Netflix Taps Former Zynga and EA Exec to Lead In-House Games Studio

Taylor Swift offered some insight into how she turns her personal pain into iconic hits during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.The 32-year-old singer opened up about her writing process, comparing it to, 'a way to suck the poison out of a snakebite' during Monday night's episode.She also teased what would be her first new tour in four years, and discussed her brand new music video for Bejeweled, which debuted at midnight. Taylor's insight: Taylor Swift offered some insight into how she turns her personal pain into iconic hits during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Poison: The 32-year-old singer opened up about her writing process, comparing it to, 'a way to suck the poison out of a snakebite' during Monday night's episodeSwift was discussing how much she likes to make music with her friends, adding that while this is quite a 'dark' album, she had 'a blast' making it.'I love to make things with my friends.

Laura Dern and Hugh Jackman were present at a screening of The Son, which took place at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York City on Monday night.The 55-year-old actress and her 54-year-old costar appeared to be enjoying their time at the screening of the soon-to-be-released movie, in which they both star.Numerous other figures from the entertainment industry were also present at the event.  There they are: Laura Dern and Hugh Jackman were present at a screening of The Son, which took place at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York City on Monday nightDern wore a black dress that featured numerous colored stripes that ran down its length during the event.The Academy Award-winning performer added a extra bit of glam to her look with a set of leather high-heeled shoes. The Blue Velvet actress accessorized with a single ring that gave her outfit an element of shine.Her golden blonde hair remained free-flowing and cascaded onto her shoulders for the length of the event.

Kate Upton was pictured excitedly hugging husband and Houston Astros pitcher, Justin Verlander, after his team's big win against the New York Yankees earlier Sunday at Yankee Stadium which got them to the World Series.The former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, 30, happily celebrated with her husband, 39, shortly after the anticipated game. The two lovebirds, who officially tied the knot in 2017 and share three-year-old daughter, Genevieve, happily celebrated on the field after the American League Championship Series (ALCS) victory.  Celebration: Kate Upton, 30, and her baseball star husband, Justin Verlander, were seen sharing a celebratory hug after his team's win against the New York Yankees on Sunday The talented beauty was pictured wearing a custom-made Astros sports jacket with her husband's name printed on the fabric.  She slipped into a pair of classic blue jeans to stay comfortable as she enjoyed a night out cheering on Justin. Kate's blonde locks were parted in the middle, and thrown up into a simple ponytail to keep her hair from falling into her face. Not long after the Houston Astros defeated the New York Yankees, the model made her way onto the field to celebrate with her husband.   Big smiles: The happy couple were pictured in a celebratory embrace on the field of Yankee Stadium after Houston Astros defeated the New York Yankees  The two lovebirds were pictured sharing a celebratory embrace on the field of Yankees Stadium. Justin donned a black baseball cap which he wore backwards, along with an ALCS short-sleeved shirt. The happy couple first crossed paths when working on the same commercial set for a Major League Baseball 2k12 video game in 2012. One year later, Kate and Justin had officially begun

Lee Johnson hopes the success of loan signing Mykola Kukharevych will help Hibs tap into the City Group goldmine more often - and bridge the gap on the Old Firm.

Take out the first and last letter from Rangers and you’ve got anger. Graeme Souness doesn’t see enough of that in his former club and it’s making his blood boil.

Joe Hart isn’t refusing to give up the ghost in the Champions League just yet but he is convinced things could – and should – be different for Celtic tonight.

He might not do glass ceilings, but Ange Postecoglou most certainly believes in sweet spots

Pregnant Chrissy Teigen was spotted out with husband John Legend and their two kids in Brentwood on Monday, after attending their daughter's ballet performance.The model 36, showed off her growing baby bump in a white bra and an unbuttoned striped yellow men's shirt, which she paired with black leggings.While Chrissy lagged behind, doting dad John, 43, walked ahead with the couple's daughter Luna, six, and son Miles, four. Family outing: Pregnant Chrissy Teigen, 36, was joined by husband John Legend, 43, and their kids Luna, six, and Miles, four, in Brentwood, after attending Luna's ballet performanceThe cookbook author - who wed the Ordinary People singer in 2013 - is currently expecting the couple's fourth child.  Their son Jack tragically died in September 2020 at 20 weeks gestation. Teigen styled her tresses in a low bun and kept her head covered with a navy baseball hat.

Angelina Jolie brightened up Spelman College's homecoming weekend as she walked around campus with daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt.The 47-year-old mom-of-six, who shares her brood with ex-husband Brad Pitt, stopped to take photos with surprised fans.They later took to Twitter to share their excitement, with one writing: 'Angelina Jolie just casually walking around with her daughter at Spelman during Homecoming.'  Surprising visit: Angelina Jolie brightened up Spelman College's homecoming weekend as she walked around campus with daughter Zahara Jolie-PittThe always elegant movie star was dressed in a black outfit with a camel-colored coat tied around her waist.She donned lightly-tinted aviator sunglasses and wore her long brunette hair straight, arranged in a side part. Zahara looked proud to have her mom at her side as she dressed in faded light wash jeans and a white blouse with a peplum hemline.The freshman college student wore large hoop earrings and kept her curly hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ears.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Bethenny Frankel says she’s had enough of scammers on TikTok using her voice, image or content to sell counterfeit products. The entrepreneur and star of “The Real Housewives of New York” filed a federal lawsuit against ByteDance’s TikTok, the hugely popular short-form video app, alleging that TikTok has ignored her requests to remove unauthorized content that misappropriates her likeness. The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, demands unspecified monetary damages and a permanent injunction barring TikTok from misusing the “personas, voices, content and/or likenesses” of Frankel and other potential members of the class. “Despite demands on TikTok to remove and police this corrupt conduct, TikTok has ignored such demands, and even taken countervailing positions,” Frankel’s lawsuit says. “Aside from not being compensated, the reputation and brand of Ms. Frankel and Class Members are being damaged and tarnished through unauthorized associations with counterfeit goods and other products that they do not support.”

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor UDPATED: A Delaware judge granted mega-billionaire Elon Musk’s motion to halt Twitter’s upcoming trial — seeking to compel him to pay what he promised for the company — until Oct. 28 in order to allow the parties to close on the $44 billion deal. Musk, after trying for three months to exit his deal to buy Twitter, in the last few days has grown frustrated that Twitter wasn’t calling off its lawsuit. Lawyers representing Musk, in a filing Thursday with the Delaware Court of Chancery, requested that the trial, slated to commence Oct. 17, be suspended while he works out a deal to finalize the required debt financing to swing the acquisition. Musk expects that to happen by Oct. 28, per the court filing.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor More than two years after Kim Kardashian inked an exclusive deal with Spotify for a podcast series focused on criminal-justice reform, the series is finally out. On Monday, Spotify released the first two episodes of original podcast “Kim Kardashian’s The System: The Case of Kevin Keith,” available worldwide. Following the series premiere, new episodes will be released each Monday thereafter. The eight-episode podcast is narrated by Kardashian alongside veteran true-crime producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi, produced by Spotify and Tenderfoot TV. It follows the story of Keith, an Ohio man convicted of triple homicide who — for nearly three decades — has been working alongside his family to prove he was wrongly accused.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Ari Emanuel, the legendary Hollywood agent who is CEO of Endeavor, reportedly got involved in the dispute between Twitter and Elon Musk over Musk’s attempt to nix his takeover of the company — but it’s not exactly clear why. Within the “past few weeks,” Emanuel had reached out to Twitter board member Egon Durban to suggest the social network work with Musk to “find a solution” to their legal fight ahead of a trial scheduled to commence Oct. 17 in Delaware Chancery Court, according to a report by Bloomberg Law citing anonymous sources. Emanuel has ties to both Durban and Musk. Durban, co-CEO of tech investment firm Silver Lake, currently sits on Endeavor’s board. Musk had been on Endeavor’s board of directors before resigning in March 2022.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor After three years, Google Stadia is exiting the arena. The internet search giant, which launched the streaming games service in November 2019, announced that Google Stadia will be winding down over the next few months. Players will continue to have access to their games library and be able to play through Jan. 18, 2023. Google said it will refund all Stadia hardware purchases made through the Google Store, as well as all game and add-on content purchases made through the Stadia store. While Stadia’s approach to streaming games “was built on a strong technology foundation, it hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected so we’ve made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service,” Phil Harrison, VP and GM of Stadia, wrote in a blog post Thursday about the decision.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Pornhub, the embattled adult-content site, lashed out at the decision by Instagram to permanently ban its account on the social network, citing Instagram’s practice of allowing celebrities like Kim Kardashian to post photos with nudity as an example of a double standard. In a letter addressed to senior execs at Meta, Instagram’s parent company, Pornhub — along with adult-industry trade group Free Speech Coalition, the Adult Performance Artists Guild and more than 60 adult performers — implored Instagram to “end all discrimination toward those involved in the adult industry” and to “immediately reinstate all accounts, including Pornhub, that have not violated any of Instagram’s Terms of Services.”

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Lionsgate is now looking at spinning off its studio business — rather than kicking out the Starz premium network and streaming business. The company, in an SEC filing Wednesday, said that “Despite the volatile market environment” Lionsgate remains “on a path to separating our Starz and studio businesses.” However, Lionsgate is increasingly focused on divesting the studio side of the house. “As negotiations progress, we have increased our focus on the possibility of spinning our studio business, creating a number of financial and strategic benefits,” the company said in an SEC filing Wednesday. “In that regard, we are continuing productive negotiations with prospective strategic and financial partners on both sides of our business.”

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor For Dude Perfect super-fans, it may be the equivalent of Disney World. The five-member comedy and sports YouTube creators — who have a massive following of more than 58 million subscribers on the platform — are planning a new Dude Perfect headquarters and “family-friendly” entertainment destination. The new three-story HQ building will feature a 330-foot “trick-shot tower,” a Dude Perfect museum, mini golf, a merch store, restaurants and 2 acres of outdoor space. The facility could cost as much as $100 million to build, the group told the Dallas Morning News.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Brett Favre’s weekly NFL show for SiriusXM has been put on hold, a company spokesman confirmed to Variety. It’s the latest business deal in jeopardy over the pro QB’s involvement in a welfare fraud case in Mississippi. The SiriusXM rep declined to provide further comment. Favre, who retired from the NFL in 2010 after 20 years in the league, first began co-hosting the SiriusXM show in 2018. The former Green Bay Packers QB has appeared on “The SiriusXM Blitz With Brett Favre and Bruce Murray” on Tuesdays on the satellite radio and audio streamer’s services, most recently Sept. 13. SiriusXM’s pausing of Favre’s show comes as ESPN Milwaukee said it was temporarily suspending the ex-football star’s weekly “The Brett Favre Show” recapping Packers games, NBC Sports reported.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor TikTok can add jet fuel to entertainment marketers’ messages — but they have to learn how to speak the language of the platform to effectively harness the creativity of its creators. That was one of the key takeaways from the Variety/TikTok Culture Catalysts Dinner, held in West Hollywood on Sept. 20. Paramount Pictures’ approach with its TikTok campaign for blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick” — 2022’s top-grossing movie at the box office so far — was to introduce the nearly 40-year-old flyboy franchise to Gen Z, said Danielle De Palma, EVP of global marketing for the studio. With TikTok, its biggest goal was to reach “younger audiences that didn’t have that same emotional, nostalgic connection to the film that so many of the older audiences did,” De Palma said.