Hollywood
Seth Meyers of ‘Late Night’ will host the 66th EMMY Awards
MUMBAI: Television producer Don Mischer, best known for steering big galas such as the Super Bowl halftime shows, Olympic Games openings and the Academy Awards, will join the just announced host Seth Meyers for the 66th Primetime EMMY Awards.
“Seth’s expertise and ease in front of a live audience during ‘Saturday Night Live (SNL),’ as well as his comedic brilliance both as a writer and in front of the camera, makes him the perfect choice to host the EMMY,” said Late Night president and NBC Entertainment alternative programming Paul Telegdy in a press statement. “Plus, with Don’s vast experience at putting these types of big productions together, we’ll be in great hands.”
Primetime EMMY winner Meyers took over hosting duties on NBC’s Late Night in February following Jimmy Fallon’s jump to the Tonight Show. He also voices the character Prock on Hulu animated original The Awesomes, the superhero series he executive produced and co-created with Mike Shoemaker.
Widely recognised as the longest serving anchor on iconic Saturday Night Live segment “Weekend Update”, the Northwestern University alum also served as head writer for SNL for nine of his 13 seasons with the series.
Meyers won a Primetime EMMY for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for SNL host Justin Timberlake’s musical monologue in 2011 and has 10 additional EMMY nominations for television writing to his credit. Earlier today, Meyers was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2014.
Acclaimed television and live events producer Mischer returns for his twelfth Primetime EMMYs run and his eighth time as executive producer.
He has been honoured with 14 EMMY Awards, a record 10 Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement, 2 NAACP Image Awards and a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. Mischer is also the recipient of Europe’s prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux and the 2012 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild of America.
“Seth is such a talented performer and writer, and we know he will bring something unique to hosting the Primetime EMMY Awards,” said Television Academy chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum.
“We are also excited to welcome Don back this year and very much look forward to the collaboration as we celebrate television’s biggest night during one of the most transformative years in Television Academy history.”
Mischer has also produced specials with Beyoncé, Bono, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Britney Spears, James Taylor, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Garth Brooks, Mary J. Blige, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Barbra Streisand, the Black Eyed Peas and Carrie Underwood, among others.
The 66th Primetime EMMY Awards will air live on Monday, 25 August from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
