"It was a couple of weeks after 9/11. There was a weird feeling in New York. People were walking around in a daze. I was at the roast of Hugh Hefner, and I just wanted to be the first person to make a really-poor-taste joke about September 11. It was impromptu; I don’t remember thinking about it beforehand. I said, “I have to leave early tonight, I have a flight to California. I can’t get a direct flight — they said I have to stop at the Empire State Building first." I don’t think anyone’s lost an audience bigger than I did at that point. They were booing and hissing. One guy said, “Too soon!” He was just a face in the crowd, but now I wish I knew who it was, because his comment became part of the language. “Too soon.” I had never heard that before. I knew there were times where people wait to make jokes about something, but I always thought that concept was ridiculous. Is there an office with a guy behind a desk who decides when it’s not too soon anymore? You can do jokes about the Lincoln assassination and the Titanic, and no one says anything because everyone involved is dead, and their grandchildren are dead. I actually think that’s in worse taste. You’re saying, “Screw all those people who died, I waited for it to become unimportant to us.” When I do a joke about September 11, or the Japanese tsunami, what’s funny is that it shocks the audience. They are responding to the fact that it’s tragic, and you’re acknowledging it. With the Challenger explosion, or any other tragic event pre-internet, there were always a bunch of jokes that would come out immediately. Everyone was in a rush to tell their friends, everyone was laughing about it, and it was okay. Now, with the internet, it makes me feel sentimental about old-time angry mobs. In a mob you actually had to throw on your jacket, go outside, use your hands. Now you can join a mob sitting on your couch in your underwear. I feel like people who get outraged like that are patting themselves on the back. 'You see, I was offended.'"

Vulture | April 12, 2022

"We have concluded that we are unable to sustainably continue creating the quality content that our readers and supporters expect. It is with very heavy hearts that we tell you that Bitch Media will cease all operations in June, 2022."
Bitch Concludes

April 12, 2022

"Smith’s brutality stripped the entire evening of its prestige. That was proven when stunned Oscar attendees gave a standing ovation to someone who’d just committed an assault in front of their eyes."
Harry Lennix To Will Smith: Return That Oscar

Variety | April 11, 2022

Fifty-Four Percent Of China Theaters In COVID Shutdown

Hollywood Reporter | April 11, 2022

The Batman Truncates Theatrical Run After Forty-Five Days And $735 Million On April 18 Via HBO Max

Variety | April 11, 2022

Warner Bros. Discovery Day One: "The new powerhouse, which brings together the HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming platforms, has estimated combined revenue of $49.8 billion this year."

Hollywood Reporter | April 11, 2022

"With a new owner, the 99-year-old movie studio appears headed back to its traditional sweet spot as an entertainment company. But the business of Hollywood is no longer the same."
Brooks Barnes Offers Mash-Up Of Industry Stuff As Sun Rises On Warner Bros. Discovery

The New York Times | April 11, 2022

"I said some things that hurt people and I feel terrible about that. The gay community has been incredible to me my entire career. Friends on every level and every job description up until today. I’m sorry I hurt any of those friends and someone that I loved. And anyone else by the words that I used.”
Sam Elliott Apologizes

The Guardian | April 11, 2022

"The Eagle Has Landed""s Jack Higgins Was 92

April 10, 2022

Lithuanian Director Mantas Kvedaravičius, Taken Prisoner In Mariupol By Occupiers, Shot In Head And Chest; Russians Threw His Dead Body Out Into The Street

Twitter | April 9, 2022

How Warner Bros. Discovery Is Branding Out Of The Gate

April 9, 2022

"More Than 817,000 Titles Now Available on U.S. Streaming and TV Services, up 26% in Just Over Two Years, Nielsen Says"

Variety | April 8, 2022

"It's not as if ABC doesn't have a natural home for 'Moonlighting,' with both Disney+ and Hulu as corporate siblings. While one can imagine the music-licensing budget is pricey, it can't possibly cost more than producing a nonstop litany of new Star Wars and Marvel content. 'It would just be wonderful to have it back,' Glenn Gordon Caron says. 'People ask me all the time how they can see it, and I'm embarrassed to say it's hard.'"

Entertainment Weekly | April 8, 2022

David Rubin And Dawn Hudson:
"The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage. During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short—unprepared for the unprecedented.  Today, the Board of Governors convened a meeting to discuss how best to respond to Will Smith's actions at the Oscars, in addition to accepting his resignation. The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards. We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast. This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith's behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy. We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved..." 

April 8, 2022

Will Smith Banned From Oscar Events And Ceremonies For Only A Decade; Still Eligible For Academy Accolades

"I accept and respect the Academy’s decision."

April 8, 2022

Warner Bros. Discovery Sweeps In Own Crew
Staying: Emmerich, Bloys, Dungey; Moving Over From Discovery: Bruce Campbell, Kathleen Finch, JB Perrette

Belloni: "Netflix was called 'Debtflix' with $16 billion in debt. The new Warner Bros. Discovery will carry more than three times that amount, which will weigh on every decision it makes."

Hollywood Reporter | April 8, 2022

"A nesting doll of ridiculousness..."
"The rationale never made any sense. The acquisition of DirecTV, and later Time Warner, was never driven by a strategic analysis of what assets they needed to compete, and then a strategy to figure out the best way to go out and get them. It was driven by what assets they would be allowed to buy, and rationalizing an argument for why it would be a sensible thing to buy them.”

Variety | April 8, 2022

Film At Lincoln Center Names Sarah Eaton VP Marketing & Communications

Deadline | April 7, 2022

The Little Girl In The Red Coat, Oliwia Dabrowska, Who Is Now 32, Is Aiding Ukraine Refugees Across The Border Into Poland

Deadline | April 7, 2022

"The Los Angeles Times spoke to more than a dozen people who were at the Oscars that night, or had direct knowledge of what transpired, and through the conversations, some measure of clarity emerged. Due to the sensitivity of the situation, none of the sources were willing to be quoted by name. The academy and representatives for Smith declined to comment."

By Glenn Whipp, Josh Rottenberg, Times staff writers Amy Kaufman, Sonaiya Kelley, Wendy Lee, Mark Olsen and Jen Yamato contributed to this report.

“I’ve never seen a room deflate so dramatically and never recover. Never.”

“I just got punched in the face by Muhammad Ali and didn’t get a scratch."

"Security at the Oscars is always tight, with hundreds of Los Angeles Police Department officers deployed in and around the Dolby and snipers on rooftops. Backstage, the LAPD asked Rock if he wanted to file a report. If so, they were prepared to arrest Smith and forcibly remove him from the Dolby. "

“The academy thinks they want you to leave. What are you feeling?”

“I want to apologize. I think I can make it right.”

LA Times | April 7, 2022