Stephanie Leifer Exits as Head of Current for ABC Signature, Ending Nearly Three Decade Career at ABC

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorThis is not a movie, Ukraine president Vladimir Zelenskyy told the crowd Friday night at the fundraising gala for Sean Penn’s huminatarian relief organization CORE.The embattled leader addressed the dinner event with a pre-recorded video that urged the wealthy and powerful attendees at the Hollywood Palladium event to find ways to support Ukraine. His five-minute plea was intercut with scenes of the detritus of war large and small, from buildings being blown up to a close up of a battered and bloodied stuffed animal left behind on a road by a fleeing family.“This is our reality,” a grim-faced Zelenskyy, who wore a green T-shirt and fatigues and spoke while sitting in front of a tactical map.

th on a new deal for this visionary producer.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeWarren Littlefield is looking to make more Must-See TV with Disney’s 20th Television and ABC Signature. The network president-turned-producer, whose prolific output in recent years has included “Fargo,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Dopesick,” has sealed a multi-year overall deal with 20th and ABC Signature that will keep him exclusive with those studios through 2026.Littlefield was most recently in a joint deal with 20th Television and Fox 21.

Warren Littlefield’s long winning streak continues: the former TV executive-turned-producer just signed a new, multiyear overall deal with 20th Television and ABC Signature.

recent book bans in schools.The former “Reading Rainbow” host went off on the subject during Thursday’s episode of “The View.”Joy Behar prompted the impassioned response when she asked Burton, 65, about the recent bans, especially on books “about race, sexuality and basically American history.” He abruptly rebuked, “Bulls - - t.”“I’ll be absolutely candid and honest — it’s embarrassing that we are banning books in this country, in this culture, in this day and age,” the “Star Trek” actor continued. “We have this aversion in this country to knowing about our past. And anything that is unpleasant, we don’t want to do deal with.”“This is not going away.

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details of the final season of Peaky Blinders.

This is seriously alarming!

Pearl Jam have announced a number of new additions to their BST Hyde Park shows next month.The gigs on July 8 and 9 will be the band’s biggest ever London shows. Pearl Jam were originally due to headline BST Hyde Park in 2021 alongside Duran Duran but the event was cancelled as a result of the COVID pandemic.Newly announced support acts for the shows include October Drift, Fatherson, LIFE and Daytime TV on July 8.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal International Studios’ SVP/Head of UK Creative Thomas Daley is leaving the company after two years, we’ve learned.

Jayanta Jenkins is leaving his post as head of Content Marketing for Disney Branded Television and National Geographic Content after a year and a half. His last day is June 10.

“Jeopardy!” hosting gig.The “Roots” star, 65, sat down with Newsy’s “In The Loop” show to chew over losing the bid to permanently host the talk show, noting he was “not just disappointed, but wrecked”Following longtime host Alex Trebek’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2020, a slew of possible stars were thrown into the mix to take over, including Ken Jennings, Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik.“Experiencing a very public defeat — humiliation, if you will — was sobering. And what I learned from the experience, really, is that it reinforced my belief that everything happens for a reason, even if you cannot discern the reason in the moment,” Burton explained to host Christian Bryant.While Burton desperately wanted to be the ultimate face of the trivia show, he was at least able to guest-host an episode in 2021.“In the fullness of time, everything will be revealed.

Britain's Got Talent hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were left teary after the Voices Of Armed Forces Children Choir's emotional performance on Tuesday's live semi-final. During the episode, the choir honoured their mums and dads with a touching tribute and at the end the contestants were left teary due to the audience's standing ovation.

Mark Sutherland One guaranteed blockbuster concert series this summer is the American Express Presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park festival. It will stage the most shows in its history between June 24 and July 10, with two concerts apiece by Adele, the Rolling Stones, and Pearl Jam, and additional gigs by Elton John, the Eagles and Duran Duran.AEG Presents CEO of European festivals Jim King tells Variety that this summer the event will set new records for its most tickets sold, highest gross, largest number of sponsors and highest sponsorship gross.“We’ve got the biggest line-up we’ve ever had, both in terms of quantity and the stature of the artists,” says King.

The support acts for one of the most anticipated gigs of the year have been announced: the Rolling Stones anniversary concerts. This summer marks a full 60 years since the foundation of the iconic rock band, and the Stones are celebrating with two massive gigs in London’s Hyde Park. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood will return to the Great Oak Stage for British Summer Time in Hyde Park this summer for not one, but two dates.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSteve Kazanjian is exiting as president/CEO of Promax after more than seven years. He’ll be replaced by Stacy La Cotera, who currently serves as GM and executive producer at the org, where she’s worked for almost 14 years.Kazanjian will continue to serve as a consultant to the marketing trade association over the next few months during the transition; he plans to announce his next gig at a guture date.

Rise Films is nearing the end of what has been a monumental month for the London-based production outfit. Last week, HBO Max launched the company’s two-part documentary George Carlin’s American Dream, which chronicles the life and five-decade career of the comedian with Judd Apatow in the director’s seat.

EXCLUSIVE: One of the longest-tenured ABC/ABC Signature executives, Stephanie Leifer, is leaving her post as EVP Current Programming for ABC Signature after combined 28 years at the studio and ABC. I hear this is an executive move made by ABC Signature President Jonnie Davis.