TV in 3: Dana’s Dilemma, Daytime Goes Dark, and ‘The Floor’ SCOOP

The Walden rumor mill reveals how options are dwindling for other top execs

RISING, FALLING, WINNING From left: Changes are in store for Dana Walden, Sherri Shepherd and Rob Lowe. (The Ankler illustration; image credits below)

I laid out 5 burning Qs about Dana Walden’s plans in her new role, spoke to John Wells about The Pitt and the upcoming WGA talks and interviewed Universal book guru Jordan Moblo about the IP wars. I’m lesley.goldberg@theankler.com. As a paid subscriber to Series Business, you’ll receive dispatches from me, Elaine Low and Manori Ravindran on the TV business. This is a standalone subscription separate from The Ankler. For access to Series Business and everything The Ankler publishes, including The Wakeup and Richard Rushfield, subscribe here.

Welcome back to TV in 3, my weekly take on the industry’s latest. Today, I’m looking at the “wild theories” that swirled around Dana Walden amid her bake-off with Josh D’Amaro to become Disney’s next CEO — and how they illustrate a larger problem for senior industry executives. I’m also digging into the reasoning behind the rapidly shrinking roster of syndicated daytime talk shows; and I wrap up the week on a high note with a fun SCOOP about the future of one of my new favorite shows. Paid subscribers, read on!