“Two Disney insiders insist the company's decision, announced Monday afternoon, to bring Kimmel back wasn't influenced by growing Disney+ boycotts, the FCC, affiliates or the open letter signed by 400 celebrities. … It was, they told TheWrap, guided by ‘what's the right thing to do.’” - TheWrap (MSN)
“Cascade PBS will cease production of its local long-form journalism, leadership announced on Monday. The move, attributed to a $3.5 million annual loss in federal funding, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers, Cascade PBS President and CEO Rob Dunlop (said).” - KUOW (Seattle)
Artistic Director Amelia Acosta Powell served as Associate Artistic Director of he Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and has held leadership roles at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Managing Director Emily Tarquin has held multiple management positions at Actors Theatre. - The Courier Journal (Louisville)
Trump’s pressure campaign has had its intended effect: Hollywood is paralyzed creatively. In meetings, studio executives say they don’t want projects that are political or could be perceived as anti-Trump. They seem genuinely afraid of an audience that they no longer understand and that may not share their progressive values. - The New York Times
For decades, visitors have been drawn by the idea of dressing to the nines and roaming room to room, sipping cocktails as conjurers and sleight-of-hand artists ply their trade. Performers and members have included Cary Grant, Johnny Carson, Orson Welles, Jason Alexander, Neil Patrick Harris and Larry Wilmore. - Los Angeles Times
The major imprints have been churning out a robust collection of books (more than 20 this year, by my count) that explain, extol, deride, fictionalize, and occasionally incorporate AI. - The Atlantic
Higher education is not merely the transfer of knowledge. We live in an age of informational opulence; we are awash in readily available data but lacking discernment, communication skills, and empathy. - The Atlantic
Fraudsters are extorting businesses for hundreds of dollars each by threatening to post fake negative reviews on Google Maps — or posting fake negative reviews and then demanding a payment to remove them, according to reports from multiple businesses and data from an industry watchdog. - The New York Times
For IA—which strove to digitize 3 million recordings to help historians document recording history—the lawsuit from music publishers could have meant financial ruin. Initially, record labels alleged that damages amounted to $400 million, claiming they lost streams when IA visitors played Great 78 recordings. - Ars Technica
The right-wing cancellation campaign that has come to encompass all individuals and institutions that have expressed anything less than cloying adulation of Kirk is ongoing, with the pointed support of the Trump administration. - Slate
None of the 18 commercial musicals that opened on Broadway last season have made a profit yet. Some still could, but several have been spectacular flameouts. The new musicals “Tammy Faye,” “Boop!” and “Smash” each cost at least $20 million, and each was gone less than four months after opening. - The New York Times
Its anniversary product announcements this week touted AI features that will let creators use AI to enhance or produce videos. After all, Google Deepmind’s Veo 3 technology was YouTube’s for the taking. Ready or not, the video camera ultimately will be replaced by the prompt. This means a rethinking of YouTube’s superpower: authenticity. - Wired
Which, given the size of the Boomer generation, is great. But there are still some issues - mostly issues of stereotyping and sentimentality. Consider the Frail, the Feisty, and the Fiendish. - The Guardian (UK)
If their heirs or estate is lucky, there’s enough money to simply keep the studio as is. “In Europe these spaces are often accessible landmarks,” but in the U.S., they’re more likely private - and accessible to family, staff, and a very few scholars. - The New York Times
