Outlook Slashed; Box Office Vanishes; Woody Book Published; Pedigree TV’s Pitfalls; New THR Viewer Guide

What's news: The weekend the box office hit zero, entertainment biz facing multi-year hit, WHCA dinner postponed... are the Olympics next? Weinstein in isolation after possible coronavirus contraction, Oprah's COVID-19 series, Netflix viewing is up, Woody Allen's memoir released, ACM Awards rescheduled. Plus: The perils of Pedigree TV, and reviewing the one-night return of The Rosie O'Donnell Show. --Alex Weprin [The Hollywood Reporter]( [The Hollywood Reporter]( Today In Entertainment MARCH 23, 2020 What's news: The weekend the box office hit zero, entertainment biz facing multi-year hit, WHCA dinner postponed... are the Olympics next? Weinstein in isolation after possible coronavirus contraction, Oprah's COVID-19 series, Netflix viewing is up, Woody Allen's memoir released, ACM Awards rescheduled. Plus: The perils of Pedigree TV, and reviewing the one-night return of The Rosie O'Donnell Show. --Alex Weprin What's news: The weekend the box office hit zero, entertainment biz facing multi-year hit, WHCA dinner postponed... are the Olympics next? Weinstein in isolation after possible coronavirus contraction, Oprah's COVID-19 series, Netflix viewing is up, Woody Allen's memoir released, ACM Awards rescheduled. Plus: The perils of Pedigree TV, and reviewing the one-night return of The Rosie O'Donnell Show. --Alex Weprin [Box Office Zero] Box Office Zero ►The weekend when box office hit zero for the first time. Hollywood's theater owners, film distribution executives, analysts and writers who pore over the numbers each week are reckoning with a full stop, Pamela McClintock writes in a reporter's notebook. Quote: "Erik Lomis, a don of the distribution business who presently works at United Artists, is famous for waking up at 4 a.m., seven days a week. By 5:30 a.m., he sends out projected grosses for the previous day. That’s in addition to a detailed analysis on the weekends of how new movies and recently released titles have performed. Last Thursday night, he realized he had to let go. 'I sat at my computer at 11 p.m.,' he recalls, 'and saw that a rerelease of The Big Lebowski was the top-grossing movie from nine theaters.'” [The reporter's notebook](. ►Entertainment analyst cuts earnings estimates through 2022 amid virus crisis. "We are lowering estimates and price targets across the board for our media companies today to reflect the impact of heavy social-distancing measures and the impact of the resulting recession that we expect," which could last "at least" until the fourth quarter, Cowen analyst Doug Creutz wrote. "We expect TV advertising to suffer a significant and relatively permanent decline as we expect digital's share take to accelerate." He added that "a key assumption we are making is that the recession drives a permanent step-down in TV advertising" that will affect financials into 2022 and possibly beyond. [The story](. ►Costume Designers Guild sewing masks for health care facilities.The effort addresses the enormous shortage of masks, gloves and additional protective gear that doctors and other health care workers rely upon as they treat individuals with coronavirus symptoms. The initiative is outlined in a COVID-19 update sent to members of the Motion Picture Editors Guild (Local 700), which represents the editing and sound communities. [The story](. +Broadway producers and unions reach emergency relief agreement.The emergency relief agreement provides short-term pay and health benefits, and applies to for-profit Broadway theaters and, in a pact announced Saturday morning, to Broadway shows on tour as well. [The details](. ►This year's White House Correspondents' Dinner has been postponed due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. "The White House Correspondents’ Association regrets to announce that it is unable to go ahead with its 2020 dinner on April 25. We will get back to you soon with our alternative date. Thanks for your support," the WHCA tweeted Sunday. [The story](. +Are the Olympics next? In a letter to athletes released Sunday by IOC president Thomas Bach, the executive said that the committee was beginning discussions with the Tokyo organizing committee, Japanese authorities, the national Olympic committees and other stakeholders (including, presumably, Olympic sponsors and media partners) about the situation. --"Together with all the stakeholders, we have started detailed discussions today to complete our assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including a scenario of postponement," Bach wrote. "We are working very hard, and we are confident that we will have finalized these discussions within the next four weeks." [The story](. ►Harvey Weinstein in isolated custody after possible coronavirus contraction. Weinstein is currently being housed at the Wende Correctional Facility in Erie County, New York, east of Buffalo, where two inmates have tested positive for the virus, a state agency said. [More](. Box Office Zero ►The weekend when box office hit zero for the first time. Hollywood's theater owners, film distribution executives, analysts and writers who pore over the numbers each week are reckoning with a full stop, Pamela McClintock writes in a reporter's notebook. Quote: "Erik Lomis, a don of the distribution business who presently works at United Artists, is famous for waking up at 4 a.m., seven days a week. By 5:30 a.m., he sends out projected grosses for the previous day. That’s in addition to a detailed analysis on the weekends of how new movies and recently released titles have performed. Last Thursday night, he realized he had to let go. 'I sat at my computer at 11 p.m.,' he recalls, 'and saw that a rerelease of The Big Lebowski was the top-grossing movie from nine theaters.'” [The reporter's notebook](. ►Entertainment analyst cuts earnings estimates through 2022 amid virus crisis. "We are lowering estimates and price targets across the board for our media companies today to reflect the impact of heavy social-distancing measures and the impact of the resulting recession that we expect," which could last "at least" until the fourth quarter, Cowen analyst Doug Creutz wrote. "We expect TV advertising to suffer a significant and relatively permanent decline as we expect digital's share take to accelerate." He added that "a key assumption we are making is that the recession drives a permanent step-down in TV advertising" that will affect financials into 2022 and possibly beyond. [The story](. ►Costume Designers Guild sewing masks for health care facilities.The effort addresses the enormous shortage of masks, gloves and additional protective gear that doctors and other health care workers rely upon as they treat individuals with coronavirus symptoms. The initiative is outlined in a COVID-19 update sent to members of the Motion Picture Editors Guild (Local 700), which represents the editing and sound communities. [The story](. +Broadway producers and unions reach emergency relief agreement.The emergency relief agreement provides short-term pay and health benefits, and applies to for-profit Broadway theaters and, in a pact announced Saturday morning, to Broadway shows on tour as well. [The details](. ►This year's White House Correspondents' Dinner has been postponed due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. "The White House Correspondents’ Association regrets to announce that it is unable to go ahead with its 2020 dinner on April 25. We will get back to you soon with our alternative date. Thanks for your support," the WHCA tweeted Sunday. [The story](. +Are the Olympics next? In a letter to athletes released Sunday by IOC president Thomas Bach, the executive said that the committee was beginning discussions with the Tokyo organizing committee, Japanese authorities, the national Olympic committees and other stakeholders (including, presumably, Olympic sponsors and media partners) about the situation. --"Together with all the stakeholders, we have started detailed discussions today to complete our assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including a scenario of postponement," Bach wrote. "We are working very hard, and we are confident that we will have finalized these discussions within the next four weeks." [The story](. ►Harvey Weinstein in isolated custody after possible coronavirus contraction. Weinstein is currently being housed at the Wende Correctional Facility in Erie County, New York, east of Buffalo, where two inmates have tested positive for the virus, a state agency said. [More](. [Pedigree TV Problems] Pedigree TV Problems ►Critics' conversation: Avenue 5, Little Fires Everywhere and the pitfalls of pedigree TV. Recent series created and/or headlined by big names (Iannucci! Witherspoon! Pacino!) have fallen short creatively — providing an opportunity for newly homebound viewers to discover less prestigious but more pleasurable offerings, Daniel Fienberg and Inkoo Kang write. --Fienberg: "It’s a scary and uncertain moment for TV, the entertainment industry and, really, everybody, but I almost think there’s an upside to how many of this spring’s best shows might be flying a little under-the-radar at the moment. Sure, people can tune in for Al Pacino, Nazi Hunter, or Reese Witherspoon, TV Star — if that’s still a thing that makes us jolly after her third show in less than a year — but eventually when the hype-driven series have exhausted their enjoyability, or when the fancy brand names have been torn off of the shelves, there’s going to be a long period of discovery of word-of-mouth treasures." --Kang: "I do hope you’re right in predicting that smaller shows that come without the marquee names — or the accompanying expectations — might get more of a chance while we’re all stuck on the couch. Some of the most pleasant yet eye-opening or brain-challenging TV I hope more people check out during self-quarantine are network stalwarts like NBC’s Superstore and ABC’s Roseanne-less The Conners. In the same category but on cable/streaming are Showtime’s Work in Progress, a lesbian suicide comedy (trust me), and Netflix’s Next in Fashion, a fashion-design competition hosted by Tan France and Alexa Chung." [The conversation](. THR has a brand new newsletter to help you decide what to watch. "Now See This" is THR chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg’s weekly viewer guide dedicated to cutting through the daunting clutter of the broadcast, cable and streaming TV landscape. [Subscribe here](. ►Oprah Winfrey interviews Idris Elba for new Apple series Oprah Talks COVID-19. "Like millions of people all over the world, I've been staying safer at home for over a week now. I know a lot of people are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and uncertain. Because of that, I wanted to offer some hope and gather thought leaders and people going through it to add some perspective," Winfrey shared on Instagram. Throughout the series, Winfrey will continue to have remote conversations with experts and people facing challenges caused by the pandemic. [The story](. ►Ted Sarandos says "viewing is up" for Netflix amid coronavirus. The Netflix chief content officer on Sunday morning joined anchor Brian Stelter on CNN's 'Reliable Sources,' where he also discussed how the coronavirus has caused a "massive disruption" for production and why he doesn't "see any disruption" in the streaming service's output for the next few months. [The story](. ►Critic's notebook: Rosie O'Donnell's epic love affair with Broadway. A dizzying lineup of stage stars checked in to a one-night only reboot of The Rosie O'Donnell Show from their kitchens, basements, living rooms and even one bathtub in an online benefit for The Actors Fund that stressed the importance of community during times of anxiety and isolation, David Rooney writes. Quote: "The show bridged the gap separating us from artists whose work we normally experience on the other side of the footlights. Most of us will never again get to see Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber exchange greetings in song on the birthday the two composers happen to share. From those celebrated veterans to rising-star newbies, the common denominator here was everybody facing the crisis just like us, reaching out a hand of friendship, albeit from a mandatory safe distance." [The column](. The rest of the world is grappling with the virus in their own way... +ITV cuts program spending, dividend to save $350M-plus amid virus crisis. "Management is very focused on cash and has implemented measures to reduce our costs and to tightly manage our cash flow" amid an "increasing" advertising impact, the company said Monday. [More](. +Disney to limit Disney+ streaming traffic in Europe to ease coronavirus-related congestion. "In line with Disney’s longstanding commitment to act responsibly, we are responding to the request of European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton to work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the broadband infrastructure," said Kevin Mayer, Disney's chairman direct-to-consumer and international. [More](. +Amazon, Facebook, Instagram and Apple have joined Netflix, YouTube and Disney+ in complying with government requests in Europe to temporarily reduce online video bit rates as streaming demand surges during the coronavirus crisis. [More](. +Cinema chains in Australia and New Zealand are closing their doors from Monday after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday night ordered a shutdown of all nonessential services, saying social distancing measures have failed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus in Australia. [More](. In other coronavirus-related news… --Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez [among the A-listers]( joining DJ D-Nice's virtual social distancing dance party. --Ben Platt, Debbie Allen, Kathryn Gallagher and more host [Instagram dance parties]( for "moments of unity." --Neil Diamond rearranges "Sweet Caroline" to [encourage hand-washing]( and social distancing --Fox News Media confirmed that a total of four employees [have tested positive]( for the new coronavirus... Debi Mazar has [tested positive](… David Bryan [from Bon Jovi too](… [and opera singer]( Placido Domingo... --Tom Hanks tweeted Sunday night that he and wife Rita Wilson [are feeling better]( following their coronavirus diagnosis. Pedigree TV Problems ►Critics' conversation: Avenue 5, Little Fires Everywhere and the pitfalls of pedigree TV. Recent series created and/or headlined by big names (Iannucci! Witherspoon! Pacino!) have fallen short creatively — providing an opportunity for newly homebound viewers to discover less prestigious but more pleasurable offerings, Daniel Fienberg and Inkoo Kang write. --Fienberg: "It’s a scary and uncertain moment for TV, the entertainment industry and, really, everybody, but I almost think there’s an upside to how many of this spring’s best shows might be flying a little under-the-radar at the moment. Sure, people can tune in for Al Pacino, Nazi Hunter, or Reese Witherspoon, TV Star — if that’s still a thing that makes us jolly after her third show in less than a year — but eventually when the hype-driven series have exhausted their enjoyability, or when the fancy brand names have been torn off of the shelves, there’s going to be a long period of discovery of word-of-mouth treasures." --Kang: "I do hope you’re right in predicting that smaller shows that come without the marquee names — or the accompanying expectations — might get more of a chance while we’re all stuck on the couch. Some of the most pleasant yet eye-opening or brain-challenging TV I hope more people check out during self-quarantine are network stalwarts like NBC’s Superstore and ABC’s Roseanne-less The Conners. In the same category but on cable/streaming are Showtime’s Work in Progress, a lesbian suicide comedy (trust me), and Netflix’s Next in Fashion, a fashion-design competition hosted by Tan France and Alexa Chung." [The conversation](. THR has a brand new newsletter to help you decide what to watch. "Now See This" is THR chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg’s weekly viewer guide dedicated to cutting through the daunting clutter of the broadcast, cable and streaming TV landscape. [Subscribe here](. ►Oprah Winfrey interviews Idris Elba for new Apple series Oprah Talks COVID-19. "Like millions of people all over the world, I've been staying safer at home for over a week now. I know a lot of people are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and uncertain. Because of that, I wanted to offer some hope and gather thought leaders and people going through it to add some perspective," Winfrey shared on Instagram. Throughout the series, Winfrey will continue to have remote conversations with experts and people facing challenges caused by the pandemic. [The story](. ►Ted Sarandos says "viewing is up" for Netflix amid coronavirus. The Netflix chief content officer on Sunday morning joined anchor Brian Stelter on CNN's 'Reliable Sources,' where he also discussed how the coronavirus has caused a "massive disruption" for production and why he doesn't "see any disruption" in the streaming service's output for the next few months. [The story](. ►Critic's notebook: Rosie O'Donnell's epic love affair with Broadway. A dizzying lineup of stage stars checked in to a one-night only reboot of The Rosie O'Donnell Show from their kitchens, basements, living rooms and even one bathtub in an online benefit for The Actors Fund that stressed the importance of community during times of anxiety and isolation, David Rooney writes. Quote: "The show bridged the gap separating us from artists whose work we normally experience on the other side of the footlights. Most of us will never again get to see Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber exchange greetings in song on the birthday the two composers happen to share. From those celebrated veterans to rising-star newbies, the common denominator here was everybody facing the crisis just like us, reaching out a hand of friendship, albeit from a mandatory safe distance." [The column](. The rest of the world is grappling with the virus in their own way... +ITV cuts program spending, dividend to save $350M-plus amid virus crisis. "Management is very focused on cash and has implemented measures to reduce our costs and to tightly manage our cash flow" amid an "increasing" advertising impact, the company said Monday. [More](. +Disney to limit Disney+ streaming traffic in Europe to ease coronavirus-related congestion. "In line with Disney’s longstanding commitment to act responsibly, we are responding to the request of European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton to work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the broadband infrastructure," said Kevin Mayer, Disney's chairman direct-to-consumer and international. [More](. +Amazon, Facebook, Instagram and Apple have joined Netflix, YouTube and Disney+ in complying with government requests in Europe to temporarily reduce online video bit rates as streaming demand surges during the coronavirus crisis. [More](. +Cinema chains in Australia and New Zealand are closing their doors from Monday after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday night ordered a shutdown of all nonessential services, saying social distancing measures have failed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus in Australia. [More](. In other coronavirus-related news… --Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez [among the A-listers]( joining DJ D-Nice's virtual social distancing dance party. --Ben Platt, Debbie Allen, Kathryn Gallagher and more host [Instagram dance parties]( for "moments of unity." --Neil Diamond rearranges "Sweet Caroline" to [encourage hand-washing]( and social distancing --Fox News Media confirmed that a total of four employees [have tested positive]( for the new coronavirus... Debi Mazar has [tested positive](… David Bryan [from Bon Jovi too](… [and opera singer]( Placido Domingo... --Tom Hanks tweeted Sunday night that he and wife Rita Wilson [are feeling better]( following their coronavirus diagnosis. [The rest of the day's news...] The rest of the day's news... ►ACM Awards rescheduled for September. The country music awards show, originally scheduled for April 5, will now be held Wednesday, Sept. 16, airing live 8-11 p.m. ET/delayed PT) on CBS. As previously announced, Keith Urban will host the show. [More](. ►Woody Allen memoir released with little notice via new publisher. The 400-page book, still called Apropos of Nothing, was released Monday by Arcade Publishing. [More](. ►FuboTV Acquired. The tumult among subscription streaming bundles continues. In the latest volley, FuboTV, which counts AMC Networks, Discovery and Disney (via its Fox acquisition) as investors, is merging with FaceBank Group, a "celebrity and sports focused virtual entertainment company." fuboTV CEO David Gandler will be CEO of the combined company, once the deal closes. [The story](. +U.K. Studios Fund to invest in $290 million complex outside London. Newly launched U.K. studios investment fund the Creative District Improvement Company, set up by real estate developer Piers Read, producer of hit Brit comedies The Inbetweeners and Peep Show, and Jeremy Rainbird, who helped launch Sharon Horgan's label Merman, has teamed with property developer Quinn Estates on the new site in the British county of Kent. [More](. ►About last night (in TV): Westworld bosses [explain how]( that Game of Thrones cameo came to life... Aaron Paul on his Westworld character's "[messy, dark past]("...Westworld: Thandie Newton breaks "War World" [wide open](... Walking Dead bosses [break down]( Danai Gurira's departure and the franchise's future,,, Walking Dead star Danai Gurira [opens up]( about filming her "trippy" last episode... American Idol: Drama [overwhelms night two]( of Hollywood week... ►Netflix continues to go big on South Korean content. The streamer on Monday [unveiled a slate]( of seven upcoming Korean series and one film, collectively spanning reality, crime, sci-fi, romance, drama and more. +Warner Bros. International Television Production and Japanese pay-TV broadcaster WOWOW are partnering [for a third season]( of Japan's hit local-language remake of Cold Case. ►The newfound relevance of post-apocalyptic video games. Games like The Last of Us, Fallout and Days Gone give players an opportunity to consider how our actions now shape the future and to make decisions that push us away from any post-apocalyptic scenario becoming a reality, Richard Newby writes. [The column](. ►Childish Gambino wide-releases new album "3.15.20." With the exception of the previously released single Algorhythm and Time, his latest collaboration with Ariana Grande, the rest of the album's 12 tracks aren't named but marked with a timestamp instead. [More](. +The soundtrack to Frozen 2 returns to the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart for the first time in two months thanks to the film’s early arrival to digital retail and rental services, as well as the Disney+ streaming platform (on March 14). [More](. What else we're reading... --"AT&T CEO on coronavirus: This is 'a time of war'" [[CNN Business](] --"Rupert Murdoch out his son in charge of Fox. It was a dangerous mistake" [[NY Times](] --"‘It’s like losing a family’: An L.A. nightclub and its workers fight for survival during the coronavirus outbreak" [[LA Times](] --"Why the 2020 Olympics keep refusing to accept the inevitable" [[The Ringer](] Today's birthdays: Chaka Khan, 67, Rex Tillerson, 68, Perez Hilton, 42, Princess Eugenie of York, 30, Kyrie Irving, 28. The rest of the day's news... ►ACM Awards rescheduled for September. The country music awards show, originally scheduled for April 5, will now be held Wednesday, Sept. 16, airing live 8-11 p.m. ET/delayed PT) on CBS. As previously announced, Keith Urban will host the show. [More](. ►Woody Allen memoir released with little notice via new publisher. The 400-page book, still called Apropos of Nothing, was released Monday by Arcade Publishing. [More](. ►FuboTV Acquired. The tumult among subscription streaming bundles continues. In the latest volley, FuboTV, which counts AMC Networks, Discovery and Disney (via its Fox acquisition) as investors, is merging with FaceBank Group, a "celebrity and sports focused virtual entertainment company." fuboTV CEO David Gandler will be CEO of the combined company, once the deal closes. [The story](. +U.K. Studios Fund to invest in $290 million complex outside London. Newly launched U.K. studios investment fund the Creative District Improvement Company, set up by real estate developer Piers Read, producer of hit Brit comedies The Inbetweeners and Peep Show, and Jeremy Rainbird, who helped launch Sharon Horgan's label Merman, has teamed with property developer Quinn Estates on the new site in the British county of Kent. [More](. ►About last night (in TV): Westworld bosses [explain how]( that Game of Thrones cameo came to life... Aaron Paul on his Westworld character's "[messy, dark past]("...Westworld: Thandie Newton breaks "War World" [wide open](... Walking Dead bosses [break down]( Danai Gurira's departure and the franchise's future,,, Walking Dead star Danai Gurira [opens up]( about filming her "trippy" last episode... American Idol: Drama [overwhelms night two]( of Hollywood week... ►Netflix continues to go big on South Korean content. The streamer on Monday [unveiled a slate]( of seven upcoming Korean series and one film, collectively spanning reality, crime, sci-fi, romance, drama and more. +Warner Bros. International Television Production and Japanese pay-TV broadcaster WOWOW are partnering [for a third season]( of Japan's hit local-language remake of Cold Case. ►The newfound relevance of post-apocalyptic video games. Games like The Last of Us, Fallout and Days Gone give players an opportunity to consider how our actions now shape the future and to make decisions that push us away from any post-apocalyptic scenario becoming a reality, Richard Newby writes. [The column](. ►Childish Gambino wide-releases new album "3.15.20." With the exception of the previously released single Algorhythm and Time, his latest collaboration with Ariana Grande, the rest of the album's 12 tracks aren't named but marked with a timestamp instead. [More](. +The soundtrack to Frozen 2 returns to the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart for the first time in two months thanks to the film’s early arrival to digital retail and rental services, as well as the Disney+ streaming platform (on March 14). [More](. What else we're reading... --"AT&T CEO on coronavirus: This is 'a time of war'" [[CNN Business](] --"Rupert Murdoch out his son in charge of Fox. It was a dangerous mistake" [[NY Times](] --"‘It’s like losing a family’: An L.A. nightclub and its workers fight for survival during the coronavirus outbreak" [[LA Times](] --"Why the 2020 Olympics keep refusing to accept the inevitable" [[The Ringer](] Today's birthdays: Chaka Khan, 67, Rex Tillerson, 68, Perez Hilton, 42, Princess Eugenie of York, 30, Kyrie Irving, 28. [Image] [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( Is this e-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( ©2020 The Hollywood Reporter. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 All rights reserved. MARCH 23, 2020 [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [MANAGE PREFERENCES]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [TERMS OF USE](