Latest news with #Bajaria
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bela Bajaria on Which Emmy Nominee She Texted First and One Giant 'Disappointment' of a Snub
While still in the construction phase, the new Netflix campus in New Jersey might want to dedicate a bit more square footage to its trophy case. On Tuesday morning, Netflix received 120 nominations for the 2025 Emmy Awards. That's a ton, only outdone by the combination of HBO and Max (now HBO Max, again) — so first place may be a bit up for debate. This is all temporary anyway: Bela Bajaria vs. Casey Bloys (and maybe Matt Cherniss) won't really be decided until Sept. 14. More from The Hollywood Reporter But What if "Balloon Boy" Wasn't a Hoax? First-Time Nominee Cooper Koch Is "Devastated" Over Emmy Snubs for Two of His 'Monsters' Co-Stars Emmys: Listen to 66 Nominees on THR's 'Awards Chatter' Podcast The Hollywood Reporter caught up with the Bajaria a few hours after the Emmy nominees came out. She's a busy woman, and 44 nominated shows make for a hell of a lot of text chains; read on to find out which Netflix nominee Bajaria messaged first, what show was her snubbiest snub, and if four nods for The Residence is making her second guess the decision to cancel the one-and-done whodunit series. *** What is your reaction to this morning's results? Look, I'm so happy and proud to have 120 nominations. But for me, really, the amazing thing is it's also across 44 titles and 14 different programming categories. Why that's also important and I'm excited about it — you know, we always aim for excellence in television across every different kind of category, because we know audiences love everything from animation to live to docs to unscripted to drama to comedy to limited to stand-up… To have those all being recognized — that work with all that talent across all of those categories is really exciting and rewarding. I also love it when we work with this incredible talent who are first-timers, right? This is where they get their first Emmy nomination. And to have the range from somebody like [15-year-old Adolescence star] Owen Cooper — [Adolescence] is actually the first thing that he's done, to having first-time nominations for people like Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story) and Adam Brody and Kristen Bell (both for Nobody Wants This) and Stephen Graham (Adolescence), who have such a long body of work, such an extensive body work, and then this is their first nomination. That is really rewarding and exciting for us. You can't exactly send Owen champagne… (Laughs) Yes, exactly. He's gonna get a nice sparkling apple cider or something. Where were you when the nominations came in? We do a really great, I think, really fun thing with the team. Many of us, get together in the home theater downstairs on Netflix. It's PR and the awards team and marketing and executives and everybody from all over, cross-functionally. And we all sit in that room and we all cheer together — it's so fun. We're either on the phone or live-texting our nominees as they get their news, which is so great. It's a really fun thing because there's a lot of people, cross-functionally, who work so hard on these — who care so much. Because I think the one thing that is lost sometimes is like, we greenlight something, you champion it, you believe in it… You're in this journey through all of these shows and the launch and — everybody's invested, and so it's really great to kind of do that together in that way. Who was your very first outgoing text to? OK, you're keeping me honest here. I'm actually looking at my texts for you…My first one was to Kristen Bell. My early ones were Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, Adam Sandler (Adam Sandler: Love You), Deb Cahn for The Diplomat — so it kind of went a little bit of like, you know, what [categories were] announced sort of early on — Charlotte Jones for America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. And then I did sort of a group one to to the Adolescence team, because we're on a group chain. How do you not make Beyoncé your first text? You for that — everyone would understand. (Laughs) Yes, exactly. I should just wait [for her category]. Never underestimate Queen Bey. Not surprised by Beyoncé Bowl nomination…I bet on Beyoncé all day long. You probably were right to start with Kristen Bell over Sandler. She's responsible enough to actually be awake and ready for her day. (Laughs) Yes, yes. Ryan Murphy was right in there because Ryan had lots for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story… So you fell back to second place vs. HBO and Max — you guys seem to swap slots each year… Well, look, there's two different things. They have the combination right of two different things, right? It's Max plus HBO, which gets them [an advantage]. We play a different game in the sense that we have so many members and an audience with lots of different tastes and moods, and we want to make sure that we have great programming in all of those areas, right? We know that people love to watch The Diplomat, Adolescence and America's Sweethearts, right? And many of those people also, you know, watch (steampunk animated series) Arcane. We're just in a different — we just sort of look at what we're doing, right? We're also trying to do something that no one has ever done before — you know, making film and TV all around the world across as many genres, like all over the world in so many languages…we're just doing it different. We're one Netflix. Did any specific Netflix Emmy 'snubs' bother you more than others? If Emmy nominations are supposed to be really about excellence in storytelling and something that is so amazing that people watch and talk about and love, and have the quality and acting and writing and directing and cultural impact, the one I'm disappointed about is that the world's biggest show, Squid Game, did not get recognized. Obviously, it made Emmy history also already, but a show in Korean, made in that way so authentically, has become the biggest show in the world, and to be so groundbreaking in storytelling and just the cultural global impact it had. That's the one to me that would be the disappointment for all the talent involved. The news of the cancellation came to us just two weeks ago — would you have rather that decision not be made public ahead of nominations? No, I don't really look at when the news or not the news…I think was is great is — we love The Residence. We championed it, we made it. Uzo [Aduba] has been part of the Netflix family for a long time and has been recognized before for awards. So, she gave an incredible performance. Not surprised at all by her nom. We thought that she would and should absolutely get it. So, to me, that's great, that work. That work was completed and people loved it, and she was amazing and then gets recognized for it. That's great. That, to me, doesn't change kind of the story. And moving forward, it's like, 'Isn't it great that we made this, she was incredible and she got recognized.' I know a lot of factors go into a cancellation, but does getting four Emmy nominations make you second guess that decision? No, because I always knew she'd be recognized. Will Netflix campaign for a canceled show as hard as it would for one that is ongoing? We're gonna support— yeah! I mean for her and the show, like, we did — of course. Here's the thing: I think what people forget is, like I said before, we developed it, we championed it, we really marketed — we did all of the things. And they're all people involved who we work with and continue to work with and will continue to — so we're always going to support that, for sure. You have five of the six prerecord variety special nominees. One of those is Y. Nate is hosting the Emmys, so you have to like your odds there… (Laughs) Is that how it works when you have the host [as one of your nominees]? Definitely, they just give you one. Oh good. Yeah, they give you one. Right, right, right, right, right, yeah. So we have five of the six [nominees], and we're definitely getting [that] one? Yeah. It's like when my dad coached Little League and he picked me as one of the team's two all-stars — nobody can say anything about it. Oh yeah, you get one. There you go. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise Solve the daily Crossword
Economic Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Netflix star executive is grateful that she was once fired from her dream job. And she now has the job everyone dreams of
Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria In 2016, Bela Bajaria faced what many would consider a career catastrophe — she was fired from her position as President of Universal Television. After five years of leading the NBCUniversal-owned studio and helping it become a significant force in the industry with hits like The Mindy Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Chicago Fire, the news came as a devastating blow. At the time, her departure was attributed to internal tensions between the studio and the network, but the experience left her personally shaken and professionally adrift. Losing the role she once considered her dream job forced Bajaria to confront some tough emotional and identity-related questions. Having poured herself into her work, her sense of self had become closely tied to her professional achievements. With the sudden loss of her position, she was faced not only with uncertainty about her career but also with the difficult task of explaining the situation to her children and navigating the emotional turmoil that followed, she had earlier said in an interview. Rather than rushing into the next opportunity, Bajaria allowed herself time to process the emotional roller coaster. She resisted the immediate urge to bounce back, recognizing that some lessons only come through stillness and self-reflection. Though the first few months after being let go were particularly difficult, this period ultimately became a turning point — one that reshaped her approach to failure, resilience, and leadership. That same year, Bajaria joined Netflix, beginning a new chapter that would prove to be the most defining of her career. By 2023, she had ascended to the role of Chief Content Officer, becoming one of the most powerful executives in global entertainment. In this role, she oversees content across all Netflix markets, including global blockbusters like Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton, Heeramandi, and Lupin . She also led the platform's move into live programming and sports, securing major deals with the NFL and WWE and greenlighting high-profile events like Chris Rock: Selective Outrage and The Roast of Tom Brady. Her ability to transform a public setback into a platform for reinvention and success has earned her widespread acclaim. Bajaria has been featured in TIME's 100 Most Influential People list, Variety's LA Women's Impact Report, and Fortune's Most Powerful Women rankings for five consecutive years. In 2024, she was elected to the board of The Coca-Cola Company, further cementing her position as a leader across back, what once seemed like a professional failure has proven to be a pivotal experience. Bajaria now views that chapter not with bitterness, but with appreciation for the clarity and courage it gave her. The firing that once left her reeling ultimately freed her to take risks, redefine success on her own terms, and lead with a deeper understanding of resilience."There's amazing books and quotes and all this stuff about [how] you learn so much from failure, and failure is important, and you're not trying hard enough if you're not failing,' Bajaria told CNBC. 'And all of that is true, but then when you fail, nobody wants to talk about it.' 'The first three months (after being fired) were really rough,' she said. 'In retrospect I am so grateful that it happened,' Bajaria said. 'I'm not scared of getting fired. It's very liberating, actually.'
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Netflix star executive is grateful that she was once fired from her dream job. And she now has the job everyone dreams of
In 2016, Bela Bajaria faced what many would consider a career catastrophe — she was fired from her position as President of Universal Television . After five years of leading the NBCUniversal-owned studio and helping it become a significant force in the industry with hits like The Mindy Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Chicago Fire, the news came as a devastating blow. #Operation Sindoor Live Updates| From Sindoor to showdown? Track Indo-Pak conflict as it unfolds Indian cities that were on Pakistan's radar India hits Lahore's Air Defence Radars in proportionate response At the time, her departure was attributed to internal tensions between the studio and the network, but the experience left her personally shaken and professionally adrift. Losing the role she once considered her dream job forced Bajaria to confront some tough emotional and identity-related questions. Having poured herself into her work, her sense of self had become closely tied to her professional achievements. With the sudden loss of her position, she was faced not only with uncertainty about her career but also with the difficult task of explaining the situation to her children and navigating the emotional turmoil that followed, she had earlier said in an interview. Rather than rushing into the next opportunity, Bajaria allowed herself time to process the emotional roller coaster. She resisted the immediate urge to bounce back, recognizing that some lessons only come through stillness and self-reflection. Though the first few months after being let go were particularly difficult, this period ultimately became a turning point — one that reshaped her approach to failure, resilience, and leadership. That same year, Bajaria joined Netflix, beginning a new chapter that would prove to be the most defining of her career. By 2023, she had ascended to the role of Chief Content Officer , becoming one of the most powerful executives in global entertainment. In this role, she oversees content across all Netflix markets, including global blockbusters like Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton, Heeramandi, and Lupin . She also led the platform's move into live programming and sports, securing major deals with the NFL and WWE and greenlighting high-profile events like Chris Rock: Selective Outrage and The Roast of Tom Brady. Her ability to transform a public setback into a platform for reinvention and success has earned her widespread acclaim. Bajaria has been featured in TIME's 100 Most Influential People list, Variety's LA Women's Impact Report, and Fortune's Most Powerful Women rankings for five consecutive years. In 2024, she was elected to the board of The Coca-Cola Company, further cementing her position as a leader across industries. Looking back, what once seemed like a professional failure has proven to be a pivotal experience. Bajaria now views that chapter not with bitterness, but with appreciation for the clarity and courage it gave her. The firing that once left her reeling ultimately freed her to take risks, redefine success on her own terms, and lead with a deeper understanding of resilience. "There's amazing books and quotes and all this stuff about [how] you learn so much from failure, and failure is important, and you're not trying hard enough if you're not failing,' Bajaria told CNBC. 'And all of that is true, but then when you fail, nobody wants to talk about it.' 'The first three months (after being fired) were really rough,' she said. 'In retrospect I am so grateful that it happened,' Bajaria said. 'I'm not scared of getting fired. It's very liberating, actually.'
NDTV
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Netflix Executive Bela Bajaria Says Getting Publicly Fired Was Her "Greatest Learning"
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Bela Bajaria reflected on her firing from Universal Television. She calls the experience her greatest learning lesson in her career. Under her, Netflix expanded significantly into live programming. Netflix's Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, has opened up about a difficult chapter in her career, calling it her "greatest learning lesson." Speaking at the 2025 Changemakers Summit in Los Angeles, Ms Bajaria reflected on being fired from her role as president of Universal Television, a setback that, in hindsight, shaped her journey. Before her remarkable nine-year run at Netflix, where she has overseen the streaming giant's expansion into live events and sports, Ms Bajaria faced what she described as a "big public failure." Despite building a strong comedy lineup at Universal with creators like Tina Fey and Mike Schur, she was dismissed from the network, an experience she now credits teaching her resilience. "There's all this talk about failure being important, and you learn from it, and that's true. But when you fail, nobody wants to talk about it," Ms Bajaria said in conversation with CNBC. She pointed out the added pressure women face, noting that dismissals often carry stigma. "We're supposed to be perfect. A dismissal is seen as a blemish," she said. Ms Bajaria admitted the first few months were painful, as she struggled to separate her self-worth from her job title. But the overwhelming support and job offers she received soon after helped her see the value in her work. "The way I treated people, what I had done - it all mattered," she said. Looking back, she said the experience has been freeing. "I'm not scared of getting fired. It's very liberating, actually." Under Ms Bajaria's leadership, Netflix has strengthened its position as a go-to destination for live programming, from comedy specials and award shows to WWE events and NFL games.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Netflix's content chief calls her public firing a turning point: ‘Not scared of getting fired. It's very liberating'
Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, has played a pivotal role in the company's evolution over the past nine years, leading its expansion into live events, sports, and shaping globally successful originals like Bridgerton and Emily in Paris. But long before her rise at the streaming giant, she faced a setback that she now describes as one of her greatest learning experiences, reported CNBC. Before joining Netflix in 2016, Bajaria was fired from her role as president of Universal Television.(Raajessh Kashyap/HT) Before joining Netflix in 2016, Bajaria was fired from her role as president of Universal Television after five years marked by strong creative achievements, including forging partnerships with celebrated talents like Tina Fey and Mike Schur. Also read: China's 'most beautiful fugitive' banned from social media for posting anti-fraud videos 'Big public failure' Speaking at the 2025 Changemakers Summit in Los Angeles, she called the experience a 'big public failure,' but emphasized how much it taught her. 'There's amazing books and quotes and all this stuff about [how] you learn so much from failure, and failure is important, and you're not trying hard enough if you're not failing,' Bajaria said in conversation with CNBC's Julia Boorstin. 'And all of that is true, but then when you fail, nobody wants to talk about it.' She noted that the pressure to be flawless often stops women from acknowledging setbacks. 'We're supposed to be perfect,' she said, adding that being fired is seen as 'a blemish.' The months following her dismissal were particularly difficult. Bajaria struggled with the emotional fallout and began questioning her worth. 'All those amazing shows, all these great relationships I built; I treated people so fairly. We had a lot of success — it meant nothing,' she recalled thinking. However, the response she received from colleagues and the industry shifted her perspective. 'I quickly realised, as the phone rang and I got job offers and everybody reached out and people were really supportive, it all mattered,' she said. 'The way I treated people, what I had done, the impact I left, it all mattered.' She took comfort in knowing she could be proud of her past work. 'I knew I could always look at myself in the mirror and [think] I liked what I had done. I didn't have any shame around what I did. I thought it was really a great, successful run,' she added. While Bajaria acknowledged that 'the first three months were really rough,' she now views the experience differently. 'In retrospect I am so grateful that it happened,' she said. 'I'm not scared of getting fired. It's very liberating, actually.' Under her leadership, Netflix has expanded its content offerings to include major live events like comedy specials, award shows, WWE programming, and even NFL games. The platform also dominated last year's awards season, earning 107 nominations across 35 projects, the highest for any studio at both the Oscars and the Emmys. Also read: Airline under fire after mistakenly serving white wine to 3-year-old in business class
