Cynthia Littleton

Longtime CBS talent relations executive Ian Metrose, who became wrapped up in the scandal surrounding former CBS chief Leslie Moonves, will exit at month’s end after 20 years with the network. Metrose is understood to have made the decision to leave at the end of his current contract. But there is little doubt his departure […]

Former Spotify, Conde Nast and CW executive Dawn Ostroff is set to join the board of directors for Paramount Global in May. Ostroff is poised to join the board as an independent director at Paramount Global’s annual meeting on May 8. Incumbent board members Candace Beinecke and Ronald Nelson will not stand for re-election at […]

Chris Harbert is calling it a wrap on his talent agency career. The veteran TV packaging agent, who was part of the team that launched UTA in 1991 and has spent the past 20 years at CAA, will retire from the agency business at the end of this month. Harbert indicated that he’s looking for […]

AUSTIN, Texas — Patton Oswalt, Phoebe Robinson, Eric Andre, Chelsea Handler and others were in fine form on Friday night as Variety helped kick off the 2023 SXSW festival and conference with its Power of Comedy event. The kudos pay tribute to innovators in the business of being funny. Presenters and honorees who gathered at […]

Has a cigarette ever saved the the world, stopped a zombie apocalypse, made the best-dressed list, or helped the hero and heroine live happily ever after? No … not ever. That is why it is cause for concern for Project Truth Initiative and other public health organizations to see tobacco continuing to play a supporting […]

Endeavor has made an minority investment in Asylum Entertainment Group, which is home to a number of production banners focused on unscripted TV series. Asylum’s collection of companies includes the Content Group, Texas Crew Productions, Big City TV, Breaklight Pictures, and Audity. Those banners will become part of Endeavor’s nonscripted content division, led by Rebecca […]

“Rachael Ray” will call it a day this spring after 17 seasons in daytime syndication. The decision to end the Monday-Friday talk show comes after the series has seen considerable ratings decline in recent years. Ray remains a presence on Food Network and other outlets. Another sign that Ray was preparing her exit from the […]

Variety has promoted Michelle Fine-Smith to Senior VP of Global Consumer Partnerships. Based in New York, Fine-Smith manages Variety’s consumer teams on both coasts, overseeing sales across digital, social, branded content, print and live and virtual events. She has driven multiplatform programs for such top brands as Audible, DirecTV, Cadillac, City National Bank, Chanel, Google, […]

Nicole Lapin has built her career as an author and journalist by being a keen-eyed observer of business and financial trends for CNN, CNBC and Bloomberg News. This year, she’s following her instinct that there is a major opportunity to build a podcast network devoted to financial literacy and investment guidance for mainstream listeners. Lapin, […]

In the summer of 2019 I was training hard for a half Ironman in Lake Placid, N.Y. I felt like I was in great shape. The last week before a big race is a time when you’re supposed to start pacing yourself and give your body more rest. But I didn’t. I pushed myself. On […]