Ryan Seacrest will be sober as a bat when the clock strikes midnight later this evening — a rule he’s imposing on himself amid CNN’s widely-reported alcohol ban for their NYE hosts.
We ran into the ‘AI’ alum Saturday on the streets of NYC — this as he was getting ready to go through the marathon that is his annual gig with ABC … namely, emceeing “Dick Clark‘s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” and helping Disney ring in 2023, which he’s done for a while now.
Of course … we had to ask the guy about his drinking regimen for the night, especially after he publicly sided with CNN brass this week about limiting the network’s on-air boozing.
In light of that, Ryan tells us he won’t be imbibing heavily while working. In fact, he says he’s gonna save the good stuff ’til well after 12:00 AM, presumably when he’s off camera. It’s interesting he says that … it would seem Ryan firmly believes in keeping things professional.
It’s a bit ambiguous whether that’s a shot at Anderson Cooper/Andy Cohen and the rest of the CNN team — who have a rep for downing shots during their broadcast — but when we asked RS if there was any shade … he suggested it was all love for everyone in his position.
While Ryan will be steering clear of booze through most of tonight, all eyes will be on CNN to see if they follow the orders they’ve been given … or if they cut loose like years past.
Not every character can be a favorite. Sometimes they aren’t even our favorite love-to-hate characters.
Between baffling plot decisions, strange developments, or irritating personality moments, there are the ones who annoy us when they’re on our TV screens.
The 2022 TV season was a good year for romantic relationships and juicy character arcs, but this list is about the other side of the coin. The most annoying TV characters we couldn’t ignore (even when we tried).
Below, we at TV Fanatic came together to pick out those frustrating characters and shine a light on them.
Did your choice make the list? Check out the list below.
Ariadna “Ari” Blanco Commerford – Elite (Netflix)
A soapy show like Elite has its fair share of scandalous drama and destructive characters.
Elite Season 6 was no exception, but rich girl Ari continued to make things worse. Her storylines have been a consistent thread of one wrong decision after another, fueled by a reckless ego. In 2022, she took the cake with who she hurt.
For instance, she drowned out her sadness over Samuel’s death with drinks, she toyed with Nico’s feelings based on his transgender identity, and she slept with her new friend’s crush in the backroom of a club.
But to make matters worse, she slept with her brother’s boyfriend and got pregnant by him. Iván was equally at fault for hurting Patrick, but there is a sibling code that hurt even more with this betrayal, especially since she and Patrick are twins.
Granted, the grief over Samuel’s death must’ve been painful for her, and she reacted as such. However, Ari was a roller coaster that never seemed to end.
Iggy Frome – New Amsterdam (NBC)
Where does one even begin with Ignatius Frome?
It’s such a pity that one of the most beloved characters of New Amsterdam Season 1 has become the most loathsome. It’s almost as if his likability vanished along with Kapoor.
As a psychiatrist, it’s unsettling how horrible he is at his job; his co-signing an incestuous relationship and the disturbing solution he had for a child rape case are among his worst offenses. His personal life doesn’t fare much better.
The real pity is that there is no way New Amsterdam can salvage what’s left of this insufferable character by the time the series wraps.
Charly Burke – The Orville: New Horizons (Hulu)
This is a show that, by its very nature, asks its audience to suspend their disbelief as they travel through space with a diverse crew of alien species fulfilling missions of exploration and diplomacy.
Still, there is still no way to understand or accept the sudden intrusion of an untried ensign with obvious emotional baggage into the top level of officers aboard the ship.
Ensign Charly Burke gets plopped into the crew on The Orville Season 3 Episode 1, rambling about pancakes and hating on Isaac as a stand-in for all Kaylons. Others describe her as “special” in that she’s capable of “four-dimensional thinking,” whatever that means.
Too bad she cannot deal with her trauma in any dimension. She’s a weaponized ball of PTSD who should’ve been on indeterminate psych leave and NOT at the controls of a starship.
You’d think Seth MacFarlane would’ve learned not to cast his significant others after the fallout from Halston Sage’s exit when their relationship ended. But NOPE, we get stuck with a season of the unfortunate Anne Winters trying to redeem an intensely unlikeable character to no avail.
On the bright side, the character’s dead, so we don’t have to worry about a return if The Orville Season 4 is a go. Thank, Avis.
Otto “Obie” Bergmann IV – Gossip Girl (2021) (HBO Max)
Why is Obie even friends with the group on Gossip Girl? He barely even hides his disdain anymore whenever he’s around them.
Obie started as the sensitive rich boy who wanted a fresh start in life and dating. He made bad decisions with how he handled the Zoya/Julian romance, and he got into disagreements with his powerful family. Nothing too outrageous couldn’t be solved.
However, since Gossip Girl (2021) Season 2 began, Obie has been a frustrating shell of whatever potential he once had.
He’s purposely withdrawn himself from his friend group, thinking he’s above it all and not wanting to get involved in any high school drama. He continues to go against and reject his family and then acts surprised when they reject him back. And his dating life is in shambles.
The storylines in 2022 have been refreshing and on an upward swing; it’s feeling like peak Gossip Girl flair. So, why hasn’t Obie caught up? Maybe it’s time he gets a farewell Gossip Girl blast?
Harry Greene – Heartstopper (Netflix)
Harry Greene would be your guy if you had to pinpoint the rich jock bully on a teen TV series. He’s more on the rugby side of the sports scene, but he fits many qualities of the cliché archetype.
Harry would open his mouth at every turn and say another cringe-worthy line, exerting his “big man on campus” energy.
Like his constant bullying of Tao, his pushing Imogen to get with Nick, and his awful homophobic attitude to Charlie and Nick, even when he sees that his supposed best friend is going through something, he continues to be a jerk, showing no empathy at all.
Nick deserves much better friends than Harry and those rugby guys. Hopefully, karma gets Harry one day!
Isabella Tavez – Good Trouble (Freeform)
Despite being an all-around good guy, Gael has the worst relationship luck.
His relationship with Brian didn’t go far. Then came Callie, the most indecisive person ever. And now we have been treated to Isabella.
Pinpointing one annoying thing about her wouldn’t do her justice! She seems like a child in a grown woman’s body. It appears like she has trapped Gael in this never-ending torture.
Him being the good guy that he is, accommodates her every need and whim. After she delivers the baby, she should, like, go. Go!
Percy Scott – Blockbuster (Netflix)
Percy (played by JB Smoove) was a grown man with the mind of a high schooler.
Percy’s motivation kept changing every episode based on what conflicts the writers needed to drum up. He was a frustrating character because he never seemed to learn from his mistakes and always acted only out of self-interest.
He deliberately sabotaged his supposed best friend Timmy (Randall Park) on multiple occasions simply because he wanted to spend more time with him. And for a guy running a party-store business, he sure hung out at Blockbuster a lot.
Colin McKenna – Uncoupled (Netflix)
Ghosting someone is an awful thing to do in any relationship or situationship. Abruptly breaking up with a long-term partner after 17 years with no warning? That’s an insult to their couple’s history.
Colin had that frustrating quality of someone who tried to make themselves emotionless and the innocent party in the breakup.
He spent 17 years with Michael and never communicated any issues or concerns he felt while in the relationship. He only did one half-hearted counseling session with Michael to discuss their issues before breaking up for good.
And then he had the nerve to ask Michael to get back together after he saw how well Michael grew and thrived without him.
Michael picked up all the pieces and worked on himself; we can probably guess Colin didn’t do the same after their breakup. Colin wanted the greener grass and didn’t acknowledge his fault in their relationship problems. It’s irritating that he treated someone he “loves” with that behavior.
Moishe Maisel – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime Video)
Don’t get us wrong, there’s a lot to celebrate in the authenticity of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Miriam’s and Joel’s parents — Abe (Tony Shalhoub), Rose (Marin Hinkle), Shirley (Caroline Aaron), and Moishe (Kevin Pollak) — align pretty well with the lovingly overbearing nature of Jewish families.
However, at times, the parents also veer on caricatures too often and come across as insufferable characters.
It’s a little easier to be sympathetic towards Midge’s parents as they get more texture, but there’s little justification for Moishe’s broken record of kvetching and one-upmanship.
Additionally, with Amy Sherman-Palladino’s style of characters repeating dialogue and conversations that intersect at jagged angles, the style ups Moishe’s annoyance factor tenfold.
Abhishek “Shake” Chatterjee – Love is Blind (Netflix)
One man stood at the center of a lot of drama on Love is Blind Season 2. That man was “Shake.” After finally meeting Deepti and proposing to her, we all hoped he would grow to be the man she deserved. Unfortunately, he continued to dig himself deeper into a hole that he couldn’t escape from.
Shake became the biggest villain of the second season.
He made rude comments about his fiance, openly stated he wasn’t physically attracted to her, and spoke inconsiderate things to Deepti that made her feel unworthy. And when given a chance to grow and apologize during the reunion, he doubled down on his terrible behavior.
Why even go on a dating show about marriage if you didn’t want to get married?!
Let’s all be grateful that Deepti said “no” at the wedding and will find somebody who respects her. We all cheered for her in that now infamous moment.
Daniel Durston – Big Brother 24 (CBS)
Another player featured from the reality TV world. This time, it’s coming right from the Big Brother house.
Daniel started the game strong by being the first Head of Household (HOH) and forming several tight bonds. He was close allies with Nicole and Paloma and was woven into a tight enough group with players like Ameerah, Alyssa, Jasmine, and Terrance that he could’ve ridden that wave far into the game.
Unfortunately, his blind faith in Paloma started a messy series of events that lobbied bullying and terrible treatment against one houseguest, Taylor (the future winner of Big Brother Season 24).
Daniel reinforced rumors against Taylor, openly calling her out in front of everyone, and tried on multiple occasions to get her evicted based on his “feeling” about her. It got so bad that his calling her out triggered a new alliance to be formed to help Taylor and overthrow houseguests in the game, like Daniel.
Just like Shake above, reality TV does follow real-life actions. But as a “character” on the season, he fell into the villain role, and we couldn’t wait to see him walk out the door to chat with Julie.
Now, over to you, TV Fanatics!
Did your favorites make the list? Who would you have added?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Justin Carreiro is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
New Year’s Eve festivities are being broadcast across the country Saturday, from Miami to Los Angeles to the famous Times Square ball drop in New York City.
The official Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. ET with the lighting and raising of the New Year’s Eve Ball atop One Times Square. Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett will return to host the event, which will feature performances from KT Tunstall, LL Cool J, Chlöe, Journey, and Karol G, as well as a Planet Fitness Dance Performance with Liza Koshy, and the USO Show Troupe. Jeremy Hassell will co-host.
You can follow the official livestream on Deadline below.
The Times Square livestream will also be available at TimesSquareNYC.org, NewYearsEve.nyc, LiveStream.com/2022 and TimesSquareBall.net, as well as via an 18-hour broadcast on VYNE where you can choose from multiple camera feeds.
Several networks also have their own celebrations planned. Here’s the rundown:
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest(ABC)
Ryan Seacrest is back to ring in 2023 hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. He will co-host with Liza Koshy and Jessie James Decker. The party will span both coasts, in both New York and Los Angeles. Performances include Duran Duran, j-hope, Jax, New Edition. Ciara, Fitz & The Tantrums, Maddie & Tae, Shaggy, Ben Platt, Aly & AJ, Halle Bailey, Tomorrow x Together, Bailey Zimmerman, Lauren Spencer Smith, Wiz Khalifa, Finneas, Armani White, Betty Who, Dove Cameron and Nicky Youre.
The special airs live beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
PBS New Year’s Eve special United In Song (PBS Stations)
PBS’ New Year’s Eve special will highlight three historic theaters: People’s Bank Theater in Marietta, OH, built in 1911 and recently restored; the 87-year-old Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta, GA; and in Idaho, Boise’s The Egyptian Theatre. Hosted by Hamilton‘s Christopher Jackson and Grammy-winning singer Renée Fleming, the night will feature performances from Brett Young, Matt Doyle, Mandy Gonzalez, Natalie Grant and more alongside the renowned American Pops Orchestra.
The special will air from 8-9:30 p.m. on PBS and stream on PBS.org and the PBS app.
A Toast to 2022! with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager(NBC)
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager will kick off New Year’s Eve on NBC with a two-hour special featuring interviews with Miley Cyrus, George Lopez, Dolly Parton, Kenan Thompson, Christie Brinkley, Andrea Canning, Mario Cantone and more. The Today hosts will discuss some of the year’s biggest and buzziest moments with their celebrity guests.
A Toast to 2022! will air at 8 p.m. ET.
Miley’s New Year’s Eve Partyon NBC(NBC)
Following A Toast to 2022!, Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton will ring in the new year together with Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party. Live from Miami, the special will include musical performances from singer-songwriter Fletcher, rapper Latto, Los Angeles rock band Liily, hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd and Grammy nominee Sia. Saturday Night Live’s Chloe Fineman, Sarah Sherman and comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy will also appear.
The event will air live from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET and be livestreamed on Peacock.
Fox News Channel will celebrate the New Year with a live program called All-American New Year. Fox & Friends Weekend’s Will Cain, Rachel Campos-Duffy and Pete Hegseth will co-host live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, TN. Other Fox News personalities are expected to appear throughout the night, and there will be a performance from country music star Brantley Gilbert. The special will include a standup comedy routine by Failla and feature contributions from New Year’s celebrations across the country.
A pre-program called Countdown to All-American New Year will begin at 9 p.m. ET. The special kicks off at 10 p.m. ET.
CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash (CBS)
Hosted by country music artists Jimmie Allen and Elle King as well as Entertainment Tonight‘s Rachel Smith, New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash will air live from Music City and include performances from country stars including Jason Aldean, Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, King Calaway, Sheryl Crow, Flo-Rida, Riley Green, Wynonna Judd, Elle King, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Steve Miller, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson, The War and Treaty, and Zac Brown Band.
The celebration begins live from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT and from 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. ET/PT.
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper will host a more sober CNN New Year’s Eve celebration from New York with guests Jean Smart and Cheri Oteri, while Don Lemon hosts from New Orleans. The show will include performances from Usher, Kevin Hart, Ellie Goulding, Patti LaBelle, REO Speedwagon, Nick Cannon, Jenifer Lewis, John Stamos, Tenacious D’s Jack Black and Kyle Gass, and Ava Max. It will also cover celebrations from around the world and feature recorded interviews with stars Theo James, Steve Aoki, NCT 127, Geena Davis, Deepak Choprah and Wayne Rooney.
Leslie Jordan fans are eager to get their hands on the place he was just about to call home … hoping to buy the new condo he purchased right before he died.
The condo was listed a few weeks ago, and fans have been flocking to the property … so says Eric Ronjoy, the listing agent. He says some fans are even reaching out just to tour!
We’re told some folks inquiring about the pad are self-proclaimed Leslie Jordan fans … who feel a connection to the property since he bought it right before he passed and would have been the first property he ever owned.
Eric tells us … out of 30 groups who have recently toured, half are lookie-loos who just wanted to see where Leslie was planning to live. Others are people interested in purchasing. One potential buyer even toyed with the idea of turning the condo into a Leslie Jordan memorial.
Waiting for your permission to load the Facebook Video.
Some of you might remember the heartwarming video he posted back in August … and he was over the moon about his new home.
TMZ broke the story … Leslie died in October after suffering a medical emergency … crashing his BMW into the side of a building.
In addition to the Leslie Jordan hook, the 2-bedroom pad has a lot of cool amenities … including a rooftop pool, tennis court, gym and a balcony.
Before he died, Ronjoy says LJ ordered around $500K worth of new furniture. Fortunately, the purchases were canceled after he passed.
10/25/22
TMZ.com
So far, no one has made an offer … but with all the interest, it should only be a matter of time.
Many of our favorite TV characters died in 2022, which made us grieve.
That’s an emotional storyline when a character dies, and there isn’t a dry eye while watching.
Some of these characters were beloved, while others finally had a chance to be a hero in death.
The TV Fanatic staff compiled a list of the saddest character deaths of 2022.
Check out the list below:
Clay on SEAL Team (Paramount+)
Clay’s fate was in the air ahead of Season 6 of the beloved military drama.
However, he beat the odds and survived the injury at the end of the previous season, sending his arc in a very different direction.
Unfortunately, his kind heart got him killed as he was shot by a security guard while trying to help a troubled veteran.
We should have known it was coming, especially after Max Thieriot launched Fire Country, one of the year’s most successful new shows.
Zeke on Manifest (Netflix)
After Zeke survived the Death Date at the end of the second season, fans thought that they would have him forever and that he and Michaela would live a happily married life together.
Zeke was able to help a lot more thanks to the empath abilities, but they started to do more harm than good, at least to him, in the fourth season.
Cal’s cancer started catching up to him, and realizing why he got his second chance, Zeke took his pain and put it on himself, later dying in Michaela’s arms.
It was an emotional and sudden death, and Michaela’s sobs made it even more heart-wrenching.
Agent Garrett Miller on The Cleaning Lady (FOX)
Out of the deaths predicted, no one expected Garrett to die in the Cleaning Lady’s Season 2 finale.
Seeing him get Robert and die saving Thony was heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, his death made sense because it changed the stakes, and he’s one of the players involved with everyone.
While he was annoying, he grew on us, and so did his and Thony’s complicated friendship. Now she has to fight her own battles without his assistance.
Eddie Munson on Stranger Things (Netflix)
This truly lovable outcast was a break-out character in Season 4. Still, his fate was written the minute we saw him show remorse over being unable to save Chrissy Cunningham (RPI Chrissy, honorable mention).
His arc was incredible, and the writers expressed regrets about killing off these two in one of the most tragic moments on the show.
At least Eddie went out with a bang. He got to be a hero. He didn’t run.
Principal Larissa Weems on Wednesday (Netflix)
Principal Weems was passionate about making Nevermore a place where Normies and Outcasts could live harmoniously and thrive. But in the end, that passion got her killed.
Larissa’s death was tragic for several reasons, not the least of which was the chance to see Gwendoline Christie looking gorgeous in head-to-toe designer outfits and perfect hair and makeup. Fans who remember the actress as Brienne of Tarth might not even recognize her here.
But most disappointing is that there was so much of Larissa’s story left to tell. How deep did her rivalry with Morticia go? How did she end up as the Principal of Nevermore? And how strong would her growing bond with Wednesday have grown if she’d lived?
Perhaps there will be a supernatural twist, and we’ll magically get her back. If not, the worst part of Principal’s Weems death will be that it’s left us with far more questions about this fascinating character than answers.
Jess LaCroix on FBI: Most Wanted (CBS)
We knew that Julian McMahon would be exiting the series, the most shocking departure in the series revolving door exits, but nothing could prepare us for his heartbreaking and senseless death.
Everything was set up perfectly for Jess to retire, travel to Bali with his girlfriend, Sarah, and relocate to be closer to his daughter, Talia. Instead, while working his last case, he was killed protecting a civilian from her abusive husband.
We still can’t think of anything sadder than the series leaving Talia, who had already lost so much, an orphan.
Liliana on Power Book IV: Force (STARZ)
When Liliana first showed up in the windy city, she and Tommy were at each other’s throats. But throughout the season, they became allies and partners, and Liliana proved her loyalty to Tommy time and time again.
In the Power Universe, NO ONE is safe, but it felt like Liliana had earned her place, and her death was very disheartening for the fans who’d grown fond of her.
She may go down in Power lore as one of Tommy’s greatest allies.
Elsa Dutton on 1883 (Paramount +)
Elsa Dutton was the light of the Dutton family as they made their way west. She was curious and accepting and defied family expectations every step of the way, winning the hearts of her co-travelers and viewers alike.
After losing her first love on the wagon trail, Elsa began staring death in the face, and it eventually caught up to her.
She was shot, her wound was infected, and she died before the Dutton family built Yellowstone as we know it today.
It was written so that she was vibrant and healthy and reunited with her Native American husband after her death, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Harlan Cooper on The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
It’s hard while innocents suffer, and by any measure, Harlan Cooper was an innocent, a child whose life was irrevocably changed by encountering the time-traveling, superpowered Umbrella Academy.
He became an adult but was still innocent, struggling to control the powers forced on him. Those powers inadvertently killed the mothers of the Umbrella Academy, creating the Grandfather Paradox and Kugelblitz.
What makes his death even more heartbreaking is Allison murdering him for creating the timeline that no longer had her daughter in it. While Allison can no longer be considered innocent, she nevertheless is a victim of circumstances that have turned her into a killer of innocents.
Anya on The Midnight Club (Netflix)
Whenever any character left The Midnight Club Season 1, it was a sad and touching farewell to their time on the show. However, the most emotionally devastating goodbye came from Anya’s death.
How could anyone hold back the tears?! Her character warmed up to Ilonka and grew to welcome the others in the group into her heart.
We all rooted for the chance that the ritual was true and Anya would be cured; however, that storyline only toyed with our emotions.
Anya’s exit hung a dark cloud over the group, leaving the outlook hopeless. No one was ready to say goodbye to her.
Ruth Langmore on Ozark ( Netflix)
Arguably, we understood that Ruth was always destined to meet a tragic end.
But it was still upsetting to see her overcome so much, beat the odds, and stand tall as virtually the last of her line only to die.
She set up a remarkable life for herself and came so close to getting out and genuinely thriving, only to succumb to a hit by a queen pin.
The worst part is that she gave in to the fact that she would die and faced it like the firecracker she was.
Max Parrish on In the Dark (The CW)
All In The Dark fans wanted Murphy and Max to live happy lives with kids and a lemon tree. But we can’t have nice things.
Instead, the series opted to kill Max off ahead of the series finale in a shocking moment where he tried to protect Murphy.
Instead of walking down a wedding aisle, Murphy, with Felix’s guidance, walked down a hospital hallway in a blood-soaked gown to say goodbye to Max one last time.
Jackie on Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Unfortunately, suburban teenager Jackie was far more popular among her peers than wilderness Jackie. Yes, it might have been necessary for someone like Jackie to die, and we knew about it early in the season.
But Jackie was a ray of light, and it was hard to see her go, and it was even harder to see her go with so little dignity.
Watching her peers turn on her was painful, but the tragedy of Shauna’s too-little-too-late heel realization that she should have been a better friend: That was especially biting.
Did we cover the characters you grieved saying goodbye to in 2022?
If not, hit the comments and tell us who we missed.
Laura Nowak is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
UPDATED, 8:30 AM: The man who prosecutors say used the Desilu Studios name associated with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s TV production company to lure investors whose money he spent on himself pleaded not guilty today to federal charges.
Charles Hensley, 68, of Redondo Beach, faces 11 counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. His trial was set for February 21 in Los Angeles federal court. Read details of the case below.
PREVIOUSLY, August 10: A Southern California man who allegedly used the “Desilu Studios” name to attract investors whose money he later squandered on himself was indicted by a federal grand jury today in Los Angeles. Charles Hensley, 68, of Redondo Beach, faces 11 counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
An arraignment in U.S. District Court will happen in the coming weeks.
The alleged scheme impacted many investors, including some who wired the $331,000 identified in the wire fraud counts. Hensley also allegedly targeted multiple companies in the entertainment industry. Despite his claims that Desilu Studios was valued at more than $11 billion and Migranade at more than $50 million, the companies were actually shell corporations with few assets or none at all.
If convicted, Hensley potential faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count. The identity theft charges carries a mandatory two-year sentence.
CBS Studios had sued Hensley in October 2018 over the matter, alleging that he tried to enlist the support of Lucie Arnaz in what he claimed was a relaunch of Desilu Studios actually was attempting to use her famous name to “induce unwitting investors” in a shell company. According to that filed in California federal court (read it here), “CBS is informed and believes that Hensley never intended to use the Desilu name for legitimate business purposes and, instead, intended to use that name in order to induce ‘investments’ into his shell companies.”
Today’s indictments allege that from August 2017-May 2018, Hensley successfully pitched investments in companies he owned — including Desilu Studios Inc. and Migranade Inc. — which he operated out of offices in multiple Southern California locations. Despite his claims that Desilu Studios was valued at more than $11 billion and Migranade at more than $50 million, the companies actually were shell corporations with few assets or none at all, according to the indictment.
Hensley began using the name Desilu in 2016 and allegedly said he was making new content for his company, per the indictment, telling investors he was wealthy and backing his business with his personal funds.
In reality, he had few assets and was overdrawn on bank accounts, the indictment alleges.
It further alleges that Hensley falsely represented that Desilu Studios was about to go public and that the company’s stock was worth more than its face value and more than investors were paying and would increase in value following its imminent initial public offering. Prosecutors also say Hensley stole someone’s identity to list as Desilu Studio’s chief financial officer in offering materials.
David Robinson, one of Dog the Bounty Hunter‘s partners for years and the star of “Dog’s Most Wanted,” died from heart issues.
David’s wife, Brooke Robinson, tells TMZ … the family just got the autopsy report back and it says the 50-year-old died from critical coronary artery disease.
TMZ broke the story … David collapsed Nov. 30 during a Zoom call and he died in his wife’s arms despite lifesaving maneuvers being performed.
David’s wife tells us his death has left a void and hole in her life that can never be repaired … and she says only God knows why David died so abruptly.
David worked closely with Dog on “Dog’s Most Wanted” … tracking down fugitives of Dog’s choosing.
Brooke is remembering David for “his smile that would light up the world, his amazing laugh, and just how generous and caring he was.”
She adds … “David was the most genuine and authentic man. We had a once in a lifetime love, and that will continue to live forever.”
Honestly, it’s been a bleak television year without the presence of Roselyn Sanchez’s Elena Roarke and Kiara Barnes’s old soul sidekick, Ruby Akuda, welcoming us to the magical paradise of FOX’s Fantasy Island.
But 2023 is already looking brighter as the show returns for its second season on January 2, and they hit the ground running with three guests learning new things about themselves and those closest to their hearts.
Meanwhile, both Roarke and Ruby’s respective relationships have progressed since last we saw our hosts. Hot stuff!
The season premiere has the template double plotline, with two separate fantasies provided for two parties of guests visiting the Island. And we have familiar faces popping in as our stars of the week.
In the first, Lucifer‘s Rachael Harris and Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Cheryl Hines arrive as best friends since high school Tara and Jessica.
Their requested fantasy is to attend their thirtieth high school reunion and rule the event, showing their classmates the successful and thriving adults they are now, vindicating themselves as the social outcasts they were in high school.
It’s a fantasy we all have whenever reunions roll around.
The specter of who we were — the embarrassments and poor choices of our past, our deep-rooted insecurities — wars with who we are now.
We all want that do-over, that chance to have the dream prom, to dance with the perfect guy, to feel respected, included, and even envied.
As always, the Island provides, and reunion events unfold to perfection, blowing the women’s minds with the heady feel of popularity.
But the Island also teaches its guests with every visit.
Will this glamorous and stylish façade be enough for Tara and Jessica for a weekend?
Will they be able to return to their real lives afterward?
Will their friendship be enough for them after being worshipped and adored by their high school classmates?
Is it that they want their classmates to love and admire them, or is it that they need to feel they deserve to be loved and admired?
The Island has a way of sussing out the critical aspects of the guests’ personal needs.
How will Tara and Jessica be able to accept themselves and each other when the hidden truths about their relationship are revealed?
Our other guest party of two is Andi and her ginger cat, Baron BoBo VonBigglesworth III.
Andi’s life is devoted to BoBo, her best friend and closest confidante.
People’s relationships with their pets can be intense, especially when they don’t spend much time with non-pet friends.
Andi’s connection to BoBo is another level altogether.
Her fantasy? To know that BoBo loves her as much as she loves him.
It’s an eyebrow-raiser, to be sure.
What will the Island do for her? Give her psychic powers? Will BoBo suddenly start speaking in English?
The danger, of course, is that cat emotions are notoriously mercurial. Will Andi have her heart broken when BoBo can express his feelings in unambiguous terms?
Maybe it’s time Andi started cultivating more two-legged people-type friends.
That could be a game-changer.
Speaking of game-changers, from the look of things, Javier and Roarke appear to have settled into the relationship that was teased throughout Season 1.
It’s nice that a friendship as deep as theirs has blossomed into something more intimate.
It does complicate the working relationship, of course.
She’s not only his boss, but the caretaker of the Island, which we’ve learned has a type of sentience she’s in tune with.
We also learned that there are darker aspects to the Island, and Roarke’s position is a lightning rod for problems related to her missing cousin.
Could her affection for Javier make him a vulnerability or a target for malevolent forces?
I suspect Ruby and Segundo may also have some thoughts on the lovers.
After all, Elena’s uncle never had a wife or life partner that we know of.
Is the Island capable of jealousy? Retribution?
Javier’s job as a float plane pilot puts him at the mercy of the weather, poor ocean conditions, and hidden reefs. The Island could make things hard for him.
Ruby’s relationship with Dr. Gina’s still a going concern, but their divergent personalities, not to mention Ruby’s substantially more extensive life experience, may put some stress on that.
Will both hosts manage to balance their romances with their work?
Their relationship continues to be a supportive and positive one.
It’s refreshing to see women supporting women in professional and personal arenas, and Fantasy Island has made it a cornerstone of the series.
Fantasy Island Season 2 has a lot more in store for us, making the interminably long interseason break worth the wait.
As seen in the trailer below, we can expect classic TV faces like Teri Hatcher, James Denton, Andy Richter, and Jason Priestley to guest star.
There will also be newcomers like Looking’s Frankie J. Alvarez and Alexa Mansour from The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
Fantasy Island Season 2 premieres on FOX on January 2, 8/7c. Be sure to return here after watching for an episode recap and review!
The Island is as beautiful as ever. Won’t you join us?
Diana Keng is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
Actor Kirk Cameron went on Fox News Channel on Friday to discuss his fight against libraries who have been turning down story-hour book-reading pitches from the publisher of Cameron’s new children’s book As You Grow.
The sit-down came after a reading Thursday a the Indianapolis Public Library drew a sizable crowd — though the library disputes the attendance figures given by publisher Brave Books and repeated by Cameron on air.
The former Growing Pains star told FNC interviewer Julie Banderas that more than 50 libraries nationwide have refused to host readings of his Bible-themed book. He said the book is about “biblical wisdom and the fruit of the spirit, which is love, joy, kindness gentleness, faithfulness, self control.”
Brave Books tweeted out Thursday that the Indianapolis event Thursday drew “over 2,500 people,” calling it a record crowd in the library’s 137-year history — stats Cameron referenced on the air. The library disputed that today, tweeting that its estimated door count for the “room rental” was “around 750, not 2500. We’ve had larger events. We turn 150 yrs old in 2023. And our auditorium, which our guests chose not to rent, holds 300, not 2000.”
Fox News showed a pitch letter from Brave Books to one New York library that noted Cameron during his in-person readings would “speak to families about following the wisdom of the Bible, as well as discussing the harmful effects of woke ideologies, specifically [critical race theory] and the transgender agenda.”
Earlier this week, Cameron had threatened legal action against libraries who refused to host a reading, calling them out for being willing to host “drag queen story hours for toddlers.” On Friday, he pulled out a pocket copy of the Constitution as he spoke about rights that “I will assert in court.”
The interview also included Banderas noting she had her own book published by Brave Books, and at one point referred to “we” when discussing the publisher’s response to one library’s refusal to host a story hour.
Sonya Eddy‘s dead, but her Twitter account is still very much alive … her page is posting cryptic tweets every day, and the company behind it says its hands are tied.
The late “General Hospital” actress has an app linked to her Twitter account that automatically posts her horoscope every day … and it’s still churning out tweets despite her recent death, with confused fans replying to her tweets in droves.
Some of the horoscopes are pretty creepy, like this one from three days after her death … “Today could reveal some unexpected rewards.”
The app Sonya’s official Twitter account is using is called Twittascope … and honchos at the company that owns Twittascope say they can’t do anything to stop the tweets.
For Sonya’s account to stop posting daily horoscopes, we’re told someone with access to her page will have to manually go in and disable the Twittascope app in her account settings.
As we reported … Sonya died Dec. 19 after being hospitalized with a serious infection.
We reached out to Sonya’s reps … so far no word back.
Every year we have to sit down and decide which relationships blew us away with their chemistry and genuine love for one another. And while some of these couples will look familiar from years past, some newbies also snuck on the list.
It was a good year for love in 2022, with numerous couples reminding us what it means to have that loving feeling.
Check out our list of the best romances of 2022, and let us know if your favorites made the cut!
Michael Guerin & Alex Manes – Roswell, New Mexico (The CW)
Roswell, New Mexico may be over, but Malex lives forever.
After many ups and downs throughout the series, the beloved couple spent much of the final season of the CW alien adventure apart, but that didn’t stop their love from blossoming.
With Alex on the verge of death, the two reunited and pledged their love, and then with a bit of magic, Alex recovered in time for the two to get married in front of their close-knit, found family.
We will miss that delicious brand of chemistry Michael Vlamis and Tyler Blackburn gave us for four seasons, but we did get a wonderful ending for one of television’s most beautiful couples. They never looked away, and we were blessed to see their connection play out over the series’ run.
Bobby Nash & Athena Grant – 9-1-1 (FOX)
Not only are Bobby and Athena one of the best dynamic duos out there, but they have one of the best romances around.
Bathena is the top of all 9-1-1 relationships. A solid pairing built upon mutual respect and love for one another. They’re a team, above all else, who have weathered the storms and come out the other side as better people and have continued to grow within their union.
They are the blueprint because they show us what it means to be in love with your best friend and how to grow your partnership over the years. Bathena is a beautiful pairing we’ve been so lucky to see grow from the beginning of the series to now.
Nina & Sam – The Resort (Peacock)
Some pairings burst out of the gate with such enthusiasm that it’s hard not to be swept away with them.
Nina and Sam meet on vacation (and what’s hotter than a vacation tryst?) as lost souls looking to fill a void in their life.
Once they intersect, their mutual passion quickly accelerates into a whirlwind that epitomizes young, foolish lovers.
The best thing plot-wise about this story is that they’re never really thinking more than five seconds ahead because they’re so in the moment.
T.K. & Carlos – 9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX)
Fans of Tarlos on the first responder series went through a roller coaster during 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 3, as did T.K. and Carlos.
The season opened with the couple broken up, but another near-death experience for T.K. brought him and Carlos together again.
They got a new place, went through T.K.’s mom dying, and the two getting drugged by a psycho, but in the end, all that mattered was the two of them.
The season ended with Tarlos finally getting engaged, and fans everywhere rejoiced, proving that nothing can get in the way of true love, and there is much more of that coming in the new year.
Lissa Dragomir & Christian Ozera – Vampire Academy (Peacock)
While Rose and Dimitri were the couple to root for in the books, in the show, Christian and Lissa take center stage as the star-crossed lover to root for.
He’s an outcast, and she’s got the powers of a saint. They are married, but he’s a monk now, and she’s on the run.
They keep coming together only to be torn apart by circumstance, but they are so sweet with each other, and we just want them to be happy.
Kit Voss & Randolph Bell – The Resident (FOX)
Kit and Bell are effortlessly one of the greatest parts of The Resident, and we’ll shout it from the rooftops if necessary.
There’s a reason that they saved the marital union of these two universally beloved characters until the momentous 100th episode.
These two are so impossibly in love, deliver on the underrated and underrepresented late-in-life love story, and have become the backbone and epitome of #Goals within the show.
Bruce Greenwood and Jane Leeves’ chemistry is unmatched.
Midge & Lenny — The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
It finally happened! Midge and Lenny finally gave in to the attraction smoldering between them from day 1.
The “blue things in a blue room” scene perfectly blended romance and sexiness.
Beyond that, they earn a spot on the list because they inspire each other to reign in their self-destructive tendencies and do better as people and comics.
Arman Morales & Thony De La Rosa -The Cleaning Lady (FOX)
They had chemistry from the minute he asked her to work for her, and it only heightened as her son became sicker, and Arman stepped in to help.
Their initial embrace and dance in Mexico were so sexy. However, in The Cleaning Lady Season 2, they both suffered traumas, and their relationship became more of a comfort.
Arman would still risk his life for Thony and looked so proud of what she learned. They could rule the mob world.
The Russells – The Gilded Age (HBO)
Bertha and George Russell are THE power couple of 1882 NYC, but their wealth cannot open the doors to society Bertha dreams of entering. And while George doesn’t crave acceptance the way Bertha does, he supports his wife’s plans and aspirations and will not tolerate disrespect.
When the ladies running the charity bazaar deliberately snub her offer to host the event in her home for free, choosing to use an inferior and expensive hotel space instead, George’s wrath is a glory to behold.
He single-handedly buys out every stall at the bazaar within an hour of its opening, shutting it down while guaranteeing it raises more money than ever.
While they don’t always agree, they respect each other’s opinions, and their trust in their relationship is absolute. They show that a marriage built on a true partnership between equals can weather any calamity, scandal, or crisis.
Nick Nelson & Charlie Spring – Heartstopper (Netflix)
It’s so easy to fall in love with Nick and Charlie, two teenagers figuring out who they are while trying to survive the perils of high school.
Charlie never expects Nick, his crush, to reciprocate his feelings. Especially since he, and the entire school, assume athletic Nick is heterosexual. But Nick is trying to figure out his own sexuality while his friendship with Charlie begins turning into something more.
This budding romance has so much earnest innocence, charm, and pure heart that it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with Nick, Charlie, and most of their friends.
Based on a series of graphic novels, Charlie and Nick’s relationship will leave you grinning, teary-eyed, and longing to see more.
Ava & Beatrice – Warrior Nun (Netflix)
This relationship was successfully manifested in the hearts of Warrior Nun fans everywhere. Beatrice started off as Ava’s reluctant protector after Ava was gifted the responsibility of the halo.
Beatrice felt like her chances of finding true love were out of reach due to the pressures of her calling.
Meanwhile, Ava was too preoccupied with the growing holy war and her past flirtation with JC. However, over time and bonding, a growing flirtation grew between Beatrice and Ava, radiating chemistry that couldn’t be ignored from their early days of quippy retorts to recent late-night bar dances.
Luckily, the ‘ship came to fruition by the end of Warrior Nun Season 2, with the long-awaited kiss that sealed their true love and what could’ve been had the show not been unfairly canceled.
Anthony & Kate – Bridgerton (Netflix)
The slow burn enemies-to-lovers trope has been done ad nauseum, but Bridgerton made it smolder again!
Kate (Simone Ashley) and Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) were both dutiful older siblings making sacrifices for their families, doing what was expected of them, and shirking the possibility of romance.
They denied their feelings for each other for most of the season, with Anthony courting Kate’s younger sister. It was well worth the wait when they finally succumbed to their uncontrollable passion!
Rick & Michonne – The Walking Dead (AMC)
They were off-screen for a long time, and the little teaser for their upcoming spinoff was enough to highlight there is still a strong connection between them.
With a six-episode limited series on the horizon, they have a lot to work through as they reunite, take down the bad guys, and attempt to return home.
They have such a long and storied history that they have to prevail, and sending messages to one another while in different locations is cool for such a post-apocalyptic franchise.
Jimmy & Jessica — NCIS (CBS)
Medical examiner Jimmy Palmer and Agent Jessica Knight are the latest odd couple on this long-running procedural.
Sure, romantic relationships get short shrift on NCIS. But at least Jimmy and Jessica outed themselves in the early stages of their relationship. “Tiva,” then Torres and Emily, were just season after season of “will they or won’t they?”, which quickly got old. And don’t even get us going on Gibbs’ many false starts.
At least now, viewers will get to see a relationship slowly bloom.
Wilhelm & Simon – Young Royals (Netflix)
These two have grown so much as people and as a couple.
Their love, which began at first sight, has seen its share of troubles on account of Wilhelm being a prince and Simon being of a different class economically.
After everything they face, they seem to be pulled to each other and are always able to find common ground and understand each other. After hitting rough waters, 2022 has seen them come back to each other stronger than before.
Their story is an epic one that tears down institutions.
Lucy Chen & Tim Bradford – The Rookie (ABC)
You simply cannot have a best relationship list without Chenford, and they delivered us a full-course meal and left no crumbs in 2022.
Their first kiss, which they practiced for undercover work, was STEAMY. And that undercover stint kicked open the door to full-blown, overt Chenford.
Their chemistry crackled when they nearly crossed the line, and then they finally broke up with their respective partners and agreed to make a go at something together.
Janine & Gregory – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Janine and Gregory are the type of slow burn that hurts so good.
They should teach a masterclass on it. There is something so wholesome about them, and Tyler James Williams serves up romantic male lead face like nobody’s business.
Viewers were delighted when there was some forward movement with the ship during the fall finale with a sexy after-hours dance.
Mel & Harry – The Equalizer (CBS)
Air Force sniper meets hacker, and somehow they just click. As Robyn McCall’s backup, they’re a powerhouse team, with Mel providing in-the-field support and Harry handling all the computer and surveillance details.
However, it’s as a married couple that they really shine. Harry had to pretend to be dead for years after faking his death to evade the authorities he’d pissed off. That made married life challenging to say the least.
The fact that he used his time in the cellar to periodically mess with the credit rating of the man who got away with assaulting Mel is only the first quirky phase of his love language.
They are a couple who understand the world is a dangerous and corrupt place and value the relationship they’ve found with each other.
Together, they balance each other’s impulses and make space for the other’s needs. They don’t always agree, but they’re always loyal to each other, and the success of their endeavors is built on that trust.
Did we capture your favorite ‘ships?
Make your voices heard by dropping below and sharing your thoughts.
Whitney Evans is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
The year is nearly up and ZEE5 Global Chief Business Officer Archana Anand is headed into 2023 in bullish mood. The South Asian streamer, which operates in 190+ territories including the U.S. and offers about 200,000 hours of content, is coming off “our best year yet, and we’re ending it on a high,” she says.
In a wide-ranging interview with Deadline, Anand explains how India’s biggest film in memory, RRR, helped catapult the service to new heights globally this year, with a 209% year-on-year increase in consumption from January to October 2022 recorded. In the U.S., it has become the streamer of choice for many Indians and South Asians.
The New York-based Archana also reveals South Asian content is picking up audiences where even Bollywood hasn’t, with languages such as Telugu dominant among ZEE5 Global subs in the U.S. (a 20% share of local subs) and Australia (13%). While the Telugu language RRR has evidently led the charge, other non-Hindi titles such as Valimai, Karthikeya 2 and Fingertip have also driven viewing.
ZEE5 launched in the U.S. in 2021 and quickly found a niche among local South Asian audiences there by targeting them in local grocery stores and working with student associations. Dubbing and subtitling has led to major upticks in the U.S. and UK among other territories, says Anand.
In terms of content, ZEE5 Global has pushed closer towards the West with The Broken News, a remake of Mike Bartlett’s BBC drama Press, and is actively working on creating an original series out of the U.S., with a call to creators having gone out earlier this year. ZEE5 sources say the status of this initiative remains “under discussion” with updates likely to follow further down the line.
Anand and her ZEE5 colleagues will be hoping the momentum keeps up in 2023. Major corporate change is on the horizon as the merger between broadcaster parent Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited and Culver Max Entertainment (fka Sony Pictures Networks India) moves closer to completion. That would put the streamer on the same roster as rival SonyLIV, with many scenarios possible at that point.
Read on for the full interview.
DEADLINE: Let’s start with the impact of RRR. How did that help youposition ZEE5 Global?
We want people to be aware there is a South Asian streaming service with around 200,000 hours of content in 12 languages, and we’ve got the latest movies. Last year, we had RRR and The Kashmir Files, which really helped us in that leadership game. Having been nominated for the Golden Globe, RRR has plenty more for us to extract.
DEADLINE: It’s been such a big crossover globally, breaking through in a way few Indian films have done before.
AA: This film is the only time I’ve seen a film getting people from the mainstream to come on to our platform to watch it on the back of the hype. That’s catapulted us to insane leadership, which we want to capitalize on with more exciting plans for next year. We want to really own South Asia in a very big way.
DEADLINE: All the talk of the RRR sequelwill be very exciting then, presumably.
AA: Oh yes, absolutely.
DEADLINE: The film seems to represent a groundswell of interest in Indian content.Are youseeing that?
AA: I’ve been saying for more than a year and half that Indian content is the next thing waiting to happen and when it does, we want to be at the forefront of making it happen. We have the biggest right to win to make that happen. I’ve been very ambitious and it’s part of my vision that ZEE5 leads the charge. RRR has been a lovely impetus in pushing things that way.
There is a new found love of Indian content, but also there’s been a resurgent in South Asian content, more generally. Before it was all about Bollywood but suddenly it has had to take a step back, and people are asking about what the guys down South are doing. Their content is creating buzz around the globe that Bollywood hasn’t been able to make happen. People are checking out the formula to figure out what is connecting so beautifully globally. It is possibly the time for India, and especially the South, to shine.
DEADLINE: This is ZEE5 Global’s first full year in the U.S. market. It seems like you have carved out a spot there but what have been the challenges and what do you still need to do?
Archana Anand: When we went into the market, I was acutely aware I was chasing a cohort that is 2-3% of the population — and they’re not even localised in one area. They are scattered among the mainstream and in places such as the Tri-State Area, the Bay Area and Texas. It’s hugely challenging to even establish the brand with just 2-3% of the population as your consumer. If I was marketing in India, it’s a no brainer to take 20 hoardings in the most highly populated area and put out ZEE5 as a sure shot, but I don’t get the same return on investment in the U.S. I have to catch the areas where South Asian populations are dense. Putting something out in Times Square won’t attract the right people — how many South Asians are going to see it?
DEADLINE: So how did you attract those pockets of consumers?
Acquiring a consumer by digital marketing as a niche player is hugely expensive — upwards of $80/$90 each time, so we had to think outside the box. The way we went about is now a sense of pride and many have tried to copy us: We figured out where the South Asians are. No matter where you’re living in the world, South Asians want to get to South Asian stores so we tied up with Patel grocery stores in the U.S., which was the biggest vehicle to our win, and even in the UAE with the Lulu supermarket. The other big draw for South Asians in the U.S. is the IT and tech space. Many are university students, so it made a lot sense to tie up with the North American Association of India Students to do on-ground marked initiatives, one of which was a very successful university Bollywood dance competition. We had a student rate for them, and because they were away from home, the need to get news and entertainment from home made our discounted rate fairly compelling.
DEADLINE: How would you assess 2022 for ZEE5 Global overall?
AA: It’s been our best year yet and we’re ending it on a high. It’s been a journey of three years and in that time, I’ve seen how many have buckled along the way, confused by what they set out to achieve. I’ve been very clear why we set out on this journey and have fought with everybody in the ecosystem to ensure we didn’t lose our way.
Today, the numbers show that as a South Asian streaming service, we are in undoubted leadership across the globe. In the U.S., our primary market outside of India, we have leadership that is a dream come true. We’ve knocked all the erstwhile folks who were leading the story there off their perch. We’ve come from behind where bigger and mightier players have tried and failed, and we’ve actually lived to tell the tale — the numbers are right there as evidence. The overall story is deeply heartening for us; in a global context, it’s been hits right through. What hasn’t worked are the things we didn’t have complete control over.
DEADLINE: Let’s talk about sports rights. Sports in India and among the Indian diaspora is massive. Just look at the numbers from the IPL rights auction earlier this year — that was really eye opening. You guys have pushed into that space by taking rights to the ILT20 cricket tournament.What does that represent?
AA: Whether it’s India or the Sub-continent in general, the thing people are most fanatical about after Bollywood is cricket. We are aware of the value it brings in terms of getting people glued to the screen — cricketers are out biggest heroes after Bollywood stars. Having said that, some of those rights have insane price tags associated with them so it is always a very tactical decision on what to spend against how you want to move forwards. We’re putting all our might into that, but how much we spend and how much we want to win will be taken on a case-by-case basis. ITL20 is the first of many you’re going to see.
DEADLINE: It’s been nearly two years since Indian streaming regulation came in, with many concerned how it might increase censorship. How has regulation impacted what you are doing?
AA: When we were championing and crafting the document on what we wanted as the regulatory way forward, we were fighting hard for self-regulation, saying that’s the fundamental difference with traditional TV. We were clear we are not shirking our responsibility and that we could easily point to our ‘absolute no’ categories, from a morality standpoint. But we fought equally hard to say creativity in its true form requires certain creative liberties and we wouldn’t like that curtailed under the guise of larger sweeping regulations. We believe that would take away the essence of how streaming platforms operate.
Going back to the global side, we have decided to go with the regulation of every local territory. For example, when we were operating in Bangladesh, I was fully aware it’s a country with much more stringent laws. It was the same in Pakistan and the Middle East. We understand that, whether it is religious or cultural sentiment, it is true to what they believe and you need to adhere.
DEADLINE: The question of how streamers should operate in local territories is really blowing up around the world. It’s become the big debate in Europe, where the question of how much should be reinvested is the bigger debate than what should be shown. You’ve talked about investing locally in the U.S. and it’s something you’ve done elsewhere.
AA: It’s fair to expect streaming investment in the local markets and it’s exactly how we operated in Bangladesh, for example. We were very committed to going local and did some stellar working creating local content for that market with local creators. We understand [the fear around overseas players coming in]. In India back in 1994, when globalisation happened, there was an initial fear of the big labels like KFC and Coca-Cola coming in — Will they take our jobs? Contaminate our water? It takes a conversation and time to prove net-net you are going to win. Wherever we go, we will give as much as we get.
DEADLINE: A final question on original content. Can you point to shows and films that have really worked for you and where have the challenges been?
AA: We have a really fun series called Tripling and a fabulous spy thriller Mukhbir: The Story of a Spy, set in a very specific context that will peak the interest of any South Asian as it’s about India and Pakistan; a spy story that’s very well crafted with great production values. But we struggled more on global side on back of originals rather than movies. I do not have the liberty to do surround marketing like I do in India. I can use word of mouth to make it work — I can ride off in that slightly delayed fashion on something that’s already popular in India. Otherwise, movies work far better. The hype around movies is global and the marketing gets done for me. Originals work well in the global market but I can’t build the hype in the same way.
