Is Meghan Markle’s New Cooking Show Her Last Chance at Netflix?

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Meghan Markle’s Last Stand: The Kitchen

In a rephrased and simplified manner:

Just like Winston Churchill once said, never before has so little been produced for such a high price. However, on January 15th, with the release of their highly anticipated show, “With Love, Meghan,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might have one final opportunity to demonstrate their worth, having received a $100 million deal from Netflix in 2020 for content creation. So far, their output has been less than impressive, with their initial 2022 docuseries, “Harry & Meghan,” being the exception, despite criticism from critics at home. Their subsequent projects, such as “Live to Lead” and “Heart of Invictus,” have underperformed, while “Pearl,” one of Meghan’s series, was canceled before production even began.

Despite these setbacks, there seems to be optimism within Netflix regarding Meghan’s new show, which appears to revolve around a character similar to Sue Ann Nivens, offering household tips on cooking and gardening. For Harry and Meghan, the success of “With Love, Meghan” is crucial as their contract with Netflix is nearing its end, making renewal unlikely if the show doesn’t perform well. One optimistic Netflix insider remains hopeful, stating that there will be more opportunities for the couple in the future and that this is just the beginning.

A-Listers Swarm the Chateau Once Again

If there were still any lingering questions about the Chateau Marmont’s revival, the events on January 4th should definitely dispel them. This renowned Hollywood hotel, which had been affected by the pandemic and a succession of scandals involving its long-term owner André Balazs, was once again at the heart of A-list activity on the eve of the Golden Globes. To make things even more lively, Amazon and Vanity Fair collaborated for a joint Golden Globes party at Bar Marmont nearby. The Chateau’s penthouse was brimming with actors and various celebrities, among them Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter, two of the biggest pop stars from last year. Angelina Jolie chatted with Zoe Saldaña, Andrew Garfield conversed with Ayo Edebiri, Jessica Gunning was seen with friend Andrew Scott. Nicole Kidman introduced her daughter Sunday Rose to some actors, Daniel Craig arrived accompanied by Bryan Lourd, and Taika Waititi held conversations on the terrace — all while security managed a steady flow of aspiring gatecrashers. However, the main focus proved to be a large table in the restaurant where a group from The Brutalist were gathered. Director Brady Corbet rehearsed a potential Golden Globes acceptance speech (which he would read nervously from his iPhone the following night). Despite making several changes, Corbet did not mention his unexpected highlight during his film’s best picture win: “The final-cut tiebreak goes to the director. It’s a somewhat contentious statement, and it shouldn’t be.” – Chris Gardner

Has Jeff Bezos Gone Full MAGA?

It’s plausible that Amazon is spending $40 million on a Melania Trump documentary for a logical reason we haven’t discovered yet. However, some people have proposed an unlikely theory that has been circulating in Hollywood and the media: Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, might be embracing the MAGA (Make America Great Again) ideology. Despite not showing as much enthusiasm as Elon Musk, the wealthiest man alive, there have been noticeable signs that hint at this possibility.

For instance, an unexpected withdrawal of The Washington Post’s endorsement for Kamala Harris in October raised eyebrows. Then, on election night, it was surprising to see Bezos quickly congratulate Trump via Twitter (within five hours). Around New Year’s, a cartoon criticizing Bezos for being too friendly with the president-elect was canceled. The latest indication that Bezos may have shifted to the right politically is this Melania documentary deal.

To add fuel to the speculation, the film will be directed by Brett Ratner, known for the ‘Rush Hour’ series and who previously collaborated with Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s first-term Treasury secretary. Ratner has not directed any projects since 2017 when allegations of sexual assault were made against him, which he denies. Amazon has declined to comment on the matter.

You can find this article in the January 9th edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To stay updated, consider subscribing.

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2025-01-11 20:25