Mornin! It’s MONDAY February 8th, 2021. Where we said goodbye to Christopher Plummer this weekend, he died Friday at age 91. Rest in Peace Baron.

and me buying this cupcake had no influence on the game last night.

🎧 MUSIC TO READ BY

New(ish) SZA “Good Days” Apple Music / Spotify / YouTube

Good chill vibes to start the week with. And if you would be so kind - share the Newsletter! Even if just sending it to your assistant with a note saying “hey you - read this for me”.

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📽 THE SILVER SCREEN

WME & WGA reach a deal (Variety)

The WME agency can now once again represent writers for the first time in 22 months.

WGA gets the terms it wanted (that all other agencies have already agreed to):

End of packaging policy by June 2022.
WME reducing ownership stake in its production arm Endeavor Content to below 20%.

WME also withdrawing all of its lawsuits against the Guild.

ALSO at WME - Armie Hammer dropped as a client, his publicist doing the same. (THR)

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: “The Little Things” leads with $2.1 million

It’s worldwide total is $13 million. Roughly mirroring $$ patttern of Liam Nesson action movies released in the pandemic, despite also being available on HBOMAX.

“The Croods 2” makes $1.8 million. Again. It’s consistency has been kinda mesmerizing the past 2 months or so, even though it’s been avail to rent from home for $20 this entire time period:

“The Marksman” takes in $1 mil for 3rd ($9 mil total).

“Soul” hits $96 million globally. Now the 2nd highest grossing PIXAR movie ever in China.

Ben Stiller directing FOCUS FEATURES movie based on a Rachel Maddow podcast (Variety)

Called “Bag Man”, true-life crime story based on an extortion and bribery ring that Nixon’s VP Spiro Agnew ran out of the White House.

ALSO IN MOVIES

Obama’s HIGHER GROUND reveals 6 new NETFLIX projects, including a movie with Riz Ahmed. (THR)
HBO enters GAME STOP movie fray. Sure why not. Theirs has CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, former HBO exec Len Amato, and Jason Blum as producers. But no writer yet. (Deadline)

📺 THE TV SET

Lana Condor sets NETFLIX 8 ep limited comedy series, “Boo, Bitch” (Deadline)

Lana is a “play by the rules” HS Senior, who one day decides not to play by the rules… and finds out the next day that she’s a ghost. Was the title “Ghosted” taken? Come on people…

“Yellowstone” getting a prequel series called “Y: 1883” from creator Taylor Sheridan (THR)

Will air on PARAMOUNT+. Not sure when it’ll take place. Oh right 1883.
Sheridan extends his Paramount deal to 2028… for a $100+ mil pricetag.

Chiwetel Ejiofor starring in PARAMOUNT+ series “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (Deadline)

He’ll play an alien who comes to Earth at a turning point for human evolution. Was previously a 70’s movie starring David Bowie.
Based on novel from the guy who wrote “The Queen’s Gambit”; Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet (“Clarice”) are showrunning.

ALSO IN TV

“SATC” new season writing staff set.
“Wynona Earp” ending on SYFY with 4th season in March.

💻 THE MEDIA BIZ

Not a great weekend for TRILLER, the aspiring U.S. based competitor to TIK TOK

Abandoned their planned SUPER BOWL ad (AdAge)
World’s largest music label UNIVERSAL MUSIC pulls all of their music from the app, says Triller withheld payments to their artists (MBW)

The 3 major music labels are thought to have a minority stake in the company which… makes this awkward.

FOX BUSINESS NEWS cancels “Lou Dobbs Tonight”

Their most popular show (at 300k avg viewers). Replaces with rotating host Business Hour show. $2.7 billion SMARTMATIC lawsuit against FOX NEWS is…. still a go.

Plenty of broad theories as to why the abrupt cancellation (he did his show Thurs, was gone on Fri) but no one seems to have any inside story. yet.

🎥 TRAILER HOUSE

HBO 4 part docuseries “Allen v. Farrow”, premieres on…HBOMAX Thu Feb 21.

👩‍💻 TODAY’S WATCHLIST

Uh.. nothing new to watch today but look - a dog reading!

If you found the newsletter useful, please give a share! See? Who needs a marketing budget?

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And putting all the SUPER BOWL movie spots below as a handy reference. Have a great day! Until tomorrow ya’ll…

-Sean McNulty (email me anytime at: Wakeupodcast@gmail.com)

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DISNEY+ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” trailer - show premieres in about a month (Mar 19).

UNIVERSAL “F9: The Fast Saga” 30 second spot - ‘coming soon’ (aka May… but maybe not May).

UNIVERSAL “Old” 30 second spot - new M Night movie.

DISNEY/DISNEY+ “Raya and the Last Dragon” 30 second spot - in theaters and $30 Disney Plus rental in about a month (Mar 5).

UNIVERSAL “Nobody” 30 second spot - in theaters Easter Weekend

AMAZON PRIME “Coming2America” 30 second spot - premieres March 5th… the day after its former home PARAMOUNT premieres its own streaming service.

The Wakeup

MON 2.8.21 : Lana Condor + NETFLIX…