Streaming platform <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/netflix">Netflix</a> has released viewership data for the first time ever after being asked to provide the information for years.
The company <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report">report</a>, “What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report,” will be published twice a year going forward, per a company memo. Although Netflix has provided weekly lists of top 10 movies and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">TV series</a> since 2021, this is the first time the streaming service has released such a comprehensive report.
The document accounts for hours <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">viewed</a> for every title (original and licensed) that was watched for more than 50,000 hours, the premiere date for any Netflix TV series or film, and whether a title was available globally.
This in-depth report includes viewership data of 18,000 titles collected from January until June 2023. The top five most-watched titles are “The Night Agent,” season 1 (812,100,000 hours), “Ginny &amp; Georgia,” season 2 (665,100,000 hours), “The Glory,” season 1 (662,800,000 hours), “Wednesday,” season 1 (507,700,000 hours), and “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (503,000,000 hours).
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“This is a big step forward for Netflix and our industry. We believe the viewing information in this report — combined with our weekly Top 10 and Most Popular lists — will give creators and our industry deeper insights into our audiences, and what resonates with them,” the memo continues.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said viewing hours are the most effective way to measure engagement. 
“It’s easy to understand. It mirrors third parties like Nielsen in the US. It makes Netflix very easy to compare to other streaming services,” the exec said during a conference call on Tuesday, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/media/netflix-viewership-data/index.html">CNN Business</a>.
This move from the streaming giant comes on the heels of the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike this summer, which was due in part to a lack of transparency from streaming companies sharing their data. Netflix pledged to be more forthcoming with this type of information in the contract, ratified in October.
Sarandos told reporters during the call that the &#8220;unintended consequence of not having more transparent data about our engagement was it created an atmosphere of mistrust over time with producers and creators and the press about what was happening.&#8221;

Netflix

Netflix Releases In-Depth Viewership Data For 18,000 Titles

Entertainment

Television

World

Writer's Guild of America

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/writers-guild-of-america">WGA</a> (Writers Guild of America) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike">strike</a> is officially over now that the larger team of writers has ratified the proposed three-year contract.
The WGA and AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) reached a tentative agreement on September 24, allowing the writers to return to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">work</a> in the interim. Union members ratified the contract during a voting period that ended on Monday. 
After a week of voting, “99% of WGA members” voted “yes” to the three-year Minimum Basic Agreement, per <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/10/writers-strike-deal-approved-ratification-vote-1235567930/">Deadline</a>. Prior to this, guild members had been on the picket line since May 2.
The contract addressed writer concerns, including using AI technology, residual payments for streaming projects, minimum salary requirements, and setting minimums for writers’ rooms. The newly ratified contract will span from September 25, 2023, to May 31, 2026.
&#8220;We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,&#8221; the guild negotiating committee said in a statement after tentatively accepting the proposed terms.
Industry execs hope the agreement helps spur SAG-AFTRA to reach a similar settlement as the actors strike continues. The outlet noted that SAG-AFTRA started its second week of renewed talks with the AMPTP in hopes of ending its work stoppage, which has been going strong since mid-July.
“The AMPTP member companies congratulate the WGA on the ratification of its new contract, which represents meaningful gains and protections for writers,” reps for the AMPTP said in a statement. “It is important progress for our industry that writers are back to work.”
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SAG-AFTRA reps also expressed positive feelings about the news and how it could help resolve their strike. “SAG-AFTRA congratulates the WGA on the overwhelming ratification of their new contract,” they said. “We salute the WGA negotiators, leadership and members for their fortitude and dedication. Onward!”

WGA Members Ratify 3-Year Deal With Studios, Officially Ending Strike

Economy

Hollywood

strike

U.S.

Three <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/writers-guild-of-america">Writers Guild of America (WGA)</a> writers have decided not to return to “The Drew Barrymore Show” following drama surrounding the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike">strike</a>, which recently came to an end.
The daytime talk show’s eponymous host got into trouble last month when she decided to keep the program going amid the ongoing work stoppage. Even though <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/drew-barrymore">Barrymore</a> technically wasn’t breaking the rules because her show was exempt if certain parameters were met, the host faced extreme backlash from both employees and fans who accused her of being a scab.
Now anonymous sources <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/drew-barrymore-show-writers-decline-return-1235606269/">tell</a> The Hollywood Reporter that three WGA writers who were invited back to “The Drew Barrymore Show” have declined the positions. It is expected to return to television on October 16.
All three <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">writers</a> &#8212; Chelsea White, Cristina Kinon, and Liz Koe &#8212; were on the picket line, the outlet noted. They spoke with THR on September 11 when they found out Barrymore’s show was supposed to come back on the air despite the ongoing strike.
“It is a bummer to hear that the show is going back because it sends a message that union writers are not valuable,” White told THR at the time. 
“I understand that everybody has to do what they feel is best for them. For me and the WGA writers on the show, it’s important for us to stick with our union. We deserve a fair contract, so we are here today outside,” Kinnon agreed.
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White said she had “no comment” when asked if she planned to return to the talk show after the strike ended.
In mid-September, after opting to bring her talk show back on air as the WGA strike dragged on, Barrymore said, “I own this choice.” 
“We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind,” she said.
By September 18, the 48-year-old actress had done an about-face as the negative press continued. “I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/drew-barrymore-does-about-face-pauses-talk-show-until-strike-ends">posted</a> on Instagram. 
“I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”
The WGA strike came to an end on September 27 after 148 days.

Drew Barrymore show strike

‘Drew Barrymore Show’ Writers Refuse To Return Following Strike Fiasco: Report

Drew Barrymore

Not everyone is excited about late night television shows returning following the end of the writers strike.
The WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) ended the 148-day-long work stoppage last week when governing boards for the union voted to accept a new contract on September 26. This meant that some productions could get back to work, though the SAG-AFTRA actors strike is still ongoing.
Late night shows returned to television on Monday with mixed reviews. 
“Now that the ‘strike’ is over, the talentless, low rated CREEPS of Late Night Television are back. I knew there was a reason I didn’t want to see it settled &#8211; True LOSERS!!!” former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/111169342996963444">shared</a> on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Remember when I told you that the poorly rated and not at all funny Late Night Talk Shows are nothing less than a major Campaign Contribution to the Radical Left Democrat Party. Watch what is going on &#8211; so interesting,” he said in another <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/111169519714662047">post</a>. 
“Didn’t realize you had been gone. Just stay gone!,” one X user <a href="https://twitter.com/kelleylaw/status/1709064898041500031">wrote</a> of Jimmy Kimmel’s return on ABC&#8217;s &#8220;Jimmy Kimmel Live!&#8221;
“Not even 2 mins in and the TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) continues,” another person observed of Kimmel’s monologue, which almost immediately mentioned Trump.
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“In case you’ve forgotten my name is Jimmy,” the host said during his monologue. “I have been off the air for five months. We’ve been gone so long, ‘The Bachelor’ is now a grandfather.
“We missed so much good stuff. Donald Trump got arrested four times while we were on strike: Once for the classified documents, once for interfering with the election, once for Jan. 6, and once for shooting Tupac. Allegedly. You know what the weirdest thing about being off the air is? When I walk into a room, nobody claps. I walk into Costco. I get nothing.” He went on to thank the union crews for “supporting” the writers who were on strike.
Jimmy Fallon also took aim at Trump during his monologue on NBC&#8217;s “The Tonight Show” plus thanked the unions for going on strike on behalf of the writers. He said the former president has “resting mug shot face” and alluded that Trump lied about his weight following his indictment. 
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” also returned to television this week.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – Season 10

Trump Rips ‘Low-Rated Creeps Of Late Night TV’ As Shows Return After Strike

Trump Rips 'Low-Rated Creeps Of Late Night TV' As Shows Return After Strike

Donald Trump

Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Kimmel

The writers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike">strike</a> which has dragged on for 148 days has come to an end as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/writers-guild-of-america">WGA</a> (Writers Guild of America) agreed to a deal.
Governing boards for the union voted to accept a new contract on Tuesday, effectively ending the strike and allowing writers to get back to work beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
“The WGAW Board and WGAE Council also voted to lift the restraining order and end the strike as of 12:01 am PT/3:01 am ET on Wednesday, September 27th. This allows writers to return to work during the ratification process, but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval,” the WGA wrote in a statement.
The three-year agreement addresses the main areas of concern for the union, including increased compensation, guaranteed length of employment, mandated writer&#8217;s room staff minimums, and protections against the use of AI (artificial intelligence). 
The contract won’t be officially accepted until it&#8217;s ratified by union members following a voting period from October 2 until October 9. If certain portions aren’t passed, the strike could resume.
Specifically, the contract guarantees 5% raises in the first year, 4% raises in the second year, and 3.5% in the third. Health fund contributions will increase to 12% of the companies’ reportable earnings, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/business/wga-back-to-work/index.html">CNN</a>, and writers working on the same script will no longer need to split pension and health contributions.
The outlet noted that for big streaming projects, including feature-length productions with a budget of at least $30 million, writer compensation will increase 18% to $100,000 minimum. Writers will also receive an increased percentage of residual pay for streaming projects they&#8217;ve worked on, and companies agreed to be more transparent about reporting viewership numbers.
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As for the AI concerns, the document states that “AI can’t write or rewrite literary material.” 
Despite the agreement, Hollywood can’t get back up and running like normal until the SAG-AFTRA strike is also resolved. That union went on strike beginning July 14.
A SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said the union is “reviewing the WGA’s tentative agreement and are committed to achieving a fair and just deal for our members.”
“We remain on strike in our TV/Theatrical/Streaming contract and will inform our members when there is negotiations news to share. We will not speculate regarding schedule or next steps,” the spokesperson told CNN.

WGA strike

Writers Strike Ends With Deal Involving Pay Raise, Streaming Bonuses, And Protection Against AI

Unions

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hollywood</a> writers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strike</a> could be finally coming to an end as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/writers-guild-of-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WGA</a> (Writers Guild of America) came to a tentative agreement with the AMPTP on Sunday.
&#8220;WGA has reached a tentative agreement with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AMPTP</a> (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers),&#8221; the guild said in a statement, per <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/hollywood-screenwriters-studios-reach-tentative-deal-resolve-strike-rcna107963" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>. &#8220;This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who joined us on the picket lines for over 146 days.&#8221;
The union noted that no details of the proposed three-year contract would be released until it is approved by the WGA West Board and the WGA East Council, which could take place on Tuesday.
&#8220;We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,&#8221; the statement also said.
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Even if leadership of the WGA and union members agree to the deal, it will take longer to have Hollywood back up and running like it was before. SAG-AFTRA, the labor union representing 160,000 actors and other media professionals, is simultaneously on strike and so far has not reached a mutually agreeable deal.
The WGA strike began on May 2, while SAG-AFTRA joined the picket line on July 14. This is the first dual strike of both organizations since 1960. Industry insiders hope ending the WGA strike will spur negotiations with SAG-AFTRA.
&#8220;Hopes are high that it [the tentative deal with writers] will also mean the studios and streaming services will now focus fully on actors&#8217; demands,&#8221; Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/big-media-rallies-signs-end-hollywood-writers-strike-2023-09-25/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a> of the potential deal.
&#8220;Already it&#8217;s likely that the big studios will face a significant hit in 12-18 months time, with so little in the pipeline and bosses are now desperate for new content to attract eyes to big and small screens,&#8221; she added.
Both unions are on strike over similar issues. Their demands include higher wages, residual payments from streaming services for projects they’ve worked on, and protection against the use of artificial intelligence technology, among other issues.

Writers Strike Could Be Ending As WGA Reaches Tentative Deal With Studios

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/drew-barrymore">Drew Barrymore</a> has reversed course, now deciding to pause her eponymous <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">talk show</a> as the writers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike">strike</a> in Hollywood drags on.
The 48-year-old celebrity faced enormous pressure following her decision to keep filming during the strike. It was enough to change her mind on the matter.
“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore posted to more than 17 million Instagram followers on Sunday. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”
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“The Drew Barrymore Show” was scheduled to return on Monday, September 18, without her three union writers. It had already resumed taping last week, which resulted in picketers showing up outside CBS Studios. 
“We support Drew’s decision to pause the show’s return and understand how complex and difficult this process has been for her,” a CBS Media Ventures spokesperson told <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/drew-barrymore-daytime-talk-show-not-returning-strike-1235725739/">Variety</a> in a statement.
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Other daytime shows have resumed and are technically not breaking the rules of the strike under certain conditions, per <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/18/drew-barrymore-postpones-talk-show-return-writers-strike-backlash">The Guardian</a>. That includes not promoting work covered by television, theatrical, or streaming contracts. “The View” and other programs have returned to television because they also fall under the “Network Code,” which makes them technically exempt.
“The Talk” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show” were also scheduled to come back on air Monday but have now decided to take a pause.
Barrymore said in a now-deleted video that she was trying to make the right decision for her employees while still respecting the terms of the strike. 
“I know there is just nothing I can do that will make this OK to those that it is not OK with. I fully accept that,&#8221; the talk show host said in the video posted to Instagram Friday. &#8220;I just want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anymore. It’s not who I am.”
“I certainly couldn’t have expected this kind of attention,” she continued. “I wanted to do this because as I said, this is bigger than me, and there are other people’s jobs on the line.”

Drew Barrymore Does About-Face, Pauses Talk Show Until Strike Ends

Committee reps for the Writers Guild of America (<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/writers-guild-of-america">WGA</a>) met with studio executives this week in an effort to end the ongoing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike">strike</a>, but were unhappy when details of the proposed contract went public.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) shared details Tuesday afternoon of the contract offer initially given to the WGA on August 11, per a report from <a href="https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/wga-ceos-amptp-offer-details-1235702701/">Variety</a>. This move came after a recent meeting between WGA reps and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">Hollywood</a> bigwigs including Disney CEO Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, the outlet noted.
“Our priority is to end the strike so that valued members of the creative community can return to what they do best and to end the hardships that so many people and businesses that service the industry are experiencing. We have come to the table with an offer that meets the priority concerns the writers have expressed. We are deeply committed to ending the strike and are hopeful that the WGA will work toward the same resolution,” AMPTP President Carol Lombardini said in a statement which also included the contract details.
The contract addressed several of the WGA&#8217;s concerns, including provisions for a minimum 10 weeks of employment for most TV series writers and writer-producers and a pay increase for streaming residuals.
WGA committee reps said the proposed concessions were not enough and that the studios released the details with ulterior motives. They said they attended the meeting with good intentions but “were met with a lecture about how good their single and only counteroffer was.”
“We explained all the ways in which their counter’s limitations and loopholes and omissions failed to sufficiently protect writers from the existential threats that caused us to strike in the first place,” the WGA committee reps responded. 
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“We told them that a strike has a price, and that price is an answer to all – and not just some – of the problems they have created in the business. But this wasn’t a meeting to make a deal. This was a meeting to get us to cave, which is why, not 20 minutes after we left the meeting, the AMPTP released its summary of their proposals.”
The reps went on to accuse the AMPTP of having a specific strategy in mind. “This was the companies’ plan from the beginning – not to bargain, but to jam us,” they said. “It is their only strategy – to bet that we will turn on each other.”

writers strike

Studios Share Contract Details After WGA Leaders Meet With Hollywood CEOs

Studios Share Contract Details After WGA Leaders Meet With Hollywood CEOs, Which Labor Org Says Is 'To Jam Us'

Movies

The Writers Guild of America (<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WGA</a>) is refusing to budge on the issue of writers room minimums during <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strike</a> negotiations, prompting several members to voice their frustration.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has made some concessions to the demands of WGA in an effort to end the months-long strike. This includes providing streaming viewership data, per <a href="https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/writers-strike-screenwriters-oppose-staff-mininum-1235694323/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>. But they have not come to an agreement when it comes to having a set minimum number of writers on every project, regardless of what showrunners determine they need.
The initial stipulation said that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TV shows</a> needed a minimum of six to 12 writers depending on the number of episodes in a season. This month the WGA agreed to reduce that number by one writer but would not do away with the idea of writers room minimums.
“Nobody asked for this,” one anonymous showrunner told the outlet. “Every showrunner I know is against this. It doesn’t make sense to anybody.”
“All the showrunners that want a staff should be given a staff. I don’t think it’s important to force those few that don’t want a staff to have a staff,” a writer agreed.
“I don’t need that many writers,” another showrunner said. “I don’t want some people coming in who have been mandated … If I’m forced to hire two or three more people, they will be seen as a burden by other people in the room.”
Some dissenters said the minimums would likely result in “featherbedding,” which involves hiring employees who don’t work to fulfill labor quotas.
One writer said something similar happened to him in the past. “It’s an awful thing to go to work every day and know you’re being paid to sit around and do nothing. It doesn’t actually help your career long-term,” he said. “I think that people think they want these guaranteed jobs. But from my experience, they really don’t. It’s a poisoned chalice.”
Most creators haven’t spoken out publicly about their thoughts on writer minimums. But “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, who writes all the episodes by himself, did address the concept during a June <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/taylor-sheridan-yellowstone-interview-1235519261/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with The Hollywood Reporter. 
“The freedom of the artist to create must be unfettered,” the showrunner said. “If they tell me, ‘You’re going to have to write a check for $540,000 to four people to sit in a room that you never have to meet,’ then that’s between the studio and the guild. But if I have to check in creatively with others for a story I’ve wholly built in my brain, that would probably be the end of me telling TV stories.”
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Another anonymous showrunner who spoke to Variety said having a mandated number of writers led to a “too many cooks” situation. 
“When you think of some of the most creatively daring shows on TV, many of them have been written by a single writer,” the showrunner said. “The more distinct the voice is, the better the show becomes.”
Ultimately, the union members think support for that particular stipulation comes from a fear of losing work. “When all is said and done, the estimates are that the number of working TV writers is probably going to shrink by 30-40%,” the writer who referred to a “poisoned chalice” said. 
“People are scared. People who staffed once in 2020 or 2019 and not since are really scared that they’re not going to work again. They’re right to be scared, because it’s a game of musical chairs and people are taking the chairs away. This is being promoted as solution to that. I don’t think it’s viable.”

Strike

‘Nobody Asked For This’: WGA Members Disagree With ‘Writers Room Minimums,’ A Key Issue Of Strike

WGA Members Disagree With 'Writers Room Minimums,' A Key Issue Of Strike

Business

The news keeps getting worse for Hollywood, Inc.
The current Writers’ Strike shows no sign of ending and could last into the fall, if not the start of 2024. That’s on top of an imminent <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/07/actors-strike-contract-talks-fail-sag-aftra-to-launch-pickets-1235436031/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAG-AFTRA</a> strike, which will cause actors to take a knee as well.
Some of the summer’s can’t-miss movies missed by a country mile, including “The Flash” and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” The streaming revolution’s price tag is proving too rich for even the biggest studios to stomach.
Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners just <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/amblin-layoffs-1235533667/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slashed 20 percent</a> of its workforce. That’s on top of Disney giving pink slips to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-will-begin-mass-layoffs-this-week-ceo-announces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7,000 employees</a> following its dark descent into wokeism.
The king of the streaming platforms, Netflix, said goodbye to at <a href="https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/netflix-layoffs-fired-jobs-lost-1235301553/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">least 450 employees last year</a>. 
Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/features/writers-strike-tv-industry-streaming-problem-1235666463/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">painted</a> the oh-so-bleak picture for readers:
<blockquote>The entertainment industry in aggregate can’t afford to keep producing content at the pace of recent years, as evidenced by the astounding financial losses reported and cost-cutting campaigns underway at Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global and to a lesser degree Comcast.</blockquote>
Bidenomics is making all of the above so much worse. What’s an industry to do? Tighten their belts, for starters. Fire woke staffers deemed indispensable five minutes ago. Trash films before they even have a chance to fail. Memory-hole woke content that drew so few eyeballs there’s little hope of any return on investment.
Diversity may be our strength, but it doesn’t necessarily pay the bills in La La Land. It helps explain why four Hollywood diversity gurus just got the ax in <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/diversity-fatigue-hollywood-loses-4-040326615.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a span of two weeks</a>. That’s the kind of news cycle that might coax studios to reconsider their decisions and offer a full-throated apology.
Not this time.
It’s hardly the only example of studios swallowing hard and ignoring woke essentials. Paramount+ tried to revive the “Grease” brand with a prequel series for the streaming service. “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/willow-series-canceled-disney-plus-1235555335/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaned heavily</a> into woke dictates, from white supremacy to LGBTQ themes. 
Did it matter that those issues weren’t publicly explored in the 1950s, the period in question? Apparently not, but so few people watched it that the platform did more than cancel it. Paramount brass wiped it off the platform, presumably for tax purposes.
Something similar <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/willow-series-canceled-disney-plus-1235555335/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">happened</a> to the woke “Willow” reboot. Disney+ similarly embraced LGBTQ themes into the ‘80s film, but audiences aggressively ignored the TV update. The Mouse House not only ended the show after just one season but removed it, “Pink Ladies” style, from its content lineup.
Disney+ also <a href="https://kotaku.com/disney-streaming-crater-tax-rort-scam-writeoff-delete-1850604861" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yanked</a> “Crater,” an original film with plenty to say about class inequality.
Netflix and then-HBO Max jumped on the trend early, extinguishing presumably woke projects before they even reached the public. Netflix’s content deal with Meghan Markle led to “Pearl,” an animated series about a girl who finds inspiration from women leaders of yore.
Netflix <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61294978#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">canceled</a> it before anyone had a chance to see it. The same held true for the king of woke’s first Netflix project, an animated version of “Anti-Racist Baby.” Ibram X. Kendi’s book adaptation also got <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/22738500/dave-chappelle-the-closer-daphne-dorman-trans-controversy-comedy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nixed</a> before production could be completed, as did his proposed anti-racism documentary.
The streaming giant may have accidentally set the anti-woke cost-cutting in motion. Netflix aired Dave Chappelle’s comedy special “The Closer” near the end of 2021, a routine including jokes <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/22738500/dave-chappelle-the-closer-daphne-dorman-trans-controversy-comedy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deemed</a> “transphobic” by elements of the Left.
Liberal activists howled, demanding Netflix pull the film while supporters protested at the company’s headquarters. The company could have buckled, delivered a woke-approved apology, and severed ties with the funnyman.
Instead, Netflix brass <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-dave-chappelle-ted-sarandos-arts-and-entertainment-d3b5a4329479757e8675d1caa9ab0554" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backed</a> Chappelle, extended its ties with the comedian, and essentially, told activists to pound sand. Keeping a profitable star like Chappelle on the platform meant more than appeasing a micro-minority of critics.
HBO Max infamously shelved its “Batgirl” film project despite spending upwards of $90 million on it and nearly completing it. That superhero film also appeared to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11078313/Holy-Wokery-Batgirl-TOM-LEONARD-investigates-Warner-Bros-90million-superhero-film-axed.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">embrace woke storytelling</a> tics according to early reports.
Woke storytelling was all the rage, but it never attracted a mass audience like “Top Gun: Maverick” or “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Actors might spout woke platitudes to the press, but they rarely think about how it might impact the bottom line of their respective bosses.
Studio heads don’t have that luxury. They see the shocking numbers ricocheting around the industry, note how many woke projects fail to provide a return on investment, and see films with little to no agenda outperforming socially aware fare.
When Hollywood was seemingly flush with cash during the Trump era and before the streaming bills came due, it could afford to be as woke as possible. Show after show, movie after movie leaned into woke lectures, identity politics and other far-left trappings.
If the “Terminator” franchise went extinct over a little-seen woke sequel, so be it. Other films and shows would more than make up for those losses.
Now, the losses are coming from all over. And it could get worse before it gets better.
Woke is wonderful — on paper. Virtue signaling makes stars feel good without accomplishing much, if anything. It’s also an enormous drain on resources, something Hollywood can no longer afford.
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire. 
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As ‘Double Strike’ Looms, Hollywood Can No Longer Afford The High Price Of Going Woke

As 'Double Strike' Looms, Hollywood Can No Longer Afford The High Price Of Going Woke

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