David C. Leavy, a top executive at Warner Bros. Discovery and longtime deputy to CEO David Zaslav, has been named COO of CNN Worldwide. Leavy will oversee commercial, operational and promotional activities across the network. The move is effective on June 20. Related Story Donald T…

Ari Emanuel believes artificial intelligence will help the entertainment industry, not destroy it. Speaking on the Freakonomics Radio podcast to author and host Stephen Dubner — an interview that took place before the Writer’s Guild of America strike, where AI issues loom large — Emanuel seemed to…

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel went to town on CAA, said his company almost invested $1 billion in the new LIV Golf tour, and projected that COO Mark Shapiro will take over the company whenever Emanuel calls it quits. The wide-ranging conversation with Freakonomics Radio host Stephen J. Dubner has just…

The U.S. cleared another hurdle in avoiding its first default, as a the House of Representatives passed compromise legislation to suspend the debt ceiling. Even as members of the far right revolted over the plan hashed out by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden, the bill had more than…

EXCLUSIVE: John Rouse, who has been with The Walt Disney Company for the past 33 years, most recently as EVP of Affiliate Relations for the ABC Television Network, is stepping down at the end of July. Rouse announced his upcoming retirement Wednesday in a note to ABC affiliates and station group heads…

As one of reality TV’s royal family crossed the line, striking film and television writers joined forces on Wednesday in New York City with another group of culture workers involved in a pay dispute: musicians.  While a five-piece band played bopping brass and percussion music, members of the Writers…

The month of May was the first full month without cable news’ top primetime host, Tucker Carlson, and it showed. Fox News continued to top primetime and total day viewers, but the margins have narrowed considerably with MSNBC, which was the only major cable news network to see viewership…

More than two years after it launched an investigation of actor Armie Hammer over sexual assault allegations, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said today that the actor won’t be charged. Related Story Danny Masterson Guilty Of Rape On Two Counts, Jury Decides; Facing 30 Y…

On-location filming of scripted TV shows in Los Angeles has ground to a near-complete halt in the fourth week of the Writers Guild's strike, according to data compiled by FilmLA, the city and county film permit office. Related Story Jennifer Lopez Pic ‘Unstoppable’ Halts Production For Da…

Vans Stevenson, the longtime state government affairs executive for the Motion Picture Association, is leaving the organization after 34 years. Stevenson has served as senior vice president of state government affairs for 25 years and moved to the role of senior adviser of global government affairs…

EXCLUSIVE: Unstoppable has, in fact, been stopped — at least for now. Production on the wrestling drama, starring Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome, paused for the day earlier this morning following picketing at their shooting location near USC. Related Story Half Of All Projects In Calif…

EXCLUSIVE: Actor Jimmi Simpson has taken on new representation, signing with Brian DePersia’s Cognition for management. Related Story ‘Hawkeye’ And ‘Troop Zero’ Director Bertie Signs With Range An Emmy and BAFTA nominee, Simpson is perhaps best known for starring roles on…