Mike on KCRW: Bill Cosby Scandal, DreamWorks Animation Problems, More

Another busy week at KCRW. On this Monday's edition of The Business, Kim Masters and I bantered about several topics including:

- Hasbro and DreamWorks Animation end talk of a merger, DreamWorks Animation's stock falls.
- Bill Cosby stays silent on rape allegations during NPR interview.

Listen by clicking below:





On last Thursday's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I talked Sony Playstation Vue, and whether it will change the way we watch TV:





On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, Vox.com's Todd VanDerWerff and I discussed several topics, including the Bill Cosby mess:

It’s been more than two decades since The Cosby Show went off the air. But for younger generations who didn’t grow up with Cliff, Theo, and the whole Cosby gang, they may only know Bill Cosby for one thing: the rape allegations that have been leveled against him. The accusations could impact the comedian’s plans to launch a new show. We discuss that and more in our weekly television roundup.

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MIKE ON KCRW: Film Season Begins; California Votes Tax Incentives; More

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Business, here are some of the topics that host Kim Masters and I banter about:

- No big surprises at the Emmys this year. There's continued grumbling that the awards seem to favor old, predictable favorites rather than more cutting-edge television.

-Film season is finally starting to ramp up with festivals in Telluride and Toronto starting soon.

-In an effort to curb runaway production, California Governor Jerry Brown agrees to legislation that would boost film tax credits in the state.

Listen below:





Also, on last Thursday's edition of KCRW's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I discuss whether runaway production might return to California:

While the $330 million deal is slightly less than the $400 million the bill's backers were originally seeking, the legislation will help California compete with other production-friendly states like Georgia and New York, or even countries like Canada. With the new legislation, the way the film subsidies are distributed will also change. Instead of being given out via a lottery, the tax credits will be designated to the projects that create the most jobs.

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MIKE ON KCRW: Guest Hosting "The Business" and Chatting with Mark Duplass

On this week's episode of KCRW's The Business, I'm guest hosting, filling in for Kim Masters, and handling the Hollywood headlines banter (this week with The Hollywood Reporter's Matt Belloni) and also interviewed filmmaker Charlie McDowell and indie darling Mark Duplass, both of whom are behind the new indie film The One I Love. A synopsis of this week's episode:

Radius, the boutique label of The Weinstein Company, is known for their multi-platform distribution strategy. We look at two Radius films from this summer, Snowpiercer, and The One I Love. The co-president of Radius Tom Quinn tells us why Snowpiercer went to VOD very quickly after a small theatrical release, and Charlie McDowell and Mark Duplass say putting their movie The One I Love on VOD first helped build a fan base that would thoughtfully market the mysterious indie for them.

Banter topics: - As the Emmys near and excitement builds, there’s also grumbling about the anticipated traffic problems of holding the event in downtown Los Angeles on Monday at rush-hour. Plus, people are still rightfully confused about shows being nominated in categories where they don’t belong.

- AMC struck gold with TV shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad. But now, the network is facing a bare cupboard.

- The NFL wants bands to pay for the privilege of performing at the Superbowl, the most-watched television event of the year.

Listen below!

MIKE ON RADIO: Dodgers, Transformers and the Future of Film on KCRW's The Business

Back on this Monday's edition of KCRW's The Business, host Kim Masters and I banter about the latest hot entertainment business topics:

- With Time Warner Cable and other distributors locked in battle over SportsNet LA, there’s still no Dodgers on TV for most Angelenos

- The fourth ‘Transformers’ was a big win in for Paramount in China, but not without difficulties

- Directors band together to save movie film

Stay tuned after that for Kim's interesting interview with Greg Poehler -- Amy Poehler's brother and the writer/creator/star of NBC's summer sitcom "Welcome to Sweden."

Listen below:



Or here:

MIKE ON RADIO: KCRW's Hollywood Breakdown on Warner Bros.' Box Office Woes

This afternoon, on KCRW's Hollywood Breakdown:

With the Adam Sandler comedy, Blended, and Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow both disappointing at the box office, Warner Bros. is facing an unusually cold summer. Kim Masters and Michael Schneider discuss the studio's big-swing strategy and hopes for the future with sequels to Man of Steel, The Lego Movie and a Harry Potter spin-off to come -- but not for many months.

Listen live at 4:44 p.m. on 89.9 KCRW, or stream it here once it posts: http://beta.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/hollywood-breakdown/time-warners-disappointing-summer-box-office.

Watch the Oscars in a Historic Movie Palace

Short of being at the Dolby Theatre or one of the exclusive after parties, this may be the coolest way to watch the Academy Awards: At Downtown's revitalized, historic Million Dollar Theatre. Our pal and Los Angeles mag columnist Chris Nichols is hosting an Oscars screening party at the theater -- located adjacent to the Grand Central Market on Broadway -- on Sunday night. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation. I can't think of a better way to celebrate movies and honor our film heritage at the same time.

Get your tickets at http://lahtf.org. More details:

Enjoy the glamour and spectacle of the most famous awards show of them all - telecast live on the BIG screen of Sid Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre. Join us in honoring the best movies of 2013, on Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, where Hollywood began!

Come early, have dinner at one of the exciting new eateries or enjoy an old favorite at the Grand Central Market. Walk down Broadway’s Red Carpet, duck the paparazzi and make your grand entrance to the Million Dollar Theatre - right next door.

The ABC broadcast will be projected on the Million Dollar’s big, BIG screen. Official Red Carpet coverage begins at 5:00 pm; The Main Attraction, the Awards broadcast, begins at 6 pm.

Come alone, bring a friend, assemble your own entourage and experience awards night in a grand new way – with a live audience in a legendary theatre.

Participate in games, win prizes, laugh, cry, cheer in triumph, groan in defeat – experience it all in Grauman’s first Los Angeles movie palace – the fantastic Million Dollar!

No-host bar

Attendees are invited to dress in formal attire, vintage clothing or costumes keyed to your favorite contender. Prizes will be awarded.

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, in association with Grand Central Market, presents this special evening open to all.

Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre
307 S. Broadway at 3rd Street
Downtown Los Angeles, 90013
Metro Red Line – Pershing Square Station – 4th Street Portal
Parking: Broadway Spring Garage – enter from Spring Street

MIKE ON RADIO: Breaking Down Summer's Indie Film Surge

On Thursday's KCRW Hollywood Breakdown, John Horn and I talked about this summer's indie film hits. Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine has opened to the widest release yet for one of his films. Lee Daniels' The Butler is poised to make $100 million and other smaller films like The Way, Way Back, The Purge, Mud and Fruitvale Station are all proving that films considered to be "adult fare" can still attract audiences.

Listen here:

Jeff Goldsmith Gives You The "Backstory"

Congrats to our pal Jeff Goldsmith, who put a lot of blood and sweat (and yes, a few tears too) into launching his brand new magazine Backstory, a deep look inside movie (and TV) making. The debut issue is available now exclusively on iPad here. It was worth the wait. Beautifully designed (there's a definite McSweeney's vibe to it) and chock full of goodies, the best part of the Backstory debut issue is this: It's absolutely free. Jeff hopes you'll like what you see and come back to buy an annual subscription at a still low price.

Here are a few highlights of issue one:

On the Cover: Prometheus
Find out how an off-the-cuff pitch led to the making of the film.

Off the Shelf: Bessie
Writer-director Richard Kelly discusses his unproduced, labor of love script, Bessie. Plus, read the script in its entirety.

Staged: A New Vintage of "Sideways"
Writer Rex Pickett chats about adapting his novel into a stage play. Plus, read the play in its entirety.

Black List Tales: Strange Skies
Scribe Pat Healy discusses adapting Matt Marinovich's novel, "Strange Skies," which landed his script on the fabled Black List. Plus, read the entire script.

Inside the 2011 Nicholl Fellowship
Full coverage of the fellowship, including the screenplay of one of the contest winners

Cinema Obscura: Mr. Nobody
Jaco Van Dormeal discusses his 40 million euro sci-fi film, which you probably haven't seen. Plus, read the script.

In-depth interviews
Featuring director Barry Sonnenfeld, actor Jeffrey Combs and producer Craig Perry

Writer-director Edgar Wright shows you his latest short film series, which the audience helps to create.

It's a large file (I had to delete a few TV episodes off my iPad to make room), but it's worth it.

License Plate of the Day: Dying Film Edition

Today's license plate: A plea to save our dying film format as the world goes digital. I'm sure Kodak approves this message.