Howard Stern, Evolved; 'Furious' Legal War; How Writers Find Work; Best TV Comedies; New THR Cover

What's news: Howard Stern opens about his changing ways, career regrets and how he pulls off his incisive interviewing style. Plus: The producer legal battle at the center of the Fast and Furious franchise, how writers are landing work without agents and Billy Bush's next act. — Will Robinson May 08, 2019 What's news: Howard Stern opens about his changing ways, career regrets and how he pulls off his incisive interviewing style. Plus: The producer legal battle at the center of the Fast and Furious franchise, how writers are landing work without agents and Billy Bush's next act. — Will Robinson [On the cover:]( After a health crisis that had him "scared  s***less," Howard Stern — the $90 million-a-year radio legend — opens up about retirement, the one time he lied to his listeners and his metamorphosis from shock jock to insightful interviewer, Lacey Rose reports: + Changing ways: In the 24 months since Stern's cancer scare, he's found himself wondering often if he's done it all wrong. Despite fame and fortune unrivaled in his medium, Stern says he's a mountain of regret. He beats himself up over the father he couldn't be to his three girls, now grown and living elsewhere; and the husband he never was to their mother. He can't read his first two best-selling books without cringing at his own narcissism. "I was so completely fucked up back then," he says, his head shaking with disgust on this morning in early April. "I didn't know what was up and what was down, and there was no room for anybody else on the planet." + Candid stars: Stern describes his interviewing technique now as the "dinner party approach," explaining how he coaxes his guests to be spontaneous without having to get in their faces. He points to an early 2015 interview with Gwyneth Paltrow that weaved its way from a discussion of relationships to one of oral sex as a major turning point. Stern's longtime producer, Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'Abate, has called the Paltrow interview "one of the most important milestones" for his job as a booker. In the years since, Stern's couch has become a sought-after stop on the publicity tour for a wide swath of Hollywood's A-list. + Trump relationship: On-air and off, he had tried to get Trump to bow out of the 2016 election. Save a brief congratulatory exchange when Trump won, the two haven't had any interaction since Stern declined his request to speak at the Republican National Convention. "It was a difficult thing because there's a part of me that really likes Donald, but I just don't agree politically," he says. [Full cover story]( | [Stern throughout the years]( 'Fast and Furious' Legal War Left in the dust: Neal Moritz is booted from new spinoff Hobbs & Shaw and future films in the $5.1 billion series after a “torturous” negotiation as a nasty legal battle revs up, Kim Masters reports: + The situation: Moritz is pay-or-play, meaning Universal has to compensate him on the Fast and Furious movies even if executives don’t want him involved. The parties still haven’t worked out how much that tab will run, setting the stage for another legal battle. But looking at Universal’s big-picture Fast and Furious plans, maybe severing ties with Moritz won’t be as expensive — financially and in terms of psychic energy — as keeping him around. + Cause of action: According to a Universal source, the decision to ban Moritz from all Fast and Furious movies came after the producer named Universal president Jimmy Horowitz personally in his lawsuit. It seems clear that this was a legal maneuver intended to prevent Universal from forcing Moritz into arbitration based on his contract. So maybe Universal really took the move as an unforgivable offense or maybe the studio seized an opportunity to rid itself of a combative and expensive partner. Or both. [Full story.]( Elsewhere in film... ► Disney sets three new Star Wars films in release schedule reset. While it is unclear what the new untitled Star Wars films will tackle, it is known that The Last Jedi filmmaker Rian Johnson is developing his own trilogy, while Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are penning their own trilogy. James Cameron's Avatar films have all been pushed as well. [Details.]( ► Spanish exhibitors call on Netflix to "adapt" to traditional windows system. The comments came during a presentation in Madrid of year-end exhibition sector figures and a survey of VOD habits in Spain — FECE vp and Yelmo Cines’ Country Manager Fernando Evole: "We hope the position of Netflix in the future can change." ► Roland Emmerich heading back to space with Moonfall. AGC Studios and CAA Media Finance will be [shopping]( Emmerich's new film to global buyers in Cannes. ► Led Zeppelin doc heading to Cannes market. Billed as an "in their own words" telling, the documentary [features]( new interviews with Zeppelin founders Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, as well as rare archival interviews with the late John Bonham. ► Former Goldman Sachs banker negotiating plea in 1MDB case, per judge. "It isn’t clear what charges Goldman could face, but the bank could be accused of violating U.S. laws banning bribery or ones that require banks to report suspicious transactions." [[The Wall Street Journal](] Casting call... ► Richard Madden in talks to join Angelina Jolie in The Eternals. Kumail Nanjiani is [also set]( for the Chloe Zhao-directed feature. ► Chris Hemsworth, Tiffany Haddish team up for action comedy. Peter Hoare is [penning]( the script for Down Under Cover, the buddy cop comedy that'll be shopped in Cannes by FilmNation and CAA. ► Chadwick Boseman to star in samurai drama Yasuke. The Black Panther star is [set to play]( the first black samurai to serve a warlord in Japan in the period action pic. ► Mackenzie Foy, Kate Winslet to star in Black Beauty reboot. Foy will play the lead in the latest adaptation of Anna Sewell’s classic equine novel, from Adolescence director Ashley Avis, with Winslet [providing]( the voice of the horse. ► Henry Winkler joins Kelly Oxford's Pink Skies. Rosa Salazar, Lewis Pullman and Devon Bostick will [also star]( alongside Jessica Barden in the first movie from Greg Silverman's Stampede production banner. ► Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley to star in actioner Long Gone Heroes. Santiago Manes Moreno will [write and direct]( the Cannes-bound project, about a special forces soldier trying to track down a reporter in a war zone. ^Why Disney's stock dropped despite Endgame records: Despite a downward trajectory since the film's $1.2 billion opening, it's clear that the movie studio is central to the mega-conglomerate's business success, Paul Bond reports: + Scale of corporate impact: At best, Endgame will add about 12 cents per share to Disney earnings in 2019, says Cowen analyst Douglas Creutz. While impressive for a single title, it's minor compared with the $6.79 in per-share earnings that Disney is expected to post in 2019. [Full story.]( Legal briefs... ► Johnny Depp's trial delayed. Jake Bloom's lawyers are [asking to push]( the trial to next spring, claiming that because of discovery disputes they have only recently received more than 1.5 million pages of documents related to Depp's previously settled lawsuit against his business managers at The Management Group. ► DOJ wins lawsuit demanding radio station register as Russian agent. A first-of-its-kind decision from a Florida federal judge [rejects]( reasoning from RM Broadcasting on why it shouldn't have to register. Console wars... ► EA revenue slumps despite launch of Apex Legends, Anthem. The new games, both of which [launched]( in February, weren't enough to lift the game company's bottom line in the final quarter of 2018. EA's total net revenue for the period came in at $1.2 billion, down from nearly $1.6 billion over the same stretch of time in 2018 -> Gaming industry execs discuss streaming service potential, e-sports growth. As Google and Apple enter the space, gaming leaders are [looking ahead]( to what the future of the industry will look like. ^Most anticipated Cannes titles: THR film critic Todd McCarthy picks the five must-sees during his time on the Croisette, including new projects from Terrence Malick and Quentin Tarantino, as well as movies about bizarre subjects from promising directors. [What's on the list?]( In memoriam... ► RIP Max Azria. The BCBGMAXAZRIA founder passed away from lung cancer, the company announced on Instagram. He was 70. [Obit.]( ► RIP George Litto. The former talent agent who represented the likes of Robert Altman, Dalton Trumbo and Waldo Salt before producing the Brian De Palma films Obsession, Dressed to Kill and Blow Out died at 88 on April 29. [Obit.]( Coming attractions... ► Trailer: Awkwafina confronts lies, cultural tensions in The Farewell. The film, which premiered at Sundance, follows Awkwafina's Billi as she and her family keep their grandmother in the dark about her cancer diagnosis. [Watch.]( The royals... ► Prince Harry, Meghan Markle introduce royal baby for first time. The baby had its first photo-op on the grounds of Windsor Castle. [Photo.]( New Star Wars Chewbacca remembers original Chewie Peter Mayhew. Joonas Suotamo, who [took over]( the Wookiee role in 2015's The Force Awakens, pays tribute to the late actor, who died May 2 at 74: "He'd been Chewbacca all his life." Enjoy reading this? Six days a week, look for Today in Entertainment in your inbox to stay up-to-date on the industry. Sign up for this newsletter (and others) at [THR.com/Newsletters](. Work Without Agents Using network: Amid a legal war on talent agents, many showrunners say interacting directly with scribes during “staffing” season is working, but others wonder if studios will be willing to do the same once the calendar flips to development, Rebecca Sun reports: + Scope of program: The WGA's Staffing Submission System has received more than 4,000 submissions from 2,000 scribes for about 90 series, while an expanding host of unofficial complementary efforts has also emerged. Grey's Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff says that before this season, she rarely staffed writers who didn't come from a rep, but she's found peer referrals to be more efficient: "I’ve had to read less, because the showrunners listened to what I was looking for." + Pitching roadblocks: "Getting an interview to get staffed requires fewer meetings than a pitch to become a series," notes one top developer. "You need an advocate. It's a much more intricate and much more lengthy process. It's a series of meetings about an idea, then getting a studio and network invested in the idea — all of these creative things along the way. "Can people do it without agents? Yes. But there are a million times in that process that a writer would want to talk to their agent." [Full story.]( Elsewhere in TV... ► Sheila Nevins is launching MTV Documentary Films. The former HBO exec, who departed HBO in 2018 after a 38-year run, [will develop]( new projects for third-party outlets and the Viacom-owned cabler via the MTV Studios division. ► The Good Fight China scene censored by CBS All Access. Creators Robert and Michelle King threatened to quit The Good Wife spinoff before an agreement to place a "CBS has censored this content" title card replaced the scene. [Details.]( ► Annapurna TV developing college admissions scandal series. The limited series project is based on a forthcoming book and will be [adapted by]( Emmy winner D.V. DeVincentis. -> After round of buyouts, CNN staffers are worried about what's next. According to a longtime senior producer, CNN employees [first received]( notice of the buyout opportunity in late March. The offer was only sent to employees who have worked at the company for 10 years or more and are at least 55. ► Lionsgate, BBC tap Dan McDermott to lead scripted TV partnership. The former Fox and DreamWorks exec [will develop]( scripted formats and original IP for the U.S. market. ► ITV quarterly ad revenue drops 7 percent amid Brexit uncertainty. The stock of the U.K. TV giant, led by new CEO Carolyn McCall, declines as an analyst downgrades it, saying "we do not see a material improvement in conditions [any time soon](." ► Lesley Cerwin promoted to senior vp strategic business initiatives at NBC. The exec [continues to be]( a key ally for new entertainment co-chairman Paul Telegdy. Deals and developments... ► Billy Bush to anchor new version of Extra in fall. The gig will be the former Access Hollywood host's first hosting job since he left NBC's Today show after the infamous Access Hollywood audio [leaked of him talking]( with then-Apprentice host Donald Trump. ► FX renews What We Do in the Shadows. The vampire comedy from Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement [will return]( to the Disney-owned cable network in 2020. ► The CW orders Batwoman, Riverdale spinoff, Nancy Drew to series. With the pickup, the Greg Berlanti-produced DC Comics entry [becomes]( TV's first live-action scripted series with a lesbian superhero — played by an out actress — at its center. ► Kim Kardashian, Mark Wahlberg set true-crime projects at Oxygen. The NBCUniversal-owned cable network is [also developing]( a series called Florida Man, which examines outrageous crimes in the state. ► Bob's Burgers producers sign overall deal at Disney's 20th TV. Lizzie and Wendy Molyneux [will continue]( working on the Fox series, along with developing another animated project for the network. ► R. L. Stine, Marc Brown ink deal to develop animated content based on books. Splash Entertainment will develop, produce and distribute content [based on]( the picture book The Little Shop of Monsters, written by Stine and illustrated by Brown, as well as Stine's comedy book series Rotten School. ► Paramount Network renews Ink Master, sets spinoff. The Grudge Match spinoff will [bring back]( former competitors to face off with some of their rivals. ^"We had to shake things up": As CBS' key shows suffer ratings declines, division president Susan Zirinsky bets on Gayle King and switches Jeff Glor for Norah O'Donnell and a move to the nation's capital, Marisa Guthrie reports: + Steadying the ship: “This organization has really maintained its editorial integrity while chaos was around them,” Zirinsky tells Guthrie, expressing frustration over “tabloid” reports about the impending anchor changes. Zirinsky’s habit of “thinking out loud,” as she describes it, has likely fueled leaks. + CBS This Morning rebrand: Recently re-signed Gayle King has an established rapport with Anthony Mason, who was considered for the job after Charlie Rose was ousted in November 2017, but former CBS CEO Leslie Moonves nixed the idea, according to multiple sources. That the perennial third-place CBS morning show was nipping at the heels of NBC’s Today before the #MeToo reckoning rocked the news division is a wrenching reminder of opportunities lost. [Full story.]( Casting call... ► Marie Osmond joins The Talk as Sara Gilbert's replacement. The singer and TV personality [will join]( the CBS daytime show after Gilbert leaves at the end of the current season. ► HBO's Perry Mason reboot adds John Lithgow. The multiple Emmy winner [will star]( opposite Matthew Rhys and Tatiana Maslany in the limited series. ► Eugenio Derbez, Ken Jeong, Melissa Joan Hart join Nickelodeon's Loud House spinoff. The trio [will lend]( their voices to the original animated series The Casagrandes, while the kids network also has greenlit a fifth season of Loud House. Latest reviews... ► Hulu's Catch-22. "Luke Davies (Lion) and David Michod (Animal Kingdom) ... manage to find the difficult tonal balance of the book: a winning combination of satire, madcap bombast and, most importantly, deep existential angst that the main character," Tim Goodman writes. [Full review.]( From the Live Feed... ► Listen: Game of Thrones' last episode fuels a Westeros roast. On Series Regular, Josh Wigler sorts through the rubble of "The Last of the Starks," the final season's fourth installment, which claimed two major characters' lives and also marked several other strides toward the show's endgame. [Listen]( | [Subscribe]( -> The Bachelorette promises most "relatable" star yet. ABC franchise host Chris Harrison speaks to Jackie Strause about the network's surprising pick to lead this season, Hannah Brown, and details the casting "experiment" they used for her contestants: "Women are going to rally around her." [Full interview.]( Honorees... ► Dave Chappelle to receive Mark Twain Prize. The comedian [will be feted]( at the Kennedy Center this fall. Out of sight... ► HBO erases Starbucks cup in Game of Thrones. The erasure is now effective on HBO streaming platforms and for subsequent reruns of the show, Niraj Chokshi reports. [[The New York Times](] Broadcast TV Unscripted Scorecard. From Survivor to The Masked Singer and everything in between, Rick Porter tracks the latest reality series across ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and The CW for the 2019-20 season. [Bookmark.]( TV Comedy Power Rankings Best of the best: THR's chief TV critic Tim Goodman refreshes his rankings of the best small-screen comedies right now, that have aired an episode in the last year: 1. Veep, HBO: Seriously, this is the funniest show on television and maybe the most subversive as well, because it tells us to our face just how awful we are as Americans. And trust me, it's some kind of awful. 2. What We Do in the Shadows, FX: What's so redemptive about this show is that it's absurd and relentlessly ridiculous and after you stop laughing at that, the show just circles back around and gives it to you again. Which is welcome. What shouldn't get lost here is that sustaining this kind of comedy is very difficult. If you haven't discovered this series yet, make it a priority. 8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, NBC: The second of the three legacy comedies, this show is one of those shows where you can miss a batch of episodes, return and think, "yep, funny as ever." Also, "I need to catch up on what I missed; it was stupid to miss those episodes." [Full list.]( What else we're reading... — "Box Office Trackers Can’t Crack the MCU Code." Ben Lindbergh reports: "Given that one of the problems with projecting MCU movies is the paucity of comparable blockbusters, Endgame’s earnings alone may help balance the scales by raising expectations and making it tougher for future MCU titles to exceed them." [[The Ringer](] — "What Showrunners Look for When Staffing a Writers Room." Priyanka Mattoo chats with four comedy bosses: "You can learn story structure and plot mechanics and stuff like that, but you can’t learn uniqueness." [[Vulture](] — "Tracy Morgan Turns the Drama of His Life Into Comedy." Vinson Cunningham examines the actor's return: "This is not a show about the community. This is a show starring the community." [[The New Yorker](] — "James Holzhauer Was Told to Smile to Get on Jeopardy! He’s Smiling Now." Julia Jacobs profiles the show's sensation — from his brother: “It’s just a regular slacker story. Except it’s somebody who has a lot of really exceptional gifts.” [[The New York Times](] — "Music Superstars Are the New One Percenters." Neil Shah details: "Performers today generally generate about three-fourths of their income from concert tours, compared with around 30% in the 1980s and 1990s." [[The Wall Street Journal](] Last night, on late night... + "George Clooney visited Bono for Easter." [[Jimmy Kimmel](] + "Liam Cunningham brought infamous Thrones coffee cup." [[Conan](] + "Amy Poehler shares pro tips for faking wine-tasting knowledge." [[Tonight Show](] + "Rhea Perlman's time as a Rainbow Room waitress was disastrous." [[Late Night](] From the archives... + Today in 1970: The Beatles released their final studio album Let It Be in the U.K. The record was unveiled after the pop group's dissolution: " In terms of having the judgment to avoid either over-producing yourselves or casting the fate of your get-back statement to the most notorious of all over-producers, you didn’t." [[Rolling Stone](] Today's birthdays: Elyes Gabel, 36, Stephen Amell, 38, Enrique Iglesias, 44, Michel Gondry, 56, Jaid Barrymore, 73, Thomas Pynchon, 82, David Attenborough, 93. Follow The News Is this email not displaying correctly? 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