
74 episodes

Showbiz Sandbox J. Sperling Reich & Michael Giltz
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- TV & Film
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4.8 • 58 Ratings
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Industry pros J. Sperling Reich and Michael Giltz provide insightful analysis, humorous viewpoints and insider opinions on the latest entertainment news headlines. The weekly podcast features panel discussions with renowned industry guests, as well as phone calls and emails from listeners who voice their own opinions on the child’s play of the entertainment business.
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Showbiz Sandbox 588: Keeping Track of Ever-Shifting Streaming Strategies
Though the entertainment industry may be infatuated infatuated with streaming, the legacy media companies behind all the new subscription services haven’t quite found the right way to profit from them. NBC/Universal earned nearly a billion dollars in committed ad revenue with Peacock this year, causing them to take a hard look at all of their low-rated cable channels. And HBO Max is thinking twice about producing original programming in countries like Turkey and Sweden.
Meanwhile, the “Minions: The Rise Of Gru” is the lates blockbuster release that is proving the box office is back for everyone, even families. The worldwide gross of “Top Gun: Maverick” continues to soar, but will Paramount leave it in theatres long enough to fully capitalize.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the Creative Artists Agency completes its acquisition of rival ICM, Disney renews CEO Bob Chapek and Alec Baldwin commiserates with Woody Allen.
‘Minions: The Rise Of Gru’ Boogies To $202M WW As ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Flies By $1.1B & ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Rumbles Past $800M
https://deadline.com/2022/07/minions-the-rise-of-gru-top-gun-maverick-jurassic-world-dominion-global-international-box-office-1235057475/
‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ Breaks July 4th Box Office Record With $125 Million 4-Day Opening
https://www.thewrap.com/minions-fourth-of-july-box-office/
Baz Luhrmann Expanding ‘Australia’ Into Six-Episode Director’s Cut ‘Faraway Downs’
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/baz-luhrmann-australia-six-episode-hulu-series-faraway-downs-nicole-kidman-hugh-jackman-1235304986/
R. Kelly Sentenced to 30 Years in New York Sex Trafficking Conviction
https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/r-kelly-sentenced-sex-trafficking-conviction-racketeering-1235108165/
‘Stranger Things 4’ Sets Nielsen Streaming Record
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stranger-things-4-all-time-nielsen-streaming-high-1235174960/
US Newspapers Continuing to Die at Rate of 2 Each Week
https://apnews.com/article/journalism-united-states-39ef84c1131267233768bbb4dcaa181b
Disney Board Votes to Renew CEO Bob Chapek’s Contract
https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-board-votes-to-renew-ceo-bob-chapeks-contract-11656448976
CAA-ICM Merger to Result in 105 Layoffs
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/caa-icm-layoffs-merger-1235305136/
Olympic Channel’s 5-Year Run on NBCU Ends
https://frontofficesports.com/olympic-channels-5-year-run-on-nbcu-ends/ -
Showbiz Sandbox 587: How To Succeed on Broadway After a Global Pandemic
With this year’s Tony Awards having been doled out, the 29 shows currently running on Broadway are taking stock of what’s working, which ones should stick around and which should stop raising their curtains. At least 14 have announced closing dates or are expected to soon, including some big musical productions. Others are recasting their big stars. But hope springs eternal on Broadway as new plays and musicals gear up to light up the Great White Way.
Meanwhile, “Top Gun: Maverick” has crossed into the billion dollar club making it the first film in Tom Cruise’s career to hit such a milestone. The actor showed up at CineEurope last week for a bit of a victory lap. We’ll bring you all the latest news from the event.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the future of K-Pop superstars, BTS, the winners of this year’s BET awards and Apple’s big bet on sports broadcasting.
Kate Bush Shatters U.K. Records as ‘Running Up That Hill’ Reaches No. 1
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kate-bush-uk-records-running-up-that-hill-no-1-1235089438/
‘Top Gun’ Tops $1B WW, ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Nears $750M Global ‘& ‘Elvis’ Enters With $51M
https://deadline.com/2022/06/top-gun-maverick-jurassic-world-dominion-elvis-global-china-international-box-office-1235052205/
‘Elvis’ Beats ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ By $1 Million in Heated Box Office Battle
https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/box-office-top-gun-maverick-elvis-winner-1235304037/
Paul Haggis Arrested in Italy on Sexual Assault Charges
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/paul-haggis-arrested-rape-charges-1235298298/
BET Awards 2022: See The Complete List of Winners
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/26/entertainment/bet-awards-2022-winners-list/index.html
BTS to Take a Break as K-Pop Band Members Announce ‘Hiatus’ to Pursue Solo Work
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/15/k-pop-band-bts-to-take-a-break-as-members-pursue-solo-work
BTS’ J-Hope Reveals the Title of His Solo Single, Teases Upcoming Album With New Photos
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bts-j-hope-solo-single-jack-in-the-box-photos-1235106868/
Apple Strikes 10-Year Rights Pact With Major League Soccer
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/apple-major-league-soccer-rights-deal-1235293830/
‘General Hospital,’ ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’ Top Winners at Daytime Emmys 2022
https://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/daytime-emmys-2022-winners-list-1235303165/
“There’s a Lot of Shows and Not as Many People”: Behind Broadway’s Closures... -
Showbiz Sandbox 586: Tony Awards Help Broadway Get Its Groove Back
After all of the obstacles the pandemic forced plays and musicals to deal with, this year’s Tony Awards looked to raise the curtain on a revived Broadway. The ceremony managed to honor some of the best productions and performances from last season while celebrating the efforts the Broadway community made just to stay in business. We’ll look at how they might help and hurt this year’s batch winners and mention a few of our favorite performances.
Meanwhile, just as movie theaters are looking to rebound from the pandemic, exhibitors in the United Kindom found themselves in a difficult position over a film depicting the early days of Islam. And Disney is saying au revoir to theatrical in France unless that country changes its rules on theatrical release windows.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including some new categories for the Grammy Awards, the rare disorder forcing Justin Bieber to cancel tour dates and why a top executive at Disney is being forced out of the company.
Kenny Loggins on How He Tackled Ex-Wives and Addiction in New Memoir
https://parade.com/1392562/michael-giltz/kenny-loggins-memoir-2022/
In New Book, Happy-Go-Lucky, David Sedaris Laughs at Death, Carefully
https://parade.com/1390314/michael-giltz/david-sedaris-happy-go-lucky/
‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Roars To $392M WW As ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Soars To $747M
https://deadline.com/2022/06/top-gun-maverick-jurassic-world-dominion-china-global-international-box-office-1235043511/
‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Keeps Box Office Hot With $143 Million Opening
https://www.thewrap.com/jurassic-world-dominion-box-office-143-million/
How The Media Failed Amber Heard
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/how-media-failed-amber-heard-on-the-media
2022 Tony Awards Winners
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2022-Tony-Awards-Winners–Updating-Live-20220612
Andrew Lloyd Webber Booed After Calling His ‘Cinderella’ Musical a ‘Costly Mistake’ During Final Curtain Call
https://variety.com/2022/theater/news/andrew-lloyd-webber-cinderella-west-end-1235291917/
French Exhibitors’ Org Decries Disney’s Move To Bypass Cinemas With ‘Strange World’
https://deadline.com/2022/06/french-exhibitors-decry-disney-strange-world-decision-streaming-1235040553/
Viacom18 Catches Digital Rights To Indian Premier League Cricket For $2.6B
https://deadline.com/2022/06/viacom18-catches-streaming-rights-to-indian-premier-league-cricket-disneys-star-sports-retains-tv-broadcasts-1235044121/ -
Showbiz Sandbox 585: Entertainment Industry Stumble Into Sociopolitical Pitfalls
Social justice and political issues have been making life complicated for movie studios, record labels and concert promoters. Whether you’re casting a movie, choosing a director, booking a live performance or releasing a new album, you’ll also be having to deal with their past, present and sometimes even future behavior. Just ask Johnny Depp, filmmaker Cary Fukunaga and comedian Louis C.K.
Rolling Stone knows a thing or two about digging into the past of the musicians it covers. As the war in Ukraine marches on the magazine published a piece on all the big name pop stars who’ve been paid millions over the years to perform at private parties and events for Russian oligarchs.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Mariah Carey is being sued for plagiarism, the most watched television shows from the past year and musician Kate Bush has a new old hit thanks to “Stranger Things.”
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Soars To $557M Global Through Sunday; ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Grabs $56M In Early Bow
https://deadline.com/2022/06/top-gun-maverick-tom-cruise-500-million-second-weekend-jurassic-world-dominion-doctor-strange-global-international-boxofficeinternational-box-office-1235038582/
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Keeps Flying High at Box Office With $86 Million 2nd Weekend
https://www.thewrap.com/top-gun-maverick-box-office-86-million/
In Tribute to National Drive-in Movie Day, Drive-in Theatre Owners Launch New Drive-in Website
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/in-tribute-to-national-drive-in-movie-day-drive-in-theatre-owners-launch-new-drive-in-website-www-authenticdriveins-com/
A Big Lie in a New Package
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/29/us/politics/2000-mules-trump-conspiracy-theory.html
Pop Stars Made Millions From Russian Oligarchs. Now Some Have Regrets
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/russian-oligarchs-guns-n-roses-robbie-williams-jennifer-lopez-1349163/
‘Stranger Things’ Surges Past ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ In Streaming Showdown, Posting Biggest U.S. Debut Since March 2020, Nielsen Says
https://deadline.com/2022/06/stranger-things-netflix-obi-wan-kenobi-star-wars-disney-plus-nielsen-streaming-1235038981/
Mariah Carey is Sued Over ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ Song
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/06/04/mariah-carey-lawsuit-all-i-want-for-christmas/
Vince Vance & The Valiants – All I Want For Christmas Is You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8HWHd0EYJA
100 Most-Watched TV Series of 2021-22: This Season’s Winners and Losers -
Showbiz Sandbox: Movies Were the Stars at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival
After the COVID pandemic hampered the Cannes Film Festival over the last two years, the 2022 edition moved back to its usual May time frame with all the glamor and artistry that has made it one of the most important annual cinematic events in the world. Despite critics’ complaints about what was deemed a weak official selection, the festival featured its fair share of impressive films from noteworthy auteurs.
What’s more, many of these movies will find audiences as distributors were rather active in acquiring titles to release theatrically over the next 12 months.
On this special episode of Showbiz Sandbox we are joined by Karen Krizanovich, an independent journalist and broadcaster, not to mention a member of the London Film Critics Circle, as well as Stephen Garrett, the founder of the movie marketing firm Jump Cut who covered the festival for the New York Observer. Both attended this year’s Cannes Film Festival and we’ll discuss the highs and lows of the latest edition, which concluded last weekend. -
Showbiz Sandbox 584: Cannes Film Festival Showcases Industry Revival
Unlike some years, there was no frontrunner or obvious favorite to win the Palme d’Or at the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival which concluded over the weekend. Instead, the social satire “Triangle of Sadness” from Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund took the festival’s top prize, the second time he has won the award. We discuss the highlights and big winners from this year’s Cannes.
Meanwhile “Top Gun: Maverick,” which was shown at Cannes, finally premiered in movie theaters setting all kinds of box office records. It is far and away the biggest opening weekend its star Tom Cruise has ever had as it looks to go on and become his biggest hit.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the winner of this year’s Eurovision song contest, Justin Timberlake sells his recording catalog and politicians hope to strip Disney of its Mickey Mouse copyright.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Is Supersonic With $124M Overseas Opening In Career-Best For Tom Cruise; WW At $248M Through Sunday
https://deadline.com/2022/05/top-gun-maverick-tom-cruise-opening-records-global-international-box-office-1235034560/
Box Office: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Debuts to Stratospheric $124 Million
https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/top-gun-maverick-box-office-opening-weekend-tom-cruise-1235280787/
2022 Cannes Awards: Full Winners List, from Song Kang Ho to ‘Triangle of Sadness’
https://www.indiewire.com/2022/05/cannes-winners-list-palme-dor-2022-1234728775/
Ekko Cannes 2022 Critics Grid
https://www.ekkofilm.dk/stjernebarometer/cannes-filmfestival-2022/
Ukraine Wins Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final 2022
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/14/arts/eurovision-final
Does the Justin Timberlake Song Sale Price Make Sense?
https://www.billboard.com/pro/justin-timberlake-hipgnosis-publishing-song-sale-price-analysis/
Bad Bunny Debuts at No. 1 With Year’s Best Single-Week Tally For ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bad-bunny-un-verano-sin-ti-five-burning-questions-1235072390/
Kevin Spacey, James Franco, and More Are Trying to Make Comebacks at Cannes
https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/cannes-canceled-stars-scandal-spacey-franco-besson-baldwin-1357049/
Kevin Spacey Film Producers Respond to U.K. Sexual Assault Charges: “There Are Those Who Wish for Him Not to Act”
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kevin-spacey-film-producers-respond-to-u-k-sexual-assault-cha...
Customer Reviews
Great Informative Podcast
The hosts are very knowledgeable about the entertainment business. I like that they cover music, theatre and television and not just movies. I really like it that they also interview good guests from all over the world to speak about whatever topic they’re discussing. It’s a good way to stay on top of all the entertainment news.
Informative and also entertaining
I’ve been listening to this show for a while now and it never fails to fill me in on some news story I wasn’t aware of. The focus here is definitely entertainment business focused. The hosts are knowledgeable and witty. They often have some really good high level guests to interview. One of the better podcasts I stumbled across.
Re: QUEEN’S GAMBIT
Re the pending IATSE strike and just as an FYI, “The Queens’s Gambit” was almost entirely filmed in Berlin, Germany, except for the exteriors of Beth Harmon’s suburban house, which were filmed in Ontario, Canada.
And speaking of “Queen’s Gambit,” you guys might want to spend more air time going forward on popular streaming series. “Squid Game” will probably be seen by more people worldwide in a shorter amount of time than any movie ever shown in a theater. As to how much money it makes and for whom — who knows? But there’s a big entertainment story there, and in other smash series.
Love the show, guys. Hi, Michael! Tom Phillips