Bob LuPone, Leader of MCC Theater, Dies at 76

With a bit more than a year left before Disney can buy out Comcast’s financial stake in Hulu, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts pushed back on Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s suggestion that Hulu’s value has declined amid public market skepticism about streaming.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek, coming off a promotional blitz at the company’s D23 conference last weekend, reiterated many of those messages for a Wall Street audience but struck a more confident tone than ever before in outlining the future of Hulu.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Disney+ was first launched three years ago with the “pretty absurd” low price point of $6.99 per month, CEO Bob Chapek admitted. Now the company is gearing up to raise prices again on the flagship streamer — but Disney+ still offers a better price/value equation than competitors, he said. “I think we’re way underpriced relative to the value we provide,” Chapek said, noting that the core Disney+ service without ads will continue to be priced below several competitors. The CEO was speaking Wednesday at Goldman Sachs’ Communacopia + Technology Conference 2022. Amid rising inflation, Disney has announced price increases coming in the fourth quarter of 2022 for Disney+ and Hulu, as well as a December launch for the ad-supported Disney+ tier in the U.S. Disney+ Basic, the name of the plan with ads, will launch Dec. 8 in the U.S. for $7.99/month. That’s the price of the current ad-free version of Disney+, which at that time will bump up to $10.99/month, a 38% increase, and will be known as Disney+ Premium.

Bob Odenkirk can't thank his  co-stars enough, because he says they truly saved his life during his near-fatal heart attack.While walking the red carpet Monday at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, Odenkirk told ET's Kevin Frazier and Nichelle Turner that his co-stars -- Rhea Seehorn and Patrick Fabian — were standing in the right place at the right time when he suffered a heart attack on the set of the hit AMC show in New Mexico back in July 2021.«The reason I'm here is because my castmates were standing right there and they sort of grabbed me before I hit the ground,» Odenkirk said. «I kind of went down on a knee.

Top Rank boxing promoter Bob Arum has suggested that Anthony Joshua should avoid a fight against Tyson Fury, predicting a 'massacre' should the pair enter the ring against each other.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek is opening up about ESPN as activist investor Daniel Loeb had been pressuring the company to spin off the sports network.

Andrew Wallenstein President and Chief Media Analyst Bob Iger shared a pessimistic outlook on the future of movies and traditional TV in an interview Wednesday at the Code Conference in Los Angeles.  The former Disney CEO was, however, particularly bullish on the growing number of streaming services embracing Madison Avenue, including Disney+, but predicted that not all of the current market entrants would survive in the long term.  “Advertising will thrive in the streaming world,” Iger told moderator Kara Swisher from the stage at the Beverly Hilton. “I think what Netflix is going to do in advertising, what Disney announced, those are smart moves because it’s going to give consumers choice.” 

UPDATED, 11 AM: HBO Max has released the official trailer for Season 3 of Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler, along with the key art (see below). The third season premieres October 6 on the streaming platform following its first two seasons on Epix. You can watch the original teaser trailer below.

EJ Panaligan editor Mikhail Gorbachev, the Russian politician who served as the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, has died at the age of 91, according to the Associated Press. The Central Clinical Hospital in Russia provided a statement to Russian news organizations that Gorbachev died after suffering from an undisclosed, long-term illness. Gorbachev served as the leader of the Soviet Union during its demise in 1991. He resigned on Christmas of that year after spending the last few months in office watching different republics declare independence. His initiatives and reforms led to the end of the Cold War but resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Sopranos star Robert LuPone has died at the age of 76.The actor, who portrayed Dr. Bruce Cusamano in the drama, died on Saturday (August 27).His death was confirmed in a statement released by the Manhattan Class Company (MCC) Theatre, an organisation that was founded by the late actor.“The MCC Theater community mourns the loss of our much loved and uniquely inspiring partner, colleague, and dear friend, Bob LuPone, who lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humour, a boundless passion for connection, and a whole lot of heart,” the statement read. “We will miss him deeply and always.”In a tribute posted on the MCC website it was confirmed that the actor (brother of Patti LuPone) died after living with pancreatic cancer for three years.MCC’s co-founders Bernard Tesley and Will Canter wrote in the tribute: “Bob was a force, an advocate, complex in the richest ways, overflowing with a youthful enthusiasm, and deeply wise as he looked into our souls.“He was our best friend.

Robert LuPone — a Tony Award nomineewho also starred as Tony Soprano’s neighbour and family physician Dr. Bruce Cusamano on “The Sopranos” — has died. He was 76.

"The Sopranos" actor Robert LuPone has died. He was 76.  The Manhattan Class Company (MCC) Theater, which LuPone co-founded, confirmed his death after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.  "It is with heavy hearts that we announce that MCC founding Co-Artistic Director, Bob LuPone, passed away Saturday, Aug 27 after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer," MCC Theater shared via Instagram.  LuPone earned a Tony Award nomination in the original run of "A Chorus Line" and is known for his role as Dr.

who also starred as Tony Soprano's neighbor and family physician Dr. Bruce Cusamano on has died.

statement from off-Broadway’s MCC Theater, which he founded. “The MCC Theater community mourns the loss of our much loved and uniquely inspiring partner, colleague, and dear friend, Bob LuPone, who lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humor, a boundless passion for connection, and a whole lot of heart,” the statement continued.

Robert LuPone, known for his recurring role on hit TV show The Sopranos, has died aged 76 following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.