All stories by Brian Steinberg on BroadwayStars

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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:00PM[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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 industry's ad…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:00PM[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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 V…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:06PM[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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 also …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:21PM[SHARE]
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 a s…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:35PM[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]

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 broadcast…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM[SHARE]
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 the play…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:17AM[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
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[SHARE]
Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Pivot Adds Baratunde Thurston As Co-Host Of 'TakePart Live' by Brian Steinberg

The on-air panel at Pivot’s “TakePart Live” is officially a trio again. After matching  regulars Meghan McCain and Jacob Soboroff with a series of guest hosts since the …

SOURCE: Variety at 02:37PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, October 7, 2014

NBC Wants To Hook Sponsors On 'Peter Pan' For $350K (Or More) Per Ad by Brian Steinberg

NBC is sprinkling a little pixie dust around its coming broadcast of "Peter Pan Live!" in hopes of luring advertisers to what is a rather high-priced program for commercials. The Peacock is …

SOURCE: Variety at 11:59AM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off