Steve Pond's Blog, page 117

Trump Parade Boosts Fox News to Best Saturday Primetime Ratings Since First Assassination Attempt

Donald Trump’s parade boosted Fox News to reach its best Saturday primetime ratings since the first assassination attempt against him in 2024.

Coverage of the Army 250 Parade, which aired from 6 to 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, brought in 4.9 million total viewers and 700,000 viewers in the key cable demo among adults 25-54 on Fox News, and peaked with 5.5 million viewers during the 8 p.m. ET hour. Saturday, June 14, marked Fox News’ highest rated Saturday in primetime since coverage of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania in July 2024.

As expected, Fox News’ coverage of the parade was the most-watched of all the cable news networks, with CNN scoring an average viewership of 1.1 million and MSNBC averaging 1.27 million viewers. In the demo, CNN brought in 222,000 viewers ages 25-54 while MSNBC scored 145,000 demo viewers.

Both CNN and MSNBC’s coverage peaked in the 6 p.m. hour with 1.24 million viewers and 1.39 million viewers, respectively, compared to the rest of the night.

Fox News touted that the coverage scored over 3.4 million video views across live streams, shorts and VODs on YouTube, according to YouTube analytics, and scored 47.7 million video views and 4.6 million social media interactions, per Emplifi. 

While all three networks covered the parade, Fox news hosted a four-hour special hosted by Lawrence Jones and Emily Compagno, which featured commentary from Bret Baier and Lucas Tomlinson, among others.

Cable news programming during the day on Saturday also spotlighted the nationwide “No Kings” protest, which was crafted in response to the military parade, which took place on Trump’s birthday.

The post Trump Parade Boosts Fox News to Best Saturday Primetime Ratings Since First Assassination Attempt appeared first on TheWrap.

Original ‘Blade’ Screenwriter Baffled by Marvel’s Fumbling of Mahershala Ali Reboot: ‘It’s Not Complicated’ | Video

Screenwriter David S. Goyer — known for superhero outings like “Batman Begins” and, yes, the original “Blade” trilogy — visited the”Happy Sad Confused” podcast Tuesday to talk about that first Christopher Nolan film’s 20th anniversary. But he also took a moment to take some shots at the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade struggling adaptation.

Host Josh Horowitz invited Goyer onto “Happy Sad Confused” to discuss the creation and legacy of the Batman origin film, but the host didn’t miss the chance to ask Goyer (who wrote the Wesley Snipes “Blade” trilogy and directed “Blade: Trinity” in 2004) why the MCU continues to struggle with its own adaptation of the daywalker.

“In my mind, I think Blade is a relatively simple story,” Goyer said. “It’s not complicated.”

You can watch the “Happy Sad Confused” episode below:

Goyer and Horowitz touched on the widely reported production issues on the MCU’s Mahershala Ali-starring “Blade” reboot, saying they don’t know where the difficulty comes from. Though Goyer thinks returning to the character would be a bad idea for him (Nolan cautioned Goyer against writing “Batman v. Superman” after his work on the “Dark Knight” trilogy), Goyer still said he’s “baffled” by the current situation.

“What is the promise of the movie?” he asked. “The promise of ‘Blade,’ a new ‘Blade,’ is that it should have insane ass-kicking, it should be pretty scary, might be R-rated, and it doesn’t have to be — it should not be complicated.”

No project in the MCU has suffered such a public stay in development hell as “Blade.” Kevin Feige first announced “Blade” at Comic-Con in 2019, sending the crowd into applause as two-time Oscar winner Ali walked onstage wearing a “Blade” hat. At the same panel, Feige discussed a number of MCU films and series — including “WandaVision,” “Eternals” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” — all of which have since been released. Just before he announced “Blade,” Feige said he “didn’t even have time to talk about the Fantastic Four,” which will release in theaters next month.

Since this date, “Blade” faced a number of complications and setbacks in the pre-production phase. The COVID pandemic and Hollywood strikes contributed to the delays. In the nearly six years since the announcement, “Blade” has lost two directors, worked through multiple scripts and parted with cast members such as Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre. In October 2024, Disney removed “Blade” from its slate.

Aside from a brief voice cameo at the end of “Eternals,” Ali has yet to appear as Blade in the MCU. A new “Blade” film would now mark the fifth time the character has appeared on theater screens. This follows the original “Blade” trilogy and Snipes’ performance as the daywalker in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

In “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Snipes’ Blade seemingly takes a shot at the reboot, saying, “There’s only been one Blade. There’s only ever gonna be one Blade.”

The post Original ‘Blade’ Screenwriter Baffled by Marvel’s Fumbling of Mahershala Ali Reboot: ‘It’s Not Complicated’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Pedro Pascal Lookalike Winner Goes on ‘The Daily Show,’ Begs the Real Pedro Pascal to Come Meet His Wife | Video

The Pedro Pascal lookalike winner is using his new clout for good – convincing the real Pedro Pascal to meet his wife.

On Father’s Day, Greg Gountas attended and won the lookalike contest to the tune of $50 and burritos for a year. A fun twist was that Gountas is a lighting designer on “The Daily Show” and Jon Stewart brought him out to talk about the win and what he had planned with all his new popularity.

“Her position is that ‘I’m cool with you getting all of this attention if I can meet Pedro Pascal,” he said.

After directing the cameras to pull in on him he made his plea: “Hey Pedro, this is Pedro #5 from New York, it would be a great, great gift if you could meet my wife Jenny, it would mean the world to her, we need to make this happen.”

The winner of the Pedro Pascal lookalike contest is also The Daily Show's lighting designer, George Gountas! #AfterTheCut pic.twitter.com/PTrVURVnLS

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 17, 2025

Gountas explained that he was told to enter the contest by “The Daily Show” stage manager but forgot about it until a few days before. He enlisted the help of a stylist who lives in his building to get his look together last minute and when he showed up for the event the people signing him in said “you’re going to win.”

His wife Jenny Gania told the New York Post after his win that they’d heard he looked like “The Last of Us” star for the last few years.

“It started when the ‘Game of Thrones’ came out the first time — that’s when we first heard it,” she said. “Then some kids started noting it, too, so I was like, when we saw this [contest], I was like, ‘It’s Father’s Day. You have to go. It’s going to be your Father’s Day treat.”

The lookalike contest is not the only one that’s been held in the city. In October actor Timothée Chalamet crashed his own lookalike contest, much to the delight of participants and the assembled crowd.

The post Pedro Pascal Lookalike Winner Goes on ‘The Daily Show,’ Begs the Real Pedro Pascal to Come Meet His Wife | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Jon Hamm Prefers to Play the Bad Guy: ‘Superman Can Be Kind of Boring’

Jon Hamm does not have as much fun playing the good guy.

In an interview with W, the “Mad Men” alum explained that even though he has the look of a Clark Kent/Superman type he does not feel as compelled by boy scout or the hero. He prefers more of the “sinner” role.

“I think people can relate to characters making bad decisions, because we’ve all made them,” Hamm said. “My history of characters isn’t exactly the saints; it’s more on the sinner side of the equation. But Superman can be kind of boring. No offense to the new Superman [David Corenswet], who I hope is a delightful person.”

Hamm has kept to his word when it comes to playing characters with a darker side. He has been a recurring villain in Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” where he plays tech billionaire Paul Marks. The most recent season ended with the exposure of his illegal business practices being threatened by Jennifer Aniston’s character Alex.

The actor double-dipped at Apple TV+ and starred in 2025’s “Your Friends and Neighbors” – which he also serves as executive producer on. TheWrap reviewer Diedre Johnson called the show “delightfully watchable.”

“Although good in most of his roles, if there’s one type Hamm has nailed, it’s the uber successful businessman,” Johnson wrote.

She added: “‘Your Friends & Neighbors‘ is not only a dark comedy but also a cynical look at wealthy and aspiring one-percenters at mid-life. A strong cast of talented actors bring magic into the dynamic nine-episode drama.”

The post Jon Hamm Prefers to Play the Bad Guy: ‘Superman Can Be Kind of Boring’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Max Adds AI Component to Autoplay Video Previews on Homepage

Beginning this week, Max is adding an AI component to autoplay video previews on the homepage — the clips that start playing when a user hovers over a title.

The feature, which is designed to improve content discovery and will be available for all U.S. adult profiles across all subscription tiers on connected TV devices, comes after video previews first launched on the platform earlier this year.

However, users who count themselves among the many that strongly dislike autoplay video on streaming services will still be able to turn the feature off for video and audio from the settings and playback menu.

Additionally, WBD is launching a new in-house AI-assisted tool in the coming weeks that will be used to identify and suggest popular and recognizable short scenes from library content to be featured as previews. The tool will help recommend standout scenes for the Max team to then choose to use on the homepage.

The latest homepage update comes after Max launched an updated navigation menu back in January, which moved the Home, Series, Movies, HBO, B/R Sports, and CNN Max categories from the top of the page into the left side. It also introduced a “What’s New” navigation page showing content that recently arrived on the platform or is leaving soon and “Categories,” which allows users to browse by genre, brand, and thematic collections. 

It also introduced a “Channels” feature in December, which allows subscribers to stream live feeds of HBO programming directly from the service’s app through simulcasts. Channels include HBO, HBO2, HBO Signature, HBO Comedy and HBO Zone.

Max will of course cease to be known as Max later this summer, .

Additionally, Max is in the midst of rolling out its password sharing crackdown and will

The post Max Adds AI Component to Autoplay Video Previews on Homepage appeared first on TheWrap.

Jason Isaacs Reveals What He Thinks New Lucius Malfoy Johnny Flynn Will Change in the ‘Harry Potter’ Series | Video

As Johnny Flynn takes over the role of Lucius Malfoy in HBO’s new “Harry Potter” TV show, Jason Isaacs doesn’t think Flynn will embrace the same long blonde hair worn by Isaacs in the movie series.

“I don’t think that anything will be the same,” Isaacs told TheWrap in a recent interview. “I know they’re reinventing everything, redesigning everything.”

“Since I came up with that particular look — the hair and the cane and the capes and all that stuff — I’m pretty sure Johnny is an original thinker, and he will go in another direction,” Isaacs continued. “I can’t wait to see what he does.”

Isaacs has previously revealed that he came up with the idea of donning a long blonde wig in the “Harry Potter” movies after not being content with the initial character sketches, which portrayed Lucius in a suit with short hair. Isaacs revealed that he crafted a tin foil wig and a curtain cape and presented the idea to director Christopher Columbus, who saw potential in the new look.

Flynn, who is best known for playing Mr. Knightley in the 2020 adaptation of “Emma.” opposite Anya Taylor-Joy, was announced as the new Lucius Malfoy in early June, joining John Lithgow’s Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer’s Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu’s Severus Snape and Nick Frost’s Rubeus Hagrid.

For Isaacs, who worked with Flynn in 2021 movie “Operation Mincemeat,” there couldn’t be “any better” choice to play Draco Malfoy’s father, who is frequently at odds with titular character Harry Potter, which will be played by Dominic McLaughlin. In the original series, Isaacs played Lucius, the father of Tom Felton’s Draco, a role which will be played by Lox Pratt in the new series.

Isaacs applauded Flynn as a “fantastic actor” and “an irritatingly brilliant musician as well.”

“He’s incredibly likable, so I can’t wait for him to be obnoxious and disgusting and a terrible father,” Isaacs said. “I know many of the cast, and they’re all brilliant, and people who are negative about it are being idiots because it’s going to be sensational.”

The post Jason Isaacs Reveals What He Thinks New Lucius Malfoy Johnny Flynn Will Change in the ‘Harry Potter’ Series | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Dune Messiah’ Adds Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke as Paul Atreides’ Children

Warner Bros./Legendary’s upcoming “Dune Messiah” has made two additions to its cast, as Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke are set to play Paul Atreides and Chani’s twin children, Leto II and Ghanima.

Legendary declined to comment.

It will be Momoa’s feature acting debut as he is expected to star alongside his father, Jason Momoa. The elder Momoa starred in the first “Dune” as the warrior Duncan Idaho and has said in interviews that he will return in “Messiah” as a ghola — an artificial clone — of Duncan. Brooke is a relative newcomer as well, having made her debut in the Apple TV+ sci-fi series “Silo,” alongside “Dune” star Rebecca Ferguson.

“Dune Messiah” is the second of Frank Herbert’s six “Dune” novels and completes the story of Paul Atreides, whose quest to avenge the death of his father leads to him becoming an emperor that wages a jihad on the galaxy with armies of Fremen, the people of the highly sought-after desert planet of Arrakis.

Combined, Denis Villeneuve’s two-film adaptation of “Dune” has grossed $1.12 billion at the global box office. The third and expected final film of his saga is currently scheduled for a release in December 2026, though that date is expected to change due to Disney’s move of Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday” into that holiday season.

The casting was first reported by Deadline.

The post ‘Dune Messiah’ Adds Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke as Paul Atreides’ Children appeared first on TheWrap.

Led by YouTube, Streaming Eclipses Cable and Broadcast for First Time With 44.8% of TV Viewing

Streaming has officially outpaced cable and broadcast’s combined share of total TV usage, per Nielsen’s latest Gauge report, posting a record 44.8% share of viewership in May — a 71% increase over the last four years.

In comparison, broadcast and cable posted shares of 20.1% and 24.1% for the month, respectively, down 21% and 39% over the same four-year period.

“It’s fitting that this inflection point coincides with the four-year anniversary of Nielsen’s The Gauge, which has become the gold standard for streaming TV measurement,” Nielsen CEO Karthik Rao said in a statement. “It’s also a credit to media companies, who have deftly adapted their programming strategies to meet their viewers where they are watching TV — whether it’s on streaming or linear platforms.” 

Source: Nielsen

YouTube, which remains the industry leader for the fourth consecutive month with a record share of 12.5% in May, has increased its viewership over 120% since 2021. Meanwhile, Netflix, whose viewership has climbed 27% since 2021, finished May with a share of 7.5%, landing it in the second place spot.

Taking third place was Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ with an aggregate share of 5%, followed by Prime Video with 3.5%, The Roku Channel with 2.5%, Paramount+ and Pluto TV with an aggregate share of 2.2%, Tubi with 2.2%, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max and Discovery+ with an aggregate share of 1.5% and Peacock with 1.4%.

While streaming exceeding traditional TV viewership is expected to continue in the near future, Nielsen emphasized that it is “almost certainly” not permanent.

“This trend could continue into the summer months, but the balance will likely shift back — at least temporarily — as football kicks off and a new broadcast season returns,” the firm said.

The post Led by YouTube, Streaming Eclipses Cable and Broadcast for First Time With 44.8% of TV Viewing appeared first on TheWrap.

YouTube Debuts Open Call Tool to Connect Ad Campaigns With Multiple Creators at Once

YouTube is taking another step to more easily connect creators with advertisers. During Cannes Lions 2025, the company unveiled open call, a new feature powered by YouTube BrandConnect that allows brands to discover and partner with creators at scale.

Open call will live within YouTube’s creator partnerships hub. Inside the hub, advertisers will be able to publish a creative brief listing the details for their campaign. Advertisers will then open the campaign, allowing multiple creators within the YouTube Partner Program to contact them at once. Creators will respond with video content designed for that particular campaign. In turn, advertisers will be able to review and approve video submissions with their chosen creator videos being promoted as partnership ads.

“Open call gives creators of all sizes the opportunity to pursue new relationships with brands,” Melissa Hsieh Nikolic, the director of product management for YouTube Ads, said in a blog post announcing the tool.

Open call is currently only available for select advertisers. More details about the program will be announced in the coming months.

“The best brand partnerships result in authentic content that truly resonates with my audience,” Haley Kalil, a YouTube creator with 7.67 million subscribers, said of the new feature. “Creators know their online communities really well, so giving us as much creative freedom as possible is key to any successful brand partnership.”

Open call is not the first advertising tool YouTube has unveiled this year. Tied to the 2025 Newfronts and Upfronts, the brand highlighted its Insights Finder tool, which uses artificial intelligence to more seamlessly connect brands to creators.

The post YouTube Debuts Open Call Tool to Connect Ad Campaigns With Multiple Creators at Once appeared first on TheWrap.

Jimmy Kimmel Reminisces About Trump’s ‘Boring’ Parade: ‘There Were Flyovers, There Were Combovers’ | Video

Jimmy Kimmel chuckled and smirked a lot during his monologue on Monday while talking about how Donald Trump’s June 14 military parade flopped. He even looped in the current NBA finals, joking “we’re now one step closer to finding out which winning town — either Indianapolis or Oklahoma City — will host a much bigger parade than our President’s G.I. Joe-themed birthday party this weekend. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

Kimmel was referring to the parade Trump threw Saturday in DC, ostensibly marking the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, though it also just happened to fall on Trump’s birthday. The event was a flop, with noticeably low turnout that was vastly overshadowed by the “No Kings” protests held all over the U.S. on the same day.

“After all the hype, and money, somewhere around 50 million dollars, it was… boring,” Kimmel explained. “It was basically a 50-million-dollar version of when a five-year-old shows you every car in his Hot Wheels Collection… There were flyovers, there were combovers, the whole thing.”

Declaring Trump to be “Generalissimo Ballpark Franco,” Kimmel mocked cringe moments like when one of the soldiers marching carried a drone, joking, “who had the peppa-droni huh?”

Kimmel also poked fun at Trump for apparently falling asleep during the parade, quipping, “in fairness, that’s as close as he gets to being able to sleep with his wife, so he took the opportunity.”

Then Kimmel noted another awkward moment that he said “almost makes me feel bad for him. Almost,” at which point he played the famous clip of Trump attempting to hold Melania Trump’s hand at one point only to be brushed off.

“That’s known as the Slovenian Snub,” the ABC host said.

Later in the monologue, Kimmel touched on the turnout in detail. “Turnout was much lower than expected, or as Trump would say, there were ‘record setting crowds.’ The bleachers, you can see, were mostly empty. The crowds were sparse. There was not a whole lot of cheering for the tanks and military vehicles.”

“And that is – it’s a shame… but the lackluster crowd-size wasn’t Trump’s fault, and believe it or not, wasn’t even Biden’s fault! The blame for this one. goes squarely on the radical left-wing weather people,” Kimmel said, referring to inclement weather that hit D.C. on Saturday.

“Uh oh. Sounds like he’s about to start deporting meteorologists.”

Watch the monologue below:

The post Jimmy Kimmel Reminisces About Trump’s ‘Boring’ Parade: ‘There Were Flyovers, There Were Combovers’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.