Steve Pond's Blog, page 2036
December 19, 2019
Why Netflix Is Betting You’ll Want ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 – Before You’ve Seen Season 1
Netflix launches “The Witcher,” its Henry Cavill-led TV adaptation of the best-selling fantasy book series on Friday, and the streaming service is betting that the big-budget show will be a proportionally big hit, seeing as it’s already been renewed for a second season.
The streaming service’s freshman shows — including fan-favorites and critically acclaimed programs — are typically left in limbo, often for a few months, while Netflix waits for viewership data it uses to make its call rolls in. But in November, more than a month out from the Season 1 launch, Netflix ordered a second batch of eight episodes for the fantasy series, which are set to go into production in London in early 2020 for a planned debut in 2021.
So why is “The Witcher” the exception to this rule?
Also Read: 11 TV Winners and Losers of 2019: From Fox's 'The Masked Singer' to Jussie Smollett
There are a few reasons behind this decision. While Netflix declined TheWrap’s request for comment, an individual with knowledge of the company’s strategy tells TheWrap that the answer mostly boils down to a leap of faith, not only on the beloved IP created by author Andrzej Sapkowski, but the team that’s adapting it and the cast.
Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich,”The Witcher” TV series tells the story of Geralt of Rivia (Cavill), a solitary monster hunter whom destiny brings together with the powerful sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and Ciri (Freya Allan), a young princess with a dangerous secret, with the three joining forces to navigate the Continent and its many evils.
The first season of the show doesn’t even cover the entire plot of the first book in the series, so Netflix believes there is plenty of story left to tell. The same can be said for other titles that are based on known IP (just look at “Game of Thrones”), making it somewhat less of a risk to make an early investment in Season 2 than it would be for something that’s totally unknown, the insider said.
Also Read: 45 Most Shocking TV Character Deaths of 2019, From 'Game of Thrones' to 'Stranger Things' (Photos)
According to the individual, though Netflix doesn’t know how “The Witcher” will take off — especially given how passionate fans of the books are — they do know enough story is there to work with and have confidence in their creative team’s direction.
Another factor that was on “The Witcher’s” side when it came to that second-season pickup was time. Netflix needed to get into production on Season 2 as soon as possible — due to talent and creative’s schedules, the availability of shooting locations and the time it takes to put in visual effects in post production — and decided to announce the renewal ahead of the series premiere because otherwise the news could have leaked when filming began, the insider said.
Also Read: 'The Witcher' Gets Early Season 2 Renewal at Netflix
While “The Witcher” is Netflix’s only early Season 2 renewal in recent history, it’s one of several streaming shows to get its second season ahead of its initial premiere in 2019:
Amazon Prime Video renewed both superhero series “The Boys” and fantasy drama “Carnival Row” before they dropped their first seasons this summer, and announced a fifth season for “The Expanse” long before the December launch of the show’s fourth season — its first on Amazon. It has also ordered a second season of its “Lord of the Rings” TV series before its even announced the cast for Season 1.
Disney+ picked up another year of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” before it debuted with the platform’s launch Nov. 12 and, though it hasn’t formally been renewed, “The Mandalorian” is already in production on Season 2. and
Apple TV+ renewed space-race drama “For All Mankind,” M. Night Shyamalan thriller “Servant,” and anthology series “Little America” ahead of their respective premieres, with comedy “Dickinson” and sci-fi epic “See” being picked up for second seasons just a few days after they dropped with the launch of the streaming service on Nov. 1. (Note: Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon’s “The Morning Show” received an initial two-season order from Apple in 2017.)
With all of those early pickups coming in this year, it’s hard to not see a trend developing in streaming service’s doubling down before they know if you’re even going to watch their new shows. But it’s a bit more complicated than that.
Also Read: 'The Witcher' Showrunner Says Netflix Series Will Never Adapt the Video Games
First off, it’s mainly these big-budget shows that need to get back into production to avoid wasting time — and thus money — that are getting the early pickups, most notably “Lord of the Rings,” “The Mandalorian,” “See” and, of course, “The Witcher.” And not every streaming series comes with as big a price tag as these, so the platforms can afford to wait it out, as they know waiting won’t cost them a bundle.
Secondly, in the case of Apple TV+ and Disney+’s early orders, they are new streaming services trying to build their original slates from scratch. And though Disney has an extensive library of nostalgia content among its platform’s offerings and Apple, well, doesn’t, they are both going about their Season 2 pickups in a similar fashion to what Netflix did when it decided to break into original content by placing an initial two-season order for “House of Cards” in 2011. So it’s less unusual for a new platform to be ordering additional seasons of its launch shows than it is for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, who already have multiple seasons of originals available for streaming and don’t need to take a risk in picking up more of something brand new before they know how you’ll respond to it.
And that brings us back to “The Witcher,” a series that proves there’s an exception to Netflix’s rule. And while we can’t predict whether or not this gamble will pay off for Netflix, if it does, it could mean more future exceptions.
Related stories from TheWrap:
'The Witcher' Gets Early Season 2 Renewal at Netflix
'The Witcher' Finally Gets a Premiere Date From Netflix – Watch the First Trailer Here (Video)
45 Most Shocking TV Character Deaths of 2019, From 'Game of Thrones' to 'Stranger Things' (Photos)
Wakanda Forever! USDA Website Briefly Listed Black Panther’s Home Country as a Trade Partner
Wakanda forever doesn’t apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website, where the fictional nation was removed from an online list of agricultural trade partners for the U.S. on Wednesday after a brief and mistaken appearance.
The USDA removed Wakanda from its online Agricultural Tariff Tracker, which tracks the cost of importing and exporting goods from countries that have free trade agreements with the U.S. Other (real) countries tracked with the tool include Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru.
A USDA spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, but an official told NBC News the fictional home of Marvel superhero Black Panther was on the list as part of a “test.”
Also Read: 12 Best Superhero Movies of the Decade, From 'Avengers' to 'Black Panther' to 'Joker' (Photos)
The test was thorough: According to NBC News, before Black Panther’s home was removed from the site, it was shown to export vegetables, coffee beans, essential oil and livestock. The base rate for yellow potatoes was “0.5 cent/kg” when they were shipped to America from Wakanda, the network wrote. As for frozen Chinese water chestnuts, they were free of tariffs if imported from Wakanda. Cows, too, were tariff-free.
There is a disclaimer on the site that notes “information displayed is not official and should only be used as a general reference. Each importing countries customs office maintains the right for final determination of tariff treatment.”
Related stories from TheWrap:
'Black Panther II' Set for May 2022 Release Date
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Triller Lands More Than $10 Million in Investments From Snoop Dogg, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and More (Exclusive)
Triller, a music-focused social video platform rivaling TikTok, has secured strategic investments from major music industry figures amounting to more than $10 million.
Terms of the deals have not been made public, but an individual familiar with the investment told TheWrap the total amount is in the $10 million to $20 million range.
Triller’s new investors include Snoop Dogg, The Weeknd, Marshmello, Lil Wayne, YoungThug, Kendrick Lamar, Pitbull, Baron Davis, Tyga, TI, and Jake Paul and, along with mega-music managers Gee Roberson, Moe Shilizi (the creator of Marshmello and founder of The Shalizi Group), Amir “Cash” Esmailian and Tony W. Sal of XO, and Ash Pounouri.
“We are incredibly fortunate to work with some of the largest artists on the planet, and today’s announcement about our increasing portfolio of partnerships and collaborations with top labels and artists marks perhaps the most significant shift in music since the creation of streaming,” Triller CEO Mike Lu said. “We are truly putting the music business back together, and artists recognize the importance of Triller to the future of the industry.”
Also Read: Ryan Kavanaugh's Proxima Media Invests $28 Million in TikTok Rival Triller (Exclusive)
Notable music industry executives such as Shawn Gee (President of Live Nation Urban), Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith (Chief Executive Officer of TDE), Abe Burns (President of Maverick Digital), James Prince (CEO of Rap-a-Lot Records), and Believe Digital, among others, have also invested in Triller.
Triller reports rapid recent growth, and says it has 26.5 million monthly active users in the U.S. and more than 75 million worldwide. That could put it on track to surpass TikTok domestically; the Chinese company reports 26.5 million monthly active users in the U.S.
The video platform found itself in hot water last month when Triller staffers revolted over the perception that app was being commandeered by Trump supporters after a Trump-driven #MagaChallenge rap contest went viral and drove millions of new views.
Triller says it has the highest engagement of any music social platform in terms of daily time spent on the app, reporting that users spend an average of 20 minutes per day and creators spend over one hour. The company recently acquired MashTraxx, a machine-learning platform for music and video editing, with nine industry-defining patents.
Also Read: Trump #MAGAChallenge at TikTok Rival Triller Sparks Resignations, Protests (Exclusive)
The artists’ equity investments announced on Thursday also involve a strategic partnership with Triller, which also has licensing partnerships with the majority of the top studios, including Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group.
“Triller has been an incredible platform for artist discovery and has helped take artists to the next level. Partnering and working with large, established artists like Marshmello to emerging artists like Roddyricch, Triller is revolutionizing the music industry by allowing streams to count towards artists on the platform,” said Shalizi Group founder and CEO Moe Shalizi. “This transaction demonstrates their commitment to artists and the business and deepens artists connection to their fans.”
Back in October Ryan Kavanaugh’s Proxima Media bought a majority investment in Triller, worth $28 million. At the time Proxima also brought in a number of strategic investors, including Silicon Valley veteran, Mahi de Silva, who assumed the role of chairman at Triller.
Also Read: TikTok Under National Security Review From U.S. Government
In addition to Triller’s new investors and partnerships, the company said on Thursday that users who subscribe to the platform can stream full-length songs in-app for free — as opposed to 30 to 60-second clips — from virtually every label, directly within the Triller app. Users can also save songs to their own playlists and access playlists.
“One of the most common questions any music app gets from music and label partners is ‘how will this app help our streaming numbers?'” Triller vice president of content and strategy Lauren Braun Diamont said. “Triller has unlocked the secrets to social streaming, by closing the loop between viral videos and music streams.”
Related stories from TheWrap:
Trump #MAGAChallenge at TikTok Rival Triller Sparks Resignations, Protests (Exclusive)
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TiVo to Merge With Xperi Corp in $1.2 Billion All-Stock Deal
TiVo, the inventor of the digital video recorder, and the audio and imaging technology firm Xperi Corp. on Thursday announced a definitive agreement to merge in all-stock deal valued at $1.2 billion, Bloomberg reported.
TiVo shareholders would own 54% of the combined company, which would be run by current Xperi CEO Jon Kirchner.
The new company had $1.09 billion in TiVo revenue and 1Xperi billings and more than $250 million in operating cash flow on a pro forma basis for the twelve months ended September 30, 2019. The companies expect to achieve at least $50 million in savings by year-end 2021 through the merger.
On Wednesday, TiVo stock closed at $7.89, up 3.27%, while Xperi shares fell 1.55% to $20.94. Each company has a market cap of roughly $1 billion. The combined enterprise value is approximately $3 billion.
Also Read: 12 Biggest Media and Tech Deals of the Decade, From Facebook-Instagram to Disney-Fox
Due to the deal, TiVo will suspend its plan to spin off its patent portfolio in the first half of 2020. San Jose-based Xperi also has a portfolio of patents, licensing software for playing back high-definition sounds on consumer electronics and imaging software that lets smartphone cameras recognize faces.
“There is more content, and more ways to enjoy that content, than ever before,” TiVo CEO David Shull said in a statement. “In a rapidly expanding and fragmenting digital universe, consumers want and need to be able to easily find and enjoy the content that matters to them. TiVo has always been the company that brings entertainment together. Now, we can significantly expand our mission. With Xperi’s annual licensing of more than 100 million connected TV units, and complementary relationships with major content providers, consumer electronics manufacturers, and automotive original equipment manufacturers, our combined company will transform the home, car, and mobile entertainment experience for the consumer.”
Reps for TiVo and Xperi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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12 Biggest Media and Tech Deals of the Decade, From Facebook-Instagram to Disney-Fox
‘The Gentlemen’ Film Review: Guy Ritchie Gets His Mojo Back in a Tale That Recalls His Early Breakthroughs
The first line in “The Gentlemen” is spoken by Matthew McConaughey’s Mickey Pearce, a smartly tailored gangster who strolls into a London pub and orders a pint of beer and a pickled egg. The brewery’s name on the bar tap is “Gritchie,” but even without that gag it would be obvious that this is not just a Guy Ritchie film — it’s the kind of Guy Ritchie film that made him a hot property two decades ago.
To be specific, “The Gentlemen” is cut from the same cloth as “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and its bigger-budgeted follow-up, “Snatch.” Mixing a love of old-school East End low-lifes, 1990s flash (freeze frames, captions, voice-overs), flamboyant dialogue, and plots so complicated that you needed a flow chart to follow them, these two Britpop-era crime capers prompted a rash of dreary copycat films about mockney geezers with guns doing dodgy drug deals.
Ritchie himself moved on, without ever fulfilling his promise to become the British Tarantino. After writing and directing “Swept Away” — a legendary turkey starring his then-wife, Madonna — his next mob movies “Revolver” and “RocknRolla” exemplified the law of diminishing returns. Eventually, he settled into being Hollywood’s leading exponent of B-list studio franchises, some more successful (“Sherlock Holmes,” “Aladdin”) than others (“The Man From U.N.C.L.E,” “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword”).
Watch Video: Matthew McConaughey Is 'Not For Sale' in Trailer for Guy Ritchie's Gangster Movie 'The Gentlemen'
Now he’s back on home turf. Mobile phones and social media feature in the labyrinthine plot, half the characters have straggly beards, and Bugzy Malone does some rapping, but in every other respect “The Gentlemen” smacks of the 1990s. It even includes a shot beloved of Tarantino wannabes everywhere — a couple of guys peering into the boot of a car, as seen by the poor sap who has been stuffed inside.
To cite another example of the film’s retro sensibility, Hugh Grant plays Fletcher, a grubby private investigator who works for a tabloid newspaper edited by the frothing Big Dave (Eddie Marsan). In real life, Grant is a prominent campaigner against press misconduct, phone-hacking in particular. But in the film, his weaselly muckraker doesn’t employ anything as high-tech as phone-hacking, preferring to hide in the bushes with a long-lens camera.
Watch Video: Zach Galifianakis 'Momentarily' Murders Matthew McConaughey in 'Between Two Ferns: The Movie' Trailer
His quarry is the aforementioned Mickey Pearce. After months of nosing around, Fletcher turns up at the luxurious home of Mickey’s right-hand-man Ray (Charlie Hunnam) — who has surprisingly lax security for a gangster — and proposes a deal. Rather than selling Big Dave the full story of Mickey’s criminal career, he is willing to hand every photo and document to Mickey for £20 million. But what information does he have that could possibly be worth so much money? Settle in and I’ll tell you, says Fletcher, thus allowing Ritchie to dole out his narrative in a series of flashbacks, and to keep the florid narration flowing.
To cut a long, rambling story short, Mickey is an American marijuana baron who has kept his crops away from prying eyes by renting the country estates of Britain’s property-rich-but-cash-poor landed gentry and then building underground laboratories beneath them. But now he is ready to become a member of the landed gentry himself: One theme of the film is the fine line between aristocrats and gangsters, although Ritchie doesn’t have much to say on the subject that wasn’t said in “Performance” 50 years ago.
Keen to retire with his “cockney Cleopatra” wife (Michelle Dockery), Mickey offers to sell his business — lock, stock and barrel — to a fellow American (Jeremy Strong, “Succession”) for £400 million. But Dry Eye (Henry Golding), the ambitious scion of a Chinese syndicate, is determined that Mickey should sell to him instead. He then sets off a chain of fights, threats and double-crosses involving a Russian oligarch, an Irish boxing trainer (Colin Farrell), a street gang called The Toddlers, and plenty more besides.
Also Read: MGM to Release Guy Ritchie's 'Cash Truck' With Jason Statham
Even if you ignore the parts which have been snipped from “Pulp Fiction” and “The Long Good Friday” and sewn into place, “The Gentlemen” is a suit stitched together from well-worn material. Compare it to Martin Scorsese’s recent return to the gangster movie, “The Irishman,” and it’s clear that while one filmmaker has brought a new depth to his favorite genre, the other is content to splash around in the shallows.
All that’s changed is that Ritchie doesn’t quite have the same dizzying verve that he used to. Fletcher says that Mickey is getting slow and soft in middle age, and the writer-director might have been talking about himself.
If “The Gentlemen” is nothing more than a trip to some of Ritchie’s old haunts, though, who can blame him for making that trip? There is no denying the nostalgic if somewhat guilty pleasure of experiencing his madly tangled plots and colorful language once again. When he is being taciturn, marijuana is “skunkanola.” When he is isn’t, it is “the dirty wonder weed” or “white widow supercheese.” Some of his more elaborate phrases are almost Shakespearean, except with more F and C words than the Bard used, and the actors relish the rare opportunity to chomp on such deliciously pungent banter.
Having been Lady Mary for so long in “Downton Abbey,” Dockery is revelatory as a hard-as-nails Jewish garage owner. (The film’s title is also an accurate indication of its gender imbalance, but one meaty female role is better than none.) Grant continues his recent crop of plum roles by pushing his accent down a couple of social classes and leaning into Fletcher’s pathetic vanity, regrettable as it may be that the film’s only gay character is so seedy and predatory. Even Hunnam’s guarded performance is competent, which is saying something.
It’s just like old times. Ritchie may not be exploring uncharted territory, but you can bet it was more fun to make “The Gentlemen” than it was to make “Aladdin” or “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” It’s more fun to watch “The Gentleman” than those films, too.
Related stories from TheWrap:
Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie Team up for Thriller at Miramax
STX Acquires US Rights to Guy Ritchie's Action-Comedy 'Bush' from Miramax
Hugh Grant Says He's 'Too Old' for Rom-Coms Now – 'And Thank God'
December 18, 2019
Village Roadshow Receives $517 Million Takeover Bid From Private Equity Firm
Australia’s Village Roadshow said it has received a conditional takeover bid from private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners for $761.2 million Australian dollars ($517 million USD), the studio, theme park and movie theater operator announced Wednesday.
Village Roadshow shares were halted for sale on Thursday, but the takeover bid, amounting to A$3.90 per share, is 21.9% above Village Roadshow’s Wednesday closing price, Reuters reported Wednesday. The shares would be purchased from Village Roadshow Corporation, the privately-owned parent company that with 34% holding serves as Village Roadshow’s largest shareholder.
According to the Australian Financial Review, the final deal could be worth as much as A$1 billion, including debt.
Also Read: 'The Eternals' Star Kumail Nanjiani Got Jacked AF for Marvel Superhero Role
Village Roadshow said Wednesday that Pacific Equity Partners has indicated willingness to offer a full cash transaction or a combination of cash and a scrip issue.
Village Roadshow’s Australian film studios, one of the Southern hemisphere’s largest, was home to the production of “Aquaman,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Kong: Skull Island,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” among many others.
The company named Alix Jaffe as executive vice president of television in April. She will oversee the company’s plans to build out an independent television business with a focus on scripted content, the company announced at the time.
Village Roadshow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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‘Survivor’ Contestant Kellee Kim Addresses Dan Spilo Ouster at Finale Reunion: ‘I Was Not Being Supported or Believed’
(Warning: This post contains spoilers for Wednesday’s finale of “Survivor: Island of the Idols”)
“Survivor” finally addressed the swirling sexual harassment controversy around ousted contestant Dan Spilo on Wednesday’s finale.
The topic came up at the end-of-show reunion after host and executive producer Jeff Probst announced Tommy Sheehan as the season’s winner. Spilo did not appear at the reunion, and for the first time in the show’s 19-year history, the show was pre-taped instead of airing live.
Kellee Kim, the contestant who was most vocal about her objections to Spilo’s behavior, was brought out to sit down with Probst one-on-one in the second half of the reunion. The conversation kicked off with Probst apologizing to Kim for how the situation was handled, telling her, “You were right.”
“I think one of the things that has been the hardest was the fact that Dan remained in the game even after I spoke up,” Kim said. “And the reason why is not necessarily the injustice, it’s because I felt that I spoke up, and I was not being supported or believed.”
“To not be supported or believed is really the hardest thing,” she continued.
Spilo became the first-ever “Survivor” player to be ejected from the show earlier this season, with producers attributing the decision to an unspecified “off-camera” incident. Subsequent reports described the incident as taking place between Spilo and a member of the show’s production team while contestants were getting into a boat after an immunity challenge.
Spilo was accused of touching a female crew member’s leg. At least one other cast member was said to have witnessed the incident.
The Hollywood talent manager publicly apologized for his behavior in a statement to People earlier this week. “I am deeply sorry for how my actions affected Kellee [Kim] during the taping of this season of Survivor,” he said. “After apologizing at the tribal council when I first learned that Kellee still felt uncomfortable, I want to make sure I do so again, clearly and unambiguously.”
Also Read: Dan Spilo Speaks Out About 'Survivor' Ejection: 'I Am Deeply Sorry'
On Wednesday, Probst elaborated for the first time on the behind-the-scenes decision-making that took place after Kim first raised her complaints. He said calls took place between producers on location and CBS executives back in the U.S., and ultimately it was collectively decided that the best course of action was to issue a warning to the cast and the Spilo directly, but not to immediately remove him from the game. At the reunion, he admitted to Kim that that was a mistake.
“Your voice should have been enough,” Probst said. “And it will be next time.”
Following widespread criticism of how production handled the situation, CBS and the “Survivor” producers announced new changes to the show’s rules earlier this week.
Among the changes will be a new in-game rule and better pre-production orientation, the parties said. Future “Survivor” seasons not already in the can (so, Season 41 and beyond), will also have “another on-site professional to provide a confidential means of reporting any concerns,” according to the statement, as well as “a third-party expert in the field to review, evolve or add to these new policies and procedures going forward.
“I hope that this season of survivor isn’t just defined by inappropriate behavior or sexual harassment,” Kim said through tears. “I hope that it’s defined by change. I feel like I can be really proud that I spoke up and I asked for these changes … I have to fundamentally believe at the end of the day that individuals and institutions are capable of change.”
Related stories from TheWrap:
Dan Spilo Speaks Out About 'Survivor' Ejection: 'I Am Deeply Sorry'
'Survivor': Hollywood Manager Dan Spilo Becomes 1st Player Ever Ejected After 'Off-Camera' Incident
Hollywood Greets Trump’s Impeachment With Muted Celebration: ‘I Expected to Be More Joyful’
The House of Representatives voted Wednesday evening to impeach Donald Trump on two counts — abuse of power and obstruction of congress — stemming from his attempts to pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden. Following the vote, a sizable contingent of Hollywood stars and media heavyweights cautiously celebrated the impeachment vote, though Trump still had his supporters.
“I expected this moment but I expected to be more joyful. Maybe jump up & do a happy dance. Maybe. But I’m just sad and heartbroken. What he’s left behind can’t be erased with this vote,” Alyssa Milano wrote on Twitter. “The bigotry and xenophobia he’s emboldened. The lies. It will take generations to recover.”
Rob Reiner tweeted that Trump wasn’t being impeached for being “a liar or immoral or a misogynist or a white nationalist or incompetent or ignorant.” “He’s being Impeached because he committed the High Crimes of Abuse of Power & Obstruction of Congress,” Reiner said.
Also Read: President Trump Impeached by US House of Representatives
Meanwhile, “Law & Order: SVU” showrunner Warren Leight called out Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s for her “present” vote, Which he compared to a quote by Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Rose McGowan had just three words: “Holy f–k, y’all.”
Not all Hollywood figures were in support of impeachment of course. Like actor Dean Cain, who said “this partisan, political impeachment is an embarrassment.”
Among other reactions, John Cusack denounced the GOP “deathkkult” for comparing Trump to Jesus in his defense. Comedian Kathy Griffin — who lost her gig co-hosting CNN’s coverage of New Year’s Eve after causing a national commotion with a photo of herself holding a bloody rendering of the president’s head — tweeted a gif of herself giving the middle finger. She captioned it with a hashtag: #MerryImpeachmas.
See those reactions and more below:
This is a terrible day in our country’s history.
But a great defense of our democracy
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 19, 2019
This President is not being Impeached because he’s a liar or immoral or a misogynist or a white nationalist or incompetent or ignorant. He’s being Impeached because he committed the High Crimes of Abuse of Power & Obstruction of Congress.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 19, 2019
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond Tutu
“Present.” – Tulsi Gabbard
— Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) December 19, 2019
Holy fuck, y’all pic.twitter.com/jZlzjM8MLN
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) December 19, 2019
This partisan, political impeachment is an embarrassment. pic.twitter.com/MdWDSXQlh0
— Dean Cain (@RealDeanCain) December 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/johncusack/status...
Tastes so good pic.twitter.com/GiPzDbxmZz
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) December 19, 2019
My beloved @SpeakerPelosi, please allow me to politely disagree with you on one point. Yes, The impeachment process should be a solemn and serious constitutional act, but for some of us it’s… #MerryImpeachmas pic.twitter.com/LzMuBBPGMy
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) December 18, 2019
Everybody's saying 'Trump just got impeached.' https://t.co/XFYsOQpVdF
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) December 19, 2019
I’m with her. #TrumpImpeachment pic.twitter.com/UUoObwX2Al
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) December 19, 2019
Impeached.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) December 19, 2019
“It doesn’t mean he’s out of office yet!!!!” Yeah everyone knows stfu. Take the win, carry the momentum.
— Cole M. Sprouse (@colesprouse) December 19, 2019
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) December 19, 2019
Impeachment = CHECK !!!
— Tichina Arnold (@TichinaArnold) December 19, 2019
who our next president tho? I never seen one of these jawns happen lol ????
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 19, 2019
I can’t lie I’m waiting to see what trump got to say about this lol he should just go out wit a bang ???????????????????? he should go live on the gram
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 19, 2019
done. amen. god bless America pic.twitter.com/TJdrakRo1V
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 19, 2019
????TRUMP!!!! Bye Felicia!!!!!
— T????mmy L33 (@MrTommyLand) December 19, 2019
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‘Masked Singer’ Season 3 Costumes Revealed – Meet Mouse, Banana, Robot and More (Video)
“The Masked Singer” Season 2 just came to an end tonight, but Fox knows you’re already ready for your next whosungit mysteries. So, following the singing competition’s two-hour second season finale, the network released a promo revealing some of the costumes for the contestants performing on the show’s upcoming third season.
In the preview above, you’ll meet Mouse, Robot and Banana (actually, we saw Banana for the first time earlier this month, but that was just a picture).
And, at the very end, there’s a big, furry monster costume — similar to the one worn by Season 1 winner T-Pain — but this one is pink and is rockin’ a bow. A Fox spokesperson told TheWrap this contestant is called “Miss Monster.” (Yes, we can hear all of you “aww” from here.)
Also Read: 'Masked Singer' Season 2 Victor Tells Us Why This Win Is 'Probably Bigger Than Winning Any Emmy'
Season 2 concluded tonight, with finalists The Flamingo, The Fox and The Rottweiler all being unmasked and The Fox, who turned out to be Wayne Brady, crowned the winner. You can read our interview with Brady about his victory here.
And now that they’ve all been unmasked, here’s the full lineup of Season 2’s contestants: Wayne Brady (Fox), Chris Daughtry (Rottweiler), Adrienne Bailon (Flamingo), Victor Oladipo (Thingamajig), Seal (Leopard), Ana Gasteyer (Tree), Michelle Williams (Butterfly), Patti LaBelle (Flower), Kelly Osbourne (Ladybug), Raven-Symoné (Black Widow), Sherri Shepherd (Penguin), Paul Shaffer (Skeleton), Dr. Drew Pinsky (Eagle), Laila Ali (Panda), Tyler “Ninja” Blevins (Ice Cream) and Johnny Weir (Egg).
“The Masked Singer” Season 3 will premiere Sunday, Feb. 3 after the Super Bowl on Fox.
Related stories from TheWrap:
'Masked Singer' Season 2 Victor Tells Us Why This Win Is 'Probably Bigger Than Winning Any Emmy'
'Masked Singer' Season 2 Unmasks Its Final 3 Celebrity Singers – Including the Winner (Video)
'Masked Singer' Finale Preview: Watch The Fox 'Try a Little Tenderness' on the Judges (Videos)
Paramount Announces Return of ‘Jackass’ for March 2021 Release
Paramount announced on Wednesday evening that it will be reviving the MTV reality series “Jackass” for a new feature film slated for release on March 5, 2021.
Beyond the title and release date, no other details on the film were given by the studio, including whether the show’s original cast would be involved. Created by Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze, “Jackass” originally aired on MTV from 2000-2002 and spawned a trilogy of films released in 2003, 2006 and 2010 that were all produced at budgets of under $20 million and combined to gross $335 million at the global box office.
If the new project were to involve the original cast, it would be their first collaboration since the death of cast member Ryan Dunn in a car crash in 2011. Knoxville appeared in a 2013 spinoff film titled “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” but the brand has not been used since. In 2018, Knoxville starred in a “Jackass”-inspired film called “Action Point” with co-star Chris Pontius which bombed at the box office with just $5.1 million grossed against a $19 million budget.
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Since Dunn’s death, “Jackass” cast members have been asked repeatedly about whether they would return for a fourth film. In an interview with Loudwire this past July, Steve “Steve-O” Glover said he believed the project would come down to whether Knoxville, Tremaine and Jonze were interested in doing it, as well as whether everyone in the cast would be healthy enough to take part.
“We’re approaching the 20th anniversary of when ‘Jackass’ first appeared on MTV, and I do know that there’s an urge, an idea to commemorate that anniversary in some way,” he said.
Related stories from TheWrap:
'Jackass' Star Bam Margera Arrested on DUI Charge
Johnny Knoxville and Paramount Get Started On 'Jackass'-Style Comedy, 'Action Park'
'Jackass' Star Steve-O Charged for Hollywood Crane Climbing SeaWorld Protest
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