Disney’s new toy! Whither the sitcom spinoff? Sandy benefit on NBC
After the coffee. Before rolling my eyes at the first sign of Christmas hype.
The Skinny: It is one day after Halloween and Starbucks already has their Christmas cups in rotation. Can’t we wait until after Thanksgiving? Thursday’s headlines include Carl Icahn’s investment in Netflix and more on the Disney-Lucasfilm deal.
Daily Dose: Now that it owns Lucasfilm, Disney would no doubt love to get its hands on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” a popular animated show that airs on Cartoon Network. But even if Disney can snag “Clone Wars” away from Cartoon Network whenever its deal with Lucasfilm is up, it won’t be able to acquire the reruns of the show until 2015 at the earliest.
Be careful what you wish for. Netflix shareholders have no doubt been frustrated by the company’s sagging stock price. Well, now it’s way up. The only potential problem is that it’s up because activist investor Carl Icahn grabbed 10% of the stock. Icahn’s not shy about expressing his views on how companies he invests in should be run, usually to the chagrin of management. More on Icahn’s investment and what it might mean for Netflix from the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal and Reuters.
No Luke, Disney is your owner. Walt Disney Co.’s stunning $4-billion deal for Lucasfilm gives the media giant (If I had a dollar for every time I wrote “media giant” I’d be rich) a lot of new toys to play with besides the “Star Wars” franchise, including Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. The Los Angeles Times on everything Disney is getting for all that money and how it might change the company while Variety looks at what the deal means for the legacy of Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger.
Here to help. New Jersey natives Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi and New Yorker Billy Joel will headline a benefit to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy that will air on NBC and various cable channels owned by NBC parent Comcast. More from USA Today.
No money from old man. Talent agency WME is still going after money it believes actor Tommy Lee Jones owes the firm for his work in “No Country for Old Men.” The fight grew out of a settlement Jones got from Paramount Pictures after seeking more compensation for his work on the film. Details from the Hollywood Reporter.
No laughing matter. NBC has pulled the plugs on plans for a spinoff of “The Office.” At one time, spinoffs were fairly common in the sitcom world but nowadays there are fewer and fewer. One reason, of course, might be a realization that most spinoffs flop (“Joey” anyone), but there are other factors as well. Vulture takes a look at the demise of the sitcom spinoff.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm means more “Star Wars” movies and already has people betting on who should succeed George Lucas behind the camera of the franchise.
Follow me on Twitter. You can tell me what I’m doing wrong. @JBFlint.
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