Karen Grinthal, Veteran Ad Exec, to Exit Warner Bros. Discovery

in a May 2020 interview with the New Consumer, will debut a new cooking show on CNN. Called “(More Than) A Cooking Show,” the four-episode series will follow Roman, 37, as she travels, learns about ingredients and tries recipes. Roman was supposed to launch her show on CNN+ earlier this year, but that platform was scrapped amid a shake-up at Warner Bros.

“Lethal Weapon 5” has already had a major tragic delay, with original director Richard Donner passing away in 2021. But now lead star and new director Mel Gibson claims another issue holds up the movie: the Warner Bros.

in a May 2020 interview with The New Consumer, will debut a new cooking show on CNN. Called “(More Than) A Cooking Show,” the four episode series will follow Roman, 37, as she learns about ingredients, travels, and tries recipes. Roman was supposed to launch her show on CNN+ earlier this year, but that platform was scrapped amidst a shakeup at Warner Bros.

All,With mixed emotions I share my decision to leave as President, Global Business & Legal Affairs and Content Supply Chain, effective at the end of this year.Between now and then I’ll be working with Kathleen’s senior US Networks team on the transition.  Our shared goal is to ensure the most efficient and effective structure for the organization moving forward.  To that end, Kathleen will be sharing some additional organizational announcements shortly.My decision to leave was not easy and I have been grappling with it for months.  But, with my contract up next spring and the ongoing transformation of our newly merged company, the timing made sense.  It has been my greatest honor to have been a part of this organization and to have worked with some of the most talented executives in our industry.  My colleagues in the global business & legal affairs team, as well as in our global production management organization, are the best in class and I have no doubt that you will continue to excel in the years to come.Between now and December 31, I hope to be able to speak to as many of you as I can to personally thank you for making these past 8 years some of the most rewarding in my professional life.  Thank you.All the best,Marc

Warner Bros. Discovery announced the leaders of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) team, with WarnerMedia UK SVP Asif Sadiq serving as its global chief officer.

Warner Bros Discovery has revamped its group focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and announced its new executive team.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Add Chris Redd to the list of veteran cast members walking away from “Saturday Night Live.” Redd has decided to exit NBC’s venerable late-night showcase after five seasons on the program, and is just the latest member of what has been one of the program’s largest casts in recent memory to leave ahead of its 48th season. Lorne Michaels, the show’s longtime executive producer, had anticipated a season of change earlier in the year, and recently suggested the current group of comics stayed together to help each other get through the pandemic. “Being a part of ‘SNL’ has been the experience of a lifetime. Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth,:” Redd said in a statement. “Now, with friends who have become family and memories I will cherish forever, I’m grateful to Lorne Michaels and to the entire ‘SNL’ organization. From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you all enough.”

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor “Saturday Night Live” is trying to replenish its ranks after many of its best-known cast members have signaled they intend to leave the show. The venerable NBC late-night program has enlisted four new featured players for its 48th season, a move that will lend some ballast to the cast after mainstays like Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant decided to leave. In many years, “”Saturday Night Live”” taps two or three new players per season, so four is more than the show typically brings on board. The four new featured players include Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker. Hernandez, who bills himself as a writer, comedian and producer, is a Cuban-Dominican stand-up who has opened for Tim Dillon, Jim Breuer, Mark Viera, Gilbert Gottfried and others. Kearney is a Chicago-based comic. Longfellow, who hails from Arizona, has done stand up in Los Angeles. And Walker, who has made a few lists of up-and-coming comedians recently, hails from New York City.

EJ Panaligan editor Disney, Amazon Studios, Fox Corp., Warner Bros. Discovery and other major Hollywood players are pledging support for the Roybal Film and Television Production Magnet, a major educational outreach initiative championed last year by George Clooney and others. Paramount and NBCUniversal/Telemundo Enterprises are also signing on to become founding partners of the Los Angeles Unified School District magnet facility. These companies join previously announced founding partners History Channel/A+E Networks, Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The group has committed to providing more than $4 million in funding for the school, which opened in August with 150 students at the Edward G. Roybal Learning Complex in downtown Los Angeles.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Warner Bros. Discovery enacted 100 layoffs Tuesday as part of a planned downsizing of the company’s ad sales departments that had been in the works since Discovery closed its merger with WarnerMedia in April, Variety has confirmed. These cuts are part of a previously reported and expected 30% reduction overall across the ad sales division, a sector of the merged company with many redundancies, in the coming weeks. However, not all of the exits will be layoffs, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation. An undisclosed number of those departures will be negotiated deals, while others will be retirements. The layoffs set in motion Tuesday are the latest in a string of moves made by Warner Bros. Discovery in an attempt to fulfill the promise made by CEO David Zaslav and his exec team to find $3 billion in cost-saving synergies in the first two years after the merger. The most high profile so far, aside from other layoffs within Warner Bros. Discovery, was the decision that “Batgirl,” the $90 million Warner Bros./DC movie starring Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, would not be released theatrically, on HBO Max, or anywhere else. 

Axios.Up to 30% of the combined sales teams of the merged company are expected to be cut. The move comes as Warner Bros. Discovery cleaned up Monday night at the Emmys and bested all other companies with the most Emmy wins.

German media giant ProSiebenSat.1 has struck a deal to pick up the remaining 50% stake in the German streaming service Joyn from Warner Bros Discovery.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor The blowback Warner Bros. Discovery received over its cancellation of “Batgirl” was “blown out of proportion,” according to CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels. Last month came word that “Batgirl,” the $90 million Warner Bros./DC movie starring Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, would not be released theatrically, on HBO Max, or anywhere else. WBD, formed formed earlier this year by Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia, determined that taking a tax write-off for “Batgirl” made more financial sense than releasing it commercially. “To me, you know, it’s blown out of proportion a little bit, in terms of the attention externally,” said Wiedenfels, speaking Thursday at the Bank of America Securities Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference, regarding the “Batgirl” decision. “The focus is, on a go-forward basis here, we’re spending more than ever in the history of the two legacy companies on content. We’re continuing to make significant investments — [but] we’ll make them differently.”

Warner Bros. Discovery‘s surprising decision to shelve “Batgirl” early last month sparked controversy around the industry.

The surprising decision last month to shelve completed DC movie Batgirl was “blown out of proportion” by the press, according to Warner Bros Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has unveiled its leaderships in the Nordics, including Pil Gundelach Brandstrup, who will be in charge of all content and planning across the region. Brandstrup will also continue leading content for Denmark. Other key appointments include Magnus Vatn, Axel Eriksson and Katja Santala who will continue as country content leads, with Lina Friman continuing to head up planning, reporting to Brandstrup. Roni Patel will be responsible for content licensing; Kasper Kryger will be responsible for the ad sales business in the region; Jesper Steenberg will be responsible for the new consolidated distribution team; Tore Fredrik Dreyer will head up distribution for theatrical, games and home entertainment; and Jessie Ross Skarvad will be responsible for marketing and publicity of theatrical, games and home entertainment.

Warner Bros. Discovery has set another of its European management teams, as Nordic chief Christina Sulebakk lays out the structure of her unit.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Leavy has inked a new three-year contract as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer with the David Zaslev-led media conglomerate, Deadline has confirmed.

shelved a slew of animated projects amid steep cost-cutting at the company. Media giants like Netflix, Apple and Hulu are looking to scoop up the Bruce Timm and JJ Abrams-directed flick, which draws inspiration from DC Comic’s Batman franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Entertainment site the Direct floated Disney as a possible bidder, too.