TV and Police Brutality; When Time's Up Didn't Step Up; Disney's Virtual Upfront Pitch

What's news: When Time's Up didn't step up, Tom Gores takes a stake in Paradigm, two conversations about TV and police brutality, could same-sex love stories boost the rom-com revival? How Netflix outmaneuvered the Trump administration over the name "Space Force," the BBC names a new director general. Plus: Disney's virtual upfront pitch to marketers, and Jimmy Kimmel's best jokes from the presentation. --Alex Weprin [The Hollywood Reporter]( [The Hollywood Reporter]( Today In Entertainment JUNE 05, 2020 What's news: When Time's Up didn't step up, Tom Gores takes a stake in Paradigm, two conversations about TV and police brutality, could same-sex love stories boost the rom-com revival? How Netflix outmaneuvered the Trump administration over the name "Space Force," the BBC names a new director general. Plus: Disney's virtual upfront pitch to marketers, and Jimmy Kimmel's best jokes from the presentation. --Alex Weprin What's news: When Time's Up didn't step up, Tom Gores takes a stake in Paradigm, two conversations about TV and police brutality, could same-sex love stories boost the rom-com revival? How Netflix outmaneuvered the Trump administration over the name "Space Force," the BBC names a new director general. Plus: Disney's virtual upfront pitch to marketers, and Jimmy Kimmel's best jokes from the presentation. --Alex Weprin [Time's Up Challenge] Time's Up Challenge ►When Time's Up didn't step up. The group has emerged as the most recognizable brand in the quest for gender equality, but for some women in HBO Max's On the Record and other activists, its reluctance to back the film raises deeper questions, Rebecca Keegan and Tatiana Siegel report: "It's difficult to incubate a social justice organization when you are adjacent to powerful entertainment executives." --"I've gone from being skeptical of Time's Up exploiting survivors to raise money for pay equity of celebrity actresses to thinking they are nefarious," says one of the film's subjects. "Time's Up was trying to engineer an outcome where we would disavow the film." --Through a spokesperson, Time's Up maintains that its legal, media-training and security support for Russell Simmons' accusers has been ongoing: "Time's Up support for the survivors depicted in the film, and those who were not, has been unwavering, and it is both inappropriate and inaccurate to suggest that Time's Up policy not to do publicity for creative projects suggests that we have not supported the survivors." [The story](. ►Billionaire Tom Gores takes ownership stake in Paradigm. The agency has also retained former Warner Bros. TV exec Bruce Rosenblum as an advisor for growth and investment, Sam Gores said in a memo to staff on Thursday. "I am pleased to announce that Crescent Drive Media (CDM), an investment vehicle owned by my brother, Tom Gores, has taken an ownership interest in Paradigm," Gores' memo read. "This is one of several important steps that put us in a financial position not only to weather this crisis, but to invest in future growth." [The story](. Time's Up Challenge ►When Time's Up didn't step up. The group has emerged as the most recognizable brand in the quest for gender equality, but for some women in HBO Max's On the Record and other activists, its reluctance to back the film raises deeper questions, Rebecca Keegan and Tatiana Siegel report: "It's difficult to incubate a social justice organization when you are adjacent to powerful entertainment executives." --"I've gone from being skeptical of Time's Up exploiting survivors to raise money for pay equity of celebrity actresses to thinking they are nefarious," says one of the film's subjects. "Time's Up was trying to engineer an outcome where we would disavow the film." --Through a spokesperson, Time's Up maintains that its legal, media-training and security support for Russell Simmons' accusers has been ongoing: "Time's Up support for the survivors depicted in the film, and those who were not, has been unwavering, and it is both inappropriate and inaccurate to suggest that Time's Up policy not to do publicity for creative projects suggests that we have not supported the survivors." [The story](. ►Billionaire Tom Gores takes ownership stake in Paradigm. The agency has also retained former Warner Bros. TV exec Bruce Rosenblum as an advisor for growth and investment, Sam Gores said in a memo to staff on Thursday. "I am pleased to announce that Crescent Drive Media (CDM), an investment vehicle owned by my brother, Tom Gores, has taken an ownership interest in Paradigm," Gores' memo read. "This is one of several important steps that put us in a financial position not only to weather this crisis, but to invest in future growth." [The story](. [TV and Police Brutality] TV and Police Brutality ►Critics' conversation: Is TV afraid to tackle police brutality or just unable to do it well? As protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd continue around the country, THR's Daniel Fienberg and Inkoo Kang reflect on the small screen's struggle to depict police violence and community responses. --Fienberg: "The 'formula' is unquestionably the villain here, or at least the stumbling block. Police shows are a staple of broadcast schedules and broadcast schedules have to be filled by shows that reach the largest audience possible. These shows are also designed to reach a 'satisfying' conclusion at the end of every episode. They’re designed for comfort and, in that light, you can see how 'the good guys save the day and the bad guys are punished' is what’s comforting." --Kang: "[A]s for fictional treatments, I wonder if it’s TV’s serialized nature that makes it difficult to tackle the issue, which is simultaneously grim and explosive. With a two-hour movie, you’re practically promised a resolution, even if it’s a dispiriting one like the ending of If Beale Street Could Talk. But with TV, audiences tuning into shows about police violence would be signing up to sit with hours upon hours of tension and anger about one of the most intractable issues of our age. Even in this era of Homework TV, that’s a big ask." [The conversation](. +TV's Top 5: A conversation about police and Hollywood with the Law & Order: SVU showrunner. In the wake of George Floyd's death by Minneapolis police and subsequent protests, Warren Leight joins podcast hosts Lesley Goldberg and Daniel Fienberg for an interview about how TV portrays law enforcement, the role of writers to stop the hero cop narrative and whether NBC's long-running drama will address the current narratives. [Listen](. +Oprah Winfrey to host two-night town hall on racism in America. The event, OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?, is scheduled to air June 9 and 10. It will originate on OWN and be simulcast across all 18 of Discovery's linear networks (including Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV and Science Channel) and on OWN's social channels, in addition to the company's worldwide platforms. [More](. +WarnerMedia to offer ad inventory to social justice groups. "Like many companies, we donate to partner organizations and programs engaged in social justice work. We write checks and yet racial injustice persists. This moment teaches us that money is only a part of the solution," the company said. "So, in addition to our ongoing financial support, we are providing these organizations with access to our platforms to tell and amplify their message." [The story](. +Rockstar to temporarily shut down Grand Theft Auto Online in honor of George Floyd. "Black Lives Matter," said Rockstar in a tweet. "To honor the legacy of George Floyd, today, 6/4/20, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET, we will be shutting down access to our online games, Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online." [More](. +Shangela on the political significance of HBO's We're Here: "Pride was born out of protest." The drag superstar talks to THR about the potential impact of her six-part docuseries as Pride Month begins during a time of unprecedented divisiveness in the U.S. [More](. ^Disney asks marketers to "re-engage" in virtual upfront pitch. The Walt Disney Co., in advertising roadshow presentations with marketers, is sending a reassuring message for buyers that may have pulled back amid the pandemic. In a year where there likely won’t be a traditional upfront or traditional TV season, the company is pitching the breadth and depth of its offerings as well as its storytelling expertise as a safe place to invest their budgets. --“In a world where everyone has data, and everyone has targeting, and everyone has all of that capability, it is the narrative and the story and the brand and the connections to the hearts and minds of consumers and how we tell those stories that is going to stick out more than anything,” Disney president of ad sales Rita Ferro tells THR in an interview. Ferro also says that Disney is hoping to capitalize on the Tokyo Olympics postponement, with the NBA and MLB potentially returning to TV when the Olympics would have been on NBC's schedule. [The story](. +Despite the lack of a traditional upfront presentation, Disney still had Jimmy Kimmel close the roadshow with his annual upfront roast. “I know that in previous years many of you thought that there’s no way that the ABC upfront could possibly have been worse, and to that I say, ‘Welcome to the Disney virtual roadshow,’" Kimmel quipped. "We call it a roadshow because, just like the Roadshow on PBS, we are also selling antiques. How is it a roadshow if we’re not going anywhere? Let’s call this what it really is: a cry for help.” [Here are the highlights from Kimmel's monologue](. TV and Police Brutality ►Critics' conversation: Is TV afraid to tackle police brutality or just unable to do it well? As protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd continue around the country, THR's Daniel Fienberg and Inkoo Kang reflect on the small screen's struggle to depict police violence and community responses. --Fienberg: "The 'formula' is unquestionably the villain here, or at least the stumbling block. Police shows are a staple of broadcast schedules and broadcast schedules have to be filled by shows that reach the largest audience possible. These shows are also designed to reach a 'satisfying' conclusion at the end of every episode. They’re designed for comfort and, in that light, you can see how 'the good guys save the day and the bad guys are punished' is what’s comforting." --Kang: "[A]s for fictional treatments, I wonder if it’s TV’s serialized nature that makes it difficult to tackle the issue, which is simultaneously grim and explosive. With a two-hour movie, you’re practically promised a resolution, even if it’s a dispiriting one like the ending of If Beale Street Could Talk. But with TV, audiences tuning into shows about police violence would be signing up to sit with hours upon hours of tension and anger about one of the most intractable issues of our age. Even in this era of Homework TV, that’s a big ask." [The conversation](. +TV's Top 5: A conversation about police and Hollywood with the Law & Order: SVU showrunner. In the wake of George Floyd's death by Minneapolis police and subsequent protests, Warren Leight joins podcast hosts Lesley Goldberg and Daniel Fienberg for an interview about how TV portrays law enforcement, the role of writers to stop the hero cop narrative and whether NBC's long-running drama will address the current narratives. [Listen](. +Oprah Winfrey to host two-night town hall on racism in America. The event, OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?, is scheduled to air June 9 and 10. It will originate on OWN and be simulcast across all 18 of Discovery's linear networks (including Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV and Science Channel) and on OWN's social channels, in addition to the company's worldwide platforms. [More](. +WarnerMedia to offer ad inventory to social justice groups. "Like many companies, we donate to partner organizations and programs engaged in social justice work. We write checks and yet racial injustice persists. This moment teaches us that money is only a part of the solution," the company said. "So, in addition to our ongoing financial support, we are providing these organizations with access to our platforms to tell and amplify their message." [The story](. +Rockstar to temporarily shut down Grand Theft Auto Online in honor of George Floyd. "Black Lives Matter," said Rockstar in a tweet. "To honor the legacy of George Floyd, today, 6/4/20, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET, we will be shutting down access to our online games, Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online." [More](. +Shangela on the political significance of HBO's We're Here: "Pride was born out of protest." The drag superstar talks to THR about the potential impact of her six-part docuseries as Pride Month begins during a time of unprecedented divisiveness in the U.S. [More](. ^Disney asks marketers to "re-engage" in virtual upfront pitch. The Walt Disney Co., in advertising roadshow presentations with marketers, is sending a reassuring message for buyers that may have pulled back amid the pandemic. In a year where there likely won’t be a traditional upfront or traditional TV season, the company is pitching the breadth and depth of its offerings as well as its storytelling expertise as a safe place to invest their budgets. --“In a world where everyone has data, and everyone has targeting, and everyone has all of that capability, it is the narrative and the story and the brand and the connections to the hearts and minds of consumers and how we tell those stories that is going to stick out more than anything,” Disney president of ad sales Rita Ferro tells THR in an interview. Ferro also says that Disney is hoping to capitalize on the Tokyo Olympics postponement, with the NBA and MLB potentially returning to TV when the Olympics would have been on NBC's schedule. [The story](. +Despite the lack of a traditional upfront presentation, Disney still had Jimmy Kimmel close the roadshow with his annual upfront roast. “I know that in previous years many of you thought that there’s no way that the ABC upfront could possibly have been worse, and to that I say, ‘Welcome to the Disney virtual roadshow,’" Kimmel quipped. "We call it a roadshow because, just like the Roadshow on PBS, we are also selling antiques. How is it a roadshow if we’re not going anywhere? Let’s call this what it really is: a cry for help.” [Here are the highlights from Kimmel's monologue](. [The Next Rom-Com Revival?] The Next Rom-Com Revival? ►Could same-sex love stories boost the rom-com film revival? Just as Crazy Rich Asians broke out amid other rom-com box office busts, a slate of queer love stories is poised to do the same because "audiences don't want to see the 20th version of When Harry Met Sally…" Mia Galuppo reports. [The story](. +Looking back on Hollywood's pioneering LGBTQ collective: "They'd call us the Lavender Mafia." Producers Nina Jacobson and Bruce Cohen reflect on the trailblazing Out There alliance they founded in 1995 that paved the way for gay activism in Hollywood. [The story](. +THR film critics: 10 great overlooked LGBTQ movies. Viewers can celebrate Pride 2020 from their couch by seeking out these underappreciated gems of the queer canon — from the sensual to the sinister, proud affirmations to affecting identity struggles. [The list](. ►BBC names Tim Davie Director General. The executive will replace Tony Hall who had said in January that he would step down from running the U.K. public broadcaster after about seven years. "This has been a critical time for the U.K. and these past few months have shown just how much the BBC matters to people," Davie said in a statement. "Our mission has never been more relevant, important or necessary. I have a deep commitment to content of the highest quality and impartiality." [The story](. +Revolving door: Facebook Gaming executive Phil Ranta [has joined]( startup Wormhole Labs as chief operating officer... Tongues are wagging about Fran Tirado's [exit from Netflix](, where he worked for 10 months in brand and editorial strategy for LGBTQ content, heading up the streamer's inclusive @Most social channels... ^Trump's Space Force already lost its first battle. Netflix unfurled its star-studded comedy May 29 and is outmaneuvering the U.S. government to secure trademark rights globally to the armed services name, Eriq Gardner reports. Although the United States operates on what's called a "first-to-use" trademark registration system, where priority is based on actual use in commerce rather than who gets to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office first, many other countries operate on a "first-to-file" basis. Records show that Netflix was submitting applications for "Space Force" around the world as early as January 2019. In other words, the Department of Defense was caught sleeping. [The story](. In other legal news... +Gabrielle Union files new complaint over America's Got Talent firing. Union has asked California authorities to examine racism on the set of America's Got Talent, alleging in a complaint filed on Thursday that the Simon Cowell-created competition show terminated her after she refused to remain silent over what she describes to be the show's "toxic culture." --The new complaint to California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing comes months after Union's exit from the program and a week after the culmination of a joint investigation by NBC, producers Fremantle and Simon Cowell's Syco. That investigation largely gave the production a pass from her allegations. It reported no derogatory remarks about Union's appearance plus stated that race nor gender was a contributing factor in the advancement or elimination of contestants at any time. What's more, NBC, Fremantle and Syco patted itself on the back for having "demonstrated an overall culture of diversity." [The story](. +Midnight Rider director has a new film, being called a "murderer" leads to libel threats. The producers of Randall Miller's Higher Grounds threaten to sue a friend of the camera assistant killed on the director's last movie. [More](. ►TV review: Daniel Fieberg reviews Michaela Coel's HBO series I May Destroy You, writing that "she may not have foreseen a global pandemic or international protests tied to police brutality, but [the series] has a feeling of bracing, uncomfortable immediacy." [The review](. ►TV ratings: The third installment of ABC's Wonderful World of Disney movie franchise delivered Wednesday's best 18-49 rating on the broadcast networks, with CBS' Game On and Fox's Ultimate Tag coming in close behind. [The numbers](. In other news... --Whoopi Goldberg has followed in the footsteps of Joaquin Phoenix [and collaborated]( with environmental movement Extinction Rebellion on a short film. --Nominees for this year’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards [have been announced](, with IDW Publishing and Image Comics leading the way in terms of recognition, with 13 nominations (plus one shared) and 11 nominations (plus six shared), respectively. --Upstart Canadian cable TV and Internet provider VMedia [on Thursday unveiled]( the country's first live TV streaming service, RiverTV, to bundle over 30 local and U.S. channels and cost $16.99 a month. --Arclight Films and Well Go USA [have nabbed]( the U.S. distribution rights to the action-adventure drama Tomiris, an epic tale of Queen Tomiris and her female warriors directed by Kazakhstan director Akan Satayev (The Liquidator). --SiriusXM [expects to grow]( its self-pay subscriber base in the current second quarter despite headwinds from the novel coronavirus pandemic. What else we're reading... --"Silver Lake’s coronavirus bets: a make-or-break moment for Egon Durban" [[FT](] --"HBO’s Watchmen was ahead of its time — by 9 months" [[Decider](] --"Cable news is no match for the George Floyd moment. Here’s why it’s failing" [[LA Times](] --"Jake Paul charged with misdemeanor trespassing after mall looting" [[NY Times](] Today's birthdays: Kenny G, 64, Pete Wentz, 41, Brian McKnight, 51, Jeff Garlin, 58, Troye Sivan, 25. The Next Rom-Com Revival? ►Could same-sex love stories boost the rom-com film revival? Just as Crazy Rich Asians broke out amid other rom-com box office busts, a slate of queer love stories is poised to do the same because "audiences don't want to see the 20th version of When Harry Met Sally…" Mia Galuppo reports. [The story](. +Looking back on Hollywood's pioneering LGBTQ collective: "They'd call us the Lavender Mafia." Producers Nina Jacobson and Bruce Cohen reflect on the trailblazing Out There alliance they founded in 1995 that paved the way for gay activism in Hollywood. [The story](. +THR film critics: 10 great overlooked LGBTQ movies. Viewers can celebrate Pride 2020 from their couch by seeking out these underappreciated gems of the queer canon — from the sensual to the sinister, proud affirmations to affecting identity struggles. [The list](. ►BBC names Tim Davie Director General. The executive will replace Tony Hall who had said in January that he would step down from running the U.K. public broadcaster after about seven years. "This has been a critical time for the U.K. and these past few months have shown just how much the BBC matters to people," Davie said in a statement. "Our mission has never been more relevant, important or necessary. I have a deep commitment to content of the highest quality and impartiality." [The story](. +Revolving door: Facebook Gaming executive Phil Ranta [has joined]( startup Wormhole Labs as chief operating officer... Tongues are wagging about Fran Tirado's [exit from Netflix](, where he worked for 10 months in brand and editorial strategy for LGBTQ content, heading up the streamer's inclusive @Most social channels... ^Trump's Space Force already lost its first battle. Netflix unfurled its star-studded comedy May 29 and is outmaneuvering the U.S. government to secure trademark rights globally to the armed services name, Eriq Gardner reports. Although the United States operates on what's called a "first-to-use" trademark registration system, where priority is based on actual use in commerce rather than who gets to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office first, many other countries operate on a "first-to-file" basis. Records show that Netflix was submitting applications for "Space Force" around the world as early as January 2019. In other words, the Department of Defense was caught sleeping. [The story](. In other legal news... +Gabrielle Union files new complaint over America's Got Talent firing. Union has asked California authorities to examine racism on the set of America's Got Talent, alleging in a complaint filed on Thursday that the Simon Cowell-created competition show terminated her after she refused to remain silent over what she describes to be the show's "toxic culture." --The new complaint to California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing comes months after Union's exit from the program and a week after the culmination of a joint investigation by NBC, producers Fremantle and Simon Cowell's Syco. That investigation largely gave the production a pass from her allegations. It reported no derogatory remarks about Union's appearance plus stated that race nor gender was a contributing factor in the advancement or elimination of contestants at any time. What's more, NBC, Fremantle and Syco patted itself on the back for having "demonstrated an overall culture of diversity." [The story](. +Midnight Rider director has a new film, being called a "murderer" leads to libel threats. The producers of Randall Miller's Higher Grounds threaten to sue a friend of the camera assistant killed on the director's last movie. [More](. ►TV review: Daniel Fieberg reviews Michaela Coel's HBO series I May Destroy You, writing that "she may not have foreseen a global pandemic or international protests tied to police brutality, but [the series] has a feeling of bracing, uncomfortable immediacy." [The review](. ►TV ratings: The third installment of ABC's Wonderful World of Disney movie franchise delivered Wednesday's best 18-49 rating on the broadcast networks, with CBS' Game On and Fox's Ultimate Tag coming in close behind. [The numbers](. In other news... --Whoopi Goldberg has followed in the footsteps of Joaquin Phoenix [and collaborated]( with environmental movement Extinction Rebellion on a short film. --Nominees for this year’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards [have been announced](, with IDW Publishing and Image Comics leading the way in terms of recognition, with 13 nominations (plus one shared) and 11 nominations (plus six shared), respectively. --Upstart Canadian cable TV and Internet provider VMedia [on Thursday unveiled]( the country's first live TV streaming service, RiverTV, to bundle over 30 local and U.S. channels and cost $16.99 a month. --Arclight Films and Well Go USA [have nabbed]( the U.S. distribution rights to the action-adventure drama Tomiris, an epic tale of Queen Tomiris and her female warriors directed by Kazakhstan director Akan Satayev (The Liquidator). --SiriusXM [expects to grow]( its self-pay subscriber base in the current second quarter despite headwinds from the novel coronavirus pandemic. What else we're reading... --"Silver Lake’s coronavirus bets: a make-or-break moment for Egon Durban" [[FT](] --"HBO’s Watchmen was ahead of its time — by 9 months" [[Decider](] --"Cable news is no match for the George Floyd moment. Here’s why it’s failing" [[LA Times](] --"Jake Paul charged with misdemeanor trespassing after mall looting" [[NY Times](] Today's birthdays: Kenny G, 64, Pete Wentz, 41, Brian McKnight, 51, Jeff Garlin, 58, Troye Sivan, 25. [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. JUNE 05, 2020 [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [MANAGE PREFERENCES]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [TERMS OF USE](