Author: Matthew Belloni

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Bruce Rosenblum

Legendary Entertainment has hired ex-Warner Bros. TV chief Bruce Rosenblum as its president of television and digital media.

Rosenblum, who left Warner Bros. in March after 26 years running the studio’s highly profitable TV unit, will run Legendary’s TV business as it expands globally. He will report to Legendary CEO Thomas Tull.

“Bruce has an outstanding track record in the business, and he will be instantly additive to the team in our efforts to continue to make world-class content for consumers, however and wherever they access that content. We are pleased to have him join Legendary and look forward to working together to continue to build value for the company,” said Tull in a statement.

The move ends Hollywood speculation about Rosenblum’s future. The executive was open about his disappointment when he was passed over for the CEO job at Warner Bros. that went to Kevin Tsujihara after a three-executive “bake-off.” Industry observers speculated that Rosenblum would land at another major network or TV studio.

His appointment at Legendary signals the production financier’s commitment to television after becoming known mostly for films. Legendary, based at Warner Bros., has backed a series of Warners hits including the Dark Knight series, the Hangover franchise and this weekend’s Man of Steel. Legendary’s Tull is currently deciding whether to re-up at Warners or take his company to another studio, with several studios (including Universal) courting him. Bringing Rosenblum, fresh from his Warner Bros. exit, on board likely will add to the speculation that Legendary will end its Warners relationship. But a Legendary rep declined to comment on its future.    

“This is an unparalleled opportunity to join Legendary’s team and launch an innovative multiplatform content production and distribution business uniquely focused on a highly sought-after target demographic,” said Rosenblum. “There has never been a better time to be producing and distributing television content. The Legendary consumer belongs to a connected, vibrant demographic, and the opportunity to develop content and strategies to reach this burgeoning audience is invigorating and exciting to me.”

More to come…

“Rock Center”

Ari Emanuel wasn’t happy with his treatment on Rock Center. 

NBC’s news magazine aired a segment on Friday night that united the three Emanuel brothers — Ari, along with Chicago mayor Rahm and noted bioethicist Ezekiel — to discuss their upbringing and current jobs.

VIDEO: Ari, Rahm Emanuel Reminisce, Joke on ‘Rock Center with Brian Williams’

The conversation with Brian Williams that aired was filled with lighthearted chatting between the siblings and promotion of Ezekiel’s new book. But Ari, co-CEO of William Morris Endeavor, sent a legal letter to the network over the nature of discussion, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The New York Post  first reported the spat. 

A source tells THR that Williams approached the interview in an aggressive fashion, asking the brothers about their connection to Israel and Ari’s reputation as an ultra-aggressive Hollywood agent, among other things. The source says Ari, who is fiercely protective of his brothers, believed the questioning would be lighter and related only to Ezekiel’s book. So the agent’s lawyers sent the letter asking that NBC not air the more confrontational portions of the interview.

The Post reported that Ari later got into a “heated confrontation” with NBC Universal chief executive Steve Burke over the interview, but a source close to WME claims that part of the report is “100 percent wrong.” 

Although the Rock Center segment was framed as conversation between brothers at a New York bar, Williams did get serious with Ari at one point during the interview that aired. 

In a narration, Williams explained in the clip (9:07 below), “The Emanuel brothers do not suffer from self-doubt, at least not outwardly, they do not suffer fool’s gladly and, as we learned, they don’t love being challenged or prodded. Ari’s facial expressions speak volumes when the conversation turned to his scorched earth reputation in Hollywood…” 

The WME co-CEO responded to the NBC anchor’s question about what he would have changed about himself by saying, “I would have gotten into therapy a lot earlier and dealt with stuff.”

He added: “But you know something? … I’m actually really comfortable, I’m really happy, I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”