1. EMMYS TO GO HOSTLESS: The Primetime Emmys won’t have a host this year. The move, which Fox C.E.O. Charlie Collier announced at the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Wednesday, follows the Oscars’ decision to go hostless after Kevin Hart dropped out over past homophobic jokes. Entertainment Weekly: “Oscars’ ratings actually improved without a host (by roughly 12 percent), and received a fair degree of critical acclaim. One critic asked Collier if the Academy Awards’ ratings uptick inspired Fox to dump the Emmys’ host too. ‘Obviously, that was a piece of information and it did do very well but I think it’s a pretty unique year for some of America’s favorite shows and it was the right thing to do,’ he said.” 2. TRUMP TO ATTEND TWO HAMPTONS FUND-RAISERS—INCLUDING ONE HOSTED BY SOULCYCLE OWNER: President Trump is attending two fund-raisers in the Hamptons, where tickets will cost upward of $250,000. One event will take place at the home of New York real estate developer Stephen Ross, who owns the Miami Dolphins and SoulCycle. The other event will take place at a 17,000-square-foot mansion in Bridgehampton, owned by real estate developer Joe Farrell. The events will raise money for Trump’s 2020 campaign and the Republican National Committee. Washington Post: “Trump has made collecting six-figure checks a centerpiece of his reelection fund-raising effort. The day after his official reelection campaign launch in June, Trump appeared at a high-dollar fund-raiser luncheon at the Trump National Doral hotel in Florida that officials said raised about $6 million. … Several senior members of the administration, party, and campaign are also scheduled to appear, as are some Trump family members, according to the invites.” 3. ENDEAVOR GROUP DELAYS I.P.O. UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER: Endeavor Group Holdings will postpone its initial public offering until September, at the earliest, as it works to finalize an acquisition. The company, which owns Miss Universe and Ultimate Fighting Championship, is closing on a purchase of hospitality and live-events company On Location Experiences for as much as $700 million. The Wall Street Journal: “Also behind the delay, the people said: Endeavor wants to be able to tout its second-quarter results and renegotiated contracts for soccer events, which it hopes will help achieve a higher public valuation. The company is likely to seek a valuation between $7 billion to $8 billion and raise in excess of $500 million in its I.P.O., the people said, though such targets can always change.” |