Monthly Archives: December 2023

Anatomy

Station 19 Ending With Season 7 As ABC Brings Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff To A Close – Screen Rant

Summary

Station 19 season 7 will be its last, as the Greys Anatomy spinoff will conclude its run on ABC. Premiering in March 2018, from creator Stacy McKee, with Grey's executive producer Krista Vernoff from season 3 to season 6, the story focuses on the workers of the Seattle Fire Station 19. The show's large ensemble cast has included Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jason George, Grey Damon, Barrett Doss, Alberto Frezza, Jay Hayden, Okieriete Onaodowan, Danielle Savre, Miguel Sandoval, Boris Kodjoe, Stefania Spampinato, Carlos Miranda, Josh Randall, Merle Dandridge, and Pat Healy.

Deadline now confirms that Station 19 season 7 (premiering March 14) will be the last. Given that the first responder drama is still early in its production, the producers will have the chance to craft a proper ending. Consisting of 10 episodes, due to the scheduling fallout from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the spinoff will end having reached its milestone 100th episode. Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, reacted to Station 19 ending in a statement:

For seven seasons, Station 19 has been a highlight of the ABC lineup thanks to Shonda and Betsys incredible vision, beloved characters and compelling storytelling. With [showrunners] Zoanne [Clark] and Peter [Paige] at the helm of the upcoming farewell season, we have so much to look forward to, most notably the celebration of the shows milestone 100th episode.

The numbers for the spinoff have remained strong even after six seasons. Despite a decline from previous seasons in terms of total viewership, Station 19 season 6 still came in as ABC's second top-rated drama in the key 18-49 demographic, bested only by Grey's Anatomy. Although there is no official reason given for why the show is ending with season 7, it fits an overall trend of broadcast networks pulling back on long-running programs and what has been described by reporters and analysts as a "contraction" in the number of scripted series.

Blue Bloods, Young Sheldon, and Bob Hearts Abishola are among the long-running broadcast shows that are also ending after their upcoming seasons. Although the reasons for each of these shows vary, Young Sheldon reportedly a story-driven ending, whereas Blue Bloods was very much about high costs, long-running comedies and dramas tend to cost more as they go along due to factors such as pay increases for the cast and crew. In a time of contraction and budget consciousness across the television landscape, those money considerations are likely to play a bigger role in terms of which shows are renewed.

For the time being, the tone of Station 19 ending is one of celebrating its milestone 100 episodes. When the spinoff does return and producers give their thoughts in interviews, more may be revealed about why the successful drama is ending. At least, for those who've enjoyed the show, the farewell isn't abrupt, and the writers have some space to craft a proper send-off.

Source: Deadline

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Station 19 Ending With Season 7 As ABC Brings Grey's Anatomy Spinoff To A Close - Screen Rant

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy: Everything You Need to Know Before Season 20 – CBR – Comic Book Resources

Summary

When Grey's Anatomy began airing as a mid-season pickup in March 2005, no one could have predicted how quickly the show would rise to national and international acclaim. Audiences immediately enjoyed watching the five main interns navigate their first year in medicine, and the show became known for its dramatic storylines, incredible soundtrack, and big speeches. With a cast of mostly unknown actors, Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd was the initial draw for many viewers, but it was his relationship with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and the dynamic friendships (and rivalries!) that kept people coming back.

With the end of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Grey's Anatomy began filming its 20th season in November 2023, with a premiere date set for March 2024. Though expected to be considerably shorter than previous seasons, the upcoming season will be the show's first full season without the title character, given Pompeo's departure at the end of Season 19. Other characters, both regular and recurring, will return to the medical drama and its spin-off show, Station 19, which is now in its 7th season. Now the longest-running scripted primetime television medical drama ever and the second longest-running scripted primetime drama led by a woman, Season 20 of Grey's Anatomy is destined to be one for the history books.

When Season 1, Episode 1, "A Hard Day's Night," begins, Meredith Grey is beginning her surgical internship at the hospital where her mother, world-renowned surgeon Ellis Grey, once worked. Derek Shepherd, Meredith's one-night stand from the previous night, also happens to work at the hospital as an attending physician, and he and Meredith must try to figure out whether they're in a relationship while she is also trying to learn from her surgical resident, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), and navigate a relationship with Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.), the man with whom her mother once had an affair. As Meredith befriends the other interns, audiences begin to see just how tumultuous life can be, both in general and specifically while training to be a surgeon. These characters and their friendships and romantic relationships really guide the show, and fans often refer to the original five interns as M.A.G.I.C. -- Meredith Grey, Alex Karev (Justin Chambers), George O'Malley (T.R. Knight), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh).

The surgical interns at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital (initially called Seattle Grace) are central to the success of Grey's Anatomy. M.A.G.I.C. became residents in Season 4, which is when viewers met new interns like Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), Meredith's half-sister on her father's side, and Sadie Harris (Melissa George), Meredith's old friend from college. The Season 4 and 5 interns were responsible for the "Intern Cabal," which began in Season 5, Episode 7, "Rise Up," when several interns began performing procedures on themselves. The secret procedures nearly ended in tragedy in Season 5, Episode 9, "In the Midnight Hour," when the interns decide to perform a "routine" appendectomy on Sadie, which turns out to be not so routine. Interns that came later include Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington), who arrived in Season 9, Episode 1, "Going, Going, Gone," and remains on the show as an OB/GYN resident, as well as Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti), who arrived in Season 11, Episode 23, "Time Stops," dated Meredith throughout Season 15, and died in Season 17, Episode 7, "Helplessly Hoping," after being stabbed. In Season 14, Episode 1, "Break Down the House," viewers met Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) and Taryn Helm (Jaicy Elliot), who were both displaced when the residency program was shut down at the end of Season 18 but became co-chief residents in Season 19, Episode 18, "Ready to Run."

Season 19, Episode 1, "Everything Has Changed," brought five new interns to the show, who some fans see as the second iteration of M.A.G.I.C., though this time it's spelled M.A.G.Y.K. Jules Millin (Adelaide Kane) is a little bossy, is the medical proxy for her 80-year-old landlord, and slept with Dr. Atticus "Link" Lincoln (Chris Carmack) before starting the program, though she didn't know he was an attending. Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) seems like a bit of a screw-up, deals with ADHD, and is eventually revealed to be the nephew of Derek Shepherd. Adams falls for fellow intern Simone Griffith (Alexis Floyd), who ends up at Grey-Sloan, the hospital where her mother died giving birth to her after her previous program booted her for having a breakdown while speaking out against the program's racism and sexism. Mika Yasuda (Midori Frances) starts the season living in a van, often speaks when she shouldn't, and is considered the most underrated intern. The final member of M.A.G.Y.K. is Benson "Blue" Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.), who is brilliant, competitive, and ends up falling for Millin, even though both of them try to prevent a relationship from forming. This new group of interns has everything the show needs to have great storylines in Season 20.

From its very first season, Grey's Anatomy has been known for its big dramatic moments and its love stories. The love story between Meredith and Derek starts in the very first episode, and though it is thwarted for a time by the appearance of Derek's estranged wife, Addison Forbes Montgomery-Shepherd (Kate Walsh) in Season 1, Episode 9, "Who's Zoomin' Who?," their relationship becomes the main thread of the show until Derek's untimely death in Season 11, Episode 21, "How to Save a Life." Their relationship continues to be a central theme in the remaining seasons as Meredith continues their Alzheimer's work, builds a relationship with Derek's sister Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), and raises their three children -- Zola, whom they adopted in Season 8, Episode 10, "Suddenly," Bailey, who was born in Season 9, Episode 24, "Perfect Storm," and Ellis, who was born in Season 11, Episodes 22 and 23, "She's Leaving Home." Meredith dates a few men after Derek's death, including Nathan Riggs (Martin Henderson), who is the estranged brother-in-law of Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), as well as Andrew DeLuca, and Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman), who becomes the director of the resident program in Season 19 and solidifies his relationship with Meredith in the Season 19 finale, Episode 20, "Happily Ever After?."

Beyond Meredith and Derek, how people love and connect with one another plays a major role in Grey's Anatomy. Characters on the show have fallen in love with other doctors, their students (or teachers), and even, in a few bizarre and unethical instances, their patients. The show plays with the boundaries of relationships in a way that challenges audiences to consider what might or might not be acceptable. Grey's Anatomy also looks at the relationships between friends and family members in a way that has impacted the zeitgeist. Meredith and Cristina refer to each other as their "person," which many fans have picked up for their closest friends, and Meredith continues to refer to Amelia as her "sister," even long after Derek has died, a habit that has shown audiences that family is as much chosen as it is blood. No matter which group of doctors is in their internship, it's clear that becoming a family and learning to love each other as much as they learn to work together is something the show wants to reinforce time and again.

As Grey's Anatomy carefully examines love and relationships, so does it examine death and grief. There are multiple incidents that have occurred throughout the 19 seasons that have taken patients, colleagues, and loved ones away from Meredith and the rest of the doctors at Grey-Sloan Memorial. While many of these moments have small ripples, the event with one of the largest impacts occurs in Season 8, Episode 23, "Migration," and Episode 24, "Flight," when Meredith, Derek, Cristina, Lexie, Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), and Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) are in a plane crash. Lexie's lower abdomen and legs are crushed under the plane, and she dies before they're found. Derek breaks his hand, Arizona gravely injures her leg, and Mark succumbs to his internal injuries after their return to Seattle. When the surviving doctors sue the hospital for putting them on the plane, their financial payout bankrupts Seattle Grace-Mercy West. They pool their money to buy the hospital with the help of the Harper Avery Foundation, putting Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams), already a doctor at the hospital, on the board. In Season 9, Episode 17, "Transplant Wasteland," Jackson suggests renaming the hospital "Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital" in honor of Lexie and Mark.

Season 10, Episode 24, "Fear (Of the Unknown)," is a major turning point for Grey's Anatomy when Sandra Oh's Cristina Yang departs and the audience meets the woman Cristina chose to be the new head of cardio, Dr. Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary). Pierce reveals that her birth mother is Ellis Grey, making her Meredith's half-sister, and in Season 11, Episode 3, "Got to Be Real," Richard Webber admits that he is her father. Season 11, Episode 21, "How to Save a Life," changes everything when Derek dies after being hit by a semi-truck. The doctors at the hospital he is at do not perform a head CT in time, leaving Derek brain-dead, a mistake that comes back up several times, including when one of the doctors involved becomes a new resident at Grey-Sloan Memorial and in Season 16, Episode 8, "My Shot," when Meredith is on trial to determine the fate of her medical license after committing insurance fraud. When she discovers that one of the doctors on the panel is the surgeon who did not get a head CT for Derek, she confronts him about it, and he has a seizure. The panel wants to postpone the trial, but Alex brings in dozens of patients who were helped by Meredith to give statements, and she is allowed to keep her medical license and her job.

Season 17 sees Grey-Sloan Memorial dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and has several episodes where Meredith, who caught the virus, has visions that she is on a beach speaking to departed loved ones like Derek, George, Mark, and Lexie. Meredith recovered from COVID-19 by the end of the season, but the doctors of Grey-Sloan Memorial lost numerous patients and even some people close to them to the virus. In Season 18, Meredith and Amelia spend time in Minnesota, working on a Parkinson's project funded by David Hamilton (Peter Gallagher), a former colleague of Meredith's mother, which reunites Meredith with her former colleague Nick Marsh. Though Hamilton wants Meredith to continue her work in Minnesota, she chooses to stay in Seattle, even as the residency program at Grey-Sloan Memorial falls apart. In Season 19, Meredith is the Interim Chief of Surgery and revives the program, bringing in the newest set of interns, though she leaves mid-way through the season, moving her family to Boston so Zola can attend a STEM-focused school for gifted students and so Meredith can focus on conducting research to cure Alzheimer's through the Catherine Fox Foundation.

With Meredith in Boston researching a cure for Alzheimer's, Grey's Anatomy has the opportunity to do some big new things in Season 20. Though the cast has changed a lot over the show's 19 seasons, there are some staple characters still around, including Miranda Bailey and Richard Webber. It's almost as if the show is getting an opportunity to start over, even with cliffhangers from the finale of Season 19. Bailey and Webber, along with their remaining attendings, get to shepherd the new interns through their program just like they did the original five, which provides a valuable structure for the show without feeling prescriptive.

With a new showrunner in Season 20, Grey's Anatomy has set itself up for a whole new world of storytelling. Grey's Anatomy has always been a show that pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable to talk about -- much like ER, the breakout '90s hit that was the longest-running primetime medical drama until Grey's Anatomy eclipsed its record back in season 15 -- and that continued to be true in Season 19 when the show had multiple episodes on how the overturning of Roe vs. Wade was going to impact the medical community. The show even had Meredith award Miranda Bailey the Catherine Fox Award in Season 19's Episode 20, "Happily Ever After?" despite not being nominated for it, for the work she had done "protecting reproductive rights and training the next generation of doctors on how to perform reproductive care." The show should continue this pattern in Season 20, including by bringing back Addison Montgomery, who supported Miranda in her work during Season 19.

Season 19 ended with several cliffhangers, including Meredith's abrupt announcement about new Alzheimer's information that might discredit her late husband's work, Richard relapsing with alcohol after the turbulent flight from Seattle to Boston for the Catherine Fox Award, the coupling up of Lucas and Simone, as well as Link and Jo, and the collapse of Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), who had been under stress all season dealing with issues in her marriage to Owen Hunt, had recently taken on the Chief of Surgery position, and was ignoring a toothache. Season 20 will likely begin with the effects of Teddy's collapse as, despite the cliffhanger, Deadline revealed just ahead of the finale that Raver, along with several other series regulars, would be back for Season 20. The new season, a major milestone for the show, will have the opportunity to prioritize characters who might have received less of a focus in favor of Meredith Grey, though Pompeo remains an executive producer on the show and may return for an episode or two here and there. Grey's Anatomy's 20th season will likely be about 10 episodes, and the show has already begun production for what is bound to be an unforgettable season.

Grey's Anatomy returns to ABC on March 14, 2024, at 9/8c. It can currently be streamed on Netflix.

Excerpt from:
Grey's Anatomy: Everything You Need to Know Before Season 20 - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Anatomy

European Film Awards: "Anatomy of a Fall" Sweeps! – Blog – The Film Experience

by Cludio Alves

Photo by Sebastian Gabsch | European Film Awards

The European Film Academy loves itself a sweep, and this year did nothing to disprove their inclination. At the same time it keeps winning critics honors stateside, Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall took home four prizes, adding to the trophy it already earned for editing. Sandra Hller even defeated herself since she was also nominated for The Zone of Interest, a first in EFA history. In her speech, the actress asked her audience to imagine peace in these troubled times while her director joked that making the film was a test on her relationship with partner and co-screenwriter Arthur Harari. The ceremony took place in Berlin this year, presided by Agnieszka Holland and host Britta Steffenhagen.

Discover the complete list of honorees after the jump

EUROPEAN FILMANATOMY OF A FALL, Justine Triet, Marie-Ange Luciani & David Thion

EUROPEAN DIRECTORJustine Triet, ANATOMY OF A FALL

EUROPEAN ACTRESSSandra Hller, ANATOMY OF A FALL

EUROPEAN ACTORMads Mikkelsen, THE PROMISED LAND

EUROPEAN SCREENWRITERJustine Triet & Arthur Harari, ANATOMY OF A FALL

EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATUREROBOT DREAMS, Pablo Berger

EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARYSMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD, Anna Hints

EUROPEAN SHORT FILMHARDLY WORKING, Susanna Flock, Robin Klengel, Leonhard Mllner & Michael Stumpf

EUROPEAN DISCOVERY PRIX FIPRESCIHOW TO HAVE SEX, Molly Manning Walker

EUROPEAN YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARDSCRAPPER, Charlotte Regan

EFA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDVanessa Redgrave

HONORARY AWARD OF THE ACADEMY PRESIDENT AND BOARDBla Tarr

EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMAIsabel Coixet

EURIMAGES CO-PRODUCTION AWARDUljana Kim

EUROPEAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD PRIX4CLIMATEGler Sabanc

You can find the winner in the Excellence Awards here. They're the so-called "below the line" categories. Some victors include Anatomy of a Fall, The Promised Land, and The Zone of Interest. The full list of nominations can be found here.

Are you happy with this EFA sweep, or were you hoping to see more films win these prizes? Who gets your vote?

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European Film Awards: "Anatomy of a Fall" Sweeps! - Blog - The Film Experience

Anatomy

Ellen Pompeo Returning to Grey’s Anatomy Season 20: Is She Coming Back For Good? | Soaps.com – Soaps.com

After her emotional exit last season, Meredith Grey is officially returning to our screens very soon! When does Ellen Pompeo return for Greys Anatomy Season 20? Heres what episodes shell appear in this upcoming season.

Greys Anatomy is ABCs long-running medical drama that focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents and attendings at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the show debuted in 2005 and earned over 38 Primetime Emmy nominations after almost two decades. Ellen Pompeo played Dr. Meredith Grey, the surgical intern turned former chief of surgery, from the shows inception until her exit in 2023.

After 17 years as a series regular,Deadline confirmed in August 2022 that Pompeo had a reduced role in the medical drama for Season 19 and would only appear in eight episodes. I am eternally grateful and humbled by the love and support you have all shown me, Meredith GREY and the show for 19 seasons! Pompeo penned on Instagram in November 2022. Through it all.none of it would have been possible without the best fans in the world.

Pompeo left Greys to star in the upcoming Hulu series titled The Orphan. The working title is The Orphan. Thats going to be a very interesting role to play. I havent played another character in 18 years. Thats crazy crazy town, crazy town, Pompeo told her former Greys co-star Katherine Heigl (aka Izzy Stevens who left in Season 6) in their Variety Actors on Actors interview.

The actress also mentioned to Heigl that she would try to make some appearances in Greys Anatomy in Season 20. I will be making some appearances hopefully next year, if I can find some time, Pompeo said before the actors strike. Its not a complete goodbye. And I think weve got an interesting story to tell, she said before the actors strike back in June 2023.

So, when does Ellen Pompeo return forGreys Anatomy Season 20? We have the answer below.

When does Ellen Pompeo return for Greys Anatomy Season 20? Her co-star Debbie Allen, who plays Catherine Fox, revealed in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight that well see Meredith at least two times in Season 20, including in the season premiere.

Shes in the first episode and shes in the one Im gonna direct, so she wont be too far, Fox said. We have to let her go and do some other things shes still our queen. Shes still our number one on the call sheet.

We last saw Meredith in theGreys Anatomy Season 19 finale, which aired on Thursday, May 18, 2023. In the two-part finale, Meredith is deep in the trenches trying to find a cure for Alzheimers. Pompeos character also presented the coveted Catherine Fox Award to Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and patched things up with her boyfriend Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman).

Season 20 was initially supposed to air this fall, but due to the actors and writers strikes, ABC pushed all of its scripted content to 2024. After the SAG-AFTRA strike ended, Deadlinereported that the medical drama planned to produce 10 episodes for Season 20, half the episodes Season 19 had.

Greys Anatomys last two original cast members, James Pickens Jr. and Chandra Wilson, as well as Kim Raver, Kevin McKidd, Camilla Luddington, and Caterina Scorsone, are all slated to return for Season 20. At the time, Deadline couldnt confirm negotiations for the new intern class but said that they are all expected to return, including Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, Alexis Floyd, Niko Terho, and Midori Francis.

Greys Anatomy Season 20 will premiere on March 14, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. on ABC.

Check out thereal-life partners of your favoriteGreys Anatomystars in the gallery below:

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Ellen Pompeo Returning to Grey's Anatomy Season 20: Is She Coming Back For Good? | Soaps.com - Soaps.com

Anatomy

All Greys Anatomy Prior Seasons to Stream on Hulu and Disney+ Combined App – ComingSoon.net

The merged Hulu and Disney+ app, which will launch in March 2024, will bring all previous seasons of the beloved medical drama Greys Anatomy to its library.

According to Deadline, as part of a new licensing deal between Disney Entertainment and Netflix, Hulu and Netflix will share the U.S. streaming rights to all 19 seasons of the longest-running medical drama. The upcoming 20th season, scheduled to premiere in 2024, will air on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu.

The debut of Greys Anatomys previous seasons coincides with the official launch of Hulu on Disney+. Moreover, some Disney-owned titles will be coming to Netflix next year as part of a short-term domestic agreement, allowing Netflix to stream 14 Disney-owned titles on a non-exclusive basis.

The titles include The Wonder Years, This is Us, My Wife & Kids, ESPN 30 for 30, The Resident, White Collar, Reba, Archer, How I Met Your Mother, Lost, Prison Break, The Hughleys, Bernie Mac, and Home Improvement.

Created by Shonda Rhimes, Greys Anatomy revolves around aspiring surgeon Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) as she navigates professional and personal life and being the daughter of one of the best surgeons, Dr. Ellis Grey along with her fellow surgeons at Seattle Grace Hospital.

Since its debut on ABC in 2005, Greys Anatomy has bagged multiple awards and nominations, including a Golden Globe, Peoples Choice, Producers Guild of America, Satellite, Screen Actors Guild, and Teen Choice, to name a few.

Although Pompeo appeared in all 19 seasons of Greys Anatomy as a main cast member, she will only make a guest appearance in the upcoming 20th season. The popular series also starred Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, T. R. Knight, and Patrick Dempsey, among others.

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All Greys Anatomy Prior Seasons to Stream on Hulu and Disney+ Combined App - ComingSoon.net

Anatomy

Denzel Washington Addresses Fight On ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Set – V.O – messenger-inquirer

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Denzel Washington Addresses Fight On 'Grey's Anatomy' Set - V.O - messenger-inquirer

Anatomy

Cigna, Humana and the Anatomy of (the Coverage of) a Deal – HealthLeaders Media

Update 12/10/23: HumanaDisbandsExecutive Committee, Cigna Disbands Deal

In quantum physics, which governs the smallest bodies, the act of observing an electron changes it. Could this also be true of the Cigna-Humana, two of the healthcare universes largest bodies? Will the act oflooking at the deal by media watchers, financial watchers, and anti-trust watchers change the deal?

Itwould appearyes.

Last Thursday, news broke that Humana, Inc.'s boarded amended its bylaws to remove the requirement for an executive committee, which it then disbanded. But in breaking the potential Cigna-Humana merger on Nov. 29, the WSJ was careful to add assuming the talks dont fall apart. It appears now they have. Cigna has called off the deal due to stockholder pushback and disagreement over financial terms in favor of a now-planned stock buyback and smaller acquisition targets.

Twenty-three daysplus eight years, give or take. Thats how long it took the headlines to change from Cigna explores shedding Medicare Advantage (MA) business to Cigna, Humana in Talks for Blockbuster Merger.

Twenty-three days because news like this travels fast. Eight years because "the current management [of Cigna] has wanted to own HUM for some time (Yahoo! Finance) since 2015, when the two agreed to a merger that the DOJ would ultimately block.

Will that happen again? Answer cloudy, ask again later. But is it worth trying? Apparently yes and for one significant reason: competing with the vertical size and strength of the industrys largest player. [T]he State of U.S. health insurance is UnitedHealthcareall other insurance companies are just trying to keep up with them (Healthcare Huddle).

Heres what we know so far, and what we dont, about how the merger-watching will evolve.

On Nov. 6, a Reuters exclusive announces that Cigna may be looking to sell its 600,000-member Medicare Advantage book of business. Bloomberg now reports that Health Care Service Corporation an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is eyeing Cignas MA portfolio.

The reality is Cigna has not captured MA market share and at desired margins like its competitors. Sometimes you have to break something to fix it. Or make it stronger.

Just a week later, STAT asks if a bigger move is being planned, citing a Stephens healthcare stock analysis: We would see this action being one component of a potential pursuit of [Humana] as acquisition target, with the divestiture being a proactive move to reduce antitrust risk.

While the STAT piece was one of the first to ask the question, it took another outlet to answer it . . .

On Nov. 29, The Wall Street Journal announces that a cash-and-stock deal between [the] health-insurance giants could be struck by year-end.

If a deal happens and the merger is approved, the entities will gain from what theyve given. Cigna will have traded some 600,000 MA members for Humanas 5 million. Likewise, Humanas loss of 700,000 commercial lives would be more than offset by Cignas 16 million.

In its pro-merger analysis, Yahoo! Finance quotes Sachin Jain, CEO of SCAN Health Group and Plan, on this trade-off wisdom noting that while it might seem counterintuitive to dump the Medicare business, these are very smart ppl running these companies. [Cigna CEO David]Cordani is a super strategic leader.

Which begs the question . . .

If Cigna and Humana strike a deal, Cigna's larger market cap and revenue ($83B, $181B) compared to Humanas ($62, $93B) would make the latter the likely target. Executive leadership may move in the same direction. Bruce Broussard, Humanas CEO since 2013, is stepping down in later 2024 as part of a multi-year succession plan that reads now like Merger 2.0 . David Cordani has been Cignas President and CEO since 2009.

Since the WSJ story, coverage has concluded that the deal would be:

But its the existing overlap of the two companies PBMs that is being raised most, with STAT noting: Given how Lina Khans Federal Trade Commission already is scrutinizing PBM market power, it seems like that kind of deal would be an insta-block.

Nearly a month since this assessment, not everyone agrees...

In addition to other outlets, HealthLeaders has also covered the merger, the characterization of which has ranged from making sense to making "some sense" (Forbes) to being a really bad idea for Humana (Jim Cramer, CNBC).

The markets observation of a possible deal caused share prices to drop 8% for Cigna, roughly 5.5% the day the WSJ story appeared. After rebounding, Cigna stock dropped another 2% with Humana remaining flat as of Dec. 6.

Market temperature in turn impacts the leadership question. In its follow-up coverage noting the two companies' "limited cost and revenue strategies," Reuters notes: "The limited synergies will also add pressure on Cigna CEO David Cordani to deliver value by running Humana better than its current management."

And what about the government? Optics matter here too. Quoting one analyst on Cigna's proactive MA sale, Reuters adds: "It would be smart to do it even before announcing the deal" (Andre Barlow of Doyle, Barlow and Mazard PLLC).

On the will-it, won't-it be approved question, the WSJ's watchful David Wainer says it best: "A Cigna-Humana merger will be a headache for everyone involved and great business for the lawyers on both sides. But at the end of the day, it is too compelling for either side not to try" (Wall Street Journal).

Laura Beerman is a contributing writer for HealthLeaders.

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Cigna, Humana and the Anatomy of (the Coverage of) a Deal - HealthLeaders Media

Anatomy

Anatomy of a Fall triumphs at the European Film Awards – Cineuropa

11/12/2023 - The film by Justine Triet has dominated proceedings with six wins; other winners include The Promised Land, How to Have Sex, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood and Robot Dreams

Anatomy of a Fall producer David Thion, director Justine Triet and producer Marie-Ange Luciani with their awards ( European Film Academy)

Keeping up the virtually unbroken tradition established in 2016 with the sweeping triumph of Toni Erdmann[+see also: filmreview trailer Q&A: Maren Ade filmprofile], the 36th edition of the European Film Awards, held on 9 December in Berlin, once again witnessed one film stealing the limelight and emerging as the undisputed victor of the night. Interestingly enough, it was another title starring Sandra Hller that dominated the ceremony on this occasion. Anatomy of a Fall[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Justine Triet filmprofile], the latest Palme d'Or winner by French filmmaker Justine Triet, scooped all of the awards for which it was nominated: European Film, Director, Screenwriter (for Triet and her co-writer Arthur Harari) and Actress (in recognition of Hllers captivating lead performance). In addition to the previously announced Excellence Award for European Editing (see the news) and the European University Film Award, Triet's gripping courtroom drama walked away with a total of six statuettes. This victory also marks the third time in the awards' history that a movie directed by a woman has received the top prize, following the triumphs of Maren Ade in 2016 and Jasmila bani in 2020.

In an unexpected snub, the two films that led the nominations this year, Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (winner of the Cannes Grand Jury Prize) and Aki Kaurismki's Fallen Leaves[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (recipient of the Cannes Jury Prize), were left empty-handed in the main categories. While Glazers harrowing portrait of the life of a Nazi official and his family next to the Auschwitz concentration camp received one of the Excellence Awards for European Sound (thanks to the work of Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers), it ultimately went home without cashing in on any of the five major awards that it had been nominated for. Similarly, Kaurismki's tender romance was completely overlooked in the main categories, along with the migration dramas Green Border[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] and Me Captain[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile], directed by Agnieszka Holland and Matteo Garrone, respectively, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to great acclaim but failed to secure any accolades at the ceremony.

When collecting the coveted Award for European Film, Justine Triet took the opportunity to acknowledge the precious people who are working with me in the shadows, inviting casting director Cynthia Arra and editor Laurent Snchal (recipient of the Excellence Award for European Editing) to join her on stage. She then handed over the microphone to her producer, David Thion, who seized the moment to raise awareness of the impending vote in the European Parliament regarding the proposal to ban geo-blocking technology in Europe. If things change, there is a major threat to cultural diversity in Europe. It could pose a real danger for European sales agents, distributors and producers. [] They are crucial to preserving the way we make films and maintain cultural diversity in Europe, claimed Thion.

The European Film Awards returned to a traditional in-person format in Berlin for the first time since 2019, welcoming over 1,000 international guests. Live-streamed across Europe, the ceremony was hosted by German journalist and actress Britta Steffenhagen, who maintained a light-hearted and humorous tone throughout the gala. However, the event was not without some touching moments and offered a space for reflection on the current state of the world and the arts.

As mentioned above, one of the evening's most celebrated figures was German actress Sandra Hller, who was nominated for not one, but two remarkable performances in The Zone of Interest and Anatomy of a Fall, with the latter earning her Best European Actress. Acting does not happen somewhere in space; it is constantly informed by what is happening in the world at that moment. Yet I'm aware that our thoughts can and will shape the world. [] I would love to be silent with you for a few moments and kindly ask you to strongly, vividly, imagine peace, Hller requested of the audience, who joined her for a minutes silence. Rounding off the acting categories, Danish star Mads Mikkelsen remotely accepted the Best European Actor Award for his captivating turn in the period drama The Promised Land[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] by Nikolaj Arcel, which also received the technical gongs for European Cinematography and Costume Design.

In addition to the Excellence Awards for the different filmmaking crafts, which were revealed a few weeks ago, the other laureates of the 36th European Film Awards included How to Have Sex[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Molly Manning Walker filmprofile], the directorial debut by British helmer Molly Manning Walker (winner of Un Certain Regard at Cannes this year), which received the European Discovery Prix FIPRESCI, and the Sundance sensation and 2024 LUX Audience Award finalist Smoke Sauna Sisterhood[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Anna Hints filmprofile] by Anna Hints, who got the audience chanting after claiming the Award for Best European Documentary. Scrapper[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] by the UKs Charlotte Regan earned the European Young Audience Award, while Robot Dreams[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] by Spanish director Pablo Berger was recognised as Best European Animated Feature Film. Finally, Hardly Working by the Austrian collective Total Refusal emerged as the Best European Short Film of the year. As in previous editions, some of these categories were introduced during the ceremony via a series of clips featuring local groups of young people discussing the nominated films.

As previously announced, the European Achievement in World Cinema Award was presented to Spanish director Isabel Coixet. In her acceptance speech, the Barcelona-born filmmaker, boasting a sizeable filmography that includes feature films, series and documentaries produced and shot all over the globe (The Secret Life of Words[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Isabel Coixet filmprofile], Map of the Sounds of Tokyo[+see also: trailer filmprofile], Endless Night[+see also: filmreview trailer makingof interview: Isabel Coixet filmprofile], The Bookshop[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile]), stated: I have made films all around the world because very early in my career, I learned that behind a camera there are no borders, there are no passports, there are no flags and there are no limits. I wish the world could be like this. Coixet's latest work, Un amor[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Isabel Coixet filmprofile], premiered at the San Sebastin Film Festival and stars Laia Costa (known for her role in Victoria[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Sebastian Schipper filmprofile]), who had the honour of presenting her with the award at the gala.

Hungarian master Bla Tarr got a standing ovation from the audience as he accepted the Honorary Award of the Academy President and Board. The radical auteur behind masterpieces such as Werckmeister Harmonies, Stntang and The Turin Horse[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Bla Tarr filmprofile] took a moment to address the newer generation of aspiring filmmakers: They have to find their own language; they have to be themselves; they have to fuck up the film industry But the most important thing is that they have to be free. All of us have to be free. Lastly, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon British actress Vanessa Redgrave. While she was unable to attend the ceremony in person, her presence was felt through a video recorded at her home. In a touching moment, her daughter Joely Richardson handed her the statuette, and both appeared visibly moved. The acknowledgement of Redgrave's distinguished career, which takes in iconic performances such as her role in Michelangelo Antonionis Blow Up, served as a well-deserved tribute to her numerous contributions to the world of cinema.

Here is the full list of winners:

European FilmAnatomy of a Fall[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Justine Triet filmprofile] - Justine Triet (France)

European Documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Anna Hints filmprofile] - Anna Hints (Estonia/France/Iceland)

European DirectorJustine Triet - Anatomy of a Fall

European ActressSandra Hller - Anatomy of a Fall

European Actor Mads Mikkelsen - The Promised Land[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (Denmark/Germany/Sweden)

European Screenwriter Justine Triet & Arthur Harari - Anatomy of a Fall

European Discovery Prix FIPRESCI How To Have Sex[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Molly Manning Walker filmprofile] - Molly Manning Walker (UK/Greece/Belgium)

European Animated Feature FilmRobot Dreams[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] - Pablo Berger (Spain/France)

European Short FilmHardly Working - Total Refusal (Susanna Flock, Robin Klengel, Leonhard Mllner, Michael Stumpf) (Austria)

European Young Audience Award Scrapper[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] - Charlotte Regan (UK)

European Cinematography Rasmus Videbk - The Promised Land

European Editing Laurent Snchal - Anatomy of a Fall

European Production Design Emita Frigato - La Chimera[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (Italy/Switzerland/France)

European Costume Design Kicki Ilander - The Promised Land

European Make-up & Hair Ana Lpez-Puigcerver, Beln Lpez-Puigcerver, David Mart, Montse Riberker - Society of the Snow[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: JA Bayona filmprofile] (Spain/USA)

European Original Score Markus Binder - Club Zero[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Jessica Hausner filmprofile] (Austria/UK/Germany/France/Denmark)

European Sound Johnnie Burn & Tarn Willers - The Zone of Interest[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (UK/Poland/USA)

European Visual Effects Flix Bergs, Laura Pedro - Society of the Snow

European University Film AwardAnatomy of a Fall - Justine Triet

Eurimages Co-Production AwardUljana Kim

European Sustainability Award Prix Film4Climate Gler Sabanc

European Achievement in World Cinema Award Isabel Coixet

Honorary Award of the Academy President and Board Bla Tarr

European Lifetime Achievement Award Vanessa Redgrave

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Anatomy of a Fall triumphs at the European Film Awards - Cineuropa