All stories by Brian Steinberg on BroadwayStars

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Disney’s Split With Jake Paul Spotlights Challenge for Social-Media Sensations by Brian Steinberg

Actor and vlogger Jake Paul had a good thing going: a burgeoning audience for his antics on social media and a group of die-hard fans who enjoyed his presence on the kooky Disney Channel pro…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:10PM
Monday, July 17, 2017

Disney Hopes ‘Duck Tales’ Will Quack for a New Generation by Brian Steinberg

Huey, Dewey and Louie have always had things pretty good. They are, after all, Disney characters. But they’ve never had it quite like this. When “Duck Tales,” the long running syndicat…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:45AM
Monday, May 22, 2017

Cable-News Scrambles to Cover Ariana Grande Concert Tragedy by Brian Steinberg

MSNBC and Fox News Channel shook up their primetime schedules in the wake of a tragic explosion outside Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert in the United Kingdom Monday that is …

SOURCE: Variety at 10:49PM
Thursday, April 27, 2017

NBCUniversal, Broadway Video Will Partner to Make Comedy Content for Advertisers by Brian Steinberg

Broadway Video is best known for its many famous productions: “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers̶…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:30AM
Monday, April 3, 2017

NPR Sets Launch of ‘Up First’ Morning Podcast by Brian Steinberg

NPR has a new “Morning Edition” at the ready. Starting Wednesday, April 5th, the public broadcaster will release “Up First,” a ten-minute daily news podcast culled f…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:00PM
Thursday, March 16, 2017

‘Empire’ Building: Pepsi Returns In and Around Fox’s Musical Drama by Brian Steinberg

After inserting itself into the plot of one of TV’s most-watched dramas in 2015, Pepsi hopes to rule Fox’s “Empire” anew. The popular beverage maker raised eyebrows w…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:30AM
Thursday, March 2, 2017

Nickelodeon Rouses SpongeBob, Green Slime, ‘Lip Sync Battle’ and Gwen Stefani to Lure Upfront Dollars by Brian Steinberg

TV’s annual upfront sales season isn’t child’s play to the executives who run Nickelodeon. The kids-focused media unit, the largest division of parent Viacom, moves into the TV industr…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:00PM
Tuesday, February 28, 2017

As ‘Kids’ Upfront’ Kicks Off, Disney Woos Madison Avenue by Brian Steinberg

Disney is hoping to find new reason for Sofia the First and K.C. Cooper to smile: The company anticipates healthy demand for advertising as the TV industry ushers in the earliest part of the…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM
Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Disney Sets New Ad-Sales Structure for ABC, Freeform, Disney Channels by Brian Steinberg

Disney said it would revamp the way it sells ABC, Freeform and its Disney entertainment cable networks to advertisers, in the hopes of getting more sponsors to purchase ad time across many o…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:30PM
Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Paramount, Disney, Universal Expected to Launch Super Bowl Movie Ads by Brian Steinberg

Hollywood is getting ready to tackle the Super Bowl as hard as longstanding sponsors like PepsiCo and Anheuser-Busch InBev. Disney’s studios, NBCUniversal’s Universal and Viaco…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:06PM
Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Disney Mulls Ad Sales Overhaul for ABC, Freeform, Disney Channels (EXCLUSIVE) by Brian Steinberg

Disney is considering a revamp of how it sells some of its most popular outlets to Madison Avenue. Under one plan being discussed, the company would place a single executive in charge of adv…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:40AM
Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Disney Says ‘Doc McStuffins’ Will Return for Fifth Season by Brian Steinberg

Fans of Doc McStuffins, the extremely popular animated African-American girl who fixes broken toys on the Disney Junior cable network, can breathe a sigh of relief. Her series has been renew…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:00AM
Thursday, June 30, 2016

Questlove Joins Board of New York Public Radio by Brian Steinberg

New York Public Radio, the backer of two New York public-radio stations as well as podcasts featuring hosts such as Alec Baldwin and Jessica Williams, said it added drummer and “Tonigh…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:34PM
Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Disney To Unveil New ‘Frozen’ Tale, ‘Northern Lights’ Via Books, Video Shorts by Brian Steinberg

Disney wants to try to keep “Frozen” at full boil. The company said it would launch a new adventure featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and the rest of the characters from its h…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:44AM
Wednesday, June 15, 2016

CBS Sets Deal to Keep Grammy Awards Telecast Through 2026 by Brian Steinberg

CBS has set a new deal with the Recording Academy to keep the Grammy Awards telecast through 2026, a pact that marks the longest continuous partnership of a network and a major kudocast. CBS…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:42AM
Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Dolly Parton Will Guest Star as Singing Chicken In ‘Lily’s Driftwood Bay’ by Brian Steinberg

Dolly Parton has sung about many things: steadfast love (“I Will Always Love You”), humble beginnings (“Coat of Many Colors) and the drudge of the working life (“9 to…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:56AM
Monday, April 25, 2016

‘Saturday Night Live’ To Run With Fewer Ads Next Season (Report) by Brian Steinberg

When “Saturday Night Live” starts its 42nd season next fall, it will presumably still have “Weekend Update,” musical guests and lots of celebrity impressions. What it…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:27PM
Thursday, March 24, 2016

David Hasselhoff Has Moved On From ‘Baywatch’ but Eyes Return to ‘Knight Rider’ by Brian Steinberg

 David Hasselhoff is eager to be welcomed on American shores. The actor has found much success overseas over the years, most recently exec producing and starring in the U.K. stage musical �…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:31PM
Wednesday, January 13, 2016

‘Olaf’ Will Meet ‘Sofia’ In New Disney Effort To Keep ‘Frozen’ Fresh by Brian Steinberg

Olaf, the optimistic snowman from Disney’s mammoth film “Frozen,” will pay a visit to the animated series “Sofia The First,” as part of new efforts to keep the …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:15PM
Monday, November 30, 2015

Madison Avenue Pushes Back On Price For TV’s Live ‘Wiz,’ ‘Grease’ by Brian Steinberg

Whipped cream is known to be sumptuous, but its taste might seem a tad bittersweet for NBC. When the Peacock airs its much-anticipated live telecast of “The Wiz” this Thursday, it will a…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:21PM
Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Disney to Revive ‘Lion King’ With ‘Lion Guard’ TV Series by Brian Steinberg

Characters from the 1994 Walt Disney movie “The Lion King” have not been seen in new settings since a direct-to-video sequel appeared more than a decade ago. Now the company is preparing…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:35PM
Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Dance Network, An Over-The-Top Streaming Service, To Launch In Fall by Brian Steinberg

Dance Network, a subscription-based streaming-video service, devoted to dance programming, will launch in the fall, its backers announced Tuesday. The service will have tiered pricing: 6.99 …

SOURCE: Variety at 03:15PM
Tuesday, April 14, 2015

‘Frozen’ To Debut Across Disney’s TV Networks In 2016 by Brian Steinberg

“Frozen” has already extended its icy reach from movie theaters to home video and even broadcast TV, thanks to the appearance of characters from the film in ABC’s drama …

SOURCE: Variety at 09:58AM
Monday, March 9, 2015

CNN, Kevin Spacey Team Up On ‘White House’ Documentary Series by Brian Steinberg

Kevin Spacey will go from playing the U.S. President on Netflix’s “House of Cards” to telling stories about how to become the U.S. President in a new primetime series for C…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM
Tuesday, February 24, 2015

ESPN Suspends Keith Olbermann After Heated Twitter Debate by Brian Steinberg

ESPN said it would suspend Keith Olbermann for the rest of the week in light of snarky remarks the popular broadcaster on Twitter made about a Pennsylvania State University fundraiser and so…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:05PM
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Disney’s ABC Family Cable Network Mulling Reboot by Brian Steinberg

ABC Family might look for new graphics, new programs and even a new name in 2015 as part of a proposed reboot that would make it more appealing to its millennial audience, according to a per…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:04PM

Tinkerbell To Shine In Walmart Ads for NBC’s ‘Peter Pan’ by Brian Steinberg

Don’t be surprised if elements of “Peter Pan” show up in the commercial breaks during NBC’s live Thursday telecast of the famous 1904 play. Walmart, which ran ads during NBC’s live…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM
Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Five ‘Peter Pan’ Secrets: What NBC Will Reveal In ‘Making Of’ Documentary by Brian Steinberg

In the 1954 theatrical version of “Peter Pan,” the titular hero vows that he’ll never grow up. Come December 4, he will have to, because he’s the central figure in a live version of …

SOURCE: Variety at 11:17AM
Thursday, November 20, 2014

Mike Nichols, ‘Graduate’ Director, Dead At 83 by Brian Steinberg

Mike Nichols, the award-winning director of Broadway and movies, has passed away suddenly at the age of 83, according to information released by ABC News. Nichols was the husband of ABC News…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:15AM
Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Rita Moreno To Return To Kids’ TV On Sprout Series ‘Nina’s World’ by Brian Steinberg

Rita Moreno, the multi-talented actress who had a key role in the PBS children’s series “The Electric Company” will play for the kiddie set once again. Moreno, one of the f…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:12PM
Monday, October 27, 2014

Madison Square Garden Co. To Explore A Split of Businesses by Brian Steinberg

A company that was created through a spin-off is now proposing a spin-off of its own: The Madison Square Garden Company, the owner of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liber…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:51PM

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