Chris McCarthy has a big decision to make.
Nearly 12 months to the day that Trevor Noah said goodbye to The Daily Show, the Comedy Central series still does not have a permanent host.
But a decision is expected soon, with sources telling Deadline that Paramount is facing pressure to name a replacement by the end of the year.
There have been a number of shortlists and stars mentioned throughout the process, which was hampered by the writers and actors strike, and there was of course the Hasan Minhaj situation - the Patriot Act star basically had the job before revelations in a New Yorker article.
But many in the late-night and comedy community believe that McCarthy and his team already have viable options right under their noses and, with these options, the opportunity to shake up the talk show landscape. >>>Duos Behind The Desk |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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Rumble In A Fox Den - If there were winners out of Fox News’ debate between California’s Gavin Newsom and Florida’s Ron DeSantis, they were Joe Biden, Donald Trump and the Walt Disney Company. If there were losers, they include the Sunshine State Governor himself, Sean Hannity and civility. >>>Analysis
'Bass' Pumping On Parmount+ - Lawmen: Bass Reeves has locked down a new record for Paramount+. The anthology series, which is produced by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, is now the steamer’s most-watched series premiere globally this year. The first two episodes amassed a collective 7.5M viewers across the world in the first 7 days across Paramount+ and broadcast sampling run on CBS, according to Paramount Global. >>> Doubling Linear Tune-In
Channel 4 Nepotism Drama - The UK network has been forced to defend itself after it was revealed that the writer of latest scripted show The Couple Next Door is married to Channel 4 drama boss Caroline Hollick. Hollick was quoted in the press notice announcing the Sam Heughan-starrer, trumpeting the drama as an “addictive, emotional roller-coaster.” >>>Nepo Husband Tracey Jacobs Leaving UTA - Tracey Jacobs will end a 25-year run at UTA next year. One of the most accomplished Hollywood talent agents of her era, Jacobs will stay on for the next several months to help with the transition of her clients and serve as an adviser to the company. >>>Amicable Situation
Aislinn Clarke To Helm 'Hellish Nell' - A chilling horror-thriller based on life of the UK's final citizen convicted and imprisoned for witchcraft is in the works. Aislinn Clarke will become the first woman to direct a horror film in her native Ireland when she helms Hellish Nell, which comes from Black List writer Chris Basler and is for Studiocanal and The Picture Company. >>>Harrowing Journey
Cinerama Dome Delays Re-opening - Mark your calendars for a 2025 re-opening of the Cinerama Dome and the complex next door formerly known as Arclight Cinemas. Deadline hears the delay is largely due to the redesign and has nothing to do with 2024’s broken theatrical release calendar. >>>Missing Arthouse
Distribution Vets Launch ShowBiz Direct - Industry veterans Kevin Mitchell, Richie Fay and Scott Kennedy have joined forces to launch U.S. distributor ShowBiz Direct. The LA and Dallas-based theatrical and digital distribution company tells us it is aiming to release mid-size to tent-pole releases that don’t always fit into the post-pandemic release strategies of major studios. >>>Industry Crying Out
Peter Bart On 'Saltburn's Tantalizing Twists - "Why would Emerald Fennell want to become cinema’s doyenne of dark?," asks Deadline's Editor-at-Large. >>>No Happy Endings
'Candy Cane Lane' Review - Eddie Murphy's family-friendly comedy is "tailor made" for the comedian's talents, writes Pete Hammond, who says it has elements of off-the-wall seasonal comedies such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone and Christmas with the Kranks. >>>Ideal Premise
In Brief - Emmy Award-winner Johan Renck has signed with WME... Skydance Sports has closed a deal with Gary Ross to rewrite and direct Old Time Hockey... Entertainment veterans Elisabeth Rohm and Kara Feifer have partnered to launch Rohm Feifer Entertainment. |
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Virgin River showrunner Patrick Sean Smith, who took the reins of the popular Netflix romantic drama after Season 4, dissects for Deadline all of the Christmas special’s twists and their implications, including how Everett will fit into the show and Mel’s life. He also reveals another time jump will kick off Season 6 and teases plan for shorter future seasons and no more holiday specials. >>>Read The Interview |
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Exclusive
Michelle Williams is to star in and produce Dying for Sex, a limited series for FX from writers Liz Meriwether (The Dropout) and Kim Rosenstock (Only Murders in the Building), director Leslye Headland (Acolyte) and 20th Television, where Meriwether, Rosenstock and Headland are under overall deals.
Exclusive
Amy Schumer has been set to produce and star in Kinda Pregnant, a new film that Tyler Spindel (The Out-Laws) is directing for Netflix and Happy Madison.
Exclusive
After four seasons, Alberto Rosende is to exit from Chicago Fire following a final appearance in the Season 12 premiere, Deadline has learned. Sources say his departure was fully amicable.
Exclusive
Emperor of Ocean Park, the MGM+ series adaptation of Stephen L. Carter’s best-selling novel, has found its lead. The project, which comes from John Wells and Sherman Payne, has cast Grantham Coleman as Talcott Garland. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
501,000 viewers - Audience for the debut of CNN‘s 'King Charles,' the new show featuring Gayle King and Charles Barkley. The tune-in trailed that of rival news networks in the same timeslot. |
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More News
🤦♂️ Dozens of local TV stations owned by Tegna, most of them NBC and CBS affiliates, have gone dark on DirecTV in a carriage dispute. The outage affects roughly 5 million customers across the U.S.
🏈 The CW Network has announced it will be the exclusive broadcast home of the 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl, with the telecast to feature Barstool personalities including Dave Portnoy calling the game.
🏀 Swagger will not be getting another season at Apple TV+. The sports drama, inspired by NBA hall-of-famer Kevin Durant’s experiences as a kid, has been cancelled after two seasons at the streamer.
📽️ Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival launched its third edition on Thursday with a characteristically starry red carpet featuring the likes of Michelle Williams, Johnny Depp, Sharon Stone and Will Smith.
💵 Nordic outfit Viaplay has sold its UK business and unveiled an equity injection, coming a few months after the CEO stepped down with immediate effect in the midst of desperate economic headwinds. |
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Trending
 Bye Bye Barry, which tells the story of hall-of-fame running back Barry Sanders, has become Prime Video’s most-viewed documentary movie ever in the U.S., taking the title from Kelce.
🔻 Producer Joel Silver has been fired from the forthcoming Amazon film Play Dirty. The decision stemmed from alleged verbal abuse on Silver’s part toward studio execs over creative differences. |
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Obituaries
🕯️ Thomas Augsberger, Eden Rock Media founder, producer and international media consultant died suddenly yesterday at his Hollywood Hills home. He was 60 years old. 🕯️ Victor J. Kemper, the former president of the American Society of Cinematographers whose career spanned four decades and included films as diverse as Dog Day Afternoon and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, has died, according to the ASC. He was 96. 🕯️ Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries |
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On the Radar
Fri - Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny hits Disney+; L.A. Comic Con begins
Sun - Kennedy Center Honors
Wed - National Board of Review awards announcement
Thu - Frasier S1 finale |
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Superstar Synergy - About six weeks after Beyoncé made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Swift returned the favor, showing up Thursday night at the London premiere of Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé. |
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