Netflix CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters addressed concerns over the Trump-imposed tariffs and a potential looming recession during the company’s first quarter earnings call, noting that as of right now they’re not seeing signs of any downturn in Netflix’s business. “We’re paying close attention to the consumer sentiment and where the broader economy is moving, but based on what we are seeing by actually operating the business right now, there’s nothing really significant to note,” Peters said. “Primary metrics and indicators would be our retention, that’s stable and strong. We haven’t seen any significant changes in plan mix or plan take rate, our most recent price changes have been in line with expectations – engagement remains strong and healthy, so things generally look stable from that lens.” Peters said that, stepping back, he took comfort in “the fact that entertainment has been pretty resilient in tougher economic times.” “Netflix specifically also has been quite resilient and we haven’t seen major i
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In the back half of 2024, Max dominated the Samba TV Weekly Wrap streaming Top 10. Massive hits like “House of the Dragon” and “The Penguin” gave the streamer a grip on the top spot for months at a time. This week, we’re seeing signs of history repeating itself with a Top 10 that is frontloaded with the continued success of one Max series, the slow build buzz of another, and the season premiere of a hit that could top the chart for weeks to come. One week after its Season 3 finale aired, “The White Lotus” was once again the most-watched streaming program, topping the chart for the eighth consecutive week. Even with a huge same-day viewership for the April 6 finale, the series drew a catch-up crowd large enough to push it to the top. The other Max finale near the top of the chart belongs to “The Pitt.” The buzzy ER drama lands in third this week following its April 10 finale. It’s the highest placement for the show, which, unlike the aforementioned big hits, is a streaming-exclusive and doesn’t benefit from th
“Ransom Canyon” is now streaming on Netflix, taking fans to Texas for their next contemporary Western. But was “Ransom Canyon” actually filmed in Texas? Starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly, the new series is created, written, and executive produced by April Blair. It centers on a small town as three ranching families collide, disagreeing over who should have control of the land. Some want to sell to the major corporation that’s come to town, and others won’t even think about it. And of course, surrounding all that are several love stories, which lead to a whole lot of secrets. That town, giving the show its name, is Ransom Canyon, and indeed, it is a real place in Texas. But no, the show didn’t film there. Though the series features gorgeous scenery and landscapes, it was actually filmed in another state entirely. In actuality, “Ransom Canyon” was filmed in New Mexico — specifically Albuquerque, according to the series credits. Minka Kelly in “Ransom Canyon.” (Netflix) Ironically, Kelly herself actually gre
Sean “Diddy” Combs has requested that the video footage that showed him brutally beating his ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura” be excluded from evidence ahead of his trial. “Mr. Combs seeks to exclude all available video files related to an incident from March 5, 2016, in the Intercontinental Hotel,” his lawyers wrote on his behalf in a 15-page motion that was submitted to the U.S. Southern District Court of New York on Thursday. Combs’ team claims the footage, which was released by CNN in May 2024, has been tampered with and thus wants it removed. “There is no longer any dispute that the CNN footage from March 5, 2016, at the Intercontinental Hotel, offered by the government at three separate bail hearings, is wholly inaccurate, having been altered, manipulated, sped-up and edited to be out of sequence,” the legal document states. “As indicated below, CNN paid [redacted] for footage, copied that footage in unknown ways, presented that footage out of order and destroyed the original. Accordingly, all
Universal Pictures is fast-tracking an untitled original comedy about a country western star in free fall from Judd Apatow (“Trainwreck,” “King Of Staten Island”) and Glen Powell (“Twisters,” “Hit Man”), the studio announced on Thursday. Apatow will direct the film with Powell set to star. Apatow and Powell are set to write the script together. Apatow will produce through his longstanding Apatow Productions overall deal with the Studio. Apatow’s relationship with the Studio dates back to his 2005 directorial debut, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” and he has since directed “Knocked Up,” “Funny People,” “This is 40,” “Trainwreck” and “The King of Staten Island” for the Studio. Powell and Dan Cohen will produce through Barnstorm’s newly minted first look deal with the Studio. This new collaboration with Apatow is the second project to be produced with Universal since Barnstorm announced their first look deal in February. Powell’s relationship with the Studio originates with his starring role in “Twisters,” which overp
Believe it or not, it’s been 15 years since MTV first blessed our television screens with the iconic cast of “Jersey Shore” — and starting on May 29, the whole gang will be back together in “Jersey Shore Family Vacation” Season 8. In TheWrap’s exclusive first look at the teaser out Thursday, Angelina, Deena, DJ Pauly D, Jenni “JWoww,” Mike “The Situation,” Nicole “Snooki,” Ronnie, Sammi “Sweetheart” and Vinny reunite while looking back at some of their less-than-stellar life choices. But hey, they paid off in the end, so no regrets. “This season, the family is celebrating 15 years since their first wild summer in Seaside Heights with an epic reunion at the OG shore house. They’re putting the NEW in New Jersey, diving deeper into the passion projects and personal lives of each cast member,” per the logline. And as the trailer puts it, the entire group is still DTF… Down to fist-pump. It’s also worth noting the show ended Season 7 as the No. 1 cable series on Thursday nights. “‘Jersey Shore’ is the gift that ke
Patrick Adiarte, the Philippines-born actor and dancer best known for his roles in “The King and I,” “M*A*S*H” and “Flower Drum Song,” died Tuesday in Los Angeles from pneumonia. He was 82. His death was confirmed on social media by friends and family members Wednesday. Born in Manila, Adiarte was imprisoned along with his sister Irene and their mother Purita by the Japanese in 1945 during World War II. Their father was killed that same year while he was working as a captain for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Over a year later, Adiarte and his surviving family members emigrated to New York. In 1952, he joined the Broadway cast of “The King and I” and toured with the show alongside fellow cast members Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence. When the Broadway production was adapted a few years later in 1956 into a feature film by 20th Century Fox, Adiarte was cast as Prince Chulalongkorn, the eldest son of Brynner’s King Mongkut of Siam. Adiarte starred five years later in another Hollywood adaptation of a Rodger
The iconic PPG trio from “Love Island USA” Season 6 is headed to reality TV, again. Leah Kateb, JaNa Craig and Serena Page are among the Season 6 cast that will be featured in a new “Love Island” spinoff series, which follows a handful of former islanders as they trade the villa for Los Angeles. The new Peacock show, titled “Love Island: Beyond the Villa,” will also feature Aaron Evans, Miguel Harichi, Kaylor Martin, Connor Newsum, Kenny Rodriguez, Liv Walker and Kendall Washington, as well as more guest appearances. About a year after they met last summer, the new series will follow everyone’s favorite Season 6 Islanders around Los Angeles as they navigate new careers, evolving friendships, newfound fame and complex relationships outside of the Love Island villa, per the official logline. The new series will premiere this summer alongside a new season of “Love Island USA.” While flagship series “Love Island U.K.” has long dominated the cultural conversation, Season 6 of “Love Island USA” broke into the zeitg
Fatma Hassona, the Palestinian subject of the forthcoming Cannes 2025 documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,” was killed Wednesday by a direct Israeli missile strike on her home in Gaza. The Palestinian photojournalist and artist was just 25 years old. Hassona, who was known as “Fatem” by her friends and loved ones, died just one day after Cannes sidebar ACID announced it would be showing Iranian director Sepideh Farsi’s new documentary, “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,” as part of its 2025 lineup. A co-production between Iran, France and Palestine, the documentary explores Farsi’s relationship with Hassona and the “window” she provided to “see fragments of the ongoing massacre of Palestinians.” The attack on Hassona’s home killed her, as well as nine members of her family. “We, filmmakers and members of the ACID team, met Fatma Hassona when we discovered Sepideh Farsi’s film ‘Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,’ during the Cannes program,” the ACID team wrote in a statement posted Thursday o
Padma Lakshmi is moving from the world of cable into network television. CBS has ordered “America’s Culinary Cup,” the working title of an upcoming cooking competition series from the former “Top Chef” host. The series is set to premiere during the 2025-26 broadcast season. Lakshmi will serve as the creator and executive producer of the series alongside Susan Rovner, CEO of Aha Studios. Rovner was previously the content chief for NBCUniversal, the parent company of Bravo. Contestants for “America’s Culinary Cup” will be invitation-only as the series will challenge some of the nation’s most decorated chefs. The competition is specifically designed to test their “creativity, endurance, presentation, leadership and more,” a press release for the series reads. “We’re inviting elite chefs from across the country to represent their unique culinary style and battle it out,” Lakshmi said in a Thursday statement. “This competition echoes the thrill of sports and the American spirit as we cheer on our favorite chefs. I