By Lauren Cali 

April 20, 2022 

WarnerMedia & Discovery Merger 

Mega studios Warner Bros. and Discovery finalized their $43 billion merger . The new company is named Warner Bros. Discovery. After the confirmation of the merger, Wall Street reacted positively. Shares were almost up 6% at the end of trading - Variety reports . 

May 18 will mark the company's first Upfront event. The Upfront event provides the opportunity for the company to showcase the now-combined portfolio of content, brands, franchises and talent- Deadline reports .

Reflections by Black Women in Hollywood 

While fair representation of Black women in Hollywood, broadcast news and documentary filmmaking still fall short of the dream, outstanding examples of Black excellence are easy to find. 

Robin Roberts is a beloved host on Good Morning America , and has been for 20 years. Throughout her 20 years, she’s survived breast cancer, and myelodysplastic syndrome, all while maintaining her role on-air and authoring three books. In a recent interview , Robin said, “I’m not a preacher. I’m not a teacher. I’m a messenger. That’s how I look at it. I’m a walking, breathing symbol of ‘This, too, shall pass,’ and I think that’s what motivates people. I’m glad that for whatever reason, people draw inspiration from that.”

Oprah Winfrey began her illustrious on-air career at a local news station in Baltimore. Her charismatic, warm presence, along with an astute gift for storytelling lead to her iconic show - The Oprah Winfrey Show , which she produced and hosted for 25 years. After a steady stream of projects at her broadcast channel, OWN, she’s currently producing a documentary and campaign for the Smithsonian channel, The Color of Care . You can learn more about the campaign, as well as watch the trailer here .  

Viola Davis, along with Michelle Pfeiffer and Gillian Anderson, are starring in The First Lady on Showtime.

Davis’ role as Michelle Obama, America’s first Black first lady, takes a personal look into Obama's time in the White House. Davis’ transformation for the role required extensive research and creative license in order to dramatize Obama’s experience. Davis is a producer on the show, and reflecting on her time during the pandemic she said, “I’m ready to do something that wakes me up, good or bad. And sometimes you need that to rediscover your passion for the work again.”

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Lauren Cali writes the weekly entertainment industry news blog for Productions.com. She’s a Social Media Specialist and a graduate of Elmhurst College.