Midday on Friday, I published a piece that updated the progress of the Dan Schneider defamation lawsuit against the producers of the documentary Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV. The judge in that case has tentatively dismissed the charges and Friday night, I checked around to see if any of the Penske Media trades had posted something about the hearing.
When I realized they hadn't, I used it as an opportunity to resurface my post on X, while also take an admittedly cheap shot at Deadline:
I later heard from someone at Penske who argued I wasn't being fair and I started to wonder if maybe that was indeed the case. So I decided to look at every story posted by Deadline on Saturday, along with every story posted by its sister sites Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, TV Line and Indiewire.
Why Saturday? Well, in part because by that point it was Saturday and I didn't want to wait. But primarily I chose Saturday because it's the toughest day for any news organization. There isn't a lot of news, the editorial staff is at its leanest and all of that combines to give readers a sense of how each outlet approaches it job as a news organization.
To be clear, this piece isn't meant to be anything like David Poland's very entertaining M-F podcast "David Reads The Trades." In that case, while he is recounting some of the headlines in the trades, he's primarily doing it as a way of providing context and tackling whatever stories mean the most to him. It's incredibly entertaining and I highly recommend it.
But this is meant as a way to drill down on this one specific day to try and track what the Penske Media Corporation outlets are publishing. And that matters, because these sites collectively influence the direction of a lot of the conversation in the industry.
Looking at the story rundown, I will admit that I was mistaken when I described Deadline as having the "celebrity said this on a podcast" beat covered. They also cover Instagram messages, random interviews and other social media posts. On Saturday, Deadline posted 17 stories and only one them had any clear original reporting and that was a review of the new movie Here.
As a matter of fact, that Friday screening of Here sparked separate, original reviews of the film from not only Deadline, but also The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
Speaking of Variety, that publication's Saturday story rundown arguably took the most traditional approach to a slow news day. There were 16 pieces and while three of them were affiliate link-driven "shopping pieces," there was some original reporting that looks to have been saved to run on Saturday, along with some red carpet coverage and the usual aggregated stories. Overall, probably about what you would expect to see on a Saturday.
Indiewire only posted five new stories, but it made the best of its smaller amount of resources. Three of the pieces included original reporting and/or quotes and the fourth story was based on comments from an Indiewire podcast. The fifth was based on comments from a Marc Maron podcast, so the site was definitely punching about its weight on Saturday.
I'll let you go through the other Penske site listings and parse those for yourself. I will just make the observation that Deadline has seemed to take the approach that it will post as much as possible, even if it means a lot of shorter stories with only a nugget or two of useful information. And the Penske-owned outlets in general are obviously struggling with the impact of these rolling rounds of small editorial layoffs. There is still the staff to do the high-level film and red carpet coverage. But that mid-range reporting seems to have mostly disappeared.
And I'm struck by how little coverage there is of television, outside of TV-related social media comments. Even during the week there aren't many reviews of TV and streaming shows, especially given the number of shows premiering each week. And much of the TV coverage on sites such as THR is centered around getting a couple of quotes from a showrunner that reporters can use to build a quick story that can post just after the relevant episode airs.
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Deadline
‘Outlander’ Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts Pays Tribute To Scotland After Wrapping 8-Season Run: “Forever In My Heart”
Based on Instagram comments by Roberts
Lizzo Shares In ‘South Park’ Joke With New Halloween Costume “LizzOzempic”
Based on Instagram comments by Lizzo
Jeri Taylor Dies: Emmy-Nominated ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Writer-Producer Was 86
Based on a statement given to sister Penske publication The Hollywood Reporter
Tom Hardy, Director Kelly Marcel Always Planned For ‘Venom’ To Be A Trilogy: “We Knew It Would End Like This”
Based on People Magazine interview
Tom Hanks Says Reuniting With ‘Forrest Gump’s Robin Wright For ‘Here’ Was “So Easy”
Based on comments by Hanks at the Friday premiere at AFI Fest in Los Angeles, as reported by People Magazine
‘The Real Housewives Of London’ Spinoff Set As NBCUniversal Streamer Hayu’s First Original
Based on an announcement on the streamer’s social media page. Weirdly, it didn't even include statements from the streamer's execs, which I used on my brief AllYourScreens.com story.
World Series Pulls Best Game 1 Audience In 7 Years As Dodgers Take The Win
Not clear where the ratings info came from in this brief story, although it does link to previous Deadline coverage on the World Series.
Los Angeles Times Owner’s Daughter Defends Not Making Presidential Endorsement: “Genocide Is The Line In The Sand”
Based on X thread.
Zachary Levi Responds To Whoopi Goldberg & ‘The View’ While Urging “Closeted Conservatives” In Hollywood To Come Out For Trump
Based on Instagram Live post by Levi
‘Hobbit’ Star Luke Evans Can’t Think Of “Many” Gay Actor Playing His Kind Of Roles
Based on an interview with The Guardian newspaper.
‘Emilia Pérez’ Director Jacques Audiard: “It Just Makes Sense To Cast A Trans Woman To Portray A Trans Woman”
Based on an interview with The Times Of London
Chrissy Metz Says ‘This Is Us’ Exec Asked If Her Role Was Plus-Size “Like Kate Winslet”
Based on interview on the podcast The Jamie Kern Lima Show
No Deal Yet: SAG-AFTRA Remains On Strike Against Major Video Game Developers As Parties Look To Schedule More Talks
Not clear about the origin of most of the story, although it includes a statement provided by the video game companies.
Chappell Roan Confronts Photographer Who Was “So Rude” To Her At Grammy Party: “I Deserve An Apology”
Based on video clip of Roan, posted by Pop Crave on X.
All Five One Direction Albums Return To The UK’s Top 40, Following Liam Payne’s Death
Based on BBC News story.
Paul Mescal Won ‘Gladiator II’ Role “With One 30-Minute Zoom Call With Ridley Scott”
Based on interview with Graham Norton
‘Here’ Review: ‘Forrest Gump’ Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis Reunites With Tom Hanks & Robin Wright For Complex Family Story Stuck Somewhere In Time – AFI Fest
Original Deadline review by Pete Hammond
Indiewire
Al Pacino Reveals His Character in ‘Heat’ Would ‘Chip Cocaine,’ But Michael Mann ‘Took It Out’
Based on interview on interview on the “WTF Podcast with Marc Maron.”
With Indie Comedy ‘Let’s Start a Cult,’ Stavros Halkias Is Ready for His Movie Star Moment
Based on original interview with Indiewire.
For Naomi Scott, Playing a Troubled Pop Star in ‘Smile 2’ Meant Alternating Between Joyful Dance Rehearsals and Body Hallucinations
Based on original interview with Indiewire.
‘Here’ Review: Robert Zemeckis Rues Time Lost, Gained, and Wasted
An original review by Indiewire's Ryan Lattanzio.
‘Disclaimer’: Alfonso Cuarón Says Episode 5 Is Not About Cancel Culture, but Something Darker
Based on comments from Indiewire's Filmmaker Toolkit podcast.
The Hollywood Reporter
Liz Cheney Cancels Washington Post Subscription After Outlet Won’t Endorse Presidential Candidate
Based on New Yorker interview.
Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani Injures Shoulder During World Series Win
Based on Fox Sports report.
Lee Greenwood, Tony Hinchcliffe Set to Perform at Donald Trump MSG Rally
Based on unsourced news reports and comments from the podcast Cats & Cosby.
Donald Trump Guests on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience,’ Again Falsely Claims 2020 Election Was “Stolen”
Based on comments from Joe Rogan podcast.
Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein Say Washington Post Decision to Not Endorse Presidential Candidate Is “Disappointing”
Based on statement posted by duo on X.
“Dear Remy”: Hollywood Career Coach on Life with a Practical YouTube Jokester and Cancelling Yourself
An original column by Remy Blumenfeld, THR's resident expert on everything.
‘The Real Housewives of London’ to Hit NBCU Reality Streamer Hayu as Its First Original Series
Based on press release from the streamer.
Johnny Depp Talks ‘Modi,’ “Bouts” With Hollywood and Moving On: “I Don’t Have Any Ill Feelings Toward Anyone”
Original interview with THR's Alan Friedman.
Guillermo del Toro Hails ‘Emilia Pérez’ Helmer Jacques Audiard as “One of the Most Amazing Filmmakers Alive” (Exclusive Video)
Video and a recap of a talk at the DGA Theater following the film's premiere.
‘Black Box Diaries’ Review: The Face of Japan’s #MeToo Movement Tells Her Compelling Story
Original review by THR's Lovia Gyarkye
Tom Hanks on Reuniting With ‘Forrest Gump’ Co-Star Robin Wright For New Movie ‘Here’: “Can You Believe This?”
Reporting from the AFI Fest premiere on Friday.
Patrick Dempsey Reveals There Have Been Talks for His Return to the ‘Scream’ Franchise as Kincaid
Based on comments by Dempsey on Thursday's Today Show.
TV Line
Paul Bettany Loves Agatha All Along, Is Taking Notes Ahead of Shooting Vision Series Next Year
Brief piece based on THR interview from Saturday.
The TVLine-Up: What’s Returning, New and Leaving the Week of Oct. 27
A pretty basic listings recap.
Lioness’ Zoe Saldaña Previews ‘Higher Intensity’ Season 2: ‘The Terrorism Is Closer to Home Than They Would Like’
Original Matt Webb Mitovich interview.
Georgie & Mandy EP on Prioritizing Mandy’s Career (and Expanding Her Social Circle) in Season 1
Original Ryan Schwartz interview.
Performer of the Week: Betty Gilpin
Short three paragraph profile of Gilpin, along with two additional one-paragraph highlights of the "honorable mentions."
What to Watch: Seth Meyers’ HBO Special, Locklear on Lifetime and More
Tips of what to watch on Saturday.
Variety
‘The Brink of Dreams’ Directors Receive Variety MENA Talent of the Year Award
Coverage of an award given by Variety at the El Gouna Film Festival
Simone Biles Isn’t Ready to Talk About Legacy: ‘Usually if You’re Using the Word, It Means You’re Done’
Based on comments to Variety at Red Carpet event.
Adult Swim’s Horror Anime Miniseries ‘Uzumaki: Animated TV Series’ Hits EST Platforms Today (EXCLUSIVE)
Looks to be based on press release provided "exclusively" to Variety.
Andy Cohen on ‘Dramatic’ New Season of ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’ Rebecca Minkoff Scientology Backlash and Reality Reckoning Aftermath: ‘I Don’t Really Think About It’
Original interview with Cohen by Variety's Ellise Shafer
‘Conclave’ Couldn’t Film at the Sistine Chapel, So the Production Team Built a Replica in 10 Weeks
Original interview with Variety's Jazz Tangcay
‘Venom 3’ Cut a Venom-ized Eel to Keep the Viral Horse: ‘The Sequence Was Getting Too Long. One of Them Had to Go’
Based on comments at the Venom premiere in NYC on *Monday*
Video Game Actors Strike Continues as SAG-AFTRA Extends Contract Negotiations
Primarily based on statement from SAG-AFTRA
Box Office: ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Laps Up $22 Million Opening Day — Down From Previous Entries
Some data from Cinescore and a lot of estimates about weekend box office. Although there's no indication where they come from.
Daisy Ridley, Colleen Atwood to Be Honored at SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Based on film festival press release
Jack Catterall vs. Regis Prograis: How to Watch the Boxing Event Live Online
Affiliate-based shopping piece.
Cariuma Drops a New Limited-Edition ‘Star Wars’ Sneaker Collection
Affiliate-based shopping piece.
Animated Features Like ‘Transformers One’ and ’Wild Robot’ and More Rely on Artists for the Magic as Machine Learning or AI Works in Support
Original reporting and interviews by Variety's Karen Idelson
BBC Reports 10,000 Shows Viewed Online a Day, Compared With Netflix’s 4,800, Prime Video’s 2,400: ‘Everyone’s a Streamer, Even the Broadcasters’
Based on study by research agency Glance, shared with Variety earlier in the week at Mipcom.
‘Here’ Review: Robert Zemeckis Turns Back the Clock on Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, and It Ain’t Pretty
An original review by Variety's Peter DeBurge
Mexico’s Oscar Entry ‘Sujo’ Makes a Sweep of the Morelia Film Festival
List of festival winners and a recap, but with no original reporting.
Topuria vs. Holloway: How to Watch UFC 308 Live Online
Affiliate-based shopping piece.
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