HBO Max’s cancelation of voguing competition series Legendary has not gone down well in the LGBTQ+ community.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) organization has slammed the move, which came last week as part of a swathe of cuts and cancelations at the embattled Warner Bros. Discovery streamer.
The series was fronted by Mc Dashaun Wesley with judges including Leiomy Maldonado, Jameela Jamil, Law Roach, Megan Thee Stallion and Keke Palmer and was one of the most inclusive non-scripted series on television.
“Legendary raised the bar for inclusivity on TV programming on so many different levels, especially when it comes to celebrating Black and queer culture,” GLAAD noted. “While Legendary is unfortunately just the latest LGBTQ-inclusive programming to get canceled by their network this year, the creative team and Scout Productions prioritized uplifting unheard talent and voices and we’re hopeful that these types of stories are able to be told again.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) organization has slammed the move, which came last week as part of a swathe of cuts and cancelations at the embattled Warner Bros. Discovery streamer.
The series was fronted by Mc Dashaun Wesley with judges including Leiomy Maldonado, Jameela Jamil, Law Roach, Megan Thee Stallion and Keke Palmer and was one of the most inclusive non-scripted series on television.
“Legendary raised the bar for inclusivity on TV programming on so many different levels, especially when it comes to celebrating Black and queer culture,” GLAAD noted. “While Legendary is unfortunately just the latest LGBTQ-inclusive programming to get canceled by their network this year, the creative team and Scout Productions prioritized uplifting unheard talent and voices and we’re hopeful that these types of stories are able to be told again.
- 12/15/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The producers of reality series FBoy Island are hoping to line up a new batch of bad boys and nice guys after its cancelation at HBO Max.
Related Story Cancellations Photo Gallery: The TV Series Ending In 2022 & Beyond Related Story 'Navalny' Shows The Cost An Activist Pays For Opposing Vladimir Putin – Contenders Documentary Related Story 'More': Gore Abrams Joins Christian Serratos & Ana Ortiz In HBO Max Drama Pilot
Deadline understands that STXalternative, the company behind the series, which was thought to be one of the streamer’s biggest non-scripted hits, has been in talks with other networks and platforms about the show.
The show’s cancelation is not a huge surprise; Deadline revealed that HBO Max was pulling out of unscripted originals over the summer as part of a major cost-cutting move that led to the departure of its reality team led by Jen O’Connell.
At the time, the streamer...
Related Story Cancellations Photo Gallery: The TV Series Ending In 2022 & Beyond Related Story 'Navalny' Shows The Cost An Activist Pays For Opposing Vladimir Putin – Contenders Documentary Related Story 'More': Gore Abrams Joins Christian Serratos & Ana Ortiz In HBO Max Drama Pilot
Deadline understands that STXalternative, the company behind the series, which was thought to be one of the streamer’s biggest non-scripted hits, has been in talks with other networks and platforms about the show.
The show’s cancelation is not a huge surprise; Deadline revealed that HBO Max was pulling out of unscripted originals over the summer as part of a major cost-cutting move that led to the departure of its reality team led by Jen O’Connell.
At the time, the streamer...
- 12/6/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
David Zaslav is fond of his motor racing analogies.
The Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO recently said, “If the linear business is a racecar, we’ve got a team of racecar drivers”. “When we hear a noise or it’s in third gear, we know how to fix it. It’s a business we know well,” he said on the company’s Q2 earnings call.
He believes the same applies to the unscripted television business, Discovery’s bread and butter, which is one of the reasons that HBO Max’s non-scripted division, led by Jennifer O’Connell, was axed as part of the latest round of layoffs.
The non-scripted community, however, is upset that he’s taken this particular car off the road.
HBO Max has had success in its short time commissioning original reality series; FBoy Island, a dating show hosted by Nikki Glaser, is widely considered a hit.
The Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO recently said, “If the linear business is a racecar, we’ve got a team of racecar drivers”. “When we hear a noise or it’s in third gear, we know how to fix it. It’s a business we know well,” he said on the company’s Q2 earnings call.
He believes the same applies to the unscripted television business, Discovery’s bread and butter, which is one of the reasons that HBO Max’s non-scripted division, led by Jennifer O’Connell, was axed as part of the latest round of layoffs.
The non-scripted community, however, is upset that he’s taken this particular car off the road.
HBO Max has had success in its short time commissioning original reality series; FBoy Island, a dating show hosted by Nikki Glaser, is widely considered a hit.
- 8/20/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Some 70 roles have been made redundant as Casey Bloys implements Wbd-led restructure
Warner Bros Discovery has closed HBO Max’s international originals team, which was behind deals such as buying US rights to It’s A Sin, as part of 70 layoffs under chief content officer Casey Bloys.
Bloys, who leads on content for HBO and HBO Max, is overseeing a 14 cut to his programming operations, with senior vice-president of international originals Jeniffer Kim’s team one of the worst hit.
An internal memo from Bloys stated that in light of Wbd’s “sizable international footprint” under international chief Gerhard Zeiler, HBO...
Warner Bros Discovery has closed HBO Max’s international originals team, which was behind deals such as buying US rights to It’s A Sin, as part of 70 layoffs under chief content officer Casey Bloys.
Bloys, who leads on content for HBO and HBO Max, is overseeing a 14 cut to his programming operations, with senior vice-president of international originals Jeniffer Kim’s team one of the worst hit.
An internal memo from Bloys stated that in light of Wbd’s “sizable international footprint” under international chief Gerhard Zeiler, HBO...
- 8/16/2022
- by John Elmes Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys sent a memo to employees this afternoon, explaining the decision by Warner Bros. Discovery to layoff 70 employees, or 14 of his workforce, as the company restructures. The move, announced the morning, comes as Warner Bros. Discovery prepares to merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into one streamer — with the decision made to reduce redundancies in unscripted programming. But a changing business model also led to cuts in scripted children’s and family fare, casting, international and acquisitions.
“Unfortunately, the environment in which we operate is changing rapidly, and it is up to us to continue to refine our model to chart a course for long term success,” he wrote in the memo. “As you heard from David Zaslav during our last earnings call, producing top-tier HBO/Max scripted content is crucial to Wbd’s future. Part of this process involves an honest assessment of what we need moving forward.
“Unfortunately, the environment in which we operate is changing rapidly, and it is up to us to continue to refine our model to chart a course for long term success,” he wrote in the memo. “As you heard from David Zaslav during our last earnings call, producing top-tier HBO/Max scripted content is crucial to Wbd’s future. Part of this process involves an honest assessment of what we need moving forward.
- 8/15/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
At the end of a day that saw about 70 (14) staffers in his divisions getting laid off, Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer for HBO & HBO Max, just sent an email to his team about the cuts as well as his new (old) senior HBO/Max scripted executive team of Amy Gravitt, Francesca Orsi and Sarah Aubrey, which includes new responsibilities for Gravitt and Aubrey.
In the memo (read it in full below), Bloys lays out the responsibilities for his top executives on the scripted and documentary side who are staying on and also highlights the accomplishments of the top executives who are leaving as a result of the layoffs: Jennifer O’Connell, Jennifer Kim; Michael Quigley and Linda Lowy.
“Although I am confident these structural changes will allow us to sustain a thriving business model, these decisions have been extremely painful to make,” Bloys wrote. “We operate in an environment where we...
In the memo (read it in full below), Bloys lays out the responsibilities for his top executives on the scripted and documentary side who are staying on and also highlights the accomplishments of the top executives who are leaving as a result of the layoffs: Jennifer O’Connell, Jennifer Kim; Michael Quigley and Linda Lowy.
“Although I am confident these structural changes will allow us to sustain a thriving business model, these decisions have been extremely painful to make,” Bloys wrote. “We operate in an environment where we...
- 8/15/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
After weeks of speculation, Warner Bros. Discovery is ready to reveal some of the changes that will take place at HBO Max, in advance of next year’s anticipated combination of the HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services. And as expected, HBO Max will downsize its reality programming department.
As part of the changes, around 14 of the staff under the oversight of HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys will be reduced. That translates to around 70 employees (from across HBO and HBO Max) who will be laid off in this restructure.
As part of the changes, Sarah Aubrey, the current head of original content at HBO Max, will now focus her oversight on the Max Originals drama slate. In addition, she will now also work in international programming strategy alongside the Warner Bros. Discovery International team, led by Gerhard Zeiler. Joey Chavez, exec VP Programming, will continue to report...
As part of the changes, around 14 of the staff under the oversight of HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys will be reduced. That translates to around 70 employees (from across HBO and HBO Max) who will be laid off in this restructure.
As part of the changes, Sarah Aubrey, the current head of original content at HBO Max, will now focus her oversight on the Max Originals drama slate. In addition, she will now also work in international programming strategy alongside the Warner Bros. Discovery International team, led by Gerhard Zeiler. Joey Chavez, exec VP Programming, will continue to report...
- 8/15/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The dreaded post-merger Warner Bros Discovery layoffs have reached the programming operation overseen by HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys.
Overall, 14 of staff — about 70 people — are being laid off Monday, the vast majority of them on the Max side. That includes in Max Non-Fiction Originals, International, Acquisitions, Casting and previously reported Live-Action Family Originals, which are all being either scaled back significantly or essentially eliminated, leading to the departure of the bulk of the the staffs, led by Jennifer O’Connell EVP, Non-Fiction & Live-Action Family Originals for HBO Max; Jennifer Kim, SVP, International Originals for HBO Max; Michael Quigley, EVP of Content Acquisitions at HBO Max; and Linda Lowy, EVP Casting for WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, TNT, TBS and truTV.
I hear the layoffs are being done via video conferences this morning. The cuts are part of Wbd leadership’s pledge to find at least 3 billion in savings.
Overall, 14 of staff — about 70 people — are being laid off Monday, the vast majority of them on the Max side. That includes in Max Non-Fiction Originals, International, Acquisitions, Casting and previously reported Live-Action Family Originals, which are all being either scaled back significantly or essentially eliminated, leading to the departure of the bulk of the the staffs, led by Jennifer O’Connell EVP, Non-Fiction & Live-Action Family Originals for HBO Max; Jennifer Kim, SVP, International Originals for HBO Max; Michael Quigley, EVP of Content Acquisitions at HBO Max; and Linda Lowy, EVP Casting for WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, TNT, TBS and truTV.
I hear the layoffs are being done via video conferences this morning. The cuts are part of Wbd leadership’s pledge to find at least 3 billion in savings.
- 8/15/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Bravo has greenlighted a celebrity version of a "Project Runway"-style show and has a new project for "Work Out" star Jackie Warner.
The network is set to announce "Launch My Line" from Lake Paradise Entertainment at its upfront presentation to advertisers Tuesday.
Originally titled "Celebrity Sew Off," the series features a group of famous faces vying to launch their own clothing line. The contestants will each get paired with a fashion design expert who will help the celebrity's creative vision become a reality.
Bravo also will unveil "Jackie's Gym Takeover," a project from Shed Media that combines the business-makeover format of the network's "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" and the star of its docu-soap "Work Out."
In each episode, gym owner Warner will user her experience to whip gyms back into shape.
"Gym Takeover" has been ordered as a pilot, with exec producers including Nick Emmerson, Jennifer O'Connell, Yann deBonne and Warner.
The network is set to announce "Launch My Line" from Lake Paradise Entertainment at its upfront presentation to advertisers Tuesday.
Originally titled "Celebrity Sew Off," the series features a group of famous faces vying to launch their own clothing line. The contestants will each get paired with a fashion design expert who will help the celebrity's creative vision become a reality.
Bravo also will unveil "Jackie's Gym Takeover," a project from Shed Media that combines the business-makeover format of the network's "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" and the star of its docu-soap "Work Out."
In each episode, gym owner Warner will user her experience to whip gyms back into shape.
"Gym Takeover" has been ordered as a pilot, with exec producers including Nick Emmerson, Jennifer O'Connell, Yann deBonne and Warner.
- 4/14/2009
- by By James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.