1 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to Daily Variety, your daily dose of news and 2 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: analysis for entertainment industry insiders. It's Monday, March thirtieth, twenty 3 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: twenty six. I'm your host, Cynthia Littleton. I am co 4 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: editor in chief of Variety alongside Ramin Setuda. I'm in 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: LA He's in New York, and Variety has reporters around 6 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: the world covering the business of entertainment. In today's episode, 7 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: in our Box Office segment, Bridy's Brent Lang breaks down 8 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: the numbers and the second weekend sigh of relief at 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: Amazon MGM Studios as Project Hail, Mary hangs in at 10 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: Number one, and Michael Schneider speaks to daytime TV soap 11 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: mogul Bradley Bell, the writer producer who has launched a 12 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: subscription app for die hard fans of CBS's The Bold 13 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: and the Beautiful. But before we get to that, here 14 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: are a few headlines just in this morning that you 15 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: need to know. A judge has temporarily blocked the merger 16 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: of next Integna. A federal judge in Sacramento has ruled 17 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: that the deal is likely to violate anti trust laws 18 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: based on the sheer market share that the combination of 19 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: the two companies would provide. This fight is coming as 20 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: the FCC and other TV station owners are gearing up 21 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: to revise the current TV station ownership rules. They are 22 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: also ready to attack some of the rules of engagement 23 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: between broadcast networks and their affiliates. There is much to 24 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: follow here. Don't miss my colleague Elsa Kaslasi's great story 25 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: on her predictions for what titles will be in competition 26 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: at the Cannes Film Festival later this year. It doesn't 27 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: look like a big year for Hollywood On the quasset. 28 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: The official lineup will be revealed April ninth. Rip Marybeth Hurt, 29 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: a great actress who died Sunday at the age of 30 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: seventy nine. All of these stories and so much more 31 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: can be found on briety dot com right now. One 32 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: more thing, we want to let listeners know that after today, 33 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: Daily Variety is going to take a spring break. We'll 34 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: be back with new episodes on Tuesday, April seventh. If 35 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: it's Monday, we're talking box office. Brent Lang, Variety's executive editor, 36 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: details a big second weekend for Project Hail Mary, which 37 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: is good news for Amazon MGM Studios. Brent Lang Thank 38 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: you again for joining me to talk about the box office. 39 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 40 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: It wasn't the most dramatic weekend to end the month 41 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: of March in the first quarter at the box office, 42 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: but I have to believe once again there were cheers 43 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: at Amazon MGM studios to see their big bet, Ryan 44 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: Gosling's Project Hail Mary top the box office two weekends 45 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: in a row. How did it perform in weekend two? 46 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 2: It held on remarkably well. I think it only dropped 47 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 2: about thirty two percent, and that's very impressive because major 48 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: movies usually drop between their opening and second weekend of 49 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 2: at least fifty percent, sometimes sixty or even seventy percent. 50 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 2: So this shows that there's some stained power here and 51 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: that the word of mouth is very positive for this film. 52 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: And I think the only people that might be more 53 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 2: happy about this than Amazon MGM are movie theater owners, 54 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: which really need more product. And I think it's thanks 55 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: to films like Project tail Mary overperforming that you actually 56 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,399 Speaker 2: see the box office up about twenty three percent year 57 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 2: over year. So this is a group of people that 58 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: are feeling much better about their business. 59 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: Of course, there's the Ryan Gosling factor. I mean he 60 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: is just cementing himself as a leading man for the ages. 61 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: Is there something about the movie itself though, because it 62 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: feels like, you know, this is a very dark time. 63 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: You have war in the Middle East, you have protests 64 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: on the streets of this country, in mass numbers being 65 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 1: it's a polarized time, as we all know. Is there 66 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: something about the nature of this movie a fantasy set 67 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: in space. Is there something about that that you think 68 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: is energizing box office? 69 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: I think definitely it works as kind of a spectacle, 70 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: and it's doing particularly well in imax, for example, which 71 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: is where people seem to prefer to see big movies. 72 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: I think that you're also tapping into something, which is 73 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: that this is a movie that speaks to our present 74 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: day and some of the concerns that we all have 75 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: about the health of our planet. But it does it 76 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 2: in a light way. It's very humorous and hopeful, and 77 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: I think that the fact that it is reflecting some 78 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 2: of the concerns that people have but not doing it 79 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: in a manner that is just overwhelmingly pessimistic, is part 80 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 2: of the reason it's been so successful. I think the 81 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: other thing that's helping this movie is that yes, it 82 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 2: is appealing to adults, it is appealing to women, and 83 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: it is appealing to men. But it's a Peach thirteen movie, 84 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: so you actually can bring younger people to it. And 85 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: it's not a really violent movie. So this is a 86 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 2: four quadrant hit. And I would say that this is 87 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: the first blockbuster of the year. 88 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: And we should also shout out credit to directors Phil 89 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: Lord and Christopher Miller. Their style seems to be a 90 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: good fit with what you just said. Something that has 91 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: a message, but it's not clubbing you over the head 92 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: with it, and it's got Ryan Gosling in a lot 93 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,119 Speaker 1: of humor. 94 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: I mean, it's almost a redemption for Lloyd and Miller 95 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 2: because they had a very very public firing from Solo 96 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: a Star Wars story. I think it was in like 97 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen, and I think that was really embarrassing. It 98 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: was a bit of a setback for them. They had 99 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: tried to do a very like improvisitory approach to Star Wars. 100 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: It did not go over well with Kathy Kennedy and 101 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,840 Speaker 2: Lawrence Kasten and sort of the brain trust over there. Well, 102 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: they did the same approach here, and you know, the 103 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: result has been a very very successful movie, whereas Solo, 104 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: which ended up getting directed by Ron Howard in a 105 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: really tortured production process, was a huge flop and really 106 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: helped to slow down Disney's cinematic ambitions for Star Wars. 107 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: So this is really showing just how able they are 108 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: as filmmakers and how successful they our unconventional approach can 109 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 2: be if matched with the right studio and the right 110 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 2: material too. 111 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: That's the fun of covering this stuff day by day, 112 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: is you knowing that just off the top of your 113 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: head from almost ten years ago. 114 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: Just to stay on the Star Wars if things for 115 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,679 Speaker 2: a second. Sort of interesting because Ryan Gosling is going 116 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: to be starring in Star Wars Starfighter, which I think 117 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 2: internally at Disney there's a sense that this is the 118 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 2: film that actually kind of recaptures the Star Wars magic. 119 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: They're a little more nervous about Mandalorian and Grogu, so 120 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 2: I don't know, maybe everything just leads back to Star Wars, 121 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 2: but I'm sure that Disney is looking at the results 122 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,119 Speaker 2: of this film and looking ahead to Starfighter and feeling 123 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 2: much better about that investment as well. 124 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: Well. Ryan Gosling is a busy guy. Let's talk about 125 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: a couple of other strong titles that are hanging in 126 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: Pixars hoppers. This is now Weekend three. 127 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 3: This is real. 128 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: They got themselves a new hit. 129 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely again. I'm sure a sense of relief at Picks 130 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 2: are because original animated films have been kind of their 131 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 2: achilles heel. But this film seems to be doing very well, 132 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 2: and it's doing very well internationally as well. It's to 133 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: make almost three hundred million dollars, and since it cost 134 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 2: about one hundred and fifty million dollars, this is setting 135 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: up to be a profitable film for Disney and potentially 136 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 2: the start of another franchise, which I think is very 137 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: important to them because a lot of their other animated 138 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: series are getting a little low on the tooth. 139 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: Another film that we've talked about the last couple of 140 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: weeks is Reminders of Him, another flex of a very 141 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: savvy IP creator, Colleen Hoover, the novelist who has really 142 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: forged her own path. This film opened at number one 143 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago and is still in the 144 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: top five for this kind of movie in particular, that 145 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: seems a real feat. 146 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 2: Colleen Hoover has been one of the most consistent kind 147 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: of hit makers in the past few years. You know, 148 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: not only did this film do quite well, but she 149 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: also wrote It Ends with Us that was made into 150 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: a movie that was very successful, Gretting You, which was 151 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 2: another successful movie, and then she has a movie of 152 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: her novel Pretty coming up, which I think people at 153 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: Amazon MGM are feeling very good about. But this is 154 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: just a great piece of counterprogramming. It didn't cost that much, 155 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 2: cost twenty five million dollars. I think it's made over 156 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 2: sixty globally. Again, this is going to be a very 157 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 2: profitable film and a reminder that female audiences will turn out. 158 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: I mean, this is what we saw with The Housemaid 159 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: and some other films last year. But you really need 160 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 2: to keep offering content up for this audience in Hollywood. 161 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 2: Doesn't do that enough. 162 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 3: Well. 163 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: Again, good news for Disney, good news for Universal. Not 164 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 1: so good news for Warner Brothers in Newline with their 165 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: latest horror effort, They Will Kill You, starring the great 166 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: Zazzi Beats. 167 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, this one really bombed. It only made five million dollars. 168 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 2: I think it made. It was good enough for a 169 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 2: third place finish, but it's a complete disaster. And unfortunately, 170 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 2: after having a really really great twenty twenty five. Warner 171 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: Brothers is off to a rough start because this comes 172 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: on the heels of The Bride, which was a massive 173 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: flop for the studios. It is interesting because this film 174 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: it was co financed by sky Dance's Genre label, so 175 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: David Ellison, who will soon be the boss of Warner Brothers, 176 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:22,599 Speaker 2: is responsible for this flop. So I guess the executives 177 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 2: can breathe a little easier that they don't totally own 178 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 2: this one. Obviously, this happened well before the deal was 179 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 2: ever agreed to, but obviously a sign of just how 180 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 2: interconnected all of these players are. 181 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: Brent, what are you looking forward to next week at 182 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: the box office? It will be it should be a 183 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: busier frame. 184 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: The big news here is going to be the Super 185 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 2: Mario Galaxy movie coming out, which will be a massive hit. 186 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: The previous film earned a billion dollars or more. So 187 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 2: I think that you're looking at a movie that's probably 188 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: going to do something similar, similar level of business and 189 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 2: really begin the second quarter on a very very strong note. 190 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: Well, I will look forward to checking in with Rebecca 191 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: rubin our box office stalwart will be back for that 192 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: big weekend Brent, deeply appreciate you taking the time and 193 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: always love your insights. 194 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me back. 195 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: And now we turned to Michael Schneider, Wrighty's television editor. 196 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: He broke the news last week that Belle Phillip Television 197 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: Productions is launching a subscription streaming app for The Bold 198 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,719 Speaker 1: and the Beautiful. The CBS soap is one of the 199 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: last daytime serials standing and it's about to hit its 200 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: fortieth anniversary next year. Bradley Bell, who heads Bell Philip TV, 201 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: explains to Schneider why they decided to launch an app 202 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: to house more than nine thousand episodes. 203 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 3: Thanks, Cynthia, and that's right. The Bold and the Beautiful 204 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 3: fans are about to get the ultimate binge, thirty seven 205 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 3: complete seasons consisting of more than nine thousand episodes all 206 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 3: in one place. The daytime soap opera's producer, Belle Phillip 207 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 3: Television Productions, has just launched a new streaming app called BBTV, 208 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 3: featuring the series entire library. So The Bold and the 209 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 3: Beautiful premiered on March twenty three, nineteen eighty seven, as 210 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 3: a companion show to the Young and the Restless, which 211 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 3: also came from creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell. 212 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 3: Now their son, Brad Bell, oversees The Bold and the 213 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 3: Beautiful as executive producer and head writer. And I spoke 214 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 3: to him as he was about to head on over 215 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 3: to the show's thirty ninth anniversary celebration. What do you 216 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 3: get a cast, What do you get folks on their 217 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 3: thirty ninth anniversary. 218 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 4: Well, we do a big cake on stage as always. 219 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 4: In this year we did the in and out Hamburger truck. 220 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 5: And you got the fans. A streaming service. 221 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 4: Well, it really began as a conversation between friends. A 222 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 4: dear friend of mine, Rhino Orlemans, who works as this 223 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 4: company Octopian, and they've been doing these platforms and streaming services, 224 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 4: and he said, you should really do one. And I said, 225 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 4: I've been thinking about it, but you know, you'll have 226 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 4: to show me the way a bit on this. I'm 227 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 4: buried in words and scripts and daily episodes. And we 228 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 4: combined forces, and a year and a half later, here 229 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 4: we are. 230 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 5: Obviously there's hoops you have to go through, helped by 231 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 5: the fact that you do still own all these episodes, 232 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 5: that this is still you know, kind of in an 233 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 5: era where it's so important to have IP. You have 234 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 5: this great IP that's existed for nearly forty years in 235 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 5: Bolden and Beautiful. 236 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 4: Well, yes, this has been my life. Many people's people 237 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 4: here have given their lives to this show, their creativity. 238 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 4: We started, you know, I started with my father and mom. 239 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 4: Nineteen eighty seven, I had just I was at UCLA 240 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 4: and we moved to Los Angeles as a family. He 241 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 4: was doing The Young and the Restless, and we decided 242 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 4: to do this new show, The Bolden the Beautiful. It 243 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 4: was really a family project and it was writing from 244 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,599 Speaker 4: pre production till still this day, thirty nine years. I 245 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 4: had never thought it would go so long, but it's 246 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 4: been an amazing ride. 247 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 5: The business has changed, obviously so much in this time. 248 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 5: You know, some things haven't changed. Your stories haven't changed, 249 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 5: and the idea of what you're doing with Bowl and the Beautiful, 250 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 5: but this larger environment. You're one of the few daytime 251 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 5: soap operas that are even left. Now, what do you 252 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 5: make of that? 253 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 4: Yeah? There were many years there where people were saying, 254 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 4: what are you going to do next? What will you 255 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 4: do after this? Maybe fifteen twenty years ago, and soap 256 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 4: operas were dropping and dying off. They went from twenty 257 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 4: or so now to just a handful of us and 258 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 4: gh and days of our lives. But you know, we 259 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 4: really it was really attention to detail, making sure that 260 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 4: every show was special and never taking your eye off 261 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 4: the ball, keeping the drama there, keeping people addicted to 262 00:13:56,679 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 4: the characters, in love with the families being really an 263 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 4: extension of their families. 264 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 5: We recently saw a new soap opera launch for the 265 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 5: first time in quite a while on CBS, and you know, 266 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 5: there's new ways of telling stories now. People are have 267 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:15,680 Speaker 5: an opportunity to watch Ball and Beautiful, for example, on 268 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 5: the new BBTV platform. Are there opportunities now maybe to 269 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 5: reach younger audiences and find new ways to kind of 270 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 5: keep the candle burden? 271 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 4: I think so. I think this daily drama two hundred 272 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 4: and fifty episodes a year format is something that's popular 273 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 4: around the world and it's gaining popularity in the United States. 274 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 4: Beyond the Gates, which which started last year, is an 275 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 4: incredible show. It's so exciting because we're actually part of 276 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 4: a CBS soap block, Young and the Restless, Bold and 277 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 4: the Beautiful and Beyond the Gates. So there, it feels 278 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 4: like there's there's real momentum. 279 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 5: What is the hope with BBTV talk about sort of 280 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 5: you know, the plans. I know, there's there's other programming 281 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 5: that are going to be on the platform beyond just 282 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 5: the nine thousand plus episodes. There's maybe opportunities to do 283 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 5: other brand extensions, you know, what's your hope and sort 284 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 5: of you know, growing this and maybe finding new audiences 285 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 5: through this. 286 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 4: We really want to build out our community in the 287 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 4: United States, have our viewer base even stronger and more 288 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 4: committed as they have more access to the product, and 289 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 4: you know, fortify our shows that are airing on Paramount 290 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 4: Plus and CBS and globally, we've we've had such a 291 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 4: reach over the years. The early nineties and all throughout 292 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 4: the nineties was a great time for selling American product 293 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:46,239 Speaker 4: overseas and we were hitting all over Europe and Africa, Australia, 294 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 4: India and over the over the years, some of those 295 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 4: people have dropped out some of those countries, So this 296 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 4: is really an opportunity to reach back to them and 297 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 4: say that we're here, we're back, and wherever you left off, 298 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 4: you can now pick us up and just continue the 299 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 4: series as though it was never changed. 300 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 5: Have you talked to any super fans who have said 301 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 5: they are starting at the very beginning. They may take 302 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 5: some time, but the plan is they're they're going to 303 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 5: sit in there, They're going to watch all nine thousand 304 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 5: plus episodes. 305 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 4: Well, there have been a few people who have said that, 306 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 4: and you know, I wish them Bucket and and joy. 307 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 4: It would take really years to watch them all. 308 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 5: Forty years young next year, So how are you gonna 309 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 5: how are you gonna celebrate next year when you have. 310 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 4: A big blow up already. It's it'll be quite an 311 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 4: accomplishment one I would say. In nineteen eighty seven, we 312 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 4: had no dream of existing to twenty twenty seven. But 313 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 4: here we are, and we're enthusiastic. The group is so energized. 314 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 4: We see these new opportunities to show what we're doing now, 315 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 4: but also show what we've done all these years in 316 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 4: a wonderful way. Through technology, you can navigate yourself through 317 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 4: the site and you know, search for weddings, cat fights. 318 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:15,199 Speaker 4: Our guest stars Betty White did like amazing work on 319 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 4: our show Usher Daddy Yankee that we had Fred Willers, 320 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 4: so many great talent, sed actors, iconic actors who have 321 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 4: been with us, and now people get to see it 322 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 4: again at their leisure, at their pace. 323 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 5: Congratulations Brad, good luck with the new the new streaming service, 324 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 5: the app, and more to come from your universe too. 325 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 4: I appreciate it. Thank you, Mike. 326 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: As we close out today's episode, we want to remind 327 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: everyone that Daily Bretty will be taking a spring break. 328 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: We'll be back with new episodes on Tuesday, April seventh. 329 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: We love to hear from our listeners, so please send thoughtspes, 330 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: and other feedback about Daily Variety two podcasts at Variety 331 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: dot com. Before we go, Congrats to my longtime Bridy 332 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: colleague Peter de Bruges. He's been named director of Film 333 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: and TV for the south By Southwest Film Festival after 334 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: seventeen years with Variety, most of them as a film critic. 335 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: Debruges could not be a better choice for that role, 336 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 1: and he's staying in the larger corporate family, as south 337 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: By Southwest is owned by Variety's parent company PMC. Thanks 338 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: for listening. This episode was written and reported by me 339 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, with contributions from Brent Lang and Michael Schneider. 340 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: Stick Snick's hick Picks, Please leave us a review at 341 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 1: the podcast platform of your choice, and don't forget to 342 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: Tune in Tuesday, April seventh for new episodes of Daily Variety.