All stories by John Koblin on BroadwayStars

Monday, June 12, 2023

Tony Awards Viewership Increases to 4.3 Million by John Koblin

Awards shows have seen steep ratings declines in recent years, but the modest uptick for Sunday night’s Tonys followed recent increases for the Oscars and the Grammys.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:07PM
Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Tony Awards broadcast can proceed after striking writers’ union agrees by Michael Paulson and John Koblin

The Tony Awards ceremony had been in doubt ever since Hollywood’s screenwriters went on strike earlier this month.

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 11:45AM
Monday, May 15, 2023

Tony Awards Broadcast Can Proceed After Striking Writers’ Union Agrees by Michael Paulson and John Koblin

The Tony Awards, a key marketing opportunity for Broadway, can go ahead in an altered form after the striking screenwriters’ union said it would not picket this year’s broadcast.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:02PM
Friday, May 12, 2023

Hollywood Writers’ Strike Puts the Tony Awards in Jeopardy by Michael Paulson and John Koblin

The Tonys, set to be telecast on June 11, are Broadway’s biggest marketing moment. But the strike by the Writers Guild of America means the show might not go on.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:24AM
Monday, June 13, 2022

Ratings for the Tony Awards Rebounded, but Remained Low by John Koblin

The Tonys drew an audience of 3.9 million viewers on CBS on Sunday, about a million viewers more than last year. It was the second-lowest viewership on record.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:42PM
Monday, April 26, 2021

Oscars Ratings Plummet, With Fewer Than 10 Million Tuning In by Brooks Barnes and John Koblin

Sunday night’s pandemic-restricted telecast saw a 58 percent plunge in viewers from last year’s record low.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:55PM
Friday, April 12, 2019

Hollywood Writers Plan to Fire Agents After Talks Break Off by John Koblin

A dispute between television writers and their agents reached an impasse before a midnight deadline. “There is no settlement,” the Writers Guild of America said.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:50PM
Thursday, April 11, 2019

Disney Prepares to Unveil Its Streaming Service by Brooks Barnes and John Koblin

In a lavish presentation, the company is expected to offer long-awaited details about its counter to the tech giants that have moved into entertainment.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:43PM
Monday, March 4, 2019

Can Robert Greenblatt Please His AT&T Bosses and HBO’s Fans? by John Koblin

After a “Game of Thrones”-worthy shake-up at Warner Media, he takes charge of entertainment at HBO, TNT and TBS. “I like a challenge,” he said.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:32PM
Sunday, September 9, 2018

John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice Join the EGOT Club by John Koblin

The trio won awards for “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday, joining other entertainers who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:12PM
Monday, June 11, 2018

TV Ratings for Tonys Go Up, Bucking an Award-Show Trend by John Koblin

Sunday night’s telecast of the Tony Awards drew 6.3 million viewers on CBS, a modest uptick but a contrast to plummeting numbers for the Oscars and Grammys.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:48PM
Sunday, February 18, 2018

We Have Streaming Revenue, Too, Says NBC. And We Can Prove It. by John Koblin

The network’s entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt says NBC has learned how to generate more cash from digital views, and keep track of it.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:31PM
Tuesday, February 6, 2018

‘Game of Thrones’ Executives to Take on Disney ‘Star Wars’ Films by John Koblin

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, executive producers of “Game of Thrones,” will write and produce a series of “Star Wars” films for Disney.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:03PM
Thursday, January 25, 2018

Apple Goes Deeper Into La La Land With Damien Chazelle Project by John Koblin

As part of its plan to spend more than $1 billion on original programming, it strikes a deal with the Oscar-winning writer and director.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:32PM
Thursday, December 14, 2017

The Streaming Landscape After Disney’s Deal by John Koblin

Netflix is the clear leader in the streaming wars, but Disney’s deal with 21st Century Fox changes things. Here’s a look at the various streaming services.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:30PM
Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Netflix Suspends Production of ‘House of Cards’ by John Koblin

The streaming service made the announcement two days after the show’s star, Kevin Spacey, was accused of making an unwanted sexual advance on a boy in the 1980s.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:04PM
Monday, October 30, 2017

After Spacey Accusation, Netflix Announces End of ‘House of Cards’ by John Koblin

Netflix said the show would end after its sixth season. That came shortly after Kevin Spacey was accused of making a sexual advance toward a 14-year-old boy in the 1980s.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:12PM
Sunday, October 8, 2017

Disney’s Big Bet on Streaming Relies on Little-Known Tech Company by Brooks Barnes and John Koblin

BamTech has had success with its services for Major League Baseball, HBO and others. Disney is hoping the company can do the same for it.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:59AM
Friday, May 19, 2017

TV in the Age of Trump: Musicals, Murders and the Military by John Koblin

Network executives are rolling out several shows with a strong military presence, while also focusing on true-crime sagas involving the Menendez brothers and Gianni Versace.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:18PM
Thursday, December 8, 2016

‘Hairspray Live!’ Is NBC’s Lowest-Rated Live Musical by John Koblin

“Hairspray Live!” received good reviews but it had only nine million viewers, about 2.5 million fewer than last year’s production of “The Wiz Live!”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:31PM
Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Larry David and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ to Return to HBO by John Koblin

The show’s eighth season was broadcast in 2011; HBO did not announce when the ninth season would air.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:56PM
Monday, June 13, 2016

Tony’s Draw Almost 9 Million Viewers to CBS by John Koblin

The broadcast, which rode on the popularity of “Hamilton,” also came on the heels of a mass shooting in Orlando; the host said, “Hate will never win.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:34PM
Monday, February 1, 2016

‘Grease: Live!’ Scores Big Ratings by John Koblin

The Fox production was the second-most-viewed of the recent live TV musicals; next up for the network is “The Passion,” live from New Orleans, in March.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:27PM
Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Tyler Perry to Host Live Musical About Jesus on Fox by John Koblin

The musical, titled “The Passion,” will be broadcast live from New Orleans on Palm Sunday.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:12PM
Saturday, December 12, 2015

Dolly Parton Movie Draws Almost 13 Million Viewers by John Koblin

The television movie "Coat of Many Colors" lifted NBC to the highest viewership of any network for the night.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:40PM
Friday, December 4, 2015

‘The Wiz Live!’ Scores Strong Ratings by John Koblin

NBC’s latest live musical drew 11.5 million viewers on Thursday night, easily beating last year’s live rendition of “Peter Pan.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:52PM
Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Play Reimagining ‘Three’s Company’ Wins Case by John Koblin

A federal judge ruled that the Off Broadway play “3C,” a darkly comic reimagining of the TV hit “Three’s Company,” did not infringe the copyright of that sitcom.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:27PM
Wednesday, September 10, 2014

On the Runway Blog: Anna Wintour’s Celebrity Extends to Theater by John Koblin

On Friday night, at Joe’s Pub, a sold-out crowd took in a one-man show about Ms. Wintour called “Ryan Raftery is the Most Powerful Woman in Fashion.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:27PM
Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Scene City: A Filmmaker Relishes His Next Act(s) by John Koblin

On opening night of “The Library,” no second thoughts from Steven Soderbergh about retirement.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:06PM
Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Scene City: Opening Night For Terrence McNally’s Broadway Play, ‘Mothers and Sons’ by John Koblin

Terrence McNally’s latest play, “Mothers and Sons,” attracted a spirited Broadway crowd that discussed what to call a same-sex significant other.    

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:19PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards