJoh McEnroe on narrating Netflix series “Never Have I Ever” $86,628

“One“One of the things that I love so much about the film is that when May 10-12, 2019 you were charging up the train with the Tailie rebels, you never $168,268,766 kknewne what was going to be [behind] the next door. It’s just a serseries of doors into these strange rooms and strange encounters. We really wanted to have that [in the] television show too, and I thithinkn that gives it a big cinematic feel.” Data provided by Boxofficemojo.com. For more analysis, please visitvisit “Snowpiercer”“Sno showrunner Graeme Manson on TNT’s new adaptation

variety.com/vip/ T BARON/SHUTTERSTOCK; MATT GARCIA: CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK; JAMES: LANE/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK; JUSTIN WEINSTEIN:

VARIETY 9 Untitled-1 1 5/13/20 8:16 PM TOP BILLING TOP BILLING

Fear Factor Goes Viral

A NEW STUDY REVEALS DEEPENING DREAD OVER PUBLIC VENUES —

AND SOME SURPRISING CHANGES IN POPULAR TASTE By Adam B. Vary

FOR WEEKS NOW, as COVID-19 restrictions only gotten larger as the pandemic has 13% say they are more likely to watch at a across the country have begun to ease unfolded. The results — from a survey of local cinema (with 17% not sure). (or, in some cases, even where they hav- roughly 1,000 people in mid-May by sports “Just as the country begins to open en’t), national and local news outlets have and events analytics firm Performance up, there has been a swing toward increas- relentlessly reported on a seeming torrent Research in partnership with Full Circle ing caution, with a majority of Americans of people streaming into public spaces. Research Co. — point to just how steep a clearly saying, ‘Not yet,’ when it comes The coverage points to a commonsense climb the entertainment industry has in to attending large public events,” says understanding: Spending two months shel- front of it to win back public perception Jed Pearson, president of Performance tering in place with little to no human con- that it’s safe to attend, and spend money on, Research. tact has produced an overpowering need SHOW OF HANDS public events again. The top-line findings — especially in for people to gather outside their homes. In a Performance Take this answer to the question of comparison with a similar Performance Research study According to an exclusive new study, whether respondents would rather see a Research study conducted in mid-March — conducted in mid-May, however, that media coverage belies a 37% of respondents first-run film as a digital rental at home or are equally stark. Even after the CDC and deeper truth: Anxiety over health and safety say they plan to go in a movie theater, if both were available local governments say it’s safe to do so, to a movie theater in public spaces still greatly outweighs the today: A whopping 70% say they are more 52% of respondents say they will attend less often, up from desire to leave home, and the disparity has 28% in March. likely to watch from their couch, while just fewer large public events. That’s a marked CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

VARIETY 11 TOP BILLING

BY THE NUMBERS

Attending a big After the CDC and If costs are roughly the same, Which movie genres would you be mostly event “will scare me local governments would you prefer to see a first- likely to see in movie theaters once they’re for a long time” say it’s safe to do so ... run movie you’re excited about open to the public again? as a digital rental at home or in will attend fewer large a movie theater — if both were YES (in March) public events (in March) available at the same time? 43% 47% 44% 35% 60% 52% 33%

YES (in May) will attend fewer large 70%

public events (in May) More likely to 23% 23% watch at home 22% 19% 17%

For a Broadway show in New York: 15%

33% 51% 16% 17% 13% Not sure say they will go in a say they will go in a few months say they may More likely to few weeks/right away never go watch in a theater Comedy Drama action movie Superhero care don’t know/ Don’t movie Animated family action/non- Live movie animated family Horror Non-superhero action movie Documentary

Source: Performance Research & Full Circle Research Co.

increase from 44% in March, just days after startling number given the massive audi- The number of people allowed to the CDC declared the COVID-19 outbreak a ences comic book movies generally require attend events is also a key factor, with global pandemic. Even more striking: This to recoup. And horror, a dependable and broad majorities expressing comfort with month, 60% of respondents say the idea of inexpensive box office draw for years, elic- just 60% maximum capacity for every pub- attending a big public event “will scare me ited interest from only 19% of respondents. lic venue surveyed. for a long time,” up from 47% in March. Of course, these responses were given “Event organizers should take notice,” Across just about every major industry for abstract genres and not specific titles, says Pearson. “Fans of all types of events sector, respondents have grown more fear- but they do suggest that, after two decades can identify significant milestones and new ful about stepping into public spaces: 39% dominated by spectacle and escapism, safety precautions that will get them back. say they’ll attend major indoor concerts spending so much concentrated time with Simply opening the doors will not less often, up from 33% in March; 36% say other people could be leading popular taste be enough.” they’ll attend theme parks less often, up closer to human-scaled storytelling. There is some (mild) good news for the from 26%; and 33% say they’ll attend Far clearer is what will most convince sports world in the study: 67% of respon- theater and performing arts venues less audiences to return to any public venue: dents say they will watch the sports they often, up from 29%. cleanliness and social distancing. Since follow on TV even when there are no For Broadway productions, a new line of March, already strong sentiment about the crowds in attendance, and 59% say that inquiry in the May study, the news is espe- need for clean and sanitized food service even without fans in the stands, they want cially worrying: 51% of respondents say areas and restrooms has only grown, from to see sports competitions come back as it will take a few months before they will 64% to 74% and 66% to 73%, respectively. soon as possible. attend a Broadway show in New York even And despite some anecdotal evidence that Still, the ultimate arbiter for what will after it’s deemed safe to do so — and 16% mask requirements are unpopular, just bring the most people back to public ven- say they may never go again. 16% say mandatory face coverings at live ues is the one that the entertainment The news for movie theaters is scarcely events would decrease their likelihood of industry has no control over: 90% say better: 37% of respondents say they plan attending, as opposed to 61% who say it the most important factor is a cure for to attend less often, up from 28% in March, would increase it. COVID-19. and 10% say they may never go again, up from 6%. For those who are considering return- ing to the cinema, what may draw them RISK TOLERANCE No/Low Risk Moderate Risk High Risk appears to be shifting. When asked THOSE COMF0RTABLE THOSE COMF0RTABLE THOSE COMFORTABLE which genres would most likely get them WITH 0% TO 30% WITH 40% TO 60% WITH 70% TO 100% to buy a movie ticket, 43% of respondents, OF FORMER CAPACITY OF FORMER CAPACITY OF FORMER CAPACITY by far the highest percentage, say com- edy — a near 180 in public sentiment after OUTDOORO UTDOOR SSPORTSP O RTS VENUEVENUESS 32%32% 41 41%% 27 27%% years of moribund box office returns for OUTDOORO UTDOOR COCONCERTN C ERT VENUEVENUESS 332%2% 42 42%% 2 26%6% big-screen laffers. THEMET HEME PARKPARKSS 33% 42 42%% 2 25%5% The next most popular genre — drama, MOVIEM O VIE THEATERSTHEATERS with 35% of respondents — has also all but 38% 41 41%% 22% disappeared from theaters. Meanwhile, the PERFORMINGPERFO RMING ARTARTSS VENUESVENUES 36% 4 44%4% 21 21%% genre that has dominated the past decade, INDOORINDOOR CONCERTCON C ERT VENUESVENUES 36% 43%20 20%% superhero action movies, came in third, IINDOORNDOOR SSPORTSP O RTS VENUEVENUESS 37%37% 43 43%% 20 20%% with 33% of respondents selecting it, a

12 VARIETY GUTTER CREDIT BOB D’AMICO/ABC Rising Star Disney’s ELEVATED INTO AKEYROLE COMPANY, REBECCA CAMPBELL IS AFTER AWHIRLWIND TOUR OFTHE

By Cynthia LittletonandToddSpangler the high-profile joboverseeing Dis 18. But theselectionof Campbell for marketafter thestock May closed was whenthenewshit unexpected of theshake-up inMayer’s division &International. to-Consumer Mayer aschairmanof Disney Direct- a surprisechoice tosucceed Kevin president Rebecca Campbell was the growth of Disney Plus, ESPNPlus, the vast Disney empire thansteering there’s jobwithin hardlyamorecrucial for alargergroomed role. Andtoday, utive signof someonebeing isaclear availablebell for aninterview.) ary. (Disney tomake declined Camp- Iger asWalt Disney Co. CEOinFebru who was tosucceed promoted Bob chiefChapek, then-Disney parks land andCalifornia Adventure under eyland overseeing Resort, Disney- tobecomegears presidentof Disn business. Last September, sheshifted ney’s Europe, Middle East andAfrica aspresidentof Dis London toserve ations. to In2017shewas dispatched had awhirlwindtourof Disney oper threeyears,the past Campbell has tions Groupfrom2010to2017.Over Televisionran theABCOwned Sta has operational experience.bell She business development side, Camp group.tent production distributionstreaming fromthecon about theeffectiveness of separating despitesomequestions ing structure promote Campbell affirmstheexist Fox. But CEOBobChapek’s move to for theintegration of 21st Century launch Disney Plusandpreparing 2018 asDisney was upto gearing national unitwas established inMay president of ESPN). Television) andJimmy Pitaro(also Rice (alsochairmanof Walt Disney PeterNetworks by co-chairs wingled undertheMedia portfolio streaming ture themanagement of Disney’s torestruc anatural opportunity been platformmedia TikTok would have and become CEOof buzzysocial strengths andweaknesses.” knows her[executive andtheir team] and thoughtfulmanager whoreally Campbell for years. “She’s astrong sion Group, whoworked closelywith mer presidentof Disney/ABC Televi- executive,” says AnneSweeney, for on themove at Disney for sometime. Theexecutiveshock: hasquietlybeen international was operations hardlya ney’s andall efforts streaming global TO OUTSIDERS, To Disney insiders, thetiming That kindof movement for anexec Unlike Mayer, whocameoutof the &Inter The Direct-to-Consumer Mayer’s move to leave Disney “She’s tenaciousandshe’s agreat Disneyland Resort ------Sweeney says. decision,”who madethat bold the woman withthesledgehammer quarters inLincoln Square—literally. quarters of Disney-ABC’s New York Cityhead the station’s operations fromtherest the wall that for decades separated the reinsof WABC down was totear of Campbell’s first moves aftertaking WABC-TV. Sweeney recallsthat one vated ABC’s tolead New York flagship, 2003. Four years later, shewas ele dent andgeneral manager ofWPVIin understands theDisney consumer.” years intheDisney fold, “she really Koondel says. Andaftersomany like— people working with her,” WGAL-TV days. “She leader isagreat cation salespitchestoherin by Campbell whenhemadesyndi- Corp., impressed recallsbeing rate content licensing officer for CBS Philadelphia O&O, WPVI-TV. 1997 asVPof programmingfor ABC’s in Lancaster. Disney in Shejoined WFMZ-TV in Allentown andWGAL-TV stationstion at inPennsylvania: TV working inprogrammingandproduc deep.casting run Shegot herstart toward theendof 2021. of thebusinessreassess thestructure andotherDisney topbrassbell may momentum.” that Camp Hepredicts on [Campbell] tocontinue theforward strength ofDisney Plus, it’s going tobe train running,” Macker says. the “With ica. “For now, herjobistokeep the ern Europe, andLatin Japan Amer- to continue rollingoutthroughWest half of 2020,Disney Plusisscheduled egy, analysts say. Throughthesecond changes toDTCI’s maporstrat road unlikely tomake any significant other overseas territories. and the Disney PlusrolloutinEurope closely involved intheplanningfor foried alarger corporate role. Shewas than expected. that hisexit was likely abitquicker overwas passed for theCEOjob, but ing Chapek’s given promotion, that he have heleftfollow surprised been that Disney management couldn’t way aroundit,” Macker says. Headds executiveof atalented —there’s no ofthe Disney view, point it’s aloss things.” to run itive they like could get her somebody analyst Neil Macker. “Ithinkit’s apos ants,” says Morningstar seniorequity Hulu andIndia’s Hotstar. “I’ll always heras remember Campbell rosetobecome presi Scott Koondel, former chiefcorpo Campbell’s broad inlocal roots Campbell is term, In thenear Campbell, however,Campbell, read hasbeen Regarding Mayer’s “from exit, “She’s oneof [Chapek’s] lieuten VARIETY TOP BILLING

- - 13 ------TOP BILLING Remembered

DIRECTOR, ACTOR AND SPORTSCASTER ALL MADE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS

LYNN SHELTON When she pitched me “Humpday,” I was starred two dudes, but we spent just as married and had a young child. I wanted to much time fleshing out the third, female, stay in L.A. and shoot, but she was steadfast character and making sure she was just as 1965-2020 that we should make it in Seattle. And she well-rounded. That did something to my ‘HUMPDAY’ DIRECTOR’S was right. Being there, she had all these consciousness. FILMS EXAMINED LIFE’S JOYS creative people around her, and it elevated It’s hard to say what makes people AND SORROWS the film. When my brother, Jay, worked with connect with art, but when you look at By Mark Duplass her on “Outside In,” I told him, “Go wherever the qualities of Lynn and her work, you she wants you to go, but just know, she’s can see she was obsessed with people and going to drag you to Seattle.” interpersonal dynamics. She’d look at the Lynn got a much later start as a darkness of life, but in a way where you filmmaker [directing her first feature could still throw back your head and have at age 40]. Maybe that explains her zest “When my a cackle. There was a lot of love and beauty LYNN SHELTON had an unrivaled allegiance for wanting to get things done and why brother, Jay, to her films. to the Seattle film community and to Wash- she was able to make so many movies in worked with What attracted me to her as a person ington state. Most people trying to make such a short period of time. She built and her on ‘Outside and as an artist was she was able to their way in independent film would move designed each project to be so cheap that In,’ I told him, illuminate nuanced human behavior in a their ass down to Los Angeles, but Lynn no one could stop us. ‘Go wherever way that showed both the sadness and the never forgot where she came from. She I struggled for so long to make decent she wants you joy of life. —As told to Brent Lang would drive down in her Kia Soul and stay films, and when I started, many of the to go, but just in our guesthouse or at a friend’s in order stories I told were too close to home. know, she’s go- Mark Duplass worked with Lynn Shelton to direct TV shows and get the money she They were very male-centric, and the ing to drag you on “Humpday” and “Your Sister’s Sister.” needed to go back to Seattle to make the female characters were not as strong. to Seattle.’” Shelton died May 15 of a blood disorder at Mark Duplass movies she wanted to make. When we made “Humpday,” it may have the age of 54. PICTURES/PHOTOFEST MAGNOLIA

14 VARIETY GEORGE: BILL INGRAHAM/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK; WILLARD: PAUL BUCK/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK Tyler GeorgeTyler Brown. andsonLincolnHouse correspondent, Pamela Ashley Brown, aCNNWhite through HSN. and cosmetics that shemarketed including alineof skincareproducts of businesses, apair author andstarted film “MeettheParents.” Shewas later an Brown divorced in1998. become governor of Kentucky. Sheand Fried Chicken chainandwould go onto John Y. Brown, whobuilttheKentucky before tyingtheknotin1979with producer Robert EvansHollywood “NFL Today” through1983. CBS MorningNews” before returningto show in1978,and“The entertainment ofPeopleco-anchor magazine’s self-titled Snyder. Greek” “The Shehadstints asa Brent Musberger, Cross andJimmy Irv NFL Today” deskfor with threeseasons Camera.” ATexas native, “The sheshared with Allen New Funt, Candid of “The ontelevisionin1974asco-host, her start disorder. Shewas 70. 14 duetocomplications fromablood May NFLToday” in1975,died CBS’ “The of asco-host innational sports barrier Miss AmericainAtlanticCity1971. Phyllis Georgewas21whenshenamed JUST GETTINGSTARTED PHYLLIS GEORGE, PIONEERING SPORTSCASTER FORMER MISS AMERICA WAS 1949-2020 PHYLLIS GEORGE George is survived by daughterGeorge issurvived In 2000,George was featured inthe George was to brieflymarried George, aformer Miss America,got whobroke thegender —Variety Staff

Martin Mull, a longtime friend and frequent alongtimefriendandfrequent Mull, Martin in any situation. instinct for laughs where tofindthetruest ral about Willard’s gift of timingandhis onthesupernatu- something bordering throughout hiscareer. But therewas still himwell stageearly training served City andAce Company. Trucking That with improv including Second troupes and anArmy veteran, Willard got hisstart outrageousunexpectedly things. average guys whowould say anddo dimwitted charactersandstraitlaced, a guarantee.” that going they’re funny. tobe Fred was movies, butyou can’t always guarantee more famouscomedians whocan carry funny,’”be Rosenthal says. areway “There isgoing tosuddenly got alittle joltof‘This upinashow oramovie,popped you its later seasons. featured Willard inarecurringrole Loves Raymond,”“Everybody which ofRosenthal, andshowrunner creator the rarest commodityinshowbiz. creative communityheoffered because causes at theage of 86,was beloved inthe performer, May whodied 15of natural an improv genius The andagentle soul. FRED WILLARD FRED WILLARD GUARANTEED LAUGHS IMPROV GENIUSWAS GOODFOR 1933-2020 FRED WILLARD

A graduate Institute of Virginia Military Willard was known for playing Fred“With Willard, whenhisface “He was aguarantee,” says Phil “What he had cannot be taught,” hehad cannotbe “What says yCnha Littleton By Cynthia was anactor, acomedian, host Barth Gimble.host Barth toMull’s Hubbard sidekick Jerry noxious played Ed thedoltish, McMahon-esque Hartman.” Mary Hartman, Willard “Mary satire asaspinoff opera ofLear hissoap night talk-show by Norman produced spoof on thesetof “Fernwood 2Night,” alate- on-screen partner. Thetwo first metin1977 gentlest soul.” says. “Hewas just thenicest, sweetest, screenings at theirhome. their guests for Sunday-night movie hadtheWillardsMonica Horan, among two,” Mullsays. wastime whenhishealth declining. hardonFredThe loss was at particularly a daughter, Willard in2018. died Hope. Mary Willard, andtheir Mary playwright who was devoted tohiswife of 50years, Willard asakindandgenerous person always Fred.” successful, hedidn’t Hewas change awhit. way withmefromday one. Afterhegot I’d askfor him,” Mullsays. “Hewas that andwhenI’d cast], me [tobe get ajob was enduring. friendship they on“Fernwood” developed onABC’sthree seasons “Roseanne.” The together asagay couple forappeared of WhitePeople inAmerica,” andthey History the HBOcomedy miniseries“The going tokeep up?’” Mull says. “You’d ‘How amI thinking, be forced Mulltouphisgame.2-Night”) “Americaseries (andits1978iteration, Willard’s skillandwork ethiconthenightly allowed themtogo off scriptfrequently. that was instantaneous and “telepathy” “They were somuch inlove,”“They Rosenthal For years, Rosenthal andhiswife, actor broke ofthose themoldwithboth “They Rosenthal andMullalsoremember he’d“Whenever get ajob, he’d askfor Mull andWillard later collaborated on “Working withhimcould terrifying,” be With Willard, Mullhadakindofcomedic VARIETY 15 TOP BILLING

the greenlight, the intention is our shows Virus Creates Freaky will be ready.” However, Kahl does not rule out the possibility that the network could shift the schedule should it be unable to resume Fall for Broadcasters production as planned. He says that CBS is “getting pitches everyday” for unscripted OVER-THE-AIR NETWORKS ARE STRETCHING THEIR HORIZONS specials as well as series acquisitions. “Another benefit to this merger with Via- TO SCHEDULE WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY THEIR MOST ROBUST com is we have access to a lot more mate- TIME OF YEAR By Elaine Low and Joe Otterson rial should we need it,” he says. ABC’s fall schedule is also murky at this point, but it has the benefit of tapping into parent company Disney’s vast web of WITH THE FORCED production shutdown Dan Harrison, Fox Entertainment’s programming and platforms. creeping into summer, the fall broadcast executive vice president of program plan- “All the options are on the table right television schedule is being significantly ning and content strategy, tells Variety that now from internal corporate partners,” impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. the network began looking for ways to pro- says a source familiar with ABC’s think- For the major broadcast networks, tect its fall schedule as soon as production ing. The network may mine scripted proj- one coping mechanism thus far has been began shutting down. ects from ESPN and Hulu to fill in any snatching up shows that have already run “It’s a procedural with a diverse cast, gaps on the schedule, if needed. elsewhere — on streaming services or in and we’ve got access to 26 episodes that Almost all of the major broadcasters, other countries — in a bid to plump up are in the can,” he says of “LA’s Finest.” save Fox, are aligned with parent media their offerings. Networks acquiring past “So that made it appealing to us. It checks conglomerates equipped with vast librar- seasons of shows is nothing new, but the a lot of boxes.” ies. CBS restarted its Sunday movie night practice is now coming to fall primetime in NBC, meanwhile, has acquired the in May, airing films from the Paramount the 21st century. freshman Canadian medical drama library. Both companies are under the Via- Fox was the first broadcast network to “Transplant,” which premiered on CTV on comCBS umbrella. announce it would air an acquired series in Feb. 26. According to a network insider, The empty pockets in the schedule primetime this fall, with the network pick- however, whether or not the series will air translate to opportunities for shows that ing up the broadcast rights to both seasons in the fall has not yet been decided. once had a tough time cracking into broad- of the Spectrum original “L.A.’s Finest,” CBS, which unveiled its fall slate May cast’s coveted primetime slots. NBC had starring Jessica Alba and Gabrielle Union. 19, is planning to bring back the vast passed on “L.A.’s Finest” two years ago, Not long after that, The CW announced it majority of its scripted lineup for the fall and the show seemed destined to settle had acquired four series from DC Universe, despite the ongoing production shut- into a nook at Spectrum, where it reaches CBS All Access and international markets: down. In addition to 23 returning series, far fewer cable subscribers. But that was “Swamp Thing,” “Tell Me a Story,” “Coro- CBS aims to debut new offerings “B Pos- before the pandemic shut down all televi- ner” and “Dead Pixels.” itive” from Chuck Lorre and “The Equal- A WIDER POOL sion and film production in March. Sony “There is a fair amount of product izer” reboot starring Queen Latifah. Derek Mears is also shopping Spectrum’s “Mad About and Virginia out there,” CW chairman and CEO Mark “We’re going to have to deal with Madsen star in You” revival to other platforms. As for the Pedowitz told reporters last week. “But local officials wherever these shows are “Swamp Thing,” lauded-but-canceled DC Universe original you have to be careful what you acquire, shooting and be mindful of local regu- which The CW “Swamp Thing,” the CW’s Pedowitz does has acquired so that you believe that it fits what your lations,” CBS Entertainment president from streamer not definitively close the door on reviving brand is. That’s what we specifically did.” Kelly Kahl tells Variety. “When we get DC Universe. the series, but notes, “At the moment, it’s just one season.” Live events and unscripted shows have also been a big part of broadcast pro- gramming during the pandemic, with series like “American Idol” and “The Voice” resorting to virtual episodes shot at contestants’ homes. WWE’s “SmackDown Live,” which started airing on Fox last October, has been doing shows without an audience in the company’s performance center in Orlando. Meanwhile, Harrison says that Fox remains hopeful it will resume shoot- ing on the hit series “The Masked Singer” this summer with an eye to getting it on the air come fall. “You can’t fill a schedule with live events every day, but we pivoted to a healthy amount of scripted and the No. 1 show on television that happens to be unscripted,” he says. “So we have an unscripted night in the fall; we have an animated night; we have a hybrid night. We have a mix of content that I think

viewers want.” TELEVISION BROS. WARNER

16 VARIETY TOP BILLING

has similarly low levels of infection and last recorded a coronavirus death back in mid-March, which could point to Hong Kong Disneyland being the next Disney park to reopen. “If Shanghai wasn’t safe, then I definitely wouldn’t have dared come here,” says Joe Tang, 29. Waiting for her friends out- side Pirates of the Caribbean, she says she wouldn’t mind if visitor numbers were allowed back to their usual 80,000 as long as the other measures stayed in place. While the COVID-19 pandemic rages abroad and still sometimes flares up else- where in China, Shanghai’s own days of MICKEY MASK CLUB coronavirus angst are fast becoming a Main Street at distant memory. The city’s increasingly Shanghai Disney had relaxed rules create a contrast with those a slightly different look for the park’s of the park. Rush-hour subway rides again May 11 restart. mean jostling with the crowds, while in Disneyland, ride seats are pointedly left empty to spread out passengers. Such abundance of caution and caps on visitor numbers have slashed queues — by far the park’s most popular pandemic pol- Reopened Shanghai icy. “It’s so nice not to have to wait in line,” says Yang Qi, a 24-year-old on her first visit to the park, whose accompanying friend Disneyland Is a had informed her their speedy passages were an anomaly. Jun Wei, 39, says he much prefers this Less-Crowded Treat week’s quieter visit to trips in the past. While he loves that the lack of crowds SOCIAL DISTANCING AND GOOD HYGIENE REASSURE VISITORS makes it easier for his family of four to keep their distance from other visitors, WHILE ALSO KEEPING DOWN THE WAIT TIME FOR RIDES reduced wait times are the bigger bonus. By Kevin Schoenmakers “We’ve experienced what it’s like when there are 80,000 people, and it’s not that nice,” he says. WHILE THEIR daughter imperils her Elsa say that Disney’s hygiene measures helped His wife, Xiao Yan, 37, says they weren’t outfit with her quickly disintegrating convince them to purchase tickets, a sign too concerned about the health risks. Mickey Mouse ice cream cone, Chen Sijia that the company, which estimates its total Shanghai has good doctors and few cases, and Chen Hao are taking a breather. losses across all divisions due to COVID- she says. “When it comes to COVID-19, I They’re among the many young fam- 19 at $1.4 billion, has found a workable trust the government, and I trust Disney,” ilies and groups of friends that are once formula with which it could reopen its she explains. The couple and their two sons more filling up Shanghai Disneyland, theme parks in the U.S., France, Japan and have more time to enjoy themselves. “Most which reopened May 11 after being Hong Kong. wait times are just five minutes.” closed for more than three months due But building enough trust to reopen With such short lines, some guests exited to measures aimed at mitigating the parks might rely more on the efforts of local attractions only to enter them again. “We COVID-19 pandemic. governments than on the company itself. just went on Woody’s Roundup twice,” says Frequent visitors with annual passes, Guests in Shanghai stressed that the coro- Xue Mingshao, referring to a “Toy Story”- the couple was concerned about whether navirus outbreak dwindling in the region themed ride. it would be safe to mingle with thousands was ultimately the most important factor in Xue, 36, says he’s still somewhat con- of strangers. But with the park limiting their decisions whether or not to visit the cerned about the pandemic, and tries to guest numbers to 20% of its max capacity theme park. stay home as much as possible. But when and employing a variety of social distanc- Shanghai, a city of 24 million people, he read that Disneyland was opening up ing measures, they felt it was safe to visit. has kept its number of COVID-19 cases again — and with social-distancing mea- “They do things really well,” says Chen Hao, below 700, with about half of those being sures in place — he decided to book tick- 37. “Staff are constantly cleaning and tell- overseas returnees. It last registered a ets for himself and his 4-year-old son. “It’s ing people to keep apart.” local infection in late March. Hong Kong been so much fun,” Xue says. For its initial opening phase, the park He made sure to bring face masks also suspended indoor theater perfor- and hand sanitizer, and he’s impressed mances, installed hand sanitizer dispensers with the attentiveness of the members of and canceled nighttime fireworks. Visi- “When it comes to COVID-19, the park staff. Nevertheless, had the virus tors must wear face masks, have their tem- still been infecting people in Shanghai, perature scanned and be able to show a I trust the government, and he wouldn’t have come. “Disney is doing green QR code on a government-affiliated I trust Disney.” a good job,” Xue says. “But it’s more health-tracking app. important that the government does a

DISNEY All park visitors who spoke with Variety Xiao Yan, Shanghai Disneyland visitor good job.”

VARIETY 17 TOP BILLING Want to Go to a Live Concert? Pull Up a Parking Space

ACTS ARE BOOKING DRIVE-IN THEATERS AND STADIUM LOTS TO DELIVER MUSIC TO FANS By Chris Willman

sold out the 380 available double-spaced spots under the big screens. Baseball’s Texas Rangers have turned into concert promoters as well, booking artists like Pat Green and the Eli Young Band for a series of eight shows in the Globe Life Field parking lot on June 4-7. All were instant sellouts. Urban admits he has “no idea when I last went to a drive-in,” but found the nearest one to Nashville to be “the per- fect setting for this,” adding: “Everyone [is] in cars, orderly positioned, all fac- ing a singular point [with] a massive pre- built video-projection wall. All we had to do was park a flatbed truck at the base of the screen, point a camera at the stage, tap into the FM frequency so every- one could hear us in their cars, and we were off and running.” A PA was set up to provide audio for fans who preferred roof-sitting to bucket seats. At least initially, some drive-ins are asking fans to stay inside their vehicles, and going with FM-only sound as a way to encourage that. But Live Nation’s See is working with local governments to determine when they’ll be comfortable with fans setting up fender-side chairs. “Ideally, we want to be working in an environment where we’re using the PA,” HAD YOUR FILL OF LIVESTREAM concerts although it would skip the drive-in the- not just FM, he says. “Trying to get indi- lately? So has Keith Urban. ater middleman and produce the concerts viduals to stay in their cars is difficult.” “I’m grateful that we have the technol- at its 40 amphitheaters — outside the Realistically, the long-term prospects ogy to do ‘at home’ concerts,” says the front gates, in the parking lots. for drive-in concerts are limited. “Can country superstar, “but come on — with- Thomas See, Live Nation’s venues you scale it really big time? Probably out the audience, it’s just one looooong president for U.S. concerts, is hoping the not,” See concedes. “It’s not something soundcheck.” That’s why he was thrilled company will soon have a cure for Amer- that you’re going to do thousands of. to get some genuine human feedback on ican music lovers’ cabin fever. “I’m not But can you get a good number of them May 14, when he became the first major ready to say tomorrow or the next day, across the finish line with artists who artist of the pandemic era to do a con- but we would love to get out there in the want to get out there and connect with cert for fans sheltering in place in (or on) next month or two with some active con- their fans? Absolutely.” their vehicles, playing for about 200 peo- tent,” he says. As for size, he says Live Nation is ple in 125 cars or trucks at the Stardust The trend has already been taking studying models that can accommodate Drive-In Theatre in Watertown, Tenn. shape on a smaller scale. Live Nation between 500 and 1,000 cars. “It will be “The only real challenge for me was just helped D-Nice do a drive-in show for an underplay for some of these acts that [the absence of] the energy from a mosh first responders in a parking lot in Flor- we’re talking to,” he allows, “but they pit,” he says. “But the car horns, the flash- ida (which was livestreamed to the thou- know their fans are gonna remember ing headlights — that was crazy cool.” sands of fans he’s picked up with his this forever.” Urban’s show was a secret, invita- celebrated Club Quarantine DJ sets). Urban understands that there are tion-only freebie for Vanderbilt University A quirkier DJ, Marc Rebillet, has knots to work out. “As ideal as the drive- medical personnel. But it was also a road booked an entire run of drive-in the- ins are from a design standpoint, a sta- test of sorts for scaling up the concept of aters across the Midwest for a June-July dium parking lot holds way more cars,” drive-in concerts, which began popping up tour. The Beanstalk Music & Mountains he says. “But then you get into more in Europe earlier this year, from novelty Festival, which normally takes place in LOTS TO CHEER equipment, and how do you tour that? Keith Urban performs one-offs to the mainstream. Concert pro- the wilds of Colorado, is taking over the In the absence of traditional tour- at the Stardust motion giant Live Nation is looking at tak- Holiday Twin Drive-In in Fort Collins, Drive-In Theatre in ing structures, it’s a puzzle worth ing the concept nationwide this summer, Colo., on June 26-27, and in a day’s time Watertown, Tenn. think-tanking on.”

18 VARIETY TOP BILLING

IN THE RUNNING celebrities’ personal iPhones. Voters might Michael Schneider have a particular affection for those early events, especially before virtually every- thing on TV was shot, well, virtually. As the weeks have progressed, and equipment has been shipped to vari- ous homes, the quality has dramatically Pandemic Yields improved. But even as the programs get sleeker, they’re still taking place mostly where people live, with very little Unexpected Crop physical interaction. ABC has now aired two editions of “The Disney Family Singalong,” while there have been several music specials geared of Emmy Hopefuls toward charity — most notably, the April 18 event “One World: Together at Home,” which aired across multiple broadcast FROM SPECIALS AND FUNDRAISERS TO LAST BOWS AND SHOWS and cable networks. In 2002, the post-9/11 SHOT FROM HOME, IT’S A CROWDED FIELD multi-network event “America: A Tribute to Heroes” won the variety special Emmy, although similar specials after other trage- CALL THEM THE COVID Contenders. It also opened the door for “Parks and Rec- dies haven’t. The coronavirus pandemic has fueled a reation” to get one last shot at finally winning Meanwhile, there are also many series boom in creativity since mid-March, with an Emmy. The show was nominated 14 times that have done remote production of epi- stay-at-home orders leading to some unique during its run — including twice as outstand- sodes, mostly due to the shutdown. The and completely unexpected programming ing comedy — but never prevailed. This time three “Saturday Night Live” at-home install- in the past few months. Prior to mid-March, around, NBC can submit it in the variety spe- ments could add to its front-runner status who would have predicted a “Parks and Rec- cial (pre-recorded) category, which last year in variety sketch and even give a leg up to reation” reunion, or the fact that we would went to “Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met the cast and guest stars who shone in those soon get to know what Ryan Seacrest’s home McCartney Live From Liverpool.” episodes. Competition shows like “Ameri- kitchen looks like? Also, star Amy Poehler, who never can Idol” and “The Voice” have figured out None of these recent specials was landed an Emmy as “Parks and Rec’s” Leslie how to trade shiny floors for authentic shots planned, which is what makes this year’s Knope (despite six noms as lead actress in a of contestants performing at home. And of Emmy race so unique. Most of the new- comedy) might see voters correct that injus- course, variety talk shows (including four- found specials and events created in the tice, but via the limited series/TV movie time top winner “Last Week Tonight With wake of COVID-19 — even the ones that have actress category. John Oliver”) have completely changed their streamed only online — could be eligible for That variety special (pre-recorded) cate- formats over the past two months, which Emmy consideration. They might potentially gory might get tight, however, with the sheer could also mix that race up. upend the variety special categories and number of COVID-related entries — including Where there may be the most opportu- even the short form variety race. versions of awards shows that were supposed ANOTHER SHOT nity, though, is in the short form categories. The case of “Parks and Recreation” is to be live but were reconfigured into pretaped The return As celebrities like John Krasinski (with his unique. The beloved NBC comedy ended at-home events, like Fox’s “iHeart Living of “Parks and “Some Good News” web series) and various Recreation” its run in 2015, but the cast and produc- Room Concert for America” (where Seacrest, for one last musicians take to the web in lieu of tour- ers got back together last month to tell one presenting from his kitchen, was among episode, with ing (some, like Rufus Wainwright, playing more story. “A Parks and Recreation Special” the guests). And incumbent winner James the characters on a song or two every day), there could be conference call, showcased the series’ characters in present Corden is still in the hunt, with CBS’ “Home- has enabled the many unexpected Emmy contenders this day as they communicated over videocon- fest: James Corden’s Late Late Show Special.” show to perhaps year — as long as they submit their entries ferencing in the midst of the pandemic. The Both of those specials ran in March, when finally land an before the June 5 cutoff date. Emmy — in the telecast raised at least $3 million for Feeding the quarantine led to a DIY mentality toward variety special The TV Academy confirms that pro- America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. production, a lot of which was shot on category. grams like “Some Good News,” which are self-published, will be eligible at the discre- tion of the org. Per the rules, programming without financial or creative involvement from a network or studio must be approved for the ballot before being entered. Insiders have jokingly called that new vetting process the “Megan Amram rule,” given that the Academy has twice changed the eligibility rules after Amram’s “An Emmy for Megan,” which pokes fun at — and uses — loopholes to get an Emmy nom- ination, twice did just that. Amram hasn’t yet revealed whether she has a coronavirus-themed Season 3 of “An Emmy for Megan” on tap. But even if she doesn’t, she might have another thing to root for on Emmy night: Amram was part of the team that helped write “A Parks and

NBC Recreation Special.”

VARIETY 19 TOP BILLING

Nicole Avant Learned About Sense

of Self Early FATHER KNOWS BEST Nicole Avant and Clarence Avant attend HER NETFLIX DOC, ‘THE BLACK GODFATHER,’ the 11th annual African American Film Critics DELVES INTO THE LIFE STORY OF HER Assn. Awards in Los Angeles in January. FATHER, MUSIC EXEC CLARENCE AVANT

WHEN NICOLE AVANT was growing up in streamer. “I actually had this idea in my was. You know, having a stepfather, really Beverly Hills in the 1970s and ’80s, her head since I was a little girl. I really did,” beating up my grandmother in front of him father, Clarence Avant, was one of the most Avant, who served as Obama’s ambassa- and in front of the other children. My dad connected and successful black power bro- dor to the Bahamas, tells Variety. “I had didn’t really have a childhood, and he took kers in the music industry. He launched told Ted, even when I was dating him, care of seven kids because everyone was THE BIG TICKET record labels, owned radio stations and there’s this idea I have for this film, and I working and they were so poor. Marc became a key figure in politics and the civil said to him, ‘I’m going to take it to HBO.’ Malkin rights movement. Once I started getting the interviews and How hard was it to hear those stories? The Avant home was never not buzzing everyone started confirming, Ted said, Very hard for me. And it made a lot of sense with a stream of Hollywood and Washing- ‘Do you really have all these people saying when everything did fall down for him and Hear this interview in its ton insiders coming and going. “I knew that yes?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, for sure.’ He said, everything blew up at one time and we lost entirety on this week’s epi- sode of Variety and iHeart’s he was very powerful because the phone ‘Let me take a look at it again.’ And then at everything. I think everything triggered to “The Big Ticket” podcast, rang constantly and I always heard him that point Ted is a part of the family, and his childhood again of not having things he which will be available on May 14. fixing something or giving advice,” says he saw a solid film, and he saw an import- didn’t have or anybody to really rely on. Nicole, who made her producing debut ant film, and he actually wanted to tell with Netflix’s “The Black Godfather,” a doc- the story just as much or even more Tell me about a time in which someone umentary about her father. “And then I than I did.” really big turned up at the house and did see him on ‘Soul Train.’ I caught him you were like, ‘What is this person doing on ‘Soul Train’ one day, and he was giving What do you want people to know about here?’” The one time I was very star- an interview with Don Cornelius. … That’s your dad? I really wanted people to take struck was when Whitney Houston when I thought, ‘Oh, he must be a big deal away that it’s important to have a strong showed up one day and I had just been because he’s on television.’” sense of self. It’s important to keep mov- listening to the “Greatest Love of All.” That point is driven home by the ing forward. It’s important to pay back. I’d sing it in the car like I was Whitney documentary, which features interviews It’s important to move the needle. Also, it’s Houston. I was floored; I stood at the front with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jesse very important to take risks in life. Some- door and I thought, “Oh, my God, this is a Jackson, David Geffen, Jamie Foxx, Sean times you’re going to fail. Sometimes peo- real celebrity. This is a big deal.” “Diddy” Combs and the late Bill Withers, ple are going to say no. So what? It’s a part whom Avant signed to his Sussex Records of life. You keep going. You pick yourself If you were to make a scripted narrative while the singer was still working as an back up again. about your dad, who would play him? aircraft assembler. Forest Whitaker could play him because Nicole Avant, who is married to Net- What did you learn about your dad while he knows him and he could “get” him flix chief content officer Ted Sarandos, making the documentary that you didn’t actually. says she had plans to shop the doc around know already? I took it for granted how

before her husband snapped it up for the hard his childhood was and how abusive it This interview has been edited and condensed. HUTCHINS/SHUTTERSTOCK KATHY

20 VARIETY DEVOUR

Passengers bond and brawl in Netflix‘s sci-fi thriller series “Into the Night.“

Watch Download Listen ‘The Darkest ‘The Eddy’ ‘Into the Night’ Timeline’ soundtrack NETFLIX’S NEW BELGIAN THRILLER has a sci-fi back- Ken Jeong and Joel McHale’s new Covers from St. Vincent and Jorja podcast covers topics ranging from Smith along with songs by Glen drop — a planeload of people will die unless they keep COVID-19 to “Community,” with Ballard make up the jazz-intensive flying into the night. The classic disaster story main- guests including the former NBC music for Damien Chazelle’s Netflix tains a tense pace as a group of disparate passengers sitcom’s Yvette Nicole Brown. series set in a Paris nightclub. and crew members must stop squabbling and work together to keep the aircraft aloft in hopes of outrun- ning a mysterious solar catastrophe. A sick boy and Read his mom bound for Russia, a grieving female military helicopter pilot and an Instagram-obsessed influencer ‘Parasite’ are just some of the often-volatile personalities aboard Bong Joon Ho’s storyboards are the imperiled flight. “Narcos” and “Scandal” producer presented in the form of a graphic Jason George created the six-episode series. novel, with a foreword and on-set photos from the filmmaker that give more context to the making of the EDITED BY PAT SAPERSTEIN | [email protected] groundbreaking South Korean film.

Support Local Eateries, Theaters With T’s, Totes and More Patrons on both coasts are donning stylish designs to put their money where their taste is

Restaurants are struggling during the pandemic, and it’s from the T-shirts and prints going directly to help the a sad fact that many won’t be able to reopen even when businesses. Merch Aid is coming soon to Los Ange- quarantine restrictions are relaxed. Some spots are stay- les and Austin. In the meantime, Angelenos can order ing afloat by also offering food, wine and groceries. But straight from an establishment or through Locali-Tee loyal diners can also show support by buying branded (locali-tee.com), launched by former movie foreign sales merchandise featuring original art and familiar signs. exec Eric Christenson to create T-shirt designs for West- Ad agency R/GA has launched Merch Aid (getmer- side staples like Tito’s Tacos, Bob’s Market, Chez Jay and chaid.com), which pairs talented graphic designers with Bay Cities Italian Deli. Support East Hollywood’s Sqirl favorite New York spots like Sugarhill disco, Economy by ordering jams, granola, shirts and totes available at

INTO THE NIGHT: NETFLIX THE NIGHT: INTO Candy, Jing Fong and Nitehawk Cinema, with proceeds sqirlla.com. PAT SAPERSTEIN

VARIETY 21 Rebooting the Entertainment Industry

SPONSORED BY

Episode 3: The New Challenge of Content Production & Distribution As theaters and production sets remain closed, entertainment executives will discuss how content creators and distributors are navigating the challenge of delivering film and TV content to audiences and will address preparations for the eventual return to sets.

TUESDAY, MAY 26 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT

FEATURED SPEAKERS Elissa Federoff President, Distribution, NEON

Trish Kinane Executive Producer, American Idol, America’s Got Talent & President, Programming, Fremantle North America

Jeff Ross Executive Producer, Conan & CEO, Conaco

Todd Supplee Partner, Media & Entertainment Consulting, PwC

MODERATED BY Brent Lang Executive Editor, Film & Media, Variety

REGISTER NOW VARIETY.COM/REBOOTSERIES

UPCOMING EPISODES Episode 4: The Future of Sports and Live Events June 2 Episode 5: The Outlook for Future Growth June 9 DIRT

$7M

HOLLYWOOD HILLS 4,900 SQ. FT. 4 BEDROOMS 6 BATHS

L.A.-based design/development concern Matt Brubaker Lowers Osklo, he radically transformed the place into a sophisticated and thoroughly mod- ern pavilion with four bedrooms and 5.5 Price Over Sunset Strip bathrooms in about 4,900 square feet. Wrapped almost entirely in vertical strips of Red Balau wood, and accented with cleft-cut, textured travertine stone- AN EYE-CATCHING organic-modern ultra-contemporary residence tucked into the work, the attractively boxy, art-filled mid- highfalutin hills above L.A.’s ever-chic Sunset Strip and owned by theatrical mar- century-inspired residence is available keting guru Matt Brubaker is available at a teensy bit below $7 million after first through Ben Bacal at Revel Real Estate. A coming for sale late last summer at $8.5 million. Brubaker, a former creative exec massive skylight floods the living room at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. who’s now CEO and creative director of with natural light; the adjoining dining Trailer Park’s A/V Division, purchased the then well-maintained if decidedly dated area is open to a crisply tailored gour- met kitchen that also benefits from a huge city-view property not quite two years ago for $5.25 million. With assistance from skylight and is finished with bespoke ver- tical-cut walnut cabinetry and carefully book-matched flannel-gray marble coun- tertops and backsplashes. A fireplace MARK DAVID warms a separate den/media lounge. A THE REAL ESTALKER monolithic abstract carved-stone bar

VARIETY 23

DIRT

in the living room is backed by floor-to- ceiling glass sliders that lead to a serene, lushly planted courtyard garden. Each of the three guest bedrooms has garden access and a private, traver- tine-sheathed bathroom, while the mas- ter bedroom offers a walk-in closet and a lavishly minimalist bathroom bathed in sunlight via multiple skylights. Floor-to- ceiling glass sliders throughout the angled house glide open to a stone-paved terrace with a built-in grill, a trapezoidal swim- ming pool with sensuously curved corners and glittery, canyon-framed views over the city.

Elizabeth Banks Has $5M Buyer in Studio City NASHVILLE Hollywood polymath Elizabeth Banks — 20,000 SQ. FT. the “Hunger Games” franchise star made her hugely successful feature directorial 7 BEDROOMS debut with “Pitch Perfect 2” in 2015 and 10 BATHS co-stars in the critically acclaimed mini- series “Mrs. America” — and producer Max Handelman have quickly landed Estate Agency, the expensively updated, a buyer for their former home in L.A.’s single-story main house measures in at Cavallari, Cutler Set Up trendy Studio City, initially available as just over 2,200 square feet with three bed- an off-market whisper listing at just over rooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The detached for a Loss in Nashville $2.4 million. two-car garage has been converted to a Reality TV staple and jewelry designer The couple have owned the home since pint-size guest room and bathroom plus Kristin Cavallari and former pro football 2007, when they scooped it up for a bit a large fitness/game room. A detached player Jay Cutler not only have to navigate more than $1.6 million. Listed with Rich- poolside pavilion can flex into even more the terms of their recent split, they’re also ard Ehrlich and Amber Kristin at Westside living space. staring down the barrel of financial loss In the main house, pale hardwood floors on the sale of a secluded mansion in Nash- flow throughout the sunny, open-plan liv- ville’s picturesque semirural outskirts. The ing and entertaining areas, incorporating erstwhile pair, who announced their sepa- a petite study or dining room just inside ration in a joint statement posted to their the front door. A white-brick fireplace is individual Instagram accounts last month, the focal point of the living room, and the acquired the scenic 8.5-acre spread in early ample dining area has a built-in buffet 2012 for $5.3 million and, after first set- that wraps around to the stylishly updated, ting it out for sale almost two years ago with high-end kitchen. The master suite offers a pie-in-the-sky price of $7.9 million, now a walk-in closet, an updated bathroom and have it available at a smidgen under $5 mil- glass sliders to the backyard. lion. Jointly listed with Tim Thompson at The house opens to an expansive Tim Thompson Premier Realtors and Marty $2.4M stone-accented patio with a built-in grill. Warren at Zeitlin Sotheby’s Intl. Realty, the The swimming pool is hemmed in by child- 25-room, lodge-like Mediterranean-in- safety fencing. Carved into the rugged hill- spired mansion sits alone on a sunny knoll STUDIO CITY 3 BEDROOMS side above the pool, a secluded, tree-shaded surrounded by dense woods with seven 2,200 SQ. FT. 3 BATHS patio is surrounded by verdant plantings. bedrooms and seven full and three half

DIGS Rock Hudson’s Former transitional aesthetic marries Home Lists for $3.75 Mil classic old-school fixtures with more modern decor elements John Lennon: Beach Boyooy Perched up above the twinkling like vaulted ceilings. Fun lights of the Sunset Strip is a features include a wraparound A Palm Beach mansion once owneded charming English Country- bar in the den, picture windows by John Lennon and Yoko Ono hasas style home owned by Holly- throughout the house that popped up on the market with a $47.5$$47.5 wood icon Rock Hudson that’s offer views of the city and the million price tag. The 14,000-square-aare- up for grabs at $3.75 million. The 2,800-square-foot house strip and a backyard patio that foot Spanish-style home has sevenn Built in 1937, the property was has three bedrooms and four sits adjacent to a rectangular bedrooms and nine bathrooms andnd acquired by Hudson in the bathrooms and sits on a lot that swimming pool that’s perfect was purchased by the couple just a 1970s when he was living in measures in at slightly more for chasing away the few months before Lennon’s death.hh. another home in the area than a third of an acre, with a summertime heat, even in MAE HAMILTON with then-wife Phyllis Gates. two-car garage. Inside, a distinct lockdown. MAE HAMILTON PRATURLON/SHUTTERSTOCK LENNON: PIERLUIGI

24 VARIETY DIRT

bathrooms in close to 20,000 square feet. the property is available at just under $5.5 Chunky, rough-hewn wood beams, million, $1 million less than the in-hind- stone fireplaces and Brazilian cherry sight too rosy initial asking price of nearly hardwood floorboards lend rustic charm $6.5 million — but still far above the $4.15 to the three-story manor house, which million he paid married actors Ali Larter includes formal living and dining rooms, and Hayes MacArthur for the Nichols Can- a double-height library, a huge high-end yon contemporary about four years ago. kitchen and, on the lower level, a sprawl- Listed with Brandon Williams and Rayni ing entertainment complex replete with Williams of Williams & Williams Estates wood-paneled lounge, professional bar and at Hilton & Hyland, the boxy triple-story state-of-the-art home theater. Outside, a villa, which includes five bedrooms and partially screened loggia opens to stone six bathrooms in 5,500 square feet, was $2.75M terracing, a vast stretch of lawn and an designed by innovative L.A. architect alfresco dining terrace with fireplace. Brian Murphy to take full advantage of the hillside property’s sweeping cross-can- LOS FELIZ 4 BEDROOMS yon views. Sleek, lofty and light-filled liv- 2,500 SQ. FT. 4 BATHS ing spaces feature pale wide-plank wood Cirkut Chops Ask for floors, a floating glass-and-steel staircase and numerous glass sliders that open to a Jason Segel Lists His Hollywood Hills Home slender dining and lounging terrace that Canadian record producer and songwriter runs the length of the house. A spiral stair- Vintage Los Feliz Villa Henry Russell Walter, better known as Cir- case leads up to a roof terrace atop the A home in L.A.’s historic Los Feliz area, kut, who has worked on popular ditties for garage. The lowest level, which spills out to owned by film and TV actor Jason Segel, stars like Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and The the backyard, holds a media/game room, a has hit the market at $2.75 million. The Weeknd, has not had the same success fitness room and, unsurprisingly, a record- “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star, who cre- selling a celeb-pedigreed Hollywood Hills ing studio. The flat and grassy yard offers ated and toplines AMC’s “Dispatches From home. After two year on and off the market, an outdoor kitchen and swimming pool. Elsewhere,” purchased the late-1920s Med- iterranean villa just over four years for $2.25 million — more than $400,000 above its asking price — from acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey. Listed with Patricia Ruben of Sotheby’s Intl. Realty, the three-story hillside abode retains much of its original architectural character and measures in at a bit more than 2,500 square feet with a total of four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The entrance hall features wood ceiling beams and well-worn vintage terra-cotta floor tiles. The voluminous step-down liv- ing room is filled with light from three titanic arched windows; the separate din- ing room features French doors to a slim balcony with views into the surrounding treetops; the recently refreshed galley-style kitchen includes a built-in dining ban- quette with a carefully preserved mural, $5.5M courtesy of the home’s previous owner. A spacious terrace with a boldly tiled fountain hovers over a steep and lushly HOLLYWOOD HILLS landscaped hillside, where a stairway zig- 5,500 SQ. FT. zags down to several tree-shaded terraces, 5 BEDROOMS the lowest one complete with an outdoor 6 BATHS kitchen and built-in dining banquette.

Virtual Tour Smells heeled buyers interested in the house” that engages all senses. Like a Lockdown Treat $32 million Viewpoint Collection Before the tour, 25 participants property high in the Hollywood will be delivered a box full of In the age of stay-at-home orders Hills on Forest Knoll Drive. Listed goodies via white glove service and social distancing, realtors with Compass’ Tomer Fridman, to open during the event. Each have been forced to come up with Sally Forster Jones and Tyrone box contains a Tom Dixon candle creative solutions to showcase McKillen, the 11,000-square- that smells like the leafy Forest properties. The Society Group, a foot mansion has six bedrooms Knoll area, a mini bottle of Moët & real estate public relations firm and nine bathrooms and offers Chandon, cut sample squares of whose clients have represented sweeping views of the city to the white oak and travertine flooring high-wattage names like Michelle Pacific Ocean. Since potential from the home and a mini olive Obama, Jennifer Lopez and the buyers can’t visit the place, The tree. The experiential virtual Kardashians, will be hosting a Society Group and Compass showing will occur live on Zoom luxury experiential tour for well- created a virtual “sensory open on May 26. MAE HAMILTON

VARIETY 25 26 48 VARIETY VREY VARIETY

GUTTER CREDIT EXTRAS ON SET

RESTARTING PRODUCTION REQUIRES SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, SCHEDULING DELAYS, EXTRA VFX AND MORE. IT WON’T BE EASY.

BY Kate Aurthur AND Adam B. Vary

ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN STAUFFER checks and accurate COVID testing; there will be more extensive visual effects where extras once stood; newly trained personnel dedicated to health and safety will need to be hired; medical-grade cleaning equipment and PPE — and insurance if Someone had to take producers are lucky enough to secure it — will balloon the hard costs of production. Variety spoke with dozens of studio the leap. After months of executives, producers, directors, actors and below-the-line artisans in the U.S., coronavirus-imposed shutdowns, Canada and Europe about what the new normal on set might look like as produc- Tyler Perry announced May 12 tions begin to start up again. While every- that he will begin production at his one’s working on some kind of plan, most (at least, in North America) are not actually Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios proceeding until the impending release of highly anticipated guidelines spearheaded on the second season of his BET by the AMPTP, which is based on input from studios, epidemiologists and public show “Sistas” on July 8, and “The health officials, as well as sensitive negoti- ations with the various trade unions. Oval” three weeks later. As he What’s emerged is a moving target that no one quite has a full grasp of but every- ramps up production, Perry will be one understands is heading in only one direction: The costs of production, already among the very first in the business sky-high, are going to get even higher. Even without detailed industry to put into action a profusion of guidelines in place, the executives Variety spoke with forecast increased expenses. untested ideas that have preoccu- Any potential cost reductions — shooting pied the entertainment industry only on soundstages, with a smaller crew and cast out of social-distancing necessity on how to get back to work in the — seem like a drop in the bucket. “I don’t anticipate any savings,” says one studio age of COVID-19. production chief. “We’re looking at more than incremental increases. It’s very hard to say, but on a major movie, as much as 20% increases. And that’s on paper.” “I’m excited about it,” Perry tells Variety. “I’m excited about being able to Not everyone is on board with the make sure that people can take care of themselves and support their families, idea of going back into production before but also excited about setting a template here that I think could work everywhere.” there is medicinal treatment or a vaccine He’ll test the cast and his “drastically” scaled back Atlanta-based crew for COVID-19. One director of a studio when they arrive at the studio and before they begin production, and four movie that was in pre-production when more times during the two-and-a-half-week shoots for each show. Every- everything shut down thinks such plans one on the set will wear protective masks, and group scenes will be held until are irresponsible. The filmmaker, who after the fourth day on set, when everyone has been tested again. Meals will spoke to Variety under the condition of be served in different “catering pods” on the largest soundstage to maximize anonymity, resents that he was sent to social distancing. Perry will fly out-of-town cast members in on his private scout locations in March when it was clear plane, and, since the studio is a decommissioned U.S. Army compound, to him that the world was in a pandemic, everyone working on the production will live on campus. and he thinks any plan to restart is “It’s really a military effort — and no better place to do that than a former ludicrous. “A movie can’t work with masks military base,” says Perry. and social distancing — everyone is all over When asked how much all of these preventive measures will add to the each other all the time,” he says. “To not price tag of production, the self-made mogul acknowledges, “It’s an enormous face that, either you’re in denial or you’re undertaking and an enormous cost to the budget.” ignorant, or you’re pretending to not know Perry’s words reflect a common and troubling refrain reverberating so the company isn’t liable.” throughout the entertainment business. But one producer engaged in an over- In one harried week in mid-March, as COVID-19 cases and deaths were all studio deal believes that in order to multiplying everywhere, Hollywood scrambled to shut down, and doing so has get back in business, people need to shift exacted a severe financial toll across the industry, as well as on the cities that from the mindset of taking no risks at all rely on production as a key economic engine. The even harder work, however, to making production as safe as possible lies ahead: the painstaking — and costly — process of opening back up. — which, yes, does involve risk. The pro- Shorter shooting days will lead to longer shooting schedules; casts and ducer, who did not want to be identified, crews will be put in quarantine; there will be added breaks for temperature says pre-production can happen remotely, as can post-production: “We just have to

Leo Barraclough, Tim Dams, Matt Donnelly, Daniel Holloway, Angelique Jackson, figure out the filming.” Brent Lang, Cynthia Littleton, Gene Maddaus, Marc Malkin, Dave McNary, Manori When asked about the consequences Ravindran and Jazz Tangcay contributed to this story. of an indefinite production halt across

28 VARIETY TYLER PERRY STUDIOS die without it, right?” die withoutit, the industry, we all andthensays:look, theproducerconsiders it, “Imean, COVID-less futureordelusionalmagical thinking. movies inaworld inwhichfew ispracticalplanningfor areopen theaters a speak ontherecord. speak studio executives overseeing noneof whomwas suchplanning, authorized to setting horrormovie. are somany movies butyou “There onthedocket, might moviesthere willbe that jumpthelinethat are“containable” —like asingle- no, Iwant tomake my movie favor of soundstages, whicharemoreeconomical. of filmmakers onthepart whomightforgoway” filmingaroundtheworld in ever, “an theremightbe andhopes interest indoingthings inless timeany- at atime, tomore delays. leading Thisexecutive hasa“Pollyanna side,” how- — including wondering whetheronlyoneactorcanget makeup andhairdone executive onCOVID foresees certainly spent moremoney being precautions anddeclinestohypothesize budgets. about But this early” “wildly speculation ably last inthequeue.” isprob- toglobe-trot whereyou of arerequired production sort multi-country “To state what may theobvious, be bigcrew, Ithinkthereally lotsof extras, returning towork seemspremature. As asecond high-level studio exec putit, the cost of what we’re term.” doingintheshort tive continues. “Even withaddingdays. No efficiencieswe willreduce create we’re getting inprotective andtakingtemperatures,” people gear thisexecu- “on abigmovie,” says oneof theexecutives, “that could 15people.” be IT WILLBEMANYMONTHSBEFORE

Every production willhave production Every tohave and departments, health expanded “The people whoaremost passionate people aboutthecreative mightsay,“The ‘Oh Another executive, physical at whoruns astudio, production callsallthe For many of thebiggest-scaled productions, even having atimeline for longer“Hours willbe toget thesameamountof normalwork in aday if achievable we know whetherthescrambletomake ,’” says theexecutive, whowonders if Variety interviewed three interviewed “ Tyler Perry BUDGET.” COST TOTHE ENORMOUS AND AN UNDERTAKING ENORMOUS IT’S AN fit that willinclude airconditioning filters acoronavirusstudio retro- isundertaking CEO Ryan Millsaptells undergoing toresumework. preparations movie intheworld,” Patterson says. thesafest, place cleanest to be tomake a risk of infection. “We we’re decided going stations toreduce andsecuritymeasures HVACpital-grade upgrades, hand-washing morethan$1millionsofaronhos-spent of June deadline 1,andhasset arestart Atlanta, theCEOof Pinewood terson, has ready. shot—planstobe been Frank Pat- game” andmany filmshave othertentpole — where“BlackPanther,” “Avengers: End- Atlanta again, Pinewood Studios start does whole movie maybe alittle bitafterthat.” “If it’s August, I’d A alsofeel good. really I’d fortunate,” feel really theexecutive says. pickup dates andhave thatinJuly, happen Iwere acouple able toshoot ofbacklot. “If pickup shoot,” preferably onthestudio willworknew protocols ona“two-day executive would like to test how allof the movie rightnow?” like anice four-character horror-genre shot,” theexecutive says. wouldn’t “Who see oneof good thesmalleronesget areal Blackhall StudiosinAtlanta isalso When larger-scale movie production Before however, that canbegin, this VARIETY Teesha RenéeandPtosha an episodefromSeason Jones,Vaughn Hebron, 1 of“TheOval”with Tyler Perrydirects actors YvonneSenat production July28. Storey. Theseries Variety is settorestart BACK INOFFICE that the 29 30 have even production tolean moreheavily onvisual effects andpared-down clothes andthecombat andallof that.” it onmy own. morethanany Iwas touched probably job, of just the because helpgetting Ican’t Ineed allday intothecatsuit. touching your long. body do job,a one-person Kravitz says: “You have just touching your people face, accommodatebig toreasonably COVID-19 precautionswithoutavaccine. and elaborate sets, costumes andmakeup, large-scale too mightbe productions she says. “But no, we have noidea.” togo.’”ready But whenthat could remains unclear. be her is“hopingtowake day ‘We’re toanemailoraphonecallsaying, upevery Robert Pattinsonopposite inMatt Reeves’ Batman,” “The says of that part fall; itcould next be year.” Itcould late whenwe’llon thecalendarabout summerorearly be come back. so that we towork,” canget back hesays. “But there’s nothingcircled really when it’s hasnoidea Thurber going to resumeshooting. But whenithadtoshutdown directorRawsonlocales production. Marshall Atlanta toshooting in afterhoppingacrosssitioned aseriesof international thriller starring Dwayne andRyan Gadot Reynolds, Johnson, Gal hadtran- Georgia in“30to45days, at theearliest.” brakes ontheseplans, saying May would 12that production likely resumein forantined uptosixmonths. “It’s kindof like akibbutz,” hesays. andshuttledtothestudioprovided for withmeals work; they could quar- be facility.about 10minutesfromtheproduction Crew there, could housed be upagain inJune,”starting hesays, addingthat isDisney. oneofthecompanies Millsap believes that just Blackhallcould afew be weeks away fromshooting. testing capacity,and antibody whichwillcost “millionswhenit’s allfinished.” With theirbiggest movies onice for theforeseeable future, studios willlikely just suitinguptoplayAfter all, oneof Batman’s most iconic roguesisnot The issue issimplythat considering themassive crews, complex stunt work “I’m intouchwitheverybody, andeveryone’s togo when it’s ready safe,” Similarly, actor Zoë Kravitz, work whohadtosuspend playing Catwoman “We’re conversations starting tokeep safe procedures about people onset For at onebigmovie, least itcould longer. be Netflix’s “Red Notice,” aspy However, Mike Akins, business agent of IATSE the 479,haspumped Local Millsap addsthat he’s building negotiating a300-unitapartment tolease “We’re inpretty serioustalkswithtwo about companies majorproduction VREY VARIETY precautions andprotocols based dramaseriesfor added contemporary, London- Possible weekly costfor a $120k cleaning an additionalPA incharge of as well asanon-sitemedicand equipment, masks andgloves, for thermometers,sanitizing production basedinAlabama Possible weekly cost for anindie $5k-$7.5k major feature films Possible budgetincreases for 20% infection measures toreduce riskof washing stationsandsecurity grade HVAC upgrades,hand- Atlanta Studios on hospital- Money spent by Pinewood $1m business. when they resume new will bear costs productions and TV Studios andfilm By theNumbers

we’re shooting “I’d like that tobelieve bytheendofyear tokeep flowing. methods theirpipelines Birmingham. ThecompanyBirmingham. expects togo Alabama film office, aswell astheonein company considers crucial. whichthe donotincludetesting, numbers additional PA Those incharge of cleaning. masks andgloves, andan anon-sitemedic for thermometers, sanitizing equipment, tive costs of “$5,000to$7,500 aweek” tion Jon Keeyes says addi- heanticipates Yale’s needed. else willbe of produc- head onwhat the numbers running has been buttheteam gets for shooting, location inthecompany’shotel isalready bud- tominimize how muchthattrying is.” Jordansays Yale partner Levine. “But we’re inevitable that we moremoney,” dospend — onesthatown willcost rules more. “Itis companyproduction isdeveloping its guidance onhow tomove the forward, In lieuof concrete department. health was shutdown by Birmingham’s public executive inAlabama, whenit producing Dolph Lundgren projectthecompany is had shotfor oneday on“Castle Falls,” a between $2millionand$10million, Prods., whichmakes movies withbudgets Yale towork. toget situated far better back butstillnearby remotely?” screen aloneandthedirectorisdirecting level exec. “Is that anactoragainst agreen Keeyes in touchwiththe hasbeen Keeping the cast andcrewinanearby In theory, are productions independent something Production onbig-budget challenged bynewhealth films like“TheBatman” word onarestartdate concerns. There’sno will beparticularly CYCLING INPLACE ,” says onehigh- for thefilm.

ANDREW MILLIGAN/PA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES back into pre-production on “Castle Falls” partner at Yale Prods. (For more on the thorny insurance issue, see sidebar.) in June, begin filming in July and then start Making crews smaller than they already are also requires a fraught nego- another movie right after that with the same tiation of long-established union contracts and conventions that delineate crew. “Obviously, that is predicated on the everything from who can set up lights and operate a camera to who can move idea that everyone stays safe and healthy the director’s chair. According to several sources, that negotiation is ongo- as we move forward, and we don’t see ing, and is one of the main reasons an industrywide task force that includes spikes” of people getting sick, Keeyes says. members from the AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, CSATF and IATSE has yet Because of how nimble independent to present anticipated guidelines for production to state governments. Mean- productions can be, producer Lynette while, several guilds, including SAG-AFTRA and the DGA, are also forging Howell Taylor (“A Star Is Born”) sees pos- ahead with their own advisory boards and select committees on how to safely sibilities there. “I immediately went into restart production, with little clarity to date on whether the larger entertain- ‘OK, what can we do with five people and a ment community can expect one set of guidelines — or several. camera?’” Taylor says. “I feel like indepen- Spokespeople for the AMPTP and the major guilds participating in the indus- dent filmmakers are going to have another try task force declined multiple requests to comment on the record for this story, resurgence again. I think it’s actually an save for a vaguely worded statement from SAG-AFTRA national executive direc- incredible opportunity.” tor David P. White: “We will continue to collaborate and coordinate with other If indie productions can even get guilds and unions on safety and protocols for returning to work. No one yet insured, that is. “The information that we’ve knows when the industry will be able to restart production, but we intend to be gotten from different brokers and people ready at the earliest possible time while ensuring the safety of our members.” that we work with on the insurance side has been, generally speaking, that it will be diffi- ACROSS THE POND, HOWEVER, things are progressing with more dispatch. On cult to cover any sort of COVID-related kinds May 18, U.K. TV broadcasters published guidelines that cover all manner of of claims,” says Jordan Beckerman, Levine’s television production, with a special emphasis on considering those at higher

Lights, Camera, Insurance Productions, particularly smaller ones, need coverage to start rolling — but actuaries don’t want to take the risk By Gene Maddaus

he entertainment practice at Arthur J. Gallagher, conglomerates are bigger than studio films will be getting T business doesn’t work pegged the number even higher, the insurance companies,” produced while independent without insurance. at $500 million to $1 billion. Kingman says. “They can make films will not. And right now, the insurance Insurance carriers have whatever they want, whenever “It’s sad when certain industry is getting crushed. already decided that they will they want.” movies might not be made,” That poses a tremendous not cover pandemic-related But smaller studios and Kingman says. “That indepen- obstacle to restarting film and losses on any new policies. That independent productions will be dent producer that’s always been TV production: If insurers aren’t means producers will either have in a quandary. Independent films such a unique and creative force willing to sell policies, then the to take that risk themselves — are typically financed in large in the industry needs some help cameras won’t roll. or stay idle. part by completion bonds, which here in order to survive.” “This is a giant problem,” says “It’s going to be very difficult depend on insurance. Some in the industry are Jean Prewitt, CEO of the Indepen- if you’re in the motion picture “If you’re not fully covered, looking to the federal govern- dent Film & Television Alliance. business to figure out what to you’re going to have difficulty ment to step in and provide First, some good news. do,” says Kirk Pasich, an attorney getting it bonded and difficulty a backstop. The government Costs incurred by the production who handles insurance disputes. getting it financed,” Prewitt says. could create a reinsurance pool shutdown should be covered — The larger studios — the Dis- Several independent that would allow carriers to up to a point — under various neys and the Netflixes — at least producers contacted by Variety cover pandemic losses, as was industry-standard insurance have the capacity to assume the say they are still trying to sort done with terrorism-related policies. None of those policies risk of a coronavirus shutdown. this out. There is some optimism risk after 9/11. has a specific exclusion for “They would prefer to buy that small films will be seen as But anything that looks like pandemics. insurance, but in many cases safer than massive productions. a bailout for movie producers But that’s bad news for the these streamers and big media But it’s also quite possible that could be politically toxic. insurance carriers who will have “We’ll see which way the to pay those claims. politics land,” Pasich says. “In the movie industry, there’s In the meantime, no one probably $300 million to $500 is eager to accept the risks of million in claims because of restarting production. coronavirus,” says Bob Jellen, STREAMERS AND BIG MEDIA CONGLOMERATES “The future of moviemaking managing director of the en ter- “ ARE BIGGER THAN THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. is being challenged,” Jellen tainment practice at Hub Intl., THEY CAN MAKE WHATEVER THEY WANT, says. “We’re trying to figure out a major insurance broker. ‘What are the alternate ways we Brian Kingman, managing WHENEVER THEY WANT.” cover these risks?’ That’s what director of the entertainment Brian Kingman, entertainment insurance representative we’re exploring.”

VARIETY 31 risk, reducing overall production person- The First Back to Work nel and minimizing travel. This comes Tyler Perry says restarting production after the British Film Commission released draft protocols on May 6 for film and high- is imperative for his crew — but not without end-drama TV production, including a dedicated COVID-19 health and safety new health measures supervisor; “isolation accommodations” Interview by Angelique Jackson for any international cast and crew; replac- ing crowd scenes with CGI; and additional time for set construction, set dressing, costumes and makeup. Meanwhile, Iceland announced last week that it will open its borders to international crews and talent on June 15. In Sweden and Denmark, film and television produc- tion is already underway. And Australia’s long-standing soap opera “Neighbours” resumed production in April. British Colum- bia announced that production can begin in June, but until the U.S.-Canadian border no longer requires a 14-day quarantine period, houses and put kids to college and I’ve seen their whole lives it’s unclear how realistic that restart is. (A elevate, and I would hate source close to Warner Bros. says the studio to see that all crumble and fall has no definitive dates for resuming any of apart because everybody is its Vancouver-based productions.) afraid to go to work. But finding Also, as Variety has reported, Amazon a way to do it safely was really is set to start shooting the 1960s-set com- important to me. edy series “Voltaire, Mixte” in the south Listen, I’m on set with them of France in mid-July, and two domestic every day; I’m right in the French films — period drama “Eiffel” and trenches with them. So I’m not WWII film “Adieu Monsieur Haffmann” — asking them to do anything that will start shooting in Paris in June. I’m not doing myself. It would be really easy for me to go to my And according to Adam Goodman, the house in Jackson Hole and sit head of Mid Atlantic Films in Budapest, for- until there’s a vaccine at the top eign crews will be able to return to Hungary of the year or into 2021. But what “by early July, if not sooner.” Goodman was about all the people that work working on four Hollywood productions, hen Charles Gregory 90% African American workers for me and their families and including Sony’s period movie “The Nightin- W lost his battle with — and we are the most affected their kids and the bills that they gale,” starring Dakota and Elle Fanning, and COVID-19 in early by COVID-19 — it had to be done have to pay? Showtime’s adaptation of the video game April, Tyler Perry took to social right. So just for them to step up “Halo,” when the shutdown happened. He’s media to pay tribute to the speaks a great deal. After being the first to now engaged in a “continual assessment, Emmy-nominated hairstylist with announce a start date, have re-budgeting, rescheduling phase” in antici- whom he’d collaborated since What have the discussions other filmmakers or executives 2006 on projects like “House been like about production reached out to you — not only pation of the return of those productions. of Payne” and “Madea Goes to insurance? about your plan and trying to “I’ve been on calls where we’re talking Jail.” It’s why, in reopening Tyler A lot of that’s going to come do something similar but also about a shooting crew of 30 people — and Perry Studios and beginning down to the union guidelines. about using the facilities at not necessarily 30 people on set all at the production on his BET series Every time we have insurance Tyler Perry Studios? same time — and I’m used to 150, 300 peo- “Sistas” on July 8, Perry says conversations, it’s like, “OK, we I’ve had a few questions about ple,” he says. “It’s a bit like when you do a he and his team are taking the love the plan. We’re all in, but we what we’re doing and what the nude scene and you make it a closed set, utmost precautions amid the want the union guidelines.” plan is, yes. And there have with a minimal number of personnel.” coronavirus pandemic. “After been some questions about But smaller crews, he says, will be at the losing a crew member, it hit You mentioned being a coming in and shooting after expense of efficiency, flexibility and speed: home with all of us. It was a company that is 90% African we’re done. They just want to see “Things will be slower.” wake-up call,” Perry tells Variety. American. What does it mean that it can work. And this is what to you to get your employees I love about my cast and crew — Paula Heffernan, head of production Heightened safety and back to work? they’re all bullish on making this at Element Pictures (“Normal People,” “The sanitation procedures in the Some of my crew members happen, and we’re all locking Favourite”), agrees. “At the start of the day middle of this health crisis have been with me for 15 years. arms, virtually, to make this you need your electrical team to rig the seem like a massive job. What And in that time, we’ve bought thing work. lights, then your art department to dress do you anticipate? the set, then your camera department to It’s an enormous undertaking set up their equipment,” she says. “All of and an enormous cost to the that will take time off your shooting day, budget. And I just have to say and I imagine we’ll have to end up having that Scott Mills at BET and Bob to extend the shooting schedule. Everyone Bakish [at ViacomCBS] were WHAT ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE completely understanding of “ THAT WORK FOR ME AND THEIR knows that’s where the huge costs come in.” what that meant [financially]. But FAMILIES AND THEIR KIDS AND THE Restarting production itself is expensive. they also understand being the Christopher Aird, head of drama at U.K.- first to go back is one thing, but BILLS THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY?” based Two Brothers Pictures (“Fleabag”), also being a company that has Tyler Perry was filming a second season of the BBC/

32 VARIETY COURTESY OF PINEWOOD STUDIOS in excess That’s of 10%of totalproduction. anawful lotof money.” is significant,” Airdsays. of thousandsof “Hundreds pounds. Thegross cost is up back andthenrehirepeople down, pay everyone stand thewholeproduction “To halted. Masterpiece wheneverything was drama“Baptiste” inHungary conundrum. “On the one hand, people have “On people safe, theone hand, conundrum. tobe assafe aspossible,” the cost. Planningiskey.” afractionof willbe thescene [that] shoot withacamerainfixed position, somewhere inthehightensof thousands[of dollars].However, ifyou were to drone flyinglow. That’s anextremely complex scenario that isgoing tocost in whichtwo otherandthecameraison a armiesarechargingat each Plusseries“See.” ontheApple TV supervisor “Say you have abattle scene the day. onmany “Itdepends factors,” says Adrian deWet, visualeffects of crowd scene that would have involved hiringinafew dozen extras for inmid-March. ceased for expenditures, immediatelyroom added whenallproduction especially have shrinkingfor been years. Which there’s already means notmuchwiggle away eat willfurther productions related costs at onTV profit marginsthat projects. But for legacynetworks andstudios, theadditionof coronavirus- andtraditionalcorporatebetween streamers conglomerates for talentand hasseenbudgets explode inrecent of competition years TV because scripted and guest actors, presentsdifferent certainly challenges frommovies. And canhaveto film, crewsof upto300andgenerally have scores of recurring off thebottom line,”pounds shesays. $340,000 cost of haltingtheshow andthengetting upandrunning. itback $1million —andthat’s about theproduction could run notfactoringinthe Shecalculatesthe shutdown. COVID-related precautionsfor the12-week shoot Road” for theBBC, was two weeks away inManchester before fromshooting Oneof hercompany’s week. (roughly £100,000)per upcoming series, “Ridley of $120,000 about couldprecautions andprotocols adduptoa“ballpark” Years,” says that for acontemporary, dramaseries, alltheadded London-based ducer company HBOandtheBBC’s at theproduction behind Red, “Years and All thoseexpenses canaddupquickly. MichaelaFereday, anexecutive pro- One U.S.-based whooversees producer TV multipleshows spells outthe could feel especially productions thefinancialpinchwithany kindTV The enormousscaleoftelevisionproductions, whichcantake nine months “At show, themomentonthat particular I’m facingwhat amillion could be “ producer Lynette HowellTaylor, AGAIN.” RESURGENCE HAVE ANOTHER ARE GOINGTO FILMMAKERS LIKE INDEPENDENT CAMERA?’ IFEEL PEOPLE ANDA DO WITHFIVE WHAT CANWE WENT INTO‘OK, I IMMEDIATELY profit that andcompanies don’t.” continues, “companies that have toshow a thehavesline between andhave-nots,” she more money! made any money for months, sothere’s no she says. “On we the otherhand, haven’t pan pan roll.demic before thefinalcredits timeon theCOVID-19plenty of run of goals. Andthat’s kindof nice.” now thereissuchaunityandalignment galvanized tofindsolutions: “Ithinkright isseeingtheentireindustry bright spot is us two monthsfromnow!” somebody for willpay it,’”somebody hesays. “And that “We’ve ‘Don’t told, been about it— worry themoney crunch. isdreading showrunner budget — at theexpense of otherthings. One would likely come outof theshow’s episodic toensurethesetissafe areneeded experts Whatever extra andmedical equipment would now take costs. 10,resultinginadded that normallytakes eightdays episode per even longer. But that would ashow mean for 12to13hours, whichcanoften extend 10-hour workday of instead theusualplan tokeep floated setssaferbeen isastrict year, maybe two.” something we weeks,” Aird says. “Ibelieve this willbe something that’s going tochange for afew every one tounderstand that it’s notjust biggest thingisgoing getting“The tobe An example: that’s Oneof theideas “I thinkyou mightseeeven moreof a It’s alsolikely transformative. There’s The U.S.-based producer says TV one ’ll bedoingfor at least a VARIETY

more than$1million so faronmeasures to reducetherisk Studios hasspent Pinewood Atlanta of infection. BIG JOB 33 Randall Stephenson $32.0M Brian Roberts $36.4M David Zaslav $45.8M Robert Iger $47.5M Rupert Murdoch $42.2M Jon Feltheimer $6.6M Reed Hastings $38.6M Robert Bakish $36.6M

MEDIA

HOW INDUSTRY BARONS ESTABLISHED A CULTURE

STORY BY DAVID LIEBERMAN MONEYBAGS

THAT REWARDS THEM IN GOOD TIMES … AND IN BAD

AND BRENT LANG MEDIA CHIEFTAINS don’t suffer from low self-esteem. Shareholder Services gave all of the companies Variety tracks — except AT&T and Disney — the lowest possible Industry titans including Bob Iger, Reed Hastings and score for what it calls “governance risk.” Rupert Murdoch probably need big egos to believe That’s due in part to the dual-class shareholder system at the likes of ViacomCBS and Comcast, which give con- they’re entitled to make far more than most CEOs at trolling shareholders Shari Redstone and Brian Roberts virtually absolute authority. Corporate boards, composed similarly sized companies — and much more for 12 of loyalists, often rubber-stamp exorbitant pay packages and ensure that bonus goals remain within reach. months of work than an average employee could make That creates a skewed compensation picture for other in several lifetimes. ¶ It would take about 410 years for companies, including Disney and AT&T, that don’t have dual-class control. They feel competitive pressure to a typical employee at AT&T, Comcast, Discovery, Dis- benchmark their executives’ pay against their rivals’. “Media firms live in a Lake Wobegon world,” says Law- ney, Fox, Lionsgate, Netflix or ViacomCBS to match the rence Mishel, distinguished fellow at the Economic Pol- icy Institute, referencing the fictional town created by $37.6 million median size of the packages paid to each Garrison Keillor where all of the children are exception- CEO last year, according to their most recent proxies. ¶ al. “Everyone believes their executives are above average and that their pay should be above average.” But the period of outsize, some might even say glutton- But the widely reported top-line CEO salary numbers provide an incomplete, and often distorted, picture of a ous, compensation may be over — at least for now. The company’s pay and priorities. Take the 2019 compensa- tion for our eight Big Media chiefs. The official numbers COVID-19 crisis and resulting recession have led to add up to $285.7 million. massive layoffs at companies including Comcast, Dis- That massive total ignores stock holdings. Hastings’ Netflix stock is worth $4.1 billion and has appreciated ney and ViacomCBS, and intensified scrutiny into how $1.1 billion since the beginning of 2020 — dwarfing the $38.6 million he received in 2019 compensation. And their boards reward their leaders. many CEOs make additional money elsewhere; Fox’s Rupert Murdoch collected $5 million at News Corp., which he also controls. The pay packages are justified by claiming they are needed to retain their top talent. However, CEOs of these public firms are rarely recruited by competitors, who pre- fer to promote from within. “They’re not Lebron James, who can take his skills anywhere and improve a team,” notes “The CEO Pay Machine” author Steven Clifford. Media companies say the lopsided compensation reflects CEOs’ performance — especially when the stock price rises. But the nation’s largest companies no longer believe that’s the appropriate yardstick for their achieve- ments. In August, Business Roundtable announced a sur- “Change is coming,” predicts Rosanna Landis Weaver, program man- prising philosophical shift when it said that companies ager of shareholder advocacy group As You Sow. “There’s a lot of pop- owe loyalty to customers, employees, suppliers and com- ulist outrage over this, and this level of inequality is destabilizing.” munities as well as shareholders. Some have made a show of shared sacrifice by forgoing their sala- To reflect that, we’ve added assessments of each com- ries, but not the bonuses and stock awards that account for the bulk pany from JUST Capital — a nonpartisan nonprofit that of their compensation. advocates stakeholder capitalism, which considers corpo- “The message that they’re sending is that ‘We’re all in this togeth- rate policies affecting workers, customers, communities, er,’” says Robin Ferracone, CEO of Farient Advisors, a performance the environment and shareholders. advisory and strategic compensation firm. “It’s not going to save the 410 The new light casts unflattering shadows on some of companies that much money. But it’s an important step when people YEARS FOR the chiefs in our group. Take Iger. The Disney executive are losing their jobs.” chairman’s $47.5 million package made him our high- Will this sense of solidarity last? Perhaps. The images of extrav- A TYPICAL est-paid chief for 2019. It would take 911 years for aver- agance that emerge from Variety’s annual deep-dive look at CEO EMPLOYEE TO age Disney employees — a group that includes low paid compensation might seem like snapshots from a time gone by if theme park workers — to make as much as he did last COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates accelerate consumers’ shift from MATCH THE year. But his company ranked 858 among the 922 that theatrical movies and cable television programming bundles to less $37.6 MILLION JUST Capital analyzed in paying workers a living wage, expensive — but also lower-margin and riskier — streaming services 893 in charging fair prices for its products or services from giants led by Netflix. MEDIAN and 908 in paying the CEO fairly in relation to workers. Charles Elson, director of the University of Delaware’s John L. SIZE OF THE Fox, which paid Rupert Murdoch $42.2 million in 2019, Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, is skeptical. “Companies ranked 882 among all companies in the diversity and may emerge from this and shrink their workforces,” he says. “But PACKAGES PAID inclusiveness of its workplace. And Comcast, where Brian somehow I think media executive salaries will return to normal.” TO EACH CEO Roberts made $36.4 million, was 916 in customer service. To be sure, media boards have a track record of rewarding CEOs in Somehow those dismal assessments were not reflected in bad times as well as good. Investor advisory consultant Institutional LAST YEAR their take-home pay. STEPHENSON: AT&T; ROBERTS: COMCAST ROBERTS: AT&T; STEPHENSON:

36 VARIETY GUTTER CREDIT Chairman, NBCUniversal Stephen Burke Comcast Chairman, CEO, Brian Roberts COMPENSATION: 2019 BURKE COMPENSATION: ROBERTS2019 $36.4M/+3.8% $42.6M/+6.5% Comcast believe” the guaranteed paymentsattractbelieve” theguaranteed andkeep talent. pays execs even price whenthestock declines. Directorssay they still “strongly company’s Deferred Compensation Plan. a risk-free 9%interest rate inthe stashed —12%for —onearnings CEORoberts efits ishistory. Nomi Bergman, was tapped asadirector. wasNomi tapped Bergman, formermore woman, BrightHouse Networks andTimeWarner Cable executive slightly morethanthetarget. offer above-marketdirectors say “will interest.” Execschange theirsavings intheplan. canpark inmoreconventional fundsthat andotherComcast Roberts in thefund. executives won’t fromthe feel muchpain announcing that $202million he’llretireinAugust. 2019withnearly Heended toNBCUniversaled chairmanBurke’s didn’t $42.6millionpackage keep himfrom employees crisis. bythehealth whohave impacted been COVID-19 reliefefforts, andthat thecompany isproviding $500milliontosupport serve.” to TheCEOrecently announced that hewilldonate his$3.2millionsalary say CEOandpresident“ifheiswillingavailable that chairman, hemust be to He controls athirdofComcast’s ofIncorporation voting shares—anditsArticles age last year fromtheplan?He’s theworld’s possibly most unlikely flightrisk: SORRY, COMCAST COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE $78,869 Perhaps. Thenwhy make didRoberts $4.7millionofhis$36.4pack that toabenefit shareholderswhoobjected says toa“few” itbent The board giantthat ownsThe cable guaranteeing NBCUniversal andbroadband stopped The board remains70%male,The board animprovement fromlast year, one because Directors liked work Roberts’ in2019.They awarded hima$10million bonus, The $4.5millionfromtheDeferred Compensation Planthat Comcast contribut execs, butoneofyour most extravagant andcontroversial ben- TO MEDIANEMPLOYEE ROBERTS/BURKE PAY RATIO 461/539 those gainsintheCOVID-infected of2020. first quarter DirecTV 45.6%inthe12monthsendingDecember —thenlost appreciated almost all bonus” thecompanybonus” gave himin2018. up from88%.That morethanmadeupfor theloss ofthe$2million“merger completion 102%of thetarget, thatof hedeserved alsofigured 2019versus halfof 2018.Theboard term incentive Thehighertarget target was by252%to$7.4million. bonus ineffect for all Comcast, CBS,AMCNetworksspenders andDiscovery. —includingbig industry” andentertainment practices uniquepay inthemedia “the from theboard’s hiscompensation towhat decisiontobenchmark itdiplomatically calls the economy tanked. AT&T repurchases—avow billionson stock tospend promised itbroke thisyear when it for failingtoreverse thetwo-year collapse price. initsstock after was Atruce reached activist fundElliott hedge Management Corp. amajorstake bought inAT&T andchastised phenson’s andStankey’s whenbillionairePaul endangered careersalsolooked Singer’s pany. Thetelco ofWarner hadtoreplace theheads Bros., HBOandTurner in2019.Ste- replace StephensoninJuly. officerphenson andchiefoperating Stankey —whooversees WarnerMedia andwill AT&T 2019 SEEMS COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE $98,630 But thecalendaryear iswhat inthecompensation counted calculations for CEOSte In June2018,whenAT&T TimeWarner, bought Stankey’s directorsboosted short- andStephenson’s thestock, bolstered The deal bonus. Stankey even more benefited itwasThe outcomes for maskwhat aturbulentperiod theworld’s com most indebted like alifetime ago for AT&T. Sharesintheowner of WarnerMedia and RATIO TO MEDIANEMPLOYEE STEPHENSON/STANKEY PAY 325/228 +34.7% SHAREHOLDER RETURN TOTAL2019 - - +45.4% SHAREHOLDER RETURN TOTAL2019 BOARD 7 MEN/3 WOMEN BOARD 3 WOMEN 10 MEN/ BOARD MEMBERS OF AGE AVERAGE 63 - - President, COO John Stankey President Chairman, CEO, Stephenson Randall COMPENSATION 2019 STANKEY COMPENSATION 2019 STEPHENSON $22.5M/+35.8% $32.0M/+10.0% BOARD MEMBERS OF AGE AVERAGE 63 MEDIAN EMPLOYEE ZASLAV PAY RATIO TO COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE $79,343 578

2019 TOTAL SHARE- BOARD AVERAGE AGE OF HOLDER RETURN BOARD MEMBERS 11 MEN/ +32.4% 1 WOMAN 68

THE DISCOVERY chief’s $45.8 million package for 2019 appears to be a big drop from 2018’s eye-popping $129.5 million. But it’s a 29% increase if you ignore the one-time account- ing value of the contract-renewal bonus he received last year — which the company said was better for comparison purposes. Discovery determined that it would take 578 years for an average employee to match what Zaslav made in 2019. It computed that Disney ratio with a figure for average employee MEDIAN EMPLOYEE IGER PAY RATIO TO

Discovery income that’s 7.4% lower than it was in 2018. COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE Why such a big difference? This time Dis- $52,184 911 covery included employees it picked up in David Zaslav March 2018 when it bought Scripps Networks. President, CEO 2019 TOTAL BOARD AVERAGE AGE OF They were left out of last year’s calculation. SHAREHOLDER RETURN BOARD MEMBERS 2019 ZASLAV 5 MEN/ COMPENSATION The CEO-to-employee ratio also is high +13.4% 4 WOMEN 60 $45.8M/-64.6% because a provision from Zaslav’s 2018 con- tract kicked in, raising the target for his annual Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards DISNEY AND Iger kind of listened to the many shareholders who say by 144% to $22 million from $9 million. the company pays him too much. Last year he agreed to trim $5 mil- The board awarded him 99% of the new lion from the target for his annual long-term incentive award, $8 mil- target. The company met all of its finan- lion from his target bonus and the $5 million bonus his 2017 contract cial goals, it determined. It also figured renewal included if he stayed in his job through July 2, 2019. he met 97.9% of his subjective qualita- That reduced his total to $47.5 million, making him the high- tive goals, which were based on building a est-paid CEO in our group. At the March shareholder meeting, those direct-to-consumer business, driving “cost holding 46% of Disney shares still opposed an advisory resolution to synergy, revenue and free cash flow” and approve the compensation plan. integrating Scripps Networks. Even with the cuts, 2019 was Iger’s second-most-lucrative year The 12-member board only has one wom- since 2008, when he benefited from a contract renewal bonus. His lat- an. That imbalance is partly attributable to est package would have been his highest since 2008 had the board not the governance structure. Three seats are given him a $26.3 million bonus in 2018 for making the deal with Fox. assigned to each of four groups of share- Iger passed the CEO title to former parks chief Bob Chapek on Feb. holders including Advance/Newhouse and 25. He became executive chairman but remained the CEO’s boss — John Malone’s Liberty Media. That’s also why with no apparent cut in pay. Discovery’s board is by far the oldest in our A month later, Iger agreed to temporarily forgo his $3 million base group, with four members over 74. salary, and Chapek took a 50% cut in his $2.5 million salary. The new CEO’s three-year contract also includes an annual bonus targeted at $7.5 million and a long-term incentive award targeted at “not less than $15 million.” Iger usually leaps past the targets the board sets for his bonus. Last year he made nearly $21.8 million from a bonus that’s target- ed at $12 million. Directors gave him 173% of the part of his bonus tied to Disney’s financial performance and 200% of his subjective qualitative targets. Directors said Iger had “a year of extraordinary accomplish- ment.” They gave him credit for, among other things, the Fox deal, the launch of Disney Plus and hit movies including “Avengers: End- game” and “Captain Marvel.” His industry-leading package made him 911 times more valu- able than a typical Disney employee. That group averaged $52,184 in pay, bonus and company contribution to health insurance — up 13% versus 2018, which the proxy attributes to “the broad-based salary increase the Company provided in 2019.” In 2018, a union-commis- sioned Economic Roundtable survey of Disneyland employees found Robert Iger Executive Chairman that 85% made less than $15 an hour. 2019 IGER At the time of Disney’s annual meeting, the board maintained its COMPENSATION 5-to-4 ratio of men to women. That changed to 6 to 4 this year when

$47.5M/-27.6% Chapek joined. LIONSGATE FELTHEIMER: MURDOCH: FOX; HEIDI GUTMAN/DISNEY/ABC; IGER: IMAGES; ORD/GETTY CINDY ZASLAV:

38 VARIETY GUTTER CREDIT Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch COMPENSATION 2019 MURDOCH $42.2M/-14.4% Fox en-member body.en-member million, including $28.1 million in transaction-related compen including$28.1million in transaction-related million, directors gushinthelatest proxy. strategic andbroad with strong vision,” leadership operational Company withhisentrepreneurialzeal andprovides theboard compensation package inat adecade. least “imbuesthe Murdoch totheDisney deal. tied June, andoptionawards stock including$15.1 millioninspecial awarded $42.2millionfor Murdoch thefiscalyear in that ended loved Iger for buyingthem. assetsgling studio almost andseveral asmuchDisney TV tive; itisfundamentallywoven inthefabric of theCompany.” inclusive workplace isnotmerelyastrategy orbusiness objec five monthsendinginSeptember. attargeted $11million. — down Fox. from$16millionat 21st Century HisSAP award is million target for hisbonus, whichcango ashigh$12million afterhisown interests. surehelooks attargeted $7milliontobe Fox’s largest shareholderwillcollect payment anannualstock an “additional incentive” for executives. that That seemstomean high as$12million—down fromamaximumof$21million. at istargeted $6millionandcango Hisbonus as $7.1 million. sation. FOX LOVED COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE UNREPORTED His son, CEO Lachlan Murdoch, ended theyear with$42.1 ended CEOLachlanMurdoch, His son, from2018,it’sAlthough thetotaldropped hissecond-highest Fox Corp., successor Fox, theslimmed-down to21st Century And yet, the Murdochs found just theMurdochs And yet, onewoman for thesev oftheowner ofFoxThe board News says that a“diverse and The execs inApril agreed togive salariesfor uptheirbase Lachlan’s seta$6 The board remainsat $3million. salary But Fox kept theannualShareholder Alignment Planaward as Murdoch’sRupert to$5millionfrom dropped annualsalary Rupert Murdoch for his$71billionsaleofitsstrug- Murdoch Rupert behind “The Hunger Games” tothetoymak Hunger Games” “The behind from Hasbrothat would have soldthestudio lion in debt it piled onfourlion indebtitpiled years ago tobuy Disney, ofthe$2.7bil alsowary andthey’re the franchisestocompete withrivals suchas Investors believe thecompany doesn’t have Lionsgate’s was stock getting pummeled. theworldcoronavirus turned upsidedown, downturn onCOVID-19, but even before currently tradesatstock less than$8. given in retrospect thatso great Lionsgate’s thecompany.ued That decisiondoesn’t look er for $40ashare, that itunderval- believing IN 2017, Lionsgate COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE $117,628 MEDIAN EMPLOYEE MURDOCH PAY RATIO TO NA It would be easy toblamesomeof the easy It would be Lionsgate down turned anoffer RATIO TO MEDIANEMPLOYEE FELTHEIMER/BURNS PAY 56/44 SHAREHOLDER RETURN TOTAL2019 NA - - - - - will “drive futuregrowth.” ship” inoverseeing strategic initiatives that thetwopany praised for their“great leader- awards.millions moreinequity Thecom respectively,million, aswell aspotentially amounting to$3.1millionincash and $2.2 bonuses,more than80%oftheirpossible and vice chairmanBurns received both the lackluster performance, Feltheimer front-loaded awards. withstock Despite to acontract extension in2017 hesigned down morethan50%,butthat’s due partly fallsubstantiallytion packages in2019, cable channelStarz. SHAREHOLDER RETURN TOTAL2019 -37.9% CEO Feltheimer didseehiscompensa BOARD 6 MEN/1 WOMAN BOARD 3 WOMEN 10 MEN/ VARIETY BOARD MEMBERS OF AGE AVERAGE 61 - - Vice Chairman Michael Burns CEO Jon Feltheimer COMPENSATION 2019 BURNS COMPENSATION 2019 FELTHEIMER $5.2M/-42.3% $6.6M/-54.1% BOARD MEMBERS OF AGE AVERAGE 61 39 ViacomCBS 2019, since 30%were about contract low-paid workers. ference. Viacom that reported ViacomCBSwho joined at thesametimeBakishdidmakes abigdif for CBS’15,511workers. Leaving outthe10,631Viacom employees employee solelyonthepay in2019made$104,791—whichitbased that pay ratio: theaverage Itfigured the CEO-to-employee ViacomCBS But he received become CEOafterthedeal. noneofthat amount. receive $60.9millioninseverance andotherpaymentsifhehadnot cal year. Thecompany that Bakishwould figured have eligibleto been priortoitsofficial of fis itwas thatroughly aquarter because earned 30.ViacomCBS’ onSept. that lopsoff ended number month period ran thenewcompany. saidhemade$8.4millionfor theroughlyfourreport weeks that he at 349-to-1. reported sation versus pay for themedian aViacomCBS employee —whichit is themost creative ofthisyear’s pack. 40 COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE $104,791 VIACOMCBS’ FIRST The company madeanotherinteresting reduced callthat further ViacomOn topofthat, said Bakishmade$24.4millionfor the12 It arrived at that ratio way. inaroundabout ViacomCBS’ official Consider theimaginative way CEOBakish’s itcalculated compen VREY VARIETY proxy following CBS’Dec. 4acquisition ofViacom TO MEDIANEMPLOYEE BAKISH PAY RATIO 349 its average employee made$39,110in SHAREHOLDER RETURN TOTAL2019 -5.4% - - - majority female. stone stands out astheonlyoneingroup we monitor that’s sity andinclusion.” undercontrolling shareholder Red- Theboard “build aworkplace cultureofdignity, transparency, diver respect, he wasn’t for terminated cause. company, severance terms, collecting since top-dollar ViacomCBS said offforpaid theexecutive less thantwo monthslater whenheleftthe withno cutinpay,15-month contract, That CBSunderBakish. torun stockholders.” tostay alignhisinterestsinducement” withthoseof and“further our as“an thatIanniello won$22millioninstock CBSdescribed nearly And four monthslater, whenViacom anagreement, andCBSreached antees CBSgave himinApril 2019toremaintheendofyear. guar That includesmorethan$20millionincashandbonus million. and could have theacquisition if hewanted. undermined for Joseph Ianniello, actingCEOfor who hadbeen most oftheyear — ratio ontheestimated pay for ofonthe compensation Bakishinstead The proxy says to onitsefforts that management inpart isjudged inDecember, closed When thedeal himtoa directorssigned Don’t weep for Ianniello. Theexecutive walked away with$125.4 the ViacomCBS judgment callbybasing madeanotherimportant Chairman, CEO Hastings Reed COMPENSATION 2019 HASTINGS $38.6M/+6.9% BOARD 7 WOMEN 6 MEN/ “we have ourprogram,”“we attempted describe tobetter theproxy ate 40%,itsays, for optionstopaymorethancash. price Thestock must appreci promotes long-termplanning. years.bad Thecompany counters that itattracts talentand of his$34.7milliononthestock. from options. Chiefcontent officer Ted 48% about Sarandosbet ee todecidehow muchshouldcome options. fromcashorstock The company calculates itsoffer —andleaves ittotheemploy elsewhere. and how could paid expect muchtheperson tobe it’s willingtopay, how muchitwould cost toreplace theperson Netflix onhow computesInstead, much compensation based annualgoals. tives meetpredetermined andtheircompanies tohow tied well bonuses execu performance-based so-called for executiveto winshareholdersupport compensation. vote —makingitamongjust 3%ofU.S. corporations that failed say-on-pay last year afteritnarrowlyrooms lost anadvisory biginvestors’ Andithadtobarnstorm pensation. conference NETFLIX DANCES Netflix COMPENSATION MEDIAN EMPLOYEE $202,931 So did Netflix scrap the unpopular policy? Of course not. But But Ofcourse policy? not. So didNetflix scraptheunpopular say rewardsOpponents management thepolicy even in Last year, 97%ofCEOHastings’ came $38.6 millionpackage toitsunusualdecisioneschew objected Stockholders to its own drummer whenitcomesto itsown tocom- drummer MEDIAN EMPLOYEE HASTINGS PAY RATIO TO 190 BOARD MEMBERS OF AGE AVERAGE 63 - - (estimated pay figure) President, CEO Bakish Robert COMPENSATION 2019 BAKISH $36.6M/+83.3% - - -

GUTTER CREDIT GUTTER CREDIT HASTINGS: NETFLIX; BAKISH: PHOTOGRAPHED BY CELESTE SLOMAN/VARIETY +20.8% terms. Threeareupfor electionthisyear, includingHastings. prevent ahostile takeover, three-year staggered, directorsserve wepanies track. unreliable. thisstands outasthehighest Still, amongthecom compute differently, thenumber panies are socomparisons company. $4.1billion. about worth They’re shares heowned at 2.1%of toabout theendof the 2019,equal withHastings’ wealthfromthe9.3millionNetflix compared for useofcompany “personal aircraft.” 2018 —althoughhealsoreceived $465,637toreimbursehim $508,438 fromthearrangement —down from$1.2millionin twoto lease jetsthat Hastings owns. hejust made Asaresult, attract andretainseniormanagement.” strategy,” thecompany’s and“hisability performance to accomplishments indeveloping andevolving thebusiness last year’s vote. says. TheCompensation Committee alsosays it’s “mindful” of SHAREHOLDER RETURN TOTAL2019 Netflix alsohastheyoungest inourgroup. board To help Netflix’s average employee made$202,335last year. Com Substantial asthesesumsaretomost people, tiny they’re One otherchange: Duringtheyear, itsdeal Netflix ended on“his $2millionontoHastings’ totalbased itpiled Still, BOARD 4 WOMEN 7 MEN/ BOARD MEMBERS OF AGE AVERAGE 56 - - uate MediaManagementprogramat TheNew School. company’s key decision-maker Rupert Murdoch insteadofCEO LachlanMurdoch; Rupert was widelyseenas the Companies calculatethemediansdifferently, sotheyaren’t comparable. ure, alongwitharatioderived from thattotalpaidtotheprincipalexecutive officer. information includedinthelatestproxy statements. their mostrecent annualfilings. ends inMarch, Fox’s endsinJuneandDisney’s endsinSeptember. Ourdataisfrom Most coincidewiththecalendaryear, butseveral donot:Lionsgate’s fiscalyear companies. There are somecaveats: Companiesfilereports for theirfiscalyears. ing requirements are designedtohelppeoplecompare information from different held onessuchasMGM,donotfileandare notincludedinourtally. TheSEC fil U.S. companiestofileeachyear. Over reports thattheSecuritiesandExchange Commissionrequires publiclytraded DISNEY DISCOVERY COMCAST AT&T VIACOMCBS NETFLIX LIONSGATE FOX NOTES DAVID LIEBERMAN WORKERS, CUSTOMERS, SHAREHOLDERS ANDMORE CAPITAL FOR EACH COMPANY’S POLICIESTHAT AFFECT SOME OFTHEASSESSMENTS FROM NONPROFIT JUST WORKING ENVIRONMENT Although ourlistfocuses onCEOs, for Fox we includedexecutive chairman The SEC requires companiestodiscloseamedianemployee compensationfig Our dataaboutthecompositionandagesofcompany boards alsoreflects the

Most oftheinformation inthisstorycomesfrom theproxy statementsand is anassociate professor inthegrad- grams (32) tions, volunteerism andpro- through charitabledona- Communities: Gives back privacy (159) Customers: Protecting ment inareas itserves (1) Contributing todevelop- Communities: need them(1) jobs incommunitiesthat Communities: Provides pany wrongdoing (64) takes responsibility for com- at theleadership level and Shareholders: Acts ethically wage (1) Workers: Pays workers afair ing (tie:1) transparent financialreport- Shareholders: Honestand ronmental damage(237) pollution andcleaningenvi- Environment: Minimizing STRENGTH (RANK): STAKEHOLDER STRENGTH (RANK) STAKEHOLDER STRENGTH (RANK) STAKEHOLDER STRENGTH (RANK) STAKEHOLDER STRENGTH (RANK) STAKEHOLDER STRENGTH (RANK) STAKEHOLDER STRENGTH (RANK) STAKEHOLDER STRENGTH (RANK): STAKEHOLDER seas companiessuchasSony, andprivately VARIETY damage itcauses(873) cleans upenvironmental Minimizes pollutionand share oftaxes (839) Communities: Pays itsfair wage (869) Workers: Pays workers afair wrongdoings (787) responsibility for company the leadership level andtakes Shareholders: Acts ethicallyat mance (908) company’s financialperfor- compared withworkers and Workers: Pays CEO fairly retaining jobsinU.S. (717) Communities: Creating and positive service(916) Customers: Providing ronmental damage(855) pollution andcleaningenvi- Environment: Minimizing WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER WEAKNESS (RANK) STAKEHOLDER contributed tothisreport. JIJI MAJIRIUGBOMA 41

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VIRTUAL TRAVEL PLANS

Greg Daniels shares notes with Robbie Amell on the set of “Upload.”

42 VARIETY GREG DANIELS RETURNS TO TV WITH A PAIR OF NEW COMEDIES: AMAZON’S ‘UPLOAD’ AND NETFLIX’S ‘SPACE FORCE’

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

ARLY IN the development of E Netflix’s “Space Force,” Greg Daniels — who created the show with star Steve Carell — met with the streamer’s research team to get a sense of what its sub- scribers like to watch. They told him how Netflix audiences particularly gravitate to workplace comedies with quirky characters and romantic entanglements. In other words, “The Office.” Yes, they were basically describing to Daniels the long-running series he developed and exec- utive produced. The show, which ran from 2005-13 on NBC, has been a binge-TV sen- sation for Netflix — so much so that NBC- Universal slapped down $500 million to AARON EPSTEIN/AMAZON PRIME VIDEO EPSTEIN/AMAZON AARON make it a cornerstone of its upcoming Pea- cock service.

VARIETY 43 “Part of me was like, yeah, I think I know what works on Netflix, on the air, my thought was that if I wanted people to commit to because ‘The Office’ was the No. 1 show on Netflix,” Daniels chuckles. watching, it had to be very intense and it had to energize every part Daniels hasn’t written a series since “The Office” went off the of your audience experience.” air, but his TV DNA is everywhere — just look at the shows that have Daniels says inspirations included a bit of “Tron,” “The Matrix” come from its staff, including Mike Schur (“Parks and Recreation,” and even “Truly, Madly, Deeply” and “Ghost,” two films about rela- which he co-created with Daniels), Mindy Kaling (“Never Have I tionships hampered by one person in each couple being dead. The Ever”) and Justin Spitzer (“Superstore”). Now Daniels is back on series’ relationships — particularly the budding one between Nathan TV as well — and in a stroke of scheduling coincidence, he has two and Nora — are at the heart of the show. (Yes, they are the “Jim and streaming series launching in the same month: “Upload,” which Pam” of “Upload.”) But Daniels also spent a great deal of time crafting debuted May 1 on Amazon Prime Video, and “Space Force,” which a realistic near future, including those self-driving cars. bows May 29 on Netflix. Much of that research came from the Consumer Electronics Their origin stories, however, couldn’t be more different. “Space Show. “You can figure out what the devices are that they’ve man- Force” came out of an idea Netflix pitched Carell, who then brought aged to get a working prototype on but haven’t been widespread,” in Daniels, his old boss from “The Office,” for a reteam. “Upload,” Daniels says. “I picked very widespread drones, 3D printing for food meanwhile, is an idea that Daniels had kept in his back pocket since and clothing and a lot more Siri-type AI stuff that’s embedded in the late 1980s, when he was a writer on “Saturday Night Live.” different things.” In those days, CD players had just come out, and Daniels couldn’t That afterlife technology might be plausible one day, “but I don’t escape them in the window of every midtown Manhattan electron- think we’re getting ‘Upload’ for a long time,” he says. “In the back of ics store near his “SNL” office. “I was trying to think, ‘What’s a good my head, I’m hoping that this show spurs interest and that some of “SNL” sketch idea?’” Daniels recalls. “You could digitize music; what’s the tech companies go, yeah, we could make a lot of money off that. the ultimate thing you could digitize? If computers were big enough, And then they start working on it.” you could digitize your brain. Then you would be able to actually live The “Upload” cast was first assembled in 2017, with a pilot shot in some of these online gaming environments. And in a way, mankind in 2018, so the show has been a long time coming. Vernon Sanders, would be able to program and create their own afterlife.” Amazon’s co-head of TV, was an NBC exec during the “Office” days Turns out it wasn’t a good “SNL” sketch idea. But Daniels kept and says having a Daniels project when he arrived at the streamer the concept in his notebook and brought it out from time to time. in 2018 was “incredibly exciting and reassuring to me, because I While on “King of the Hill,” the long-running animated hit he cre- just know how brilliant he is. I describe him as like the kind, slightly ated with Mike Judge, Daniels wrote the beginning of “Upload” as a mad scientist of comedy. I watched it with ‘The Office’; he cracked a short story. Later, during the 2008 writers’ strike, he started writing code for how to make that show work.” and pitching it as a novel. In 2015, it morphed into a TV project at In comparison, it was just last year that Carell called Daniels and HBO, which developed it for a year and a half before Daniels got the shared the Netflix pitch — essentially, “Two words: Space Force.” rights back and sold it to Amazon. “Greg Daniels was the first and only person that came to mind,” Along the way, “Upload” settled into its final form: a satirical look Carell says of partnering with his old pal. “He’s smart, funny and at life later this century, when income inequality somehow extends has excellent taste. I trust him implicitly. More often than not, our into the afterlife, as humans can upload their conscious thoughts instincts align with one another. We generally find the same sort of into the cloud and live on — at a price. “The unfairness at the cen- things funny, or moving, or intriguing. That has been the case since ter of a for-profit tech-company-run afterlife just seemed like it was we first met.” good subject matter,” Daniels says. “It would probably have all of Daniels credits their similar backgrounds: “We’re the same age; the downsides of any human society if we programmed it, because we’re from the Northeast; there’s a lot of commonality in the way greedy people would be involved.” we look at things. For me, it’s the best possible actor I can think of In “Upload,” Robbie Amell plays Nathan, a young man who’s writing for.” injured in a mysterious self-driving-car accident — and his wealthy Coincidentally, Daniels says he had wanted to write a show set but shallow girlfriend Ingrid (Allegra Edwards) convinces him to in the military for years. “Space Force,” of course, was inspired by be uploaded into a luxurious virtual afterlife, paid for by her fam- the actual new branch of the armed forces, announced last year. “I ily. Ultimately, he befriends a real-life customer-support employee, do think that ‘Space Force’ is a great way to talk about nationalism Nora (Andy Allo), who helps him adjust to his new digital existence, — and excessive nationalism,” Daniels says. and soon they form a bond between the physical world and the sim- Carell stars as four-star Gen. Mark Naird, who is tasked with ulated one. moving to Colorado and heading up the service branch after his “When I pitched it, I said it was a ‘philosophical romantic-com- dreams of running the Air Force are dashed. John Malkovich plays edy sci-fi murder mystery,’” Daniels says. “There are so many shows his foil, Dr. Adrian Mallory, whose notion of using space for science and advancing civilization often conflicts with Naird’s mission to achieve total space dominance for the U.S. Daniels says Naird couldn’t be more different from Carell’s “Office” character, Michael Scott. “This guy is super mature. He’s very accomplished and decorated. He’s very smart. He’s very inflexible. He’s very principled and a super-high achiever who finds himself in a no-win situation. But he’s going to do everything he can to pull it off.” “Space Force” is a bit of a satiric take on Donald Trump’s eager- ness to form the sixth armed service. But Daniels notes that Trump “I DON'T WANT TO WORK ON STUFF THAT is never named in the show, which broadly pokes fun at both sides of I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT. IF I WERE ON A the political aisle. “We kind of looked at ‘Dr. Strangelove’ as some inspiration for this,” DEAL, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE he says. “There are a lot of Trumpy politicians out there. I also feel FOR STEVE TO CALL UP AND SAY, ‘HEY, YOU like there’s a certain amount of Trump fatigue. I’m more interested WANT TO DO ‘SPACE FORCE’?’” in finding a comedy show that all people can laugh at and can enjoy than preaching to a choir and trying to score some points. The hope is GREG DANIELS that this is a show for everybody. Mark is this very principled military “I TRUST HIM IMPLICITLY. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, OUR INSTINCTS ALIGN WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE GENERALLY FIND THE SAME SORT OF THINGS FUNNY, OR MOVING, OR INTRIGUING." STEVE CARELL

guy, and I think that there’s a lot to be respected in his character for ‘SPACE’ TEAM ensemble has become since “The Office,” Daniels isn’t sure that you a more red-state audience, and then Adrian is more of a blue-state John Malkovich could “reassemble that cast to just sit on the set and do a reboot.” character. It’s an interesting conflict. I think there’s so much division confabs with Daniels With no overall deal, Daniels says he’s relishing the idea of work- in the country, and we’re showing a bit of the division in the show, but and director Paul ing anywhere and with anyone, including both major streamers at King on the “Space the show isn’t trying to be all one way by any measure.” the same time. “It’s very energizing to have something where you’re Force” set. While “Upload” is filled with mostly new faces, “Space Force” like, ‘Oh, that’s a cool concept. I want to write that,’” he says. “And is chock-full of A-listers: Besides Carell and Malkovich, the cast that’s one of the reasons why I’m not on a development deal any- includes Lisa Kudrow as Mark’s wife — who faces a turn of events where. I don’t want to work on stuff that I’m not excited about. If I that goes unexplained, at least initially, after the move to Colorado. were on a deal, I probably wouldn’t be available for Steve to call up Now that they’re collaborating again, Daniels admits that he and and say, ‘Hey, you want to do “Space Force”?’” Carell have discussed the idea of getting “The Office” back together But now, after a few years of taking things a bit slower, Daniels, at some point. “We’ve been talking about whether we would ever who’s also developing new animated projects with Judge, hopes to do some kind of a reunion,” he says. “There was a script from Sea- keep both “Upload” (already renewed for a second season) and “Space son 1 that we never shot, and we were talking about how it would Force” going. “I find them both to be really fun casts, juicy concepts, be funny to shoot it.” great shooting styles. I’m very blessed that I found a couple of good

AARON EPSTEIN/NETFLIX AARON But don’t hold your breath. Given how successful much of the things to work on after ‘The Office.’”

VARIETY 45 THE ODYSSEY

THE STARS OF IFC’S ‘THE TRIP TO GREECE’ BANTER ABOUT THE SECRET TO THE LONGEVITY OF THE SLEEPER-HIT FRANCHISE AND WHY THEY’RE ENDING THE JOURNEY NOW

By Brent Lang

“THE TRIP TO GREECE” marks the last stop on one of cinema’s most unlikely franchise journeys. The film, which once again finds comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon playing exaggerated ver- sions of themselves, has all the familiar elements that gave the series its cult status in the U.S. There are long, luxurious meals consumed in beautiful locations, interspersed with dueling impressions from two talented mimics channeling everyone from Mick Jagger to Michael Caine. Beginning with 2010’s “The Trip,” which found the “ YOU’RE PLAYING men on a foodie tour of the North of England, the pair A FAIRGROUND- have also added Spain and Italy to their itineraries. MIRROR VERSION But the movies are more than just travelogues. What OF YOURSELF gives “The Trip” its potency is that intermixed with IN WHICH SOME five-star meals and stunning vistas is a meditation on PARTS OF YOU ARE EXPANDED mortality and celebrity. In advance of the U.S. debut AND SOME ARE of “The Trip to Greece” on May 22, Coogan and Bry- CONTRACTED.” don spoke with Variety about why they’ve decided to give their passports a break and end the series, and Rob Brydon how they’re weathering the coronavirus shutdown. Have you been surprised that “The Trip” became a franchise? Director Michael Winterbottom says this is the final film. Why BRYDON: So much of it is Steve and myself improvising, and are you wrapping up after four movies? I always worried that we weren’t going to improvise enough STEVE COOGAN: To avoid jumping the shark. We eked it out by good stuff. The fact that we’ve sustained it over four installments making jokes about it becoming tired and repetitive, but even that amazes me. joke can become tired and repetitive. It’s the old showbiz adage of COOGAN: The contemplative quality, that was a shock. leave them wanting more, not leave them wanting less. BRYDON: Yes, I was unaware there’d be the melancholic music and ROB BRYDON: I was ready to finish it. That’s not to say that years the long slow shots of the landscape. When I saw the first episode I down the road it won’t be interesting to revisit it. But right now I was so surprised by how slow it was, but that became its strength. think we should just quit while we’re ahead. Why do you think the slow pace is its strength? It sounds like you’re leaving the door open to someday returning? COOGAN: We live in a time where movie studios and broadcast- BRYDON: One day, when time has passed and the years have ers assume that the entire world has attention deficit disorder. The been as kind or cruel as they will be, it might be nice to come YouTube generation’s mind is constantly shifting. I assume these back and see us again further down the road. movies are like an oasis in a desert of busyness, but I have no idea COOGAN: It feels like the next one would have to be almost how they are received. I don’t engage with social media. sort of a retrospective or a reckoning on age. I’m sure we’ll I get emails from the odd friend about them. have some observations on the autumn of life. Bloody hell, did I just say that? Why don’t you use social media? COOGAN: I see so many people get sucked into a vortex of point- Are there any locations you’d still like to visit? lessness. I feel intellectual discourse is stimulating, but rarely COOGAN: If we did something in the future, I’d like to return to achieves anything other than people expressing their points of England. It’s kind of that old T.S. Eliot thing about coming back to view. No one gets their opinions changed by information, by where you’ve started, so you can know the place for the first time. showing them statistics. But people do get persuaded by story, That feels poetically correct. We talked about going to America at by emotion. Sometimes that can be nefarious like Donald Trump, one point. The thing about Europe is you get a lot of bang for your who rarely deals in facts. He just deals in dog whistles that elicit buck. There’s a lot to see in such a limited space. In America every- Pavlovian responses. thing is so spread out. We didn’t want to shoot ourselves getting on BRYDON: I’ve got to come in here — will you give the guy a and off airplanes. break, please?

46 VARIETY XXXXX FINAL STOP Si perius tant. M. Rob Brydon and Steve Evignat rei patum Coogan star in “The in tem ingulique Trip to Greece.” eresendeo aperbes ignocciem atiam iam inul te quempli ntemusatu qua erem, nost virium ex sed

Rob, you are active on Twitter. What do you like about it? COOGAN: Maybe the human race can clean its act up. Hopefully BRYDON: I used to say it’s like a very nice country pub that you the thing that we learn from this won’t just be to bump elbows. can go into and exchange views, but then somebody would come BRYDON: It would be so dispiriting if, after all of this, nothing over and knock you and hit your pint and a fight would start. changed in terms of climate awareness and the environment There’s so much darkness and negativity in it, but it can also be and that whole thing. a good way to communicate. COOGAN: They said the free market would answer all our COOGAN: Sometimes I think, “Oh God, I don’t have any social problems, except when there’s an emergency and then suddenly media presence. I wonder if Rob will do something for me.” I might it can’t help us anymore. However they dress it up, we realize do a tour in a couple of years. Rob, will you tweet about my tour? we need some emergency socialism right now. But I do think that BRYDON: I would do it gladly. we all now realize globally that government has a role, except maybe for the fucking rednecks with their semiautomatics. You’ve been doing these films for a decade. How have Even some moderate conservatives will start to think that you you changed? need big government. COOGAN: Now that I’m getting older, I rail against acerbic cynicism and people who are self-consciously edgy. I don’t Are you sad that because of the coronavirus most people care about style over substance. Whatever you do, try to offer won’t see the film in theaters? some hope and say something inclusive without being naive COOGAN: It was never going to be a superhero franchise thing. or overly sentimental. BRYDON: I think what you mean is that even fewer people will see it in theaters. It doesn’t bother me. You must interview a lot Do people think that “The Trip” is a documentary and this is how of people who absolutely live for film! But if people see it and you are in real life? enjoy it, that’s all I care about. BRYDON: You’re playing a fairground-mirror version of yourself in COOGAN: It’s something we make on our own terms. It’s more which some parts of you are expanded and some are contracted. art than business. Someone once said to me the secret to a long career is never to peak. Is it weird to be opening a film about traveling at a time when BRYDON: That was like something James Corden told me that everyone is stuck at home? Bob Balaban said to him: Never be hot. Always be warm. BRYDON: You hope that it provides some escapism. We did this COOGAN: Well, that’s true. “The Trip” has never been hot in last year, but it seems like a lifetime ago, and just very different America. It’s always been simmering away in a pot in the corner

ANDY HALL/IFC FILMS HALL/IFC ANDY circumstances. like some soup. It’s a very nice broth.

VARIETY 47 EVENTS CALENDAR

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONVERSATIONS, SCREENINGS AND Q&As

MAY JUN

26 Rebooting the Entertainment Industry Series 1 BBC America Killing Eve Sponsored by PwC and Ad Council 2 AMC Dispatches from Elsewhere Episode 3: The New Challenge of Content Production & Distribution 2 Rebooting the Entertainment Industry Series Sponsored by PwC and Ad Council 27 AMC Quiz Episode 4: The Future of Sports & Live Events 3 HBO Succession 4 HBO Avenue 5 4 Surging Viewership Rewriting TV Strategies 8 HBO We’re Here 9 HBO Outsider 9 Rebooting the Entertainment Industry Series Sponsored by PwC and Ad Council Episode 5: The Outlook for Future Growth Presented by Skydance Media 10 HBO I Know This Much is True 22 HBO Watchmen 23-25 Virtual TV Fest & A Night in the Writers’ Room

VARIETY.COM/STREAMINGROOM

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sean Soper [email protected] FOCUS

SUMMER’S TENTPOLE SERIES SELF-ISOLATING GETS A LITTLE MORE EXCITING WITH THE LATEST TURNS ON TV.

LOVE GONE WRONG Amanda Peet portrays Betty Broderick in the second season of “Dirty John,” now airing on USA. ISABELLA VOSMIKOVA/ USA NETWORK USA VOSMIKOVA/ ISABELLA

VARIETY 49 FOCUS SUMMER TV PREVIEW

STAYING IN WITH THE SMALL SCREEN

VARIETY BREAKS DOWN A DOZEN SCRIPTED SERIES COMING TO TELEVISION THIS SUMMER

By Danielle Turchiano

TELEVISION HAS BEEN A year-round business for quite some time now, with everyone from traditional broadcasters to cable to newer streaming networks looking to hook the captive audience that prefers air conditioning and relaxation over frolicking outside during the hottest months of the year. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, some recent summer staples on the small screen, from FX’s “Pose” to HBO’s “Succession,” have been put on pause and won’t deliver new episodes imminently. But that is not cause for ‘THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB’ alarm, as there are plenty Netflix of other players who have Premieres July 3 their seasons in the can Ann M. Martin’s classic coming-of-age much easier to find care for a kid, but and are ready to provide novel series “The Baby-Sitters Club” has also make it more complicated,” she says. entertainment over the been adapted once again, this time for a “There’s a million websites that you have to next few months. HBO 10-episode first season on Netflix. As in remember passwords for and you have to the beloved books, the action begins with pay to join, and there’s a text chain and no Max and Peacock alone young Kristy Thomas (played by Sophie one gets back to you right away.” Kristy’s are both launching with a Grace) starting the titular club, alongside entrepreneurial know-how designs a club slew of new scripted and a few friends. With almost 35 years that meets at a set time so that parents between the first book being published can call one number and be assured they unscripted series and and this new iteration of the story, will be able to book a baby-sitter — and library titles. showrunner Rachel Shukert says the show one young and fun enough to want to To help you plan ahead, may evoke a “retro” longing for a simpler engage with the kids for whom they care time. “You see this in Episode 1 when for. But with adult actors including Alicia Variety has selected 12 Kristy’s mom is looking for a baby-sitter Silverstone, Mark Feuerstein and Marc scripted series to check for the first time, but all of these tools we Evan Jackson onboard to play the parents, out this summer. have now, like the internet, make it seem the story is a multi-generational one, too. KAILEY SCHWERMAN/NETFLIX

50 VARIETY SUMMER TV PREVIEW FOCUS

‘BRAVE NEW WORLD’ Peacock Premieres July 15

David Wiener’s adaptation Huxley’s beliefs regarding are on top. Harry Lloyd of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave humanity’s dependence plays Bernard, one such New World” comes eight on technology and passing Alpha, and Jessica Brown decades after the original those ideas through the Findlay is Lenina, a Beta story was first published, filter of our own culture and with a complex relationship but, Wiener notes, “its time,” Wiener says. “I think to Bernard. Such concepts themes and ideas have that our use of technology as monogamy are left to the only become more and today, particularly in regard “savages” — those people, more relevant with each to socialization and sex, is including John (Alden passing generation.” Huxley proceeding just as Huxley Ehrenreich), who have wrote about advances from would have predicted. been left behind from the genetic engineering to Narratively, we arrive at new, technologically and mass entertainment that most of the same moments pharmaceutically enhanced have come to pass; the drug [as in the novel], though way of life. “Our story is everyone takes to numb we often get there by other told from a subjective point their feelings, for example, means.” Wiener’s streaming of view — we’re almost is called Soma, which is a series is set in New London, always experiencing the very real muscle relaxer on where people are sorted world through one of these the market. “We built the into societal classes in three central characters,” world of this show by taking which, naturally, the Alphas Wiener says.

‘THE CHI’ SEASON 3 Showtime Premieres June 21

“The Chi” returns for Season 3 without a pivotal player. Jason Mitchell, who played Brandon, will not be back after misconduct allegations arose against him. Brandon had been a mentor to Kevin (Alex R. Hibbert) in the first two seasons, but in his absence the young man will begin leaning more on Emmett (Jacob Latimore), who, showrunner Justin Hillian notes, “gives terrible advice.” He continues: “We are going to see Kevin’s world turned upside down,” while his friend Jake (Michael V. Epps), who has been referred to as a “bad kid,” will “actually get some stability.” Hillian wanted to challenge perceptions of some characters because he doesn’t “think there are bad kids, but environments do tend to mold.” This season, “The Chi” expands it story to focus more on Kevin’s older sister Kiesha (Birgundi Baker), and according to Hillian, priority storylines include “the ingenuity of black mothers and their power to rally armies and demand action in times of crisis, the challenges of blended families, complex LGBTQIA relationships, second chapters” and a mayoral race. “We really just wanted to give our characters’ personal issues some context. Sure, they don’t always make the right choices, but there is also a larger system at play that usually isn’t working for them,” he explains. “We pulled the curtain back a bit to take a peek at the way the city functions in an effort to dramatize how that trickles down into the lives of our characters and informs not only their choices, but also their options.” BRAVE NEW WORLD STEVE SCHOFIELD/USA NETWORK; THE CHI: ADRIAN BURROWS/SHOWTIME NETWORK; SCHOFIELD/USA STEVE NEW WORLD BRAVE

VARIETY 51 FOCUS SUMMER TV PREVIEW

‘I MAY DESTROY YOU’ HBO Premieres June 7

In Michaela Coel’s latest series, the multi- hyphenate draws upon personal experience to tell the tale of Arabella (whom she also plays), a young woman who is dubbed the “voice of her generation” but whose life changes immensely after she’s drugged and assaulted. “While I was in the police investigation room waiting for the detective to whom I’d give my witness statement, my friend was with me, for support, and he was playing Pokemon Go. I remember stepping outside of myself and observing how absurd and bizarre that moment was,” Coel says. That blend of serious drama with pops of head-tilting comedy sets the tone for the 12-episode season, and Arabella’s friends are an integral part of the story as well. While at its core the show is designed to show “that we’re all connected,” Coel says, there is also a message about the ‘DIRTY JOHN: THE BETTY BRODERICK STORY’ importance of consent baked in. “If you USA were taken advantage of in some way, it Premieres June 2 can affect you, sometimes in imperceptible ways. It’s good to be aware of this and to put The second season of true crime anthology drama “Dirty John” moves things in place to make sure you heal and to USA Network and puts convicted murderer Betty Broderick and her grow in ways that minimizes the potential tumultuous marriage to Dan Broderick at the center of the story. “The long-term damage to your perception both franchise of ‘Dirty John’ is ‘love gone wrong,’ and this year I wanted to of yourself and the world around you.” examine a woman’s headspace,” says showrunner Alexandra Cunningham. The eight-episode season flashes back and forth through time, allowing both Amanda Peet and Tiera Skovbye to take on the role of Betty, while Christian Slater and Chris Mason play Dan at different stages in the couple’s relationship. The show begins at the end of their relationship, “because we want to really bring people into the emotion that ultimately leads to the crimes,” Cunningham explains. “But then, one of the reasons we wanted to go back in time is to show the evolution, especially the gaslighting aspects.” The show dives into Betty and Dan’s early courtship through marriage, children, a rise in social status, divorce and, ultimately, Betty shooting her ex-husband and his new wife in cold blood. “We’re talking about people brought up in the ’50s, courting and married in the ’60s, who made a lot of choices based on what [they were] ‘supposed’ to be. We wanted to give a real sense of what it was that she was trying to hold onto so hard, even when Dan was clearly changing.”

‘HANNA’ SEASON 2 Amazon Premieres July 3

In the first season of David Farr’s her personal battle to overcome her create other characters who have drama series adaptation of the 2011 loss.” In her charge is Clara (Yasmin known no life other than the Utrax film “Hanna,” the titular character Monet Prince), formerly known facility, and can see no future other (played by Esme Creed-Miles) was as Child 249 in the Utrax trainee than what Utrax plans for them. being protected by a father figure program, and exploring her escape Until Hanna arrives. And changes from Utrax, a government program allows the show to dive deeper into everything.” Meanwhile, Marissa that enhanced children’s DNA to that program in general. “Hanna is (Mireille Enos), who was tasked create super-soldiers. But in Season still our heroine, and her journey with tracking Hanna down but sees 2, she will be the protector, Farr to discover who she is and who she the teenager as her “redemption” says. “Hanna has lost Erik, the wants to be is the main driver of and “the daughter she never had,” defining presence in her life. [Her] everything,” Farr says. “But it was becomes “a real resistance heroine

external battles are mirrored by also important and enjoyable to in this season,” he adds. PRIME VIDEO CHRIS RAPHAEL/AMAZON HANNA: SEERY/HBO; NATALIE YOU: I MY DESTROY NETWORK; USA VOSMIKOVA/ JOHN: ISABELLA DIRTY

52 VARIETY SUMMER TV PREVIEW FOCUS

‘LOVE, VICTOR’

Hulu Premieres June 19

After Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth than Simon was in the film. After Berger wrote the 2018 film moving to a new town, Victor “Love, Simon” based on Becky meets Mia (Rachel Hilson) and Albertalli’s novel “Simon vs. the isn’t sure if his interest in her Homo Sapiens Agenda,” they is platonic or romantic. “Over heard from fans who felt Simon’s the course of the season, Victor journey was “a very idyllic has to learn that sexuality is a version of coming out,” Aptaker spectrum, and figure out where recalls. This inspired them to he falls on that spectrum,” Tanen revisited the world through a says. “The feelings of wanting to new lens, and “Love, Victor” be accepted, striving to figure was born. In the 10-episode out who you are, and wanting to first season, the titular Victor fall madly in love” are universal (Michael Cimino) is a Latinx and timeless ones, says Berger, high school athlete who “comes but “it was incredibly important from a small, conservative town to us that teenagers watching the in Texas [with] very religious show felt like they were watching parents,” Aptaker says. “All of something real and authentic. that complexity informs his story So throughout the process, our and how he struggles with his whole writers’ room met with sexuality.” Additionally, Victor countless teenagers to hear their is “only 15,” executive producer stories” and work in details Brian Tanen notes, so he is at from slang to the effect of social an earlier stage in his journey media into the show. LOVE, VICTOR: MITCHELL HAASETH/HULU; LOVECRAFT COUNTRY: ELIZABETH MORRIS/HBO COUNTRY: LOVECRAFT HAASETH/HULU; MITCHELL VICTOR: LOVE,

‘LOVECRAFT COUNTRY’

HBO Premieres in August

In creating his adaptation police, who have a law that says of Matt Ruff’s 2016 novel, they can hang black people “Lovecraft Country,” Misha if they are caught out in their Green wanted to expand the county after sundown. But mere world of the book, throwing “in moments later, their situation some twists and turns that will becomes even more dangerous hopefully surprise even the when literal monsters storm most astute genre fan.” The out of the woods. “In ‘Lovecraft show follows Atticus Black Country’ we are firmly rooted (Jonathan Majors), his uncle in the historical reality of 1950s George (Courtney B. Vance) America and use the fantastical and his friend Leti (Jurnee elements to illuminate the Smollett-Bell), on a road horrors of the time, and trip across 1950s Jim Crow highlight the parallels to now,” America. At its core, Green says Green. “My favorite mash- considers “Lovecraft Country” ups are when genre is mixed a family drama and notes that with the historical and you the characters will have to deal find a way to honor both. Over with “monsters of their pasts” the course of the season we to get through their current traverse all the pulp landscapes situation. On the road trip to — horror, mystery, adventure, find Atticus’ missing father, sci-fi. The creatures in the pilot the trio is immediately faces a are not the only monsters our life-or-death situation with the heroes will face.”

VARIETY 53 FOCUS SUMMER TV PREVIEW

‘PERRY MASON’ HBO Premieres June 21

Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald’s and seeking justice,” Fitzgerald says. “Perry Mason” is a much darker tale Much inspiration was drawn from than the 1957 legal drama of the Gardner’s books, with the duo often same name. Their version is set in using specific “dialogue passages 1930s Los Angeles and follows the as little character tentpoles for the titular character (played by Matthew series,” Jones says. In that source Rhys) as he investigates a gruesome material, Perry had a “dogmatic kidnapping case that “pulls [him] idea of the law and its applications out of his rut and sets him on the in the world,” Jones notes, and that path to become himself,” says kind of “strident language” made Fitzgerald. The show will follow them “consider, ‘What if Mason came “Mason down the dark alleyways of from a religious background and the city, as he tracks the twists and how much of it, if not all, had been turns of a single case that leads to abandoned by him — or better yet, new and unexpected places,” he what moral footing did religion once continues. But, his core values are provide for him that the practice what viewers of the original series of law could eventually do?’” Rhys’ ‘MUPPETS NOW’ or readers of Erle Stanley Gardner’s Mason further confronts religion Disney Plus novels will remember: “What’s when he meets Sister Alice (Tatiana Premieres July 31 Mason after in 1932? Finding truth Maslany), an evangelist.

Jim Henson’s classic Muppets are back for the streaming era with a comedy variety show titled “Muppets Now.” Featuring segments that include celebrity interviews, science experiments and a mini cooking show, the series was designed to play with new “mediums and technologies and venues,” says executive producer and director Andrew Williams, “as long as we are always true to who the characters are.” The most important thing, he adds, is to continue to impart the Muppets’ message of “if you believe in yourself and the ones you’re with, then anything is possible.” The beloved Miss Piggy is a character around whom the team knew they had to craft a segment. Taking her famous larger-than-life personality and love of being in charge and mixing it with how modern self-proclaimed experts reach their audience, they created a vlog- style recurring piece for her. Pepé the King Prawn, on the other hand, lends his chaotic energy to an improvised game show, while the Swedish chef takes on real-life celebrity chefs in the aforementioned cooking segment as a way to allow the Muppets to “subvert some familiar genres,” Williams says. “One of the exciting things about the unscripted-genre-hopping aspect of ‘Muppets Now’ is that it allowed us to bring in celebrity guests to work with the Muppets in a lot of different ways. A great Muppet celebrity guest is very much like the Muppets themselves: they find a lot of joy in the work that

they do, and they commit to it 100%.” HBO MASON: PERRY DISNEY PLUS; NOW: MUPPETS

54 VARIETY SUMMER TV PREVIEW FOCUS

‘THE POLITICIAN’ SEASON 2 Netflix Premieres June 19

The first season of “The Politician” her “even more formidable” chief of jumped forward in place and time to staff. As Brennan puts it, both women find the uber-ambitious Payton Hobart are “not just political animals but true (Ben Platt) living in New York City and thoroughbreds who know how to win about to embark upon a run for a real elections and how to wield political political office: the state senate. The power honestly and effectively.” Payton’s second season wastes no time diving mother, Georgina (Gwyneth Paltrow), into Payton’s new political campaign. will make a decision that “threatens Exec producer Ian Brennan says they to upstage Payton and everything he’s “always thought about the Season 1 finale hoping to achieve,” Brennan says, and as the first episode of Season 2.” Payton, that raises the stakes further. “This therefore, is thrown “into the deep season is Payton on the national stage end right away, like David squaring off for the first time, and he knows he’s not against two Goliaths.” Those are Dede going to get a do-over, so every choice Standish (Judith Light), the incumbent he makes has the chance to be the next state senator who thought she would crucial step to becoming president of be on an easy track to Washington, the United States or torpedo his political D.C., and Hadassah Gold (Bette Midler), ambitions completely.”

‘SEARCH PARTY’ SEASON 3 The third season of “Search Party” Keith (Ron Livingston), but she killed HBO Max moves to HBO Max, but picks up exactly April (Phoebe Tyers), and people are Premieres June 25 where the second left off: with Dory now wondering where that young (Alia Shawkat) arrested for murder woman is. Dory’s guilt “manifests and her friends “in survival mode in the form of a ghostly figure of a and making a ton of snap decisions soaking wet April, reminding her that for better or worse,” says executive the other shoe is going to drop,” says producer Sarah-Violet Bliss. When the Bliss. But as the case thrusts her into series launched, Dory was an altruistic the spotlight, “she starts to believe her young woman who convinced her own lies and acquires a secret taste friends to search for the then-missing of fame,” adds executive producer Chantal (Clare McNulty), but as she Charles Rogers. This “makes her less feared the worst, the group spiraled and less relatable to [her friends] Drew, into darker acts. The third season will Portia and Elliott. Between the lawyers, follow Dory “trying to manage her very interrogations, looming trial and media public court case,” Bliss says, while she circus swirling around all of them, is also haunted by guilt about at least they’re simultaneously more fractured one of her crimes. Dory was arrested than ever while also feeling united in for the murder of her sort-of boyfriend trauma and pressure.”

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POLITICIAN: NETFLIX; SEARCH PARTY: HBO MAX PARTY: SEARCH POLITICIAN: NETFLIX; [email protected] [email protected]

VARIETY 55 FOCUS THE ESSENTIAL MARK ROMANEK

ADVENTUROUS STORYTELLER Mark Romanek on the set of Amazon Prime’s ”Tales From the Loop.”

HELMER LOOPS IN BOLD ‘TALES’

By Steven Gaydos

IT WILL COME as no surprise to anyone who’s followed Nike and American Express, among others. the career of director Mark Romanek that his newest Romanek’s feature film resume is shorter, but just work, “Loop,” the pilot episode for eight-episode as powerful, with Robin Williams-starrer “One Hour Amazon Studios series “Tales From the Loop,” is as Photo” and his adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never visually arresting as it is conceptually bold and emo- Let Me Go” both visionary excursions that help pre- tionally evocative. pare the viewer for his work on “Loop.” Best-known for his work on some of the past Inspired by a 2014 book of the same name by two decades’ most audacious and powerful music Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, who has a cult follow- videos and commercials, Romanek has accrued multi- ing for his gorgeous depictions of an alternate real- ple Grammy Awards for his clips for stars from Fiona ity, “Loop” was called “a gentle slow-burner ideal for Apple to Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift to Michael Jackson, our alternative pandemic universe,” by Chicago Tri- Jay-Z to Joni Mitchell, Nine Inch Nails to Madonna. bune film critic Michael Phillips. He noted: “Mark Prizes at Cannes Lions and more have come his Romanek’s pilot recalls the steady chill and precision

way for innovative, emotive spots for Apple, Tiffany, of his earlier work, particularly ‘Never Let Me Go.’” PRIME VIDEO THIJS/AMAZON JAN

56 VARIETY THE ESSENTIAL MARK ROMANEK FOCUS

NEVER LET ME GO (2010) Calling “Never Let Me Go” “one of my favorite novels,” Romanek says the project came out after “One Hour Photo” “did over $100 million in home video. I owe that job to Peter Rice, who greenlit ‘One Hour Photo.’ He introduced me to Alex Garland, Allon Reich and Andrew Macdonald when their director fell out. I had read the book and read it again so I had pretty deep knowledge of the book. And my interests dovetailed with three very smart guys whose only intention was to make the very best film possible.” Romanek also credits Rice with locking in Carey Mulligan for NOVEL OBSESSION the key role of Kathy. “We hadn’t found Kathy and we got a text Domhnall Gleason, left, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and from Peter who was in Sundance and he was watching ‘An Edu- Andrea Riseborough star in cation.’ The movie wasn’t even over yet. We got a print sent over “Never Let Me Go.” to England from Sundance and that was it.”

VOICES (NIKE COMMERCIAL, 2012) CLERK WORK With dozens of award-winning and landmark commercials on his resume, it says In “One Hour a lot that Romanek considers Nike’s “Voices” “the commercial I’m most proud Photo,” Robin of.” A celebration of the 1972 passage of Title IX legislation banning discrimina- Williams stretched his tion in education, Romanek describes the spot as “interviews with incredible acting skills female athletes, where we talk to them about their experiences with discrimina- to scary new tion, how hard it was to do their sport, but you hear the words coming out of the lengths. mouths of young girls.” Prepare to be moved.

“LOOP” (PILOT EPISODE OF “TALES FROM THE LOOP”) (2020) Romanek’s involvement as pilot director and executive producer on “Tales From the Loop” began when he “got a call from Matt Reeves who said, ‘I have a great script by Nathaniel Halpern based upon science-fiction paintings.’” Romanek says he was familiar with Stålenhag’s paintings, and was further enticed when “Nathaniel started namechecking Bergman, Tarkovsky and Kieślowski.”

IJS/AMAZON “It’s very hard to get these kinds of stories on the big screen today. My goal is to be a great visual storyteller, and one of the attributes of great visual storytelling is modulating the visual palette. In ‘Loop,’ there are long stretches when the story is told in pictures, and there’s almost no violence, and today ONE HOUR PHOTO (2002) that’s a very rare quality.” Romanek says his edgy “One Hour Photo” was greenlit on the basis of his In addition to the show’s visual panache, Romanek describes the program’s screenplay’s “catchy premise” and despite what was deemed “the seemingly dramatic grounding as “a kind of Sherwood Anderson working-class world. odd choice” of comic genius Robin Williams as the film’s disturbed and disturb- We’re not fetishizing the period. It’s about real people facing real-life issues, but ing protagonist. “Everyone thought that was very daring,” says Romanek, “but their problems are tweaked and torqued by this object below the ground which not to me as I had seen him in the PBS adaptation of Saul Bellow’s ‘Seize the is playing with time and space. It’s an unusual structure, but in a ‘Winesburg, Day,’ so I never thought it was that odd. But it was an idea that worked and I Ohio’ way.” remain very proud of that character and of Robin’s performance.”

HURT (MUSIC VIDEO, 2003) When Romanek describes his video for the Johnny Cash recording of Trent Reznor’s song “Hurt” as one that “broadened the range of what a music video could truck with in terms of subject matter,” he’s barely scratched the surface of that work’s impact on the industry. In Romanek’s view, the producer of that land-

mark recording, Rick Rubin, “provided that opportunity to capture Johnny’s NOW HEAR THIS truth. He trusted in me to travel down this very candid [path], knowing it might Paintings and pure visuals not work. It was an extremely unlikely hit record and unlikely at that time to inspired “Tales From the Loop.”

NEVER LET ME GO: FOX SEARCHLIGHT/DNA/KOBAL/SHUTTERSTOCK; ONE HOUR PHOTO: KILLER/KOBAL/SHUTTERSTOCK; TALES FROM THE LOOP: JAN TH JAN THE LOOP: FROM TALES KILLER/KOBAL/SHUTTERSTOCK; ONE HOUR PHOTO: SEARCHLIGHT/DNA/KOBAL/SHUTTERSTOCK; FOX NEVER LET ME GO: make a hit video that wasn’t pandering.”

VARIETY 57

ARTISANS TOPARTISANS BILLING

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informing today — trumped by the health crisis of the moment. The Week ‘The Tonight Richen (gay rights doc “The New Black”) first considered how best to tell the story. Among the biggest challenges she con- fronted was a lack of footage. As the film Show’ Defined an Era describes, NBC typically recorded over epi- sodes of “The Tonight Show.” The only two NEW DOCUMENTARY ‘THE SIT-IN’ REMEMBERS HARRY BELAFONTE’S installments of the programs Belafonte hosted that remained were the ones that UNIQUE MOMENT IN TELEVISION HISTORY By Jazz Tangcay included Kennedy and King. But there was a common thread with IN THE DOCUMENTARY “The Sit-In: Harry included Lena Horne, Paul Newman, Are- Belafonte’s guests that week: Charlton Hes- Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show,” pro- tha Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr. and ton, Sidney Poitier and all the others were ducers Valerie Thomas and Joan Walsh and Robert F. Kennedy. political. Dionne Warwick was a guest on the director Yoruba Richen aimed to bring back The doc was scheduled to screen in April show along with a young Franklin; both had home a seminal event in television history at the Tribeca Film Festival, not far from donated money to the civil rights movement, whose themes still resonate. where “The Tonight Show” was filmed in the a cause that was near and dear to Bela- It was 1968, war was raging and racial ’60s, with an after-film discussion that was fonte. The team decided to lean even more tensions in America were at a boiling point, to have included Belafonte’s daughter, Gina. into the bigger picture. dividing the nation. In February, Harry “We were so excited,” says Richen. “It’s a “We focused on the events of 1968,” SMART SET Belafonte stepped in for Johnny Carson to New York story, and I’m a New Yorker.” Thomas says. “We focused on all that Harry Belafonte host “The Tonight Show.” It was a monu- But as with many eagerly anticipated interviews Martin Harry had done, and we focused on the mental moment in which an African Amer- independent films this year, the movie’s Luther King Jr. as shift of politics within the realm of late- ican would be the frontman of the most launchpad disappeared when the festival Ed McMahon, Nipsey night television.” Russell, Leon Bibb dominant program in late night — and per- was canceled due to the coronavirus, mak- and Paul Newman The filmmakers worked hard to track haps all of TV — for an entire week. Guests ing it a work about the events of yesterday look on. down guests who were still alive, says

VARIETY 59 ARTISANS

Walsh. Franklin died just before shooting began, but they reached out to Petula Clark, Warwick and, particularly, to Belafonte. Walsh, a national affairs correspondent for The Nation, wrote an essay about the week of shows and told Belafonte about it. “His story about late night was hiding in plain sight. It was in his memoirs, ‘My Song: A Memoir of Art, Race, and Defiance.’ I was obsessed with it,” she says. Adds SONG IN THEIR HEARTS Thomas: “We got early access to Harry. We Brec Bassinger as told him our vision, and we did two inter- Courtney and Luke Wilson views with him.” Everyone else they asked as her stepdad topline to participate said yes. The CW’s “Stargirl.” Pinar Toprak wrote Mixing the new material, audiotapes theme music for both and existing footage of the guests reveals characters. the story of the times. But the way the pro- duction had to be completed is a tale more familiar to current events. Thomas was putting the finishing touches on the documentary when the pan- ‘Captain Marvel’ Composer demic forced a shutdown. Homes became offices for editing, visual effects and sound mixing. “Big Beach Films [‘The Fare- Helps ‘Stargirl’ Take Flight well,’ ‘Little Miss Sunshine’], which helped PINAR TOPRAK IS GAINING A REPUTATION AS A finance the documentary, had created a SCORING SUPERSTAR FOR SUPERHEROES plan of who needed to bring home what and what could be done,” she says. “Every- By Jon Burlingame one did their job. It’s a case study in what you can do remotely.” (Big Beach says it is A YEAR AGO, Pinar Toprak made history by They recorded the first 12 episodes with actively selling “The Sit-In” to distributors.) becoming the first female composer to score 34 musicians and the finale with nearly 60. Among those working from home were a movie that made better than $150 million (They finished scoring in December, long editor Èlia Gasull Balada, co-editor Joe Bor- at the box office. “Captain Marvel” ultimately before the COVID-19 crisis.) ruso, assistant editor Ha Vo and composer took in more than $425 million domestically. As she did with “Captain Marvel,” Toprak Wendell Hanes. Says Hanes: “I created most This week, Toprak returns with music for composed a heroic theme for “Stargirl,” very of the sonic layerings in my home studio and another female superhero: “Stargirl,” toplin- much in the comic book tradition launched used Zoom to communicate with the band.” ing Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore, a in 1978 by John Williams in “Superman.” Ultimately, key moments in the docu- Middle America high school student deter- She then added an entire library of themes mentary reveal Belafonte’s intention to use mined to follow in the footsteps of her late and sounds for the various characters in the the week to introduce ideas of social change father, Starman (originally a 1940s comic series: a “very heartfelt and intimate” piece to a mass audience. “In the television foot- book hero). It debuts May 18 on DC Universe for Courtney and her stepfather, Pat Dugan age, you see the interactions,” Thomas says. and migrates to The CW broadcast network (Luke Wilson); a driving action theme for “There are laughter and jokes [with King the next day. the Justice League of America; a “suburban, and Kennedy] but you see their concern “From ‘Captain Marvel’ to ‘Krypton’ American vibe” for small-town Blue Valley; and what they were really thinking” — their [another comic book series Toprak scored], I and colorful motifs for such supervillains as vision for integration. knew Pinar’s work very well,” co-creator and Brainwave and Icicle. Both were assassinated a few months later. producer Geoff Johns tells Variety. “The cre- Toprak and Johns met, surprisingly, on Richen says that working on the project ative connection was instant. Pinar is as pas- Instagram. They immediately connected helped her better understand Belafonte. “I sionate about superheroes as she is about over personal losses: Johns’ sister Courtney didn’t know the depth of his activism and music. She not only understood the tonal died in a plane crash in 1996 and became his work in the [civil rights] movement,” she intention of ‘Stargirl’; she added an entirely the inspiration for the character; Toprak’s says. “I didn’t know about his connection to new layer to the character and series.” close friend, also named Courtney, died of the people.” She says that despite the pro- Johns told Toprak he wanted cancer just a few years ago. “Just the name duction and exhibition setbacks, “The Sit-In” “something classical, iconic and soaring Courtney has a very special meaning for delivers what it set out to do. and real. Something that reflected the bright me,” she adds quietly. “It says a lot about the politics of today enthusiasm that powered Courtney and the “At the outset, we discussed tone and and where we are,” she says. “And that late staff,” referring to the source of Stargirl’s intention,” Johns says, “who Courtney Whit- night is still dominated by white men.” cosmic powers. more/Stargirl were, the feel of the show, the He cited such ’80s movies as “Back to nostalgic and forward-looking qualities. Pinar the Future” and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” began working with themes and music, which both of which featured large orchestras. He out of the gate were amazing. From there, “We focused on the and Toprak decided to score every episode we’d talk and she’d create.” events of 1968 and using an ensemble of Los Angeles musicians Johns also chose many of the songs pep- the shift of politics instead of the usual sampled, electronically pered throughout the series. “It does take manufactured “pretend orchestras” so often place in a high school, and there are certain within the realm of heard on network TV shows. things that well-chosen songs can convey late-night television.” “I felt it was important for the integrity more effectively sometimes than score can,” of the score and what we were trying to do,” Toprak says. But, adds Johns, “Pinar put the

Valerie Thomas says Toprak. “It’s a very cinematic show.” heart on full display for me.” CW COLBERT/THE QUANTELL

60 VARIETY ARTISANS Creating the Star of TNT’s ‘Snowpiercer’ HOW VFX AND DESIGN TEAMS COLLABORATED TO CONSTRUCT THE TRAIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD By Valentina Valentini

IN THE TITLE sequence of the new TNT Central train that was in service from the snowplows, debris diverters and warming series “Snowpiercer” there’s a montage of 1930s until the 1950s. elements to keep the train moving. train blueprints. Though the show stars When Scott moved to White Rock, near the “The biggest challenge,” notes VFX Oscar winner Jennifer Connolly and Tony Number 18 Production studios in Vancouver supervisor Scott, “is transporting people Award winner Daveed Diggs along with an where “Snowpiercer” is filmed, he found the into a place where they don’t get taken out of A-list ensemble cast, it’s clear that the more trains constantly running through the city. [the show]. And we had some very talented than 1,000-car locomotive — Snowpiercer He observed them standing by the tracks, people to create that magic.” itself — is the center of attention. which he says allowed him to better under- The series is a spinoff of Bong Joon stand the motion and mechanical aspects. Ho’s 2013 film of the same name that put Though in the story Snowpiercer is 10 STATION MASTER the South Korean filmmaker on the map. miles long, with 1,001 cars, production Production designer Barry Robison’s work spans a And though the Oscar-winning “Parasite” designer Barry Robison and his art depart- range of genres. director acted as executive producer and ment built 18 cars on four stages, includ- Snowpiercer Voyage of the occasionally consulted, it was showrunner ing the engine; a hydroponic gardening car; 2020Creator: Dawn Treader 2010 Graeme Manson (“Orphan Black”) who first- , second- and third-class dining cars; a Graeme Manson Director: led the project. The sci-fi drama starts sushi restaurant with an undersea element; Good Girls Michael Apted seven years after the world has frozen and the “chains” car, which resembles an 2018 over; only a few thousand survive, contin- Asian night market. Creator: Jenna Bans X-Men Origins: Wolverine uously circumnavigating the globe aboard “I received a strong directive from the Hacksaw Ridge 2009 the giant caravan. beginning,” says Robison. “They didn’t want 2016 Director: Gavin Hood “[We needed] to create a realistic train, a carbon copy of the movie but rather a new Director: Mel Gibson You, Me and moving in a realistic world,” says VFX identity for the series. So I went back to Vacation Dupree supervisor Geoff Scott, who’d worked on the graphic novel, which is well-known for 2015 2007 “Orphan Black” with Manson and was a its detailed illustrations and storyline, and Directors: John Directors: Anthony Francis Daley, Russo, Joe Russo fan of the graphic novel on which Bong’s [what that showed] me was how robust and Jonathan Goldstein movie was based. strong the visuals needed to be.” Fun With Dick As Scott began to visually build out his For the interiors, Robison looked to Million Dollar and Jane Arm 2005 ideas with Manson and series lead director Japan and China for clues as to where loco- 2014 Director: Dean Parisot James Hawes, he kept returning to a style motive design technology is headed. He Director: called Dieselpunk, a retro technology-fo- and art director Tom Wilkins also contacted Craig Gillespie Wedding Crashers 2005 cused look popular in 1920s-’50s specu- Canadian railway companies, which offered CAVALCADE OF CARS Pitch Perfect Director: David Dobkin lative fiction and a personal favorite of the insights and solutions for the problems Sheila Vand as Zarah 2014 VFX chief. The exteriors for Snowpiercer, of a vehicle moving through hostile envi- vamps in the train’s Director: Jason Moore The Rookie nightclub car; 2002 which was created entirely in CG, were heav- ronments like the one Snowpiercer trav- monitors sparkle in The Chronicles Director: John Lee ily influenced by The Mercury, a New York els through — notably information about the engine room. of Narnia: The Hancock SNOWPIERCER (LEFT) JUSTINA MINTZ/TNT (RIGHT) GROB/TNT MARCO (LEFT) JUSTINA SNOWPIERCER

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WINGING IT Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani star in “The Lovebirds.”

FILM REVIEW this one also co-stars the deadpan live wire contestants on “The Amazing Race” (She: BY OWEN GLEIBERMAN Kumail Nanjiani (though he didn’t co-write “You make documentaries. Those are just it, as he did “The Big Sick”), it’s hard not to reality shows that no one watches”). The go in with your expectations in overdrive. A comedy about two people who love The opening scenes totally deliver. We each other but have fallen into a fatal power see the moony morning after the night that duel feels like just the ticket for these edgy, Lovebirds Jibran (Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae) first uncertain times. Nanjiani has a pinpoint gift sleep together — they met at an event while for articulating exasperation (often with a flirting at the crudité table — and the actors deftly placed obscenity), and Rae, with her

DIRECTOR: Michael Showalter generate the kind of connective heat that’s own loquacious fury, matches him quip for CAST: Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Paul Sparks, either there or it’s not. quip as the two characters head out for a Anna Camp Their combustible chemistry only gets dinner party, sniping all the way. heightened in the terrific follow-up scene, But just when it looks as if they might be set four years later, where the two are now breaking up, something lands — crash! — a veteran couple who are living together on the windshield of their car. It’s a blood- IT’S NOT EVERY DAY, or even every year, that and falling apart. The script, by Aaron ied bicycle messenger. As he rolls off the a romantic comedy touches a nerve of real- Abrams and Brendan Gall, has some sharply hood and gets back onto his bike, a stranger ity — and is drop-dead funny, and becomes witty exchanges, all built around the way pushes his way into the car — a surly fig- an acclaimed awards-bait hit. So when a these two can quarrel about anything. Like ure in a brush cut and mustache who claims director makes the rare film that accom- whether or not he likes restaurants (She: to be a police officer and takes the driver’s plishes all those things, unwittingly or not “You literally spent several hours yester- seat. Suddenly, Jibran and Leilani are in the he has set the bar high for his next effort. day writing a negative Yelp review with middle of an action film, chasing the bad “The Lovebirds” is the first movie directed your white-woman fingers about that tapas guy, or so it seems. Because when they catch by Michael Showalter since “The Big Sick,” place we went to.” He: “It was very salty. I up to him, the cop in question hits the bike the 2017 indie knockout about love, cultural didn’t know I would get mouth-fucked by messenger with the car, rolls over him a few identity and a girlfriend in a coma, and since the Dead Sea”). Or whether they should be times and disappears. SKIP BOLEN/NETFLIX

VARIETY 63 REVIEWS

“The Lovebirds” is now a comedy about a murder and the two innocents who are terri- fied that it’s all going to be pinned on them. So although they’ve done nothing wrong, instead of calling the police they decide to pursue a contact on the bad guy’s cellphone and solve the crime themselves. Which may provoke the following reaction: “Huh?” The movie would like to be a love story that’s also a cheeky crime story, where the laughs crackle with anxiety and the more recklessly out-there the situation becomes, the more it draws the two characters together. Yet we have to believe what we’re watching — or, at least, in a good movie we do. And “The Lovebirds” quickly descends into a synthetically plotted, harmless-at-its-core caper that may remind you of a ramshackle Hollywood action comedy like “Date Night.” At first we think (or hope) that it’s closer to the bone than that, as Jibran and Leilani retreat to a diner, scared as hell, and Jibran tries to burn off the tension with an antsy hilarious monologue about how they always give you the leftover milkshake in that sil- ver container, but why don’t they do the same with, you know, spaghetti? For a moment, “The Lovebirds” still carries the height- ened air of “Something Wild” or “Widows” BEATING THE SYSTEM or “After Hours” — a tingly caper of ordinary Matthew Macfadyen and Sian Clifford people ignited by extraordinary danger. star as husband and wife in “Quiz.” But as soon as the two track down their underworld contact, and get conked on the head, and are offered the torture of their choice as if they were on “Let’s Make a TV REVIEW stubbornness that made “Who Wants to Deal,” the movie turns into something more BY CAROLINE FRAMKE Be a Millionaire?” such a massive hit in over-the-top. The scheme they’re unravel- the first place. Director Stephen Frears ing involves a set of photographs, an apart- Quiz (“Dangerous Liaisons”) locks into a pro- ment full of frat-house bros who stuff the pulsive rhythm familiar to anyone who’s photos into envelopes and a creepy cult seen a heist film: tense and twisty, some- of aristocrats in black tie and bird masks times to a consciously clever fault, but that’s a send-up of “Eyes Wide Shut.” Jibran DRAMA: AMC (3 episodes; all reviewed); May 31 more often to slyly ruthless effect. and Leilani continue to bicker about every- STARRING: Sian Clifford, Matthew Macfadyen, Charles (Matthew Macfadyen) and thing at the most inappropriate moments, Michael Sheen Diana (Sian Clifford), to paraphrase but even this knowing joke is tied to how their eventual opposing counsel, seem the two have fallen down a rabbit hole of like a perfectly pleasant middle-aged, junk-thriller contrivance. middle-class British couple. Charles is Bits and pieces of the movie are funny, DEEP INTO THE SECOND EPISODE of bemused by Diana’s dedication to quiz- as when the two jabber away at their cap- “Quiz,” a roomful of frustrated TV exec- zes and trivia, a passion she shares with tors about how Jibran got his idea for a utives face existential questions after her brother, Adrian (Trystan Gravell). It’s body-wash commercial, or a scene where watching a man seemingly bumble his no surprise that Diana and Adrian become they come on like bruisers by doing an way to winning the million-pound jackpot obsessed with “Who Wants to Be a Million- awesomely inept impersonation of things on their fledgling hit, “Who Wants to Be a aire?,” the nation’s biggest quiz show ever, they’ve seen in movies. Yet there are not Millionaire?” Did he cheat? Does finding hosted by veteran presenter Chris Tar- one, not two, but three scenes where they loopholes in their system actually count rant (an unrecognizable Michael Sheen) get into a violent altercation with a vet- as cheating? Is cheating on a game show with an almost maniacal gleam in his eye. eran crook, and each time they bungle and technically, legally a crime? But again, But the lengths to which the family goes to bonk their way to victory. Sorry, but that’s most important: Did he cheat? crack the deceptively simple game bring just lazy filmmaking. “The Lovebirds” had This question haunts “Quiz,” James out a side of them all that nevertheless every right to be a different movie than Graham’s three-episode limited series comes as a bitter shock to the system. “The Big Sick,” but this one aims lower about the real-life case of Charles and Clifford, as she did on “Fleabag,” gives and misfires. Diana Ingraham, a married couple whose a brittle resolve to Diana that makes her time on “Who Wants to Be a Million- compelling even when Graham’s script aire?” resulted in charges of deception doesn’t quite know what to do with her.

CREDITS: A Netflix release of a Paramount, MRC, Quinn’s House/3 Arts and conspiracy. (They maintain their (Gravell’s Adrian, the family’s purest Entertainment production. Producers: Tom Lassally, Oly Obst, Martin Gero, Todd Schulman, Jordana Mollick. Executive producers: Issa Rae, Kumail innocence to this day.) And yet, “Quiz” obsessive, gets the most clearly defined Nanjiani, Aaron Abrams, Brendan Gall, Michael Showalter, Ben Ormand. Director: Showalter. Screenplay: Abrams, Gall. Camera: Brian Bur- pointedly isn’t about finding the “truth” version of her storyline, which veers into goyne. Editors: Robert Nassau, Vince Filippone. Music: Michael Andrews. Reviewed online, May 14, 2020. Running time: 86 MIN. Cast: Kumail Nan- of the matter. Instead, it unravels the comic absurdity more than any other on jiani, Issa Rae, Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, Nicholas X. Parsons, Kyle Born- heimer, Barry Rothbart, Catherine Cohen, Andrene Ward-Hammond. human desires, neuroses and outright “Quiz.”) Macfadyen’s Charles is an even FROST/AMC/ITV MATT

64 VARIETY REVIEWS

“‘Quiz’ locks into a MUSIC REVIEW Greta Thunberg, given ambient accom- BY CHRIS WILLMAN paniment by the group’s synth scientists. propulsive rhythm Now, that’s a track that is clearly going familiar to anyone Notes on a to be a one-off. The thrashy, punky, who’s seen a heist satirical protest song that follows, “Peo- ple,” is a grabber, but don’t get used to film: tense and Conditional it because there’s nothing else remotely twisty, sometimes like it in the remaining 20 selections. Form The third and fifth numbers are lovely to a clever fault, but orchestral instrumentals … again, a style more often to slyly never to be repeated. ruthless effect.” A third of the way through and things ARTIST: The 1975 start to lean just slightly more toward LABEL: Dirty Hit/Interscope something you could almost consider a current signature sound, a kind of softer version of his “Succession” charac- EDM-adjacent pop. But will there be a ter, and perhaps the show’s closest thing couple moments of finger-picky folk? to a truly sympathetic figure. THE FIRST THING TO KNOW about “Notes Of course there will! And by no means While the outcome is beyond what they on a Conditional Form,” the fourth album should you be surprised when indie could have predicted, the Ingrahams’ by British darlings the 1975, is that it’s queen Phoebe Bridgers shows up for a driving need to win is exactly what “Who 22 songs long. The second thing is that duet about evangelical gay kids (“Jesus Wants to Be a Millionaire?” was (quite lit- no one track sounds like another. Con- Christ 2005 God Bless America”), or when erally) banking on. “Quiz” is interested in sider it the ultimate contemporary exam- Jamaican dancehall veteran Cutty Ranks Charles and Diana, but it’s most energetic ple of how the Beatles’ “White Album” has takes over a club-friendly track in the when following the television producers become a kind of shorthand for young final stretch (“Shiny Collarbone”). that lured them there. Everything about rock bands — those who realize that one Two easy takeaways from such eclecti- the competition was done with attention cure for the uncoolness of being a rock cism is that the band is just messing with not just to what makes a quiz show com- band in 2020 is sounding like a dozen dif- us, or that it lacks focus. On the former pelling but the psychology that keeps peo- ferent bands. The 1975 is nothing if not charge, let’s render a judgment of not ple trying to win. The idea of someone hep to the idea that a moving target is both guilty — the music is too accomplished cheating their system — or, as they learn harder to hit and more conspicuous. and satisfying to be brushed off as troll- with dawning horror, many people cheat- Take the album’s opening stretch, ing — and on the latter, we might submit a ing their system — is as offensive as it is sequenced for maximum jarring juxtapo- mixed verdict, contingent on future work. unfathomable. Bonnar is especially good sition: First out of the gate is a four-minute Still, it would be nice to get a more as co-creator Paul Smith, first flush with climate-change speech by none other than coherent sense of who skittish frontman power, then slack with disbelief as his Matthew Healy is — he’s sweet-voiced supposed puppets turn the tables. half the time, but going screamo or sing- The first and second episodes appear ing through depersonalizing filters just to chart how the Ingrahams might have enough to remain a little bit elusive as cheated their way to the top. (That Charles a personality. Clearly he enjoys playing Ingraham won the day before Sept. 11, with his mostly but not entirely straight 2001, is mentioned, but unfortunately as identity; “I’m sorry that I’m kinda queer,” more of a formality than anything else.) he tells a woman he’s infatuated with in The third installment, which takes place in “Me & You Together Song,” as if sexuality and out of the courtroom that would ren- is one more way to stay indefinable. der the crucial verdict, flips that structure Then there’s the current single, “If on its head. “We can project guilt back onto You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know).” A hit in MOVING TARGETS an event that was, in fact, perfectly inno- the U.S. in the alternative format, the Adam Hann, George cent,” the Ingrahams’ defense attorney (an Daniel, Matthew song’s ’80s MTV pastiche feel starts off electric Helen McCrory) insists to the jury. Healy and Ross with a guitar homage to “Everybody “I’m asking you all to try and resist a more MacDonald are Wants to Rule the World” and veers into the 1975. entertaining falsehood in favor of a less a Hall & Oates sax solo. (The lyrics about extraordinary truth: that Major Ingraham naked internet dating identify it as thor- simply knew the answers to those ques- oughly contemporary, at least.) “Tonight tions, and that’s why he got them right.” (I Wish I Was Your Boy)” is white R&B so With that, “Quiz” presents an alternate smooth — and this time, modern — that version of events it’s already portrayed, it sounds more like Charlie Puth than showing us how editing a story to better fit rock Britannia. In the closing “Guys,” a narrative might transform it completely. Healy allows himself an all-out tender It’s a risky gambit, and one that frankly love song … to his bandmates. By putting works better on a second viewing when us off guard so many times earlier in the you can better appreciate all the winks album, he’s earned the right to be mawk- Graham layered in from the start. But ish, in the clinch. And we’ve developed when it does come together, “Quiz” is as a hankering to press repeat, with the 22 compelling as the show that inspired it. tracks on shuffle.

CREDITS: Executive producers: Dan Winch, William Village, James CREDITS: Producers: George Daniel, Michael Healy, Jonathan Graham, Stephen Frears, Andy Harries. 60 MIN. Cast: Sian Clifford, Gilmore. Musicians: Healy, Daniel, Adam Hann, Ross McDonald. Addi- Matthew Macfadyen, Trystan Gravell, Michael Sheen, Mark Bonnar, tional vocals: Greta Thunberg, Phoebe Bridgers, FKA Twigs, Tim Healy,

COVER: DIRTY HIT/POLYDOR; THE 1975: IMAGESPACE/SHUTTERSTOCK THE 1975: HIT/POLYDOR; DIRTY COVER: Aisling Bea, Michael Jibson, Helen McCrory Cutty Ranks

VARIETY 65 FACETIME

Since Coulson died in “The Avengers,” the common assumption when ABC Clark Gregg announced “Agents of SHIELD” was that he was going to be a Life Model Decoy on the show. So actually doing it in the final ‘I Learned With season feels like a fun wink. I thought so too. You know, no one ever thought the show would go 130-some episodes. It was never This Character to going to be like, “This week Tony Stark is here!” Then there was the division between Marvel TV and Marvel Cinematic on a cor- Never Say Never’ porate level. The showrunners had to really scour parts of the Marvel [comic] universe By Adam B. Vary that weren’t tied up with the incredibly elab- orate plans of the cinematic [universe]. So it doesn’t surprise me that at some point, it FOR CLARK GREGG, Agent Phil Coulson has been the character who just was like, “Well, it’s what everyone thought all won’t die — literally. The beloved SHIELD agent was killed off in Marvel along, and now he finally is one!” Studios’ “The Avengers,” only to be resurrected a year later on “Marvel’s The Marvel TV era is ending with “Agents Agents of SHIELD” on ABC. Then Coulson died again at the end of Season of SHIELD” just as Marvel Studios is 5, only to return once more in Season 7 — which premieres May 27 — as producing new shows for Disney Plus on a a Life Model Decoy (Marvel-speak for advanced robot). But as “Agents of huge scale. Not to put too fine a point on SHIELD” enters its final stretch, the actor will at long last say farewell to this, but do you look at those shows and Or will he? wonder what might have been? I will say, Coulson for good. as someone who loves storytelling and tele- vision, it’s been exciting to watch — from “Watchmen” to “Game of Thrones” — what’s being done cinematically on what used to be called TV. So in fairness, the world really changed around us. I was always proud of us for being the first ones through the door in terms of the Marvel stuff, trying to bring that to a weekly television format. I feel like ABC did a great job of trying to adapt to us as we tried to adapt to them. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say, boy, that would really be interesting to start the experiment over, doing 10 episodes or 12 episodes the way Tom Hiddleston told me he was doing [on “Loki”] with that kind of budget and that Marvel Cinematic production team. Although, it’s hard for me to even think about that, just because I’m so proud of what our crew and visual effects people and cast did within the constraints of our budgets and resources.

Do you think you’ll ever play Coulson again? This seems like a real good time to announce that ... I really don’t know. Sorry, that was a little bit of quarantine sadism. It’s hard for me to imagine a scenario where I’d say, “No, I’m too busy to put on whatever the latest version of the suit is and go play Phil Coulson.” I really learned with this character to never say never, but I’m also really grate- ful for the ride that we had.

AGE: 58 BIRTHPLACE: Boston DON’T MESS WITH COULSON: In 2015, Gregg got a black belt THINGS YOU in Brazilian jujitsu LIFE AFTER DIDN’T KNOW “SHIELD”: Gregg, who also STILL GOING wrote 2000’s “What Lies ABOUT Beneath,” is developing two Clark Gregg, with Chloe Bennet, CLARK GREGG possible TV series: a “near returns as a synthetic Agent future sci-fi noir” and “a post- Phil Coulson in the final season COVID ensemble piece set of “Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD.” in Los Angeles.” MITCH HAASETH/ABC MITCH

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