News

Exclusive: EverWonder Studio, the company that produced Netflix’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, is making some big-name hires.

The business, which was founded by former Time exec Ian Orefice and backed by Jeff Zucker’s RedBird Imi, has hired a slew of key execs including former ABC unscripted exec Tiffany Faigus and MSNBC’s Amanda Spain.

Faigus has been named EVP and Executive Producer of the company. She was previously SVP, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, ABC Entertainment and Walt Disney Television Alternative, where she was one of Rob Mills’ key lieutenants. She left last year as Disney merged ABC and Hulu’s unscripted programming teams and underwent layoffs.

Faigus had been with ABC since 2015. She was promoted in 2021, having previously been VP Alternative Series and Specials, taking on a new role that encompassed both the network and the unscripted studio side of the business at Walt Disney Television Alternative.

Season 2 of “Squid Game” is racking up views at a record pace. After topping Netflix’s charts last week with 68 million views in four days — Netflix’s biggest TV debut ever — the season picked up another 58.2 million views in its first full week of availability. That brings it to a total of 126.2 million views total across 11 days, more than any Netflix series has ever achieved in that amount of time.

“Squid Game” Season 2 immediately cracked Netflix’s list of its most popular non-English-language series last week, but this week it jumped from No. 7 to No. 2. Only “Squid Game” Season 1 still outpaces it, having achieved 265.2 million views in its first 91 days of streaming, but Season 2 appears likely to outpace it, having 80 days left to continue accumulating views.

Naturally, the season was the most-watched English-language series of the week of Dec. 30 to Jan. 5 — as well as the most Netflix title of the week overall.

Taylor Swift fans react aggressively to Hannah Berner’s Travis Kelce relationship (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Taylor Swift’s fans are not happy with comedian Hannah Berner after a controversial moment in her Netflix roast, ‘Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year,’ sparked outrage online.

In the viral clip, Berner made a crass joke about Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce, referencing murder suspect Luigi Mangione, who was recently charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and belittling Swift in the process.

Berner quipped, “Who knew besides Travis Kelce that you could become so popular with women by shooting loads into a billionaire?”

not to be too woke but that was wildly inappropriate- pic.twitter.com/l3ZVGYBhh8

— rhia⸆⸉ missed london n8 (@strawblushlor) January 2, 2025

Trending Dua Lipa Sizzles In Sultry Lace Valentino Catsuit To Close Out 2024

David Fincher Opens Up About The Complex Process Of Restoring Fight Club For...

Netflix's comedy special, Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year, includes a stellar lineup of celebrities which includes the likes of Tim Dillon, Hannah Berner, John Stamos, and Sam Morril. 

Torching gathers prominent comedians as they bid goodbye to 2024 by throwing shade at the much-talked-about moments of the past year. The event is hosted by Jeff Ross. 

The special is directed by Joe DeMaio and it was held in The Bellwether in Los Angeles last December 17.

Read full article on The Direct.

Tim Dillon is making some controversial jokes.

The 39-year-old comedian appeared as the “ghost” of murdered United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a new Netflix special, Torching 2024: A Roast Of The Year.

If you didn’t know, Brian Thompson was shot dead outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, and suspect Luigi Mangione was arrested days later on murder charges.

During the special, Tim appeared onstage dressed similarly to a widely-shared photo of the late CEO, wearing a navy blue pullover and tan khakis while wrapped in black chains.

“I’m Brian Thompson,” he declared. “I’m going to hell for this… you might as well laugh.”

Keep reading to find out more…

“I’m the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, and I understand that a lot of you are happy I’m dead,” he continued.

“Yeah, I read the tweets! You don’t think they have X in hell? That’s all they have in hell!

Hannah Berner’s Controversial Joke ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Hannah Berner is stirring up controversy after joking about Blake Lively in her new Netflix comedy special, ‘Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year,’ released on Friday.

The 33-year-old former Summer House star quipped, “The word c–t was trending this year. I don’t think Blake Lively was that bad,” referencing a series of past interviews by the actress that resurfaced during her ‘It Ends With Us’ press tour over the summer.

The joke, however, struck a nerve given the timing—just days after Lively filed a legal complaint against ‘It Ends With Us’ director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and attempting to ruin her reputation.

Trending Johnny Depp’s Legal Team Feared His Temper Could Jeopardize Amber Heard’s Court Battle!

Blake Lively Vs. Justin Baldoni: Legal Expert Predicts Actress Will Prevail In Explosive Harassment Lawsuit

View this...

Hannah Berner is setting the record straight that a recently aired joke about Blake Lively was filmed before the It Ends With Us star filed a legal complaint against Justin Baldoni.

The comedian took part in Netflix’s end-of-year comedy special Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year, which was released on the streamer Friday. During her set, she pocked fun at several pop culture headlines throughout the year, including Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s relationship and Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s breakup.

But it was a punchline that referenced Lively that didn’t land well, given her recent accusations against Baldoni. Berner said on stage during the special, “The word ‘cunt’ was trending this year. I don’t think Blake Lively was that bad.”

Berner later took to her Instagram Story to clarify that the special was filmed on Dec. 17, before the news broke. “My joke...

Comedian Hannah Berner clarified on Friday that a joke she made about Blake Lively in a new Netflix special was filmed before the actress’ complaint against Justin Baldoni surfaced.

Berner took part in Netflix’s “Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year” out Friday, where she put together a quick set about some top trending headlines. Among them was Lively and the alleged smear campaign she faced this summer upon the release “It Ends With Us.”

“The word ‘c–t’ was trending this year,” Berner said onstage. “I don’t think Blake Lively was that bad.”

It didn’t take long for the former “Summer House” star to take to her Instagram to set the record straight, writing, “My joke in the Netflix roast was filmed before news of the lawsuit. To be 100 percent clear, I support Blake.”

The Netflix special was filmed at The Bellweather in Los Angeles on Dec.

Hannah Berner is making things clear: She stands by Blake Lively, even if she made a joke about her in a special filmed earlier this month.

In an Instagram Story posted on Friday, Berner shared her support for Lively amid her legal battle with Justin Baldoni, despite joking about the actress during Netflix’s Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year, which premiered Friday.

During Berner’s part of the roast, Berner said on stage: “The word ‘cunt’ was trending this year. I don’t think Blake Lively was that bad.

Hannah Berner takes aim at Blake Lively with a joke in a new Netflix special and it’s poorly-timed following the recent lawsuit she filed against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.

The 33-year-old comedian and former Summer House star appears in the new Netflix comedy special Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year, which was likely taped months ago.

Hannah‘s joke just goes to show how Blake‘s reputation was suffering in the months surrounding the release of It Ends With Us. She has since accused Justin and his team of enacting a smear campaign against her.

So, what did Hannah say in the special?

Keep reading to find out more…

“The word c–t was trending this year. I don’t think Blake Lively was that bad,” Hannah said.

She later took to Instagram Stories to clarify the joke.

“My joke in the Netflix roast was...

Jeff Ross isn’t done fanning the flames.

Following his memorable appearance helming The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady, Ross will again assume the title of roastmaster general at Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year.

Set to stream globally on Dec. 27, the special will be a night of big laughs and big surprises as Ross and a team of comedians bid good riddance to 2024 the only way they know how — by throwing shade at the biggest moments of the past 12 months. Tim Dillon, Hannah Berner, John Stamos, Sam Morril, Mark Normand, and Ms. Pat are among the confirmed guests.

The special was recorded at The Bellwether in Los Angeles on Dec. 17, directed by Joe DeMaio. The executive producers areIan Orefice and Michael Antinoro for EverWonder Studio, Bryan Zuriff for Bz Entertainment, Jeff Ross, Canopy Media Partner’s Amy Zvi, and Michael Gibbons.

Come for...