Barbara Walters to Be Subject of Doc Set at Hulu From ABC News Studios, Imagine Documentaries (EXCLUSIVE)

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Former ABC exec Stephanie Leifer, who spent nearly three decades at Disney TV in various capacities before departing in 2022, has died. She was 56. During her long career at ABC, Leifer was part of some of the biggest and most critically-acclaimed shows in the network’s history.

Glastonbury festival is back for another year, taking place in Somerset between June 26 and June 30. Some 200,000 attendees will descend on Worthy Farm to see a selection of the world's best music artists.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Indie sports media brand Jomboy Media has partnered with regional sports network Bally Sports to air its “Warehouse Games” franchise, which includes ball in play, floorball, blitzball and slapball. Deal reps the first time the games have hit a mainstream linear platform.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large AMC is heading back to Silicon Valley, this time via an untitled drama series from “Succession” and “Bad Sisters” writer Jonathan Glatzer. The project, from AMC Studios, has been given a greenlight by AMC and sister streamer AMC+.

Selome Hailu On April 25, 2014, TMZ released recordings of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling criticizing his assistant V. Stiviano for “associating with Black people.” The following week, Stiviano, a biracial Black woman, sat across from Barbara Walters on ABC News and called herself Sterling’s “confidant,” “best friend” and, most bizarrely, his “silly rabbit.” In a moment that has since been memed into oblivion, Walters asked for a little clarification: “His what?” Stiviano repeated herself, but when Walters asked, “His silly rabbit? Is that what he calls you?” Stiviano gave a quiet, “No.” Cleopatra Coleman has her own understanding of the nickname. “Obviously, he does call her that,” says the actor, who plays V.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Another “Frasier” alum is about to return to the series’ new revival: Harriet Sansom Harris, who originally played Frasier Crane’s agent, Bebe Glazer, is back for a guest role in Season 2. Joining her will be “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star Rachel Bloom, who will play Bebe’s daughter, Phoebe Glazer.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences the org formerly known as Promax that relaunched in February, has revealed its new board of directors, as well as an honorary board of advisors. GEMA, which has expanded from TV to also include verticals devoted to film, music, sports and video game marketing execs, has also announced plans for a two-day event in Los Angeles this fall dubbed “Converge.” The news was announced Thursday by GEMA president Stacy La Cotera.

One door opens and another closes: a day after General Hospital thrilled fans by announcing that Jonathan Jackson is returning to the ABC sudser, Michael Easton has announced that he’s moving out of Port Charles.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “ER” alum Gloria Reuben has joined the cast of Prime Video‘s upcoming series “The Better Sister,” which also stars Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks, Corey Stoll and Matthew Modine. Based on the novel by Alafair Burke, “The Better Sister” stars Biel as Chloe, a woman whose life is upended when her husband Adam (played by Stoll) is brutally murdered — and the prime suspect shocks the family and exposes secrets. Banks plays Chloe’s sister, Nicky, who “hustles to make ends meet while trying to stay clean.” Reuben will play Michelle Sanders, described as “a respected lawyer who has made a career of standing up when she’s told to sit down.

Network Entertainment has entered production on a new documentary celebrating the life and career of Bernie Taupin, the legendary lyricist best known for his longtime songwriting partnership with EGOT winner Elton John.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large To paraphrase a long-running network slogan, “It’s Not Max. It’s HBO.” HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys is changing the delineation between what an “HBO show” and a “Max show” is, moving most of Max’s upcoming big-budget, tentpole Warner Bros. IP projects to under the HBO umbrella.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The Hollywood Creative Alliance has ended its defamation lawsuit against the Critics Choice Association, as both sides announced Friday that they had reached an “amicable agreement.” In a joint announcement between CCA CEO Joey Berlin and HCA CEO Scott Menzel, the two sides said that the Critics Choice Association will once again allow its members to also be a part of the Hollywood Creative Alliance. Also, Berlin has joined HCA’s advisory committee to “provide guidance on the best practices in awards show production and not-for-profit organization management,” and HCA has agreed to advise CCA on “best accessibility practices at its events.” In January, the Hollywood Creative Alliance (which was formerly known as Hollywood Critics Association) sued the Critics Choice Association after that org told its members that they had to resign from the HCA in order to stay members of the CCA.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Todd Harthan has been tapped as the new showrunner and executive producer of ABC’s “High Potential,” starring Kaitlin Olson. Harthan was previously executive producer/showrunner of Fox’s “The Resident,” which ran for six seasons and recently was a hit off-net for Netflix. Harthan replaces previous showrunner Rob Thomas, who departed the project earlier this month.

Stacia Deshishku, who has been executive editor and senior vice president of ABC News, is planning to depart the network, according to a source familiar with plans.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Stacia Deshishku is the latest senior ABC News executive to leave the journalism operation in the wake of a recent restructuring by parent company Walt Disney Co. Deshishku was the executive editor of ABC News, and part of a team of senior executives put together by former ABC News President Kim Godwin.

These days, no IP is too good not to capitalize on, not even “Spaceballs.” Variety reports that Amazon MGM Studios has a sequel of the 1987 sci-fi spoof in development with Josh Gad set to star. Gad also leads producers on the project along with the original director, Mel Brooks.

ABC News will simulcast next week’s CNN presidential debate, with plans for pre- and post-debate coverage led by anchor David Muir.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large If you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of a media apocalypse. Newspapers are dying, websites that filled that void with top-notch journalism have gone away and the outlets that are left still struggle to attract audiences and make a difference as social media and bad-faith cable networks pollute the public discourse. Thank goodness for the late-night talk shows, many of which are giving us some of the best news analysis and criticism out there — better than any of the hopelessly misguided news outlets that are still trying to report on politics like things are normal.

Katcy Stephan Orbital Studios, a film and television production studio specializing in end-to-end virtual production services, has signed with CAA. Orbital Studios leverages cutting-edge technology to create dynamic virtual environments that blend with real-world performance.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Longtime AMC PR head Marnie Black, whose tenure included overseeing consumer media relations, brand messaging, special events, talent relations and awards campaigns on hit series including “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul” and “The Walking Dead” universe, is departing the company after 13 years. Black will exit at the end of the month to explore the next chapter of her career.