Warner Bros. Television Group handed out pink slips to 82 staffers on Tuesday, representing 19% of the studio’s workforce, across its scripted, unscripted and animation divisions. Additionally, it has opted not to fill 43 additional vacant positions — making for a total elimination of 125 jobs (or 26% of an approximately 481 headcount).

Warner Bros. TV Group declined comment, but it’s understood that chairman Channing Dungey detailed to staff a series of changes that included various levels of consolidation in unscripted and animation. Also, as reported Tuesday afternoon, the company has closed Stage 13, a shingle focused on diverse shortform programming (leading to the exit of Stage 13 head Diana Mogollón), and will end the Warner Bros. Television Workshop, which had existed for decades as a training ground for new creative talent in both writing and directing.

The layoffs were expected as the latest cost cutting move inside Warner Bros. Discovery, which merged in April and since then has attempted to make good on its mission to cut costs by $3 billion. It also comes just two years after a previous round of layoffs, under the WarnerMedia banner, had already cut into Warner Bros.’ workforce by at least 650 people.

More recently, in August, WBD eliminated around 70 jobs, or 14% of the workforce, from HBO and HBO Max, as the company prepares to merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into one streamer.  Unscripted programming, scripted children’s and family fare, casting, international and acquisitions were hardest hit. And in September, WBD let go of 100 employees as part of the downsizing of the company’s ad sales departments.

As outlined on Tuesday, Dungey’s direct reports remain, as do the umbrella divisions that fall under the Warner Bros. TV Group banner — but more consolidation has occurred.

In the non-fiction space, Mike Darnell remains as president of Warner Bros. Unscripted Television and continues to report to Dungey; Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, Telepictures and Shed Media will continue as separate shingles under Darnell’s domain.

But with the announcement Monday that Warner Horizon Unscripted TV head Brooke Karzen was departing, some creative development and programming oversight will now be combined between Warner Horizon and Telepictures. (Warner Horizon productions fall under union work, while Telepictures is generally not under union rules.) With Karzen’s exit, Bridgette Theriault and Dan Sacks will now lead Warner Horizon, while David McGuire continues to lead Telepictures, and Lisa Shannon and Dan Peirson continue to run Shed Media.

Physical production, business affairs, and finance teams for unscripted programming had already been consolidated between Warner Horizon, Telepictures and Shed Media following the 2020 cuts.

With the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, Shed Media is expected to develop and produce more content for the Discovery networks, while overall Warner Bros.’ unscripted units will continue to sell to external platforms and create formats for international as well.

In animation, Sam Register will continue to oversee Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Those three labels will continue to exist, but development and main production teams for Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios will now merge (while Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe will maintain a separate team). The three shingles had already shared the same current programming, casting, legal/business affairs and artist relations teams.

Under the new setup, a kids and family series development team will be led by Audrey Diehl, adult animation development will be led by Peter Girardi, and animated longform series development will be led by Sammy Perlmutter, with Bobbie Page leading main production.

Despite the changes, output will remain the same as Cartoon Network Studios continues to produce original animated fare for internal outlets including Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and HBO Max. And with HBO Max moving away from adult animation, there will be a renewed push for producing for third-party networks and outside platforms as well. Warner Bros. Animation focuses on more pre-existing characters and IP.

Also under Dungey’s direct report, Warner Bros. TV president Brett Paul continues on the scripted side with no major structural changes beyond the closure of Stage 13 (which comes as the company decides to no longer invest in short-form production). The biggest change to scripted came back in 2020, when Warner Bros. TV and Warner Horizon Scripted TV were merged.

Meanwhile, as broadcasters pull back on their number of series and pilots — as it appears more likely that networks may reduce their primetime hours, and The CW shifts its focus under new ownership — Warner Bros. TV will likely reduce its roster in terms of writer deals as well.

Nonetheless, Warner Bros. TV is still aiming to be a major supplier of programming, first for its own sister platforms (the studio has 15 scripted and unscripted series currently with HBO Max, plus more than 20 animated shows) in addition to outside entities. Warner Bros. recently scored Emmys for “Ted Lasso,” which it produces for Apple TV+, and “Abbott Elementary,” which it produces for ABC. Warner Bros.’ scripted, unscripted and animated divisions count more than 120 shows in production for more than 20 different platforms.

Here is the memo distributed to staffers this afternoon by Dungey:

Team,

Today I write to you with sad news and a heavy heart. As many of you have already learned, some of our treasured colleagues will be leaving the company because of restructuring and realignment within our group. This was strictly a business decision, made as thoughtfully and compassionately as possible by studio leadership. But understanding that doesn’t make this moment any easier. These colleagues are more than just people with whom we’ve worked, they are part of our work family. We spend more time together than we do with most other people in our lives. Because of that, this loss is painful and difficult. For those impacted by the changes, I want you to know how grateful I am for your contributions – in some cases, spanning decades – and how deeply sorry I am.

There are a few changes happening within WBTVG that I would like to make specific note of here:

As part of the strategic realignment on the unscripted side, run by Mike Darnell, President, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, we are making some changes aimed at finding synergies within the group, which includes Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, Telepictures, and Shed Media.

As you may have read yesterday, Brooke Karzen, head of Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, informed us in the last few weeks that she would like to try something new with her career after a highly successful 22-year run at the company. Brooke has been synonymous with The Bachelor brand for more than 20 years, overseeing the original show and developing The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and many other extensions that have propelled The Bachelor into a global hit franchise. Her other successes include Emmy winner The Voice, Ellen’s Game of Games, and the Friends and Harry Potter reunion specials, to name just a few. Please join me in saluting Brooke for her tremendous accomplishments and wishing her the best in the future.

As a result of Brooke’s departure, Bridgette Theriault and Dan Sacks will now be leading Warner Horizon. We are combining some creative development and programming roles to work across both Warner Horizon and Telepictures, with David McGuire continuing to lead Telepictures. Lisa Shannon and Dan Peirson will continue to run Shed Media.

Working across all three unscripted divisions, Kevin Fortson continues to lead all aspects of physical production (including budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and more), and Matt Matzkin maintains oversight of all business affairs, legal, and finance for unscripted series.

In Animation, run by Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, we are implementing a new streamlined structure in which the development and main production teams will now work across both Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. The kids and family series development team will be led by Audrey Diehl, adult animation development will be led by Peter Girardi, and animated longform series development will be led by Sammy Perlmutter, with Bobbie Page leading main production. This is an extension of the cross-studio teams that have already been in place for current programming, casting, legal and business affairs, and artist relations. Ed Adams will continue as Executive Vice President and General Manager.

On the scripted side, run by Brett Paul, President, Warner Bros. Television, our senior creative leadership team remains in place. Clancy Collins White continues to head up development, with Vicki Dummer as head of current programming. Adam Glick continues to serve as head of business affairs, Sue Palladino as head of production, and Mele Nagler as head of casting.

We will be closing Stage 13, which was founded in 2017 under the former Warner Bros. Digital Networks division as a studio for original digital shortform programming and has produced past series such as Special and It’s Bruno! for Netflix, Two Sentence Horror Stories for The CW/Netflix, and more. WBTV has already been supervising Stage 13 development and programming since 2020. Any existing Stage 13 projects in development will be absorbed within WBTV, which continues to be committed to finding new voices and providing opportunities for its richly diverse creative collaborators to tell authentic stories. I want to thank Diana Mogollón for her passionate leadership of Stage 13 and for the groundbreaking series that she and her team produced.

Also, following the conclusion of the current 2022–23 edition of the Warner Bros. Writers’ Workshop in April, we will be closing the Warner Bros. Television Workshop program, which includes both the Writers’ Workshop and the Directors’ Workshop. Both workshops have been instrumental in training the next generation of creative talent in the industry. While we will no longer have these formalized programs in place, we remain committed to developing and mentoring emerging talent and preparing them for careers in television.

As of this writing, all the impact conversations for WBTVG are complete. Out of respect to our colleagues, we will not be distributing a list of those impacted. Your direct managers will provide you with information about roles changing within specific groups. Your P&C partner will be available as well to address any questions or concerns. During this period of transition, please support each other, and be gentle with one another.

These are challenging times in the world at large, and a tumultuous time in our industry. For this kind of change to hit so close to home is incredibly difficult. But my hope is that these changes, made with an eye to a more focused business strategy, will strengthen and stabilize our company, maintain our great creative output, and better position us for continued future success.

Yet today we are losing members of our work family that we love, whose hard work has helped make our success possible, and for that I am truly sorry. I want everyone who is leaving to know that your contributions mattered, and the shows that you helped bring to life will always be part of the Warner Bros. Television Group legacy. Thank you for being part of our story.

With the deepest gratitude,

Channing

A 21-year-old woman was shot to death on a sidewalk on the south side of Dallas last week after a dispute at a pickup basketball game went horribly wrong.

Asia Womack (pictured above) was found severely wounded last Monday night on Hamilton Avenue in the Texas city. She had been playing pickup basketball with friends at T.G. Terry Park when she was shot. According to Fox 4, she was “just steps from her home” when she was struck, and she was found there bleeding to death.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and transported her to the hospital. Sadly, Womack was pronounced dead at the hospital late on Monday night. Now, in the week since the tragedy, police in Dallas have begun to piece together what happened in the awful incident.

Related: Mom Of Three Murdered A Week After Posting Awful Video Of Husband Abusing Her

According to cops, Womack was a well-known athlete in the area. She had been a star player on the women’s basketball team at James Madison High School in recent years. On Monday, she was playing a pickup game with friends when the game devolved into a bitter argument.

A press release from the Dallas Police Department claims the alleged shooter — who has since been identified by police as 31-year-old Cameron Hogg (above, lower center) — apparently got into some kind of altercation with Womack at the park after losing to her. Mad about the loss, Hogg allegedly drove his children and brother home before returning to the park alone.

When he got back, Fox 4 first reported late last week, he allegedly shot Asia five times. Then, he fled from the scene before first responders could reach the scene. Cops say a surveillance camera footage in the area allegedly captured Hogg’s car driving away from the scene.

As of Sunday night, per Local 12, Hogg is still on the run. Police have already issued an arrest warrant for him. DPD spokesperson Kristin Lowman told Fox 4 about the investigation:

“Detectives are still working the case. No one is in custody at this time. They’ve been working it since Monday night, trying to find justice for Miss Womack.”

Asia’s mother also spoke to the news outlet about the senseless tragedy. Andrea Womack explained how Asia had known the alleged shooter well prior to things going horribly wrong last week:

“This was supposed to be a friend of Asia’s. She’s eaten with the man. She’s fed him, and he turned on her and killed her in a vicious way.”

Local pastor John Delley summed up the awful situation in the simplest — and most heartbreaking — way:

“This is so senseless. You become embarrassed, basically, because a female beat you in basketball.”

So bleak.

Now, Asia’s mourning family is desperate for justice after her murder. The deceased woman’s aunt, Juanita Smith, told NBC 5 News (below):

“I believe in forgiveness, but justice needs to be served.”

We strongly agree with that.

Related: Two VERY Strange Updates In Georgia Mom Debbie Collier’s Murder Case

Here is more on the investigation into Womack’s murder, and the search for Hogg, from CBSDFW (below):

According to Fox 4, Crime Stoppers is now offering a $5,000 award for information that leads to Hogg’s whereabouts and arrest. Police are asking witnesses to call 214-373-TIPS (8477) with leads.

Such a terrible situation. And over a basketball game?? Sickening. We send our condolences to Asia’s friends, family, and loved ones.

R.I.P.

[Image via Dallas Police Department/CBSDFW/YouTube]

Jennifer Garner is gearing up for her next major Netflix project in the form of Family Leave, a new family comedy movie that’ll finally enter production by the end of 2022.

First announced in February 2021 (just ahead of the release of Yes Day on Netflix), Jennifer Garner would be playing the lead in a new family movie from Grey Matter Productions, About it Productions, and Linden Entertainment.

This will mark Garner’s fourth major title for Netflix following her voice role in Llama Llama, Yes Day, and 2022’s The Adam Project, where she starred alongside Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo.

Jennifer Garner in The Adam Project alongside Ryan Reynolds – Picture: Netflix

Victoria Strouse serves as the writer on the movie adaptation.  Strouse is best known for working on Pixar’s Finding Dory, ABC’s October Road, and Disney’s Tink.

This marks the writer’s second major Netflix movie following 2019’s Let It Snow starring Isabela Merced and Shameik Moore.

Justine Baddeley Arteta and Kim Davis-Wagner serve as casting directors on the feature film. Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Nicole King, and Jason Brian Rosenthal serve as producers.

What is Family Leave about?

Per Netflix’s initial announcement, here’s what you can expect:

“The Brenners wake up to a full family body switch, they quickly realize the same thing has happened to a family on the other side of the world; they must unite with this group of strangers and determine how to undo the body switch.”

The movie is based on the book Bedtime for Mommy written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. The 32-page children’s book was released in 2010.

When will production start on Netflix’s Family Leave?

Following its long development since the initial announcement, we’ve learned that the movie will begin filming in December 2022 (although earlier reporting suggested filming would get underway in October 2022).

Filming on Family Leave will be taking place in Los Angeles, California with the project also receiving a tax grant from the California Film Commission back in February 2022.

Jennifer Garner speaking about the tax credit, said, “As an actor, producer and mother, it’s impossible to overstate what shooting locally means to me and other families in this industry. I’ve been lucky to work with some of the greatest crew members of my career here in California, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with some of my home team friends on this project.”

Are you looking forward to watching Family Leave on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below.

Lizzo claps back at Kanye West’s remarks about her body… after he said attacks on her weight loss are a ‘genocide of the Black race’

By Ashleigh Gray For Dailymail.Com

Published: 16:41 EDT, 9 October 2022 | Updated: 18:13 EDT, 9 October 2022

Lizzo had a lot to say during her performance in Toronto, Canada on Friday night. 

The 34-year-old singer and flautist seemingly responded to comments Kanye West, 45, recently made about her body.

After the rapper called attacks on her weight loss a ‘genocide of the Black race’ the songstress said, ‘I feel like everybody in America got my mother******* name in [their] mother******* mouth for no mother****** reason.’

Speaking out: During her show in Toronto on Friday, Lizzo seemingly responded to comments Kanye West made about her weight loss

Lizzo continued during a pause in her set, ‘I’m minding my fat, black, beautiful business.’ The crowd clapped and cheered as she spoke up for herself without naming Kanye explicitly.

The music artist – full name Melissa Jefferson – then asked the crowd, ‘Can I stay here [in Canada?’ before joking, ‘Who can I marry for that dual citizenship?’ 

Kanye’s comments came during a sitdown with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, in which he claimed any time Lizzo posts about losing weight, ‘bots’ and ‘media’ attack her to promote the idea that being ‘overweight is the new goal.’

‘It’s a genocide of the Black race,’ he declared in a wide-ranging conversation with the host on Thursday. 

His opinion: While speaking with Tucker Carlson the rapper called attacks on her weight loss a ‘genocide of the Black race’

Seemingly driving her point home, Lizzo appeared on Instagram over the weekend to post a reel from a recent show.

The clip showed the entertainer with a spotlight on her face as an illuminated message flashed across her torso.

‘My body, my choice’ was emblazoned over her and in the caption she added only a period.

Kelly Rowland later showed support for the musician as she reposted the clip in her Insta Story and wrote, ‘Tell ‘EM!!!! I fxckin’ love you.’

Message: On Saturday Lizzo shared footage from a recent show where the phrase ‘my body, my choice’ was cast over her

Ye has ruffled a lot of feathers since donning a t-shirt that said ‘White Lives Matter’ during his Paris Fashion Week show.

Standing beside controversial political pundit Candace Owens, the two wore inverse colors of the same shirt.

What followed was a snowball of backlash from fans and celebrities on social media, with some defending Kanye and others condemning him.

But Kanye has stood firm on his position, continuing to wear variations of the shirt, most recently alongside ex-wife Kim Kardashian at daughter North’s, nine, basketball game.

Controversial: Ye has ruffled a lot of feathers since donning a t-shirt that said ‘White Lives Matter’ during his Paris Fashion Week show

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