Unscripted cover art

Unscripted

The Epic Battle for a Hollywood Media Empire

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Unscripted

By: James B. Stewart, Rachel Abrams
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The shocking inside story of how dysfunction, misconduct and scandal almost brought down one of Hollywood's greatest companies.

Unscripted is the inside story of the struggle to control one of the world's great entertainment empires.

It is the story of the last great Hollywood mogul, Sumner Redstone: the ninety-something founder of Paramount Global who, well into his dotage and facing a scandalous lawsuit, proves increasingly unable to run the sprawling company he has built.

It is the story of his daughter, Shari Redstone: Sumner's heir apparent who, despite being groomed for power for six decades, struggles to assert her authority over the company and her family's legacy.

And it is the story of her challenger, Leslie Moonves: the well-liked CEO of CBS who plots a coup to take control of the business - until news leaks that he is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct (allegations he has spent years trying to hush up).

The result is damning portrait of how money and power works in Hollywood now. It illuminates an industry struggling to adapt to the revolution brought by streaming, #MeToo and Black Lives Matter. And it reveals the lengths people will go to in pursuit of power - and the carnage that ensues when they do.

©2023 James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Business Business & Careers Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing
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Critic reviews

"Addicted to Succession? Well, here's the real thing." (Hollywood Reporter)

What listeners say about Unscripted

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A story of massive trees and sexual depravity

Well researched, though goodness knows how the two authors got their story.
Dinner the main man appears totally driven by a sexually depraved desire as was his successor.
It's a pity these events never went the Harvey Weinstein way and nobody went to jail.
In comparison to Weinstein the directors of the eff were way more depraved than him.
Good luck to Cherie in running that organisation, She Will Need It.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating.

Excellent journalism and perfect for an audiobook. It was like listening to Succession. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Unbelievable

This story is shocking, unbelievable and gasp inducing. Thankfully a completely different world to the one most of us live in.
It’ll have you hooked & is well worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Very interesting

It does read like a telenovela but I enjoyed it and I would recommend it

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Gossipy but a great read

I read Disney Wars by the same author because the creator of Succession referenced it as an influence and I loved it. This book is a bit more salacious but still an engrossing story that’s well told.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Succession but crazier

The book has a very strong middle part detailing the insane plotting of people trying to gain better standing in Redstone’s will. All the characters are disgusting, including Sumner himself, making it feel much like Succession, at times even surpassing the wonderful show in its horridness.

Unfortunately the last third of the book focusing on Les Moonves is less captivating and was a struggle to get through with needlessly detailed depictions of endless boardroom maneuvering amidst metoo fallout. Still worth it for the first 2/3.

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A telenovella

Really disappointing story - a real he said she said with too many sordid details - unless daytime tele novellas is your thing!

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