Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz offers encouraging words amid reports of a wave of layoffs that has sparked concern across the film world and launched a #SaveTCM social media campaign.
Saturday, Star Wars icon Mark Hamill tweeted his support for the channel, as one of many movie stars worrying about the fate of TCM, calling it “vital” and saying he “can’t imagine a world without my favorite station of all time”.
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Mankiewicz replied in a tweet, thanking Hamill for his support and adding, “You don’t have to imagine it. We’re not going anywhere.
On Tuesday, parent company Warner Bros. Discovery announced the firing of a number of senior TCM executives, including longtime chief executive Pola Changnon, who had worked there for more than 25 years. (The channel’s staff will drop from about 90 to about 20, reports The Wrap.) Fans of the network, which preserves and celebrates classic movies with commercial-free airings and thoughtful host intros, have rallied to offer their support, with #SaveTCM becoming a trending topic on social media.
Top directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson have even personally weighed in on the controversy, meeting with the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav, to voice their concerns. “Turner Classic Movies has always been more than just a channel. It truly is a valuable cinema resource, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the filmmakers said in a joint statement. time talking to David, separately and together, and it’s clear that TCM and classic cinema are very important to him. Our main goal is to ensure that TCM’s programming is intact and protected.”
They added, “We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we have had so far, and are committed to working together to ensure the continued existence of this cultural touchstone that we all cherish.”
Karger addressed the upheaval on Twitter last week.
“A note to our avid TCM viewers: It’s been a tough week to say the least, and I’m beyond heartbroken that we’re losing so many brilliant colleagues who are also dear friends.” , said host Dave Karger. tells fans on Twitter Friday. “I’ve seen all of your support online and it means so much to all of us. My goal (and I know the other hosts agree) is to try to be a stabilizing and familiar presence in the months to come. There will be bumps, but we will all be on the road together.
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