TCM Host Dave Karger Talks Layoffs, Future of Cable Channel: ‘Beyond Heartbroken’

Dan Clarendon
6 Comments
Dave Karger
Presley Ann/Getty Images for TCM

With the future of Turner Classic Movies uncertain amid Warner Bros. Discovery’s restructuring, TCM host Dave Karger says he’s “beyond heartbroken” to lose so many colleagues to layoffs. But he also vowed to be a “stabilizing and familiar presence” amid the upheaval.

“A note to our passionate TCM viewers: It’s been a tough week, to say the least, and I’m beyond heartbroken that we are losing so many brilliant colleagues who are also dear friends,” Karger tweeted on Friday, June 23. “I’ve seen all of your support online, and it means so much to all of us.”

In a follow-up tweet, Karger wrote, “My goal (and I know the other hosts agree) is to try to be a stabilizing and familiar presence in the months ahead. There will be some bumps, but we will all be on the road together.”

Karger’s posts came as TheWrap reported that the TCM staff was being slashed from about 90 employees to about 20 — and as Deadline revealed that Warner Bros. Pictures Group co-CEOs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca would curate the films that TCM airs.

HBO Shows Could Soon Be Streaming on Netflix
Related

HBO Shows Could Soon Be Streaming on Netflix

According to IndieWire, the laid-off employees include Pola Changnon, executive VP and general manager; Charles Tabesh, senior VP of programming and content strategy; Dexter Fedor, VP of brand creative and marketing; Genevieve McGillicuddy, VP of enterprises and strategic partnerships and TCM Film Festival director; and Anne Wilson, VP of studio production.

IndieWire also reported that Hollywood filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson teamed up for an emergency call about TCM with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on Wednesday, June 21.

The three directors later released a statement about TCM and their conversations with Zaslav — saying, in part, “We have each spent time talking to David, separately and together, and it’s clear that TCM and classic cinema are very important to him. Our primary aim is to ensure that TCM’s programming is untouched and protected. We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we’ve had thus far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all treasure.”

Dave Karger



Conversation6 Comments

Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.

Comments are closed on this story.

  1. C

    CyanMagnet

    Losing TCM would be rough. Those movie classics cannot be beat. So much better than a lot of the garbage that they are making now. Hope for the best

    20

  2. B

    BlueFan

    Let's face it - Robert brought it all together years ago until Mank was added to ease the burden. Robert passed and so much changed - a lot of which I didn't care for and watched less and less frequently. I've been in love with Hollywood since I was a child and later a film student. I like the basics. Give me Mank, Mueller and Karger on screen and I don't mind them cleaning house if we get back to basics and keep TCM alive - the way it was originally imagined.

    8

  3. O

    OrangePopcorn

    CAN'T be really that important to that ungrateful, unappreciative, clown, Zaslav, since we got RID of that many employees, now can it?

    8

  4. R

    RedPlane

    David Zaslav’s leadership has been nothing but a joke to Warner Bros. ever since his ascension to being the CEO. The only sensible thing he has ever done in just a little over a year is making James Gunn the co-head of DC. His initiative of taking movies and TV shows off of streaming services, practically making Cartoon Network a shell of its former self and now TCM? It brings me no joy in saying this, in fact, quite the opposite but I wouldn’t be surprised if TCM folds by the end of the year. Zaslov is a cutthroat businessman with no sense of loyalty to years of service or tradition. The type of person that he is, he only sees dollar signs and he’s not going to keep a company that now has only twenty employees. It’s in his best interest to keep TCM though because Hollywood will severely go after him if he dissolves it. Apologies for the mini monologue but please, let me know what you all think.

    7

  5. P

    PurpleMustache

    From what I've read Zaslav will say anything to appease whomever he is speaking with but will do what he pleases. Only one thing matters to him $. Pathetic how did this wretched excuse for a human being get in charge of TCM?

    2

  6. C

    CyanRaindrop

    Saving all these movie classics is totally important. They need to be seen by future generations . Still, I wish they could be seen for free, as they once were. I hope they resolve their problems soon.

    1