Their heyday was the 1980s and ‘90s, from Airplane! through the National Lampoon and Austin Powers franchises, Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, and Scary Movie, but standards fell in the '00s and the genre faded away. With the return of the Naked Gun franchise and a Spinal Tap sequel, maybe spoofs are back. - The Guardian
The second quarter of the current fiscal year marked Imax’s best quarter in terms of domestic movies ticket sales as it stays on course to achieve guidance of $1.2 billion for the full year. - The Hollywood Reporter
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of the District of Columbia gave the administration until Aug. 13 to explain how it will get VOA working again. The outlet that dates back to World War II has been largely dark since March. - AP News
Due to the recission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds by the Trump administration and Congress, WQED is facing a $2.5 million budget shortfall and has laid off 19 employees, mostly in marketing, membership, and production. - Axios
The network understands that contributions from major donors – such as the Hewlett Foundation, which gave NPR a two-year, $1.2 million grant in 2024 – will go a long way to make up for the federal cuts. - Inside Radio
Some Republicans would no doubt be happy if PBS and NPR went away entirely, as they are upset by the networks’ left-wing bias. They should be rooting for their success instead. It would be proof that, contrary to constant scaremongering from interest groups, cutting federal spending doesn’t end in disaster for citizens. - Washington Post
Because, writes Bilge Ebiri, “everywhere we look, numbers reign supreme. Metrics determine our life and work in ways that were inconceivable ten or 15 years ago. … The movies aren’t warning us about seeing ourselves as numbers so much as they are reflecting the sad simple fact that we already do.” - Vulture (MSN)
New York magazine’s Kathryn VanArendonk knows it’s not tenable to prevent her kids from doing what she does all day. “But my (policy is) the result of … how I want them to learn to think about screens and storytelling, and my desire to give them agency over their own brains.” - Vulture (MSN)
Most experts acknowledge that a takeover by artificial intelligence is coming for the video game industry within the next five years, and executives have already started preparing to restructure their companies in anticipation. - The New York Times
“Member stations that are outside major metropolitan areas and depend most on federal dollars face the toughest, most immediate choices. But the new law poses broader questions about the positives and perils of depending on government funding, and whether other means can fill the breach.” - The Washington Post (MSN)
Lake, the Arizona Republican known for her losing campaigns for Arizona governor and US Senator, was hired by Trump to dismantle Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. She cannot unilaterally fire top executives at those networks, so she's trying ugly tactics to drive them out. - The Washington Post (MSN)
If anyone thought Colbert's cancellation — which won't come until his contract ends in May 2026 — might tamp down political commentary in other areas of Paramount's media empire, they learned differently this past week. - NPR
The theatrical box office market is down. It’s harder than ever to get people out of their homes and into the cinema. The business model for movies in streaming is still a work in progress. - Los Angeles Times
CBS, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures are all bracing for upheaval when Larry Ellison and his son, David, take the keys from Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. - Los Angeles Times
