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Yikes. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images At this point, it’s not fair to say Netflix can’t catch a break; it’s more like Netflix is actively smashing breaks on the floor in a frantic effort to appease shareholders. Deadline first reported that the troubled media giant is eliminating 150 jobs as of May 17, many of them higher-up roles in original-content programming. “As we explained on earnings, our slowing revenue growth means we are also having to slow our cost growth as a company,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “So sadly, we are letting around 150 employees go today, mostly U.S.-based.” The Netflix spokesperson said the company is “working hard” to support those laid off “through this very difficult transition.” Among the more senior staff let go this round, according to Deadline, are the directors of Netflix original series, original comedy series, and spectacle and event TV. Vulture has reached out for a statement. The layoffs follow those in the … [Read more...] about More Bad Netflix News: 150 Jobs Were Just Slashed

Published 45 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A councillor has been elected as mayor amid accusations of racism. Sandra Holliday, Cheltenham's new mayor, was elected by 25 votes in favour, two against and six abstentions, by fellow councillors. But fellow Liberal Democrat colleague, Wendy Flynn said she could not support Holliday's candidacy due to her "expressed views that are racist". Ms Holliday said she has apologised and is pleased the vast majority of her colleagues elected her as mayor. Ms Flynn told the Local Democracy Reporting Service , she had tried to challenge a culture within the Lib Dem group which is "unwelcoming to people of colour". "Last year's annual meeting was unpleasant. The current mayor-elect had sent an email which contained offensive and racist comments," she said. "This led to debates in Lib Dem group meetings that … [Read more...] about Cheltenham Council mayor elected amid racism accusations

On August 19, 1991 , when Soviet television broadcast Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" for hours instead of the usual news, citizens quickly concluded something was amiss. Reactionary forces in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), the army and the KGB were trying to overthrow former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev . They disliked his reformist policies of "glasnost" (openness) and "perestroika" (transformation) — but the coup failed. These days, Russian state television doesn't broadcast recordings of ballet performances. Instead, news and political broadcasts run almost all day, legitimizing the Kremlin 's policies and presenting them in good light, thus earning its new moniker: "zombie box." But the media was not always as openly subservient as it is today. Scenes from the failed putsch to oust Mikhail Gorbachev The golden 90s After decades of paternalism by the communist regime, the media were increasingly able to help shape political change as … [Read more...] about ‘Zombie TV’: The disintegration of Russia’s free press

Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Actors and stage managers who worked on four recent Broadway shows produced by Scott Rudin are no longer held to their NDAs, potentially setting the stage for more allegations of workplace toxicity against their former boss . The shows affected, per the Hollywood Reporter , include To Kill a Mockingbird , West Side Story , The Lehman Trilogy , and The Iceman Cometh . The Actors’ Equity union negotiated the deal and said people involved in other productions can reach out for help in breaking their NDAs as well. Multiple productions currently affected are still reverberating through the theater world: To Kill a Mockingbird is on tour, while The Lehman Trilogy has been nominated for eight Tonys . The Broadway League also announced a move away from nondisclosure stipulations in its contracts, except for subjects like intellectual property and finances. The Hollywood Reporter first investigated Rudin’s long-rumored … [Read more...] about Members of Scott Rudin Broadway Productions Freed From NDAs

Florida health officials announced on Wednesday that they are conducting an audit of the state's handling of the coronavirus vaccine . This comes after more than 1,000 doses were spoiled in Palm Beach County last week, according to officials . The audit will require a full accounting of vaccine-related equipment and procedures after 1,160 doses were found to be stored incorrectly in a refrigerator that had been turned off, per CBS Miami . "It is a tragedy that even one dose of this critical resource would go to waste and not be used to save a life from COVID-19," Florida State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees said in a statement. "We hope to see this situation rectified and addressed immediately to ensure the Palm Beach County Health Care District does not let one more dose go to waste." Pfizer's vaccine must be kept at nearly minus-100 degrees Fahrenheit to remain effective — about 20 degrees colder than extreme winter temperatures at the South Pole. Meanwhile, … [Read more...] about Florida health officials to conduct audit after doses of coronavirus vaccine spoiled

Janine Butcher ( Charlie Brooks ) sank to yet another new low in EastEnders , as she robbed Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) of her dream business, stealing her money in a bid to get rid of Linda ( Kellie Bright ). The dastardly schemer, as viewers know, has become incredibly concerned about Linda’s presence in the Square, fearing that Mick ( Danny Dyer ) will be unable to resist giving his marriage another go. She has therefore made it her mission to remove Linda from the equation, offering her £25,000 to leave Walford for good . Linda was taken aback by Janine’s proposition, and in the wake of Mick rejecting her, she thought long and hard about her future, before ultimately agreeing to her love rival’s demands . There was, however, a catch. In order to start a new life elsewhere, Linda insisted that Janine double her offer. Janine was taken aback, having evidently underestimated Linda. After giving it some thought, she agreed, and thus set about getting … [Read more...] about EastEnders spoilers: Janine destroys Nancy’s hopes and dreams in devastating plan to get rid of Linda