The 53 People on the New Power of New York List

Whatever you may think of the Democrat, you can’t deny that he’s made city government interesting. From nepotism scandals to his very mysterious fixation on the high-end eatery Osteria La Baia, Adams has shown a penchant for making waves and dominating headlines. But whether he’s railing against remote work at press conferences or partying with A$AP Rocky at One Vanderbilt, Adams has restored some sizzle to Gracie Mansion. And if that generates controversy, along with some memes, so be it.

Few dramas boast as sprawling a cast as Julian Fellowes’ opulent HBO series “The Gilded Age,” which tapped Broadway to build its luxurious world. Benton immediately stood out in the role of Peggy Scott, a Black writer and Brooklyn native determined to make the most of her life, racism be damned. Alongside Audra McDonald and Christine Baranski, Benton created a character so immediately compelling and recognizable that her arc quickly became one of the show’s best. Of course, Benton is also a Broadway staple, having recently scored a triumphant turn as Cinderella in the City Center version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.” 

Braun is a singular presence wherever he goes. But on TV, he’s walked away as a fan favorite on HBO’s smash “Succession” as the slyly Machiavellian Cousin Greg, a role that’s earned him two Emmy nominations. Soon, he’ll appear as the older boyfriend of a college student in the film adaptation of Kristen Roupenian’s New Yorker short story, “Cat Person.”

Back in the 2000s, the boys of “Gossip Girl” represented a particular type of millennial-approved masculinity: cherubically handsome, tidily groomed, with just enough edge to make viewers want to hide what they were watching from Mom and Dad. But that’s so last decade. The boys of the iconic teen drama’s new iteration, soon to return on HBO Max, wear a single-jeweled earring to the Met Gala and endorse Dior cosmetics (Doherty). They sport bright-pink hair and are seriously committed to skateboarding (Mock). They play the guitar and embrace living in Brooklyn (Brown). And they’re reflecting back to today’s teens a way of being that’s as casual, fluid and outright fun as the Zoom generation itself.

An incisive stand-up and the creator of the dearly departed “The Carmichael Show,” Carmichael made a name for himself by taking on issues that many around him wouldn’t touch. In 2022, he turned that daring on himself: With his HBO stand-up special “Rothaniel,” directed by Bo Burnham, Carmichael came out to his viewers in a moment one can only describe as stunning. Since then, Carmichael has been more himself than ever, which must have something to do with his accepting the Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety special in an unforgettable fur coat inspired by Sean Combs.

She’d already made an impression in films like “Knives Out” and “Blade Runner 2049.” But in “Blonde,” her stunning star turn as Norma Jeane Baker — who takes on the persona of Marilyn Monroe — pushed de Armas to a new level. Her conjuring of both Monroe’s allure and Baker’s broken heart helped make the film a hit at the Venice Intl. Film Festival, where de Armas joined her co-stars in receiving a 14-minute standing ovation. Next up for the New Yorker is the release of action comedy “Ghosted”; work on the “John Wick” spinoff, “Ballerina”; and, with a bit of luck, an awards-season campaign.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods” has been revived on Broadway, restaged by community theater groups and adapted into a major Disney movie. But somehow, director deBessonet pulled off the magical feat of finding something fresh to unearth in this oft-told fairy tale. Her minimalist production, which debuted last May at Encores! before transferring to Broadway in August, put the spot – light on Sondheim’s supple score, letting the music do the heavy lifting of transporting audiences to a world of make-believe. Instead of elaborate showpieces, the production featured a set of stairs and some bare tree trunks, allowing the focus to remain on an ensemble of note-perfect singers that includes Sara Bareilles, Patina Miller and Phillipa Soo.

After coordinating broadcasting from the Brooklyn basement he shares with his wife, MSNBC anchor Katy Tur, Dokoupil is back in the studio at “CBS Mornings.” The show, which received a relaunch with a new title last fall, is intended to delve deeper into long-form journalism than its more popular competitors on ABC and NBC. As such, it relies on the chemistry between Dokoupil and his co-anchors Gayle King and Nate Burleson, as well as on Dokoupil’s reporting cred.

Anyone who followed Fineman on Instagram wouldn’t have been surprised when she joined “Saturday Night Live” in 2019. Fineman’s hilarious takes on everyone from Nicole Kidman to Timothée Chalamet to Drew Barrymore have quickly made her one of the show’s most reliable performers. With so many “SNL” staples leaving before Season 48, you can definitely expect Fineman to step up even more.

Written by Hugh Jackman

According to Google, “power,” as a noun, means “the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.” In the case of Sutton Foster, this definition is incredibly fitting. So let’s look at how she is a shining example of the use of power for good.

Click here to read the rest of Jackman’s essay

Better known as Josh Safdie’s muse, Fox gives new meaning to the phrase “Let’s give ’em something to talk about.” She earned a Gotham Award nomination for stealing scenes opposite Adam Sandler in the Safdie brothers’ unsettling 2019 crime drama “Uncut Gems.” Today, Fox doesn’t need indie films to turn heads and make headlines: Between dating Kanye West and redefining fashion trends, she’s become a tabloid fixture and the unofficial meme queen of TikTok in the process. Fox has a few projects lined up, including “Upper Cut,” a biopic about Hollywood hairdresser Carrie White. But what the fans are really waiting for is Fox’s forthcoming memoir. After all, “it’s so far a masterpiece, if I do say so myself,” she says.

Fox News will always get attention for the stentorian opinions of its primetime hosts, but the acerbic, offbeat Gutfeld is carving new opportunities for the channel. He is a founding cohost of the late-afternoon roundtable show “The Five,” the network’s most-watched program, and has also built a new stronghold at 11 p.m. in a bid to have Fox News joust with late-night comedians. That show has become appointment TV for a certain political segment, often beating Colbert, Fallon and Kimmel in the ratings. In the process, Gutfeld has given the network a conservative-leaning contrarian voice that won’t scare off advertisers.

Kathie Lee Gifford is a tough act to follow, but somehow the new “Today” co-host’s looser, livelier and boozier fourth hour has managed to make an indelible mark on our mid-mornings. Bush Hager has introduced a book club, provided dating advice for colleague Hoda Kotb and shared updates from the front lines of parenting young kids. And she’s equally adept at the silly games, cooking demonstrations and celebrity interviews that are a core part of the gig. Bush Hager has also served as an important voice of courage and decency, expressing her outrage over the U.S. Capitol riot — and sharing her unique insight as the daughter and granddaughter of U.S. presidents.

Written by The Duffer Brothers

“A young Janeane Garofalo.” That’s how we originally pitched the character of Robin in “Stranger Things.” But that’s about all we had. Well, that and two short scenes where Robin hands out ice cream with Steve Harrington. We just didn’t really know who Robin was — what made her interesting, what made her stand out. That is, until our casting director, Carmen Cuba, gave us the three-word answer: “She’s Maya Hawke.” “Who?” we asked. “Just … trust me,” she said.

Click here to read the rest of the essay by The Duffer Brothers

“The View” only works when its panelists are truly unafraid to say what they think. The Notre Dame-educated attorney joined the series in 2016 and has distinguished herself for bringing her points across clearly and directly amid the “hot topics” chaos. But her endeavors don’t stop when the cameras go down at noon: Hostin released a memoir, “I Am These Truths,” in 2020 and her first novel in 2021. An ABC Signature-backed drama series adaptation of that novel, “Summer on the Bluffs,” is to be the first project of Sunny Hostin Prods., the company Hostin founded to place a spotlight on characters from underrepresented backgrounds.

Written by Mindy Kaling

Michael R. Jackson is, in a word, dazzling. His Broadway musical, “A Strange Loop,” is a breakthrough masterpiece whose plot I won’t describe here because it’s so inventive that my summary wouldn’t do it justice. But what I can say is that it’s a musical about a writer … well, trying to write. The star of “A Strange Loop” is Usher, a “young overweight-to-obese homosexual and/ or gay and/or queer, cisgender male writer,” as he says in his opening song, working to find his way in the world, deciphering the many destructive (and often extremely funny) voices in his head.

Click here to read the rest of Kaling’s essay

Jones, who made a name for herself at NBC News by testing out unorthodox formats for news specials, has a new task in front of her: As president of MSNBC, she must steer the network through the next few heated election cycles with a team that may not always include Rachel Maddow. Jones has brought in Alex Wagner and is getting ready to launch former White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Expect more launches and personalities as MSNBC makes streaming a bigger part of its portfolio.

He’s new to CNN but not to the TV news business. As chairman and CEO, can he bring momentum to the popular cable news outlet? And more importantly: Can he fill the shoes of Jeff Zucker, who made CNN ratings jump by vigorously covering — and frequently challenging — Donald Trump? Licht has advanced in the TV industry by finding underserved audiences and creating shows like “Morning Joe” and “CBS This Morning.” Now he has to do the same with an entire network in his palm.

As CNN’s senior VP of digital editorial and programming, the veteran media executive is charting the course for how the venerable news brand will connect with audiences beyond its cable perch. That’s becoming increasingly important at a time when viewership is fracturing. He’s new to the job, having just been elevated last month, but he boasts an impressive résumé, including becoming the first North American editor of Twitter Moments and playing a key role in bolstering The New York Times’ digital video efforts. It will fall to Mabry to expand CNN’s footprint at a time when the network is under pressure from its new corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, to keep growing.

With their show “Manningcast,” these retired NFL players have helped to popularize an emerging TV format known in the industry as the “alterna-cast” — a separate viewing experience that airs concurrent with the main game broadcast. The goal is to give viewers another way to watch their favorite events, creating a new fan community in the process. If the Mannings’ lo-fi football discussions continue to gain traction, look for other TV producers to emulate their work.

Mestel was on his way to an MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business when Chris Blackwell tapped him for a role at Island Records, where he was later named chief operating officer. He went on to become GM of Clive Davis’ Arista Records and COO of Virgin. He founded Primary Wave Music as a publishing company in 2006, and has grown it into one of the leaders of the music catalog business, with a roster that includes Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Prince, Stevie Nicks, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles and Aerosmith. And the company got a lot bigger this month when it struck a $2 billion partnership with Brookfield Asset Management to invest in even more catalogs.

Written by Jonathan Groff

Lea Michele and I met 17 years ago, at the audition that led us to playing opposite each other in “Spring Awakening.” I was from the farmlands of Lancaster, Penn., and Lea was this tough kid from the Bronx. She already had three Broadway credits to her name, while I was inexperienced, closeted and scared of her. At 18, she was sharp, funny, frank and saw everything.

Click here to read the rest of Groff’s essay

A longtime business associate of Drew Barrymore, Miller is now bringing his management acumen to NBC’s “Tonight Show,” where he became showrunner in May. Since he came on board, the show seems to be giving viewers a fun, late-night hang rather than staying laser-focused on the headlines of the day. Host Jimmy Fallon and team have brought back some pre-pandemic favorites, like a session on classroom instruments with Madonna and the Roots, while working more closely with Megan Thee Stallion and Demi Lovato, both of whom were given co-hosting duties.

The glory days of glossies may be long gone, but as editor-in-chief of the 50-year-old W magazine, Moonves has managed to reinvent the venerable periodical for the digital age. She’s done that by growing its social media presence and launching a buzzy podcast. And she’s gotten a big assist from W’s new owners, a consortium of investors Moonves helped secure, which includes supermodel Karlie Kloss and Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton. They rescued the magazine from the dustbin, where it seemed to be heading in 2020 when then-owner, Future Media Group, suspended publication.

Netflix has long avoided getting too close to Madison Avenue. Oh, but how a stock swoon can change things. In 2022, the streamer is desperate to spark a connection. And to secure advertiser support for a new service tier that will offer commercials, Netflix has lured former Snap executive Naylor, as well as Los Angeles based Jeremi Gorman, to build up an ad-sales practice. It won’t be easy. Netflix’s high pricing demands have already made their way around media-buying agencies. Now, it’s Gorman and Naylor’s job to smooth things out.

Instagram’s favorite actor has been busy lately. The star, whose tendency to show off his 6-foot-5 frame in selfies has made him a dreamy queer icon, has a key supporting role in the comedy “Bodies Bodies Bodies” and the lead in the Apple TV+ drama “Foundation,” which has been renewed for a second season. On that sci-fi series, Pace plays a clone of the galactic emperor; it’s not really a departure for a performer who’s been a vampire (in the final “Twilight” installment), a comic book villain (in “Captain Marvel”) and an elf king (in the “Hobbit” films).

The Pulitzer Prize winner is everywhere these days. On Broadway, “Topdog/Underdog,” her blistering dissection of race, masculinity and the American dream, is getting a 20th anniversary revival with Corey Hawkins and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Then Parks’ lockdown opus, “Plays for the Plague Year,” will appear at the Public, with the writer making her onstage debut. For good measure, Parks has premiered “Sally & Tom,” a look at Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, at the Guthrie in Minneapolis, and will write the book for a musical adaptation of the Jimmy Cliff classic “The Harder They Come,” which will raise the roof at the Public next spring.

Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy are the sick minds behind Please Don’t Destroy, the comedy group they founded in 2017 while attending NYU. They had several viral TikTok hits during the pandemic, including one where Marshall received a back-alley COVID vaccine with some hilarious side effects. They graduated to the big leagues at “Saturday Night Live” last year, and they have their own movie out next year, produced by Judd Apatow.

Written by Cynthia Nixon

Sara Ramírez isn’t a double threat or a triple threat — they’re an infinity threat.

Mike Nichols alerted me to the existence of this superhuman when he was directing Sara in “Spamalot.” Nichols had a nose for talent and was famously the discoverer of Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman and Whoopi Goldberg. In all the time I’d known him, I’d never seen Mike as awed by someone. He basically told me that no matter what impossible new musical number or comedy bit he gave them, Sara executed it perfectly, with a triple lutz and confetti to boot. So in 2020, when we were looking for someone to cast as Che, Carrie’s alpha podcast boss in “And Just Like That …,” I thought immediately of Sara.

Click here to read the rest of Nixon’s essay

How do you top the experience of being in “Hamilton,” a once-in-a-generation musical sensation? If you’re Ramos, who originated the dual roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway smash, first you take your theater bona fides and pivot to the screen to play Lady Gaga’s BFF in “A Star Is Born.” Then you snag the role of the charming bodega owner, Usnavi, in the 2021 movie version of Miranda’s first hit musical, “In the Heights.” Finally, you lead the next “Transformers” movie, set for 2023, and join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Disney+ series “Ironheart.”

There have been plenty of Roxie Harts on Broadway, with assorted movie stars, tabloid fixtures and stage vets putting their stamp on the manipulative murderess. But Angelica Ross’ Roxie is making history: The “Pose” performer is the first openly trans woman to play a lead role on the Great White Way. Ross, who started last month, joins a long list of attention-getting castings (Pamela Anderson and Erika Jayne among them), and has spoken in interviews about her aspiration to play Elphaba in “Wicked.” She certainly knows how to cast a spell.

She’s tasked with helping Warner Music Group make sense of the Wild West that is Web3. Ruxandra, who boasts experience in the financial sector after stints at Constellation Capital Management and BlackRock, is helping the legacy media company figure out its next act. In her role, she has guided investments and partnerships with such next-gen companies as OpenSea, Forte, Blockparty and OneOf. She’s also moved the company deeper into the gaming and virtual worlds. Warner Music Group struck gold thanks to her innovative licensing deals with Twitch, SoundCloud and Meta.

One peek at Sennott’s funny, raunchy social media accounts, and it’s clear the comedian is the voice of her generation. The beloved NSFW internet personality, known for her front-facing Instagram videos and chronic oversharing, made the jump to movie darling in 2020’s anxiety-inducing comedy “Shiva Baby.” And then came the ultimate Gen Z seal of approval: leading 2022’s A24 movie “Bodies Bodies Bodies.” Up next, she’s taking her talents to the small screen in the HBO series “The Idol,” from “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson.

It’s one thing to star in “Stranger Things,” one of the biggest shows ever to hit Netflix. But Sink reached a whole new level of celebrity when she was hand-picked to headline a Taylor Swift short film — based on a 10-minute, newly released cut of the fan favorite song “All Too Well.” The 20-year-old is also getting raves for her supporting role in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale.”

Smith-Cameron had a long career on the New York stage before getting cast in “Succession” as Roy family attorney Gerri Kellman. As much as any other member of the drama’s ensemble, Smith-Cameron jousts with a delivery so sharp that her conversation partners often don’t notice they’ve been cut. Married for years to the writer and director Kenneth Lonergan, Smith-Cameron plainly enjoys a real familiarity with frequent Lonergan collaborator Kieran Culkin, with whom she shares TV’s most twisted chemistry. Her attempt to extricate herself from patriarch Logan Roy’s dawning awareness that she and his son are sexting allowed the unflappable Gerri to get truly ruffled, and surely contributed to Smith-Cameron receiving her first Emmy nomination.

Taylor is about to become one of the most-watched personalities on NBC after being awarded host duties on “Football Night in America.” Yes, it’s a pregame studio show, but as the precursor to NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” it’s also one of the highest-rated programs on the network’s schedule. For her new gig, Taylor will be called on to wrangle everything from the coaching wisdom of Tony Dungy to the fantasy-sports acumen of Matthew Berry. But her biggest play will be to get audiences so jazzed that they’ll seek out additional content on NBC’s streaming sites.

Who could possibly take up the “Iron Man” mantle after Robert Downey Jr. bid farewell to the role? Thorne will rise to the challenge as Ironheart, a new superhero blasting into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 25-year-old actor is getting her own Disney+ series to show off her armored acting chops, but first she’s making her debut in the “Black Panther” sequel “Wakanda Forever” this fall. Thorne is the latest in a lineup of young heroes joining the Marvel universe, setting up a new guard of fan favorites who can carry the torch for years to come. With supporting roles in “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Thorne has the experience to make an Iron Man-size impact in the Marvel universe.

GQ has a new look and attitude — and it’s all thanks to one serious fashion enthusiast. In 2019, Welch took over the menswear bible from the retiring Jim Nelson; since then, Welch has used his cover real estate to probe the nature of contemporary manhood. He put Pharrell Williams in a dress and launched provocative collaborations with celebrities like Robert Pattinson, who in 2020 shot his own cover portrait; earlier this year, the actor got into haunting punk drag, with bleached hair and a gold chain, for a return appearance. Calling attention to itself with its commitment to a radically of-the-moment downtown aesthetic, but deeply aware of the eternal pleasures of dressing for success, Welch’s GQ certainly feels like a magazine that is having a moment.

Whether you were first acquainted with him as the self-destructive Lip on Showtime’s long-running comedy “Shameless” or the tormented New York City chef Carmy on FX’s hit series “The Bear,” White has a way of making audiences fall in love with morally questionable characters. With “The Bear,” which has been renewed for a second season, he’s entered a new stratosphere of fame, one that will likely land him in the Emmys conversation. And he’s high on Hollywood’s radar, having recently been cast in A24’s “The Iron Claw” alongside Zac Efron, as well as Apple’s new movie “Fingernails,” opposite Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley. White has proved his bona fides on the small screen; does he have what it takes to translate that charm into movie stardom? For many, the answer is easy: Yes, chef.

The Tony-winning Broadway revival of “Take Me Out” returns this fall, and Jesse Williams is back with it. In Richard Greenberg’s 2002 play, the “Grey’s Anatomy” actor plays a biracial baseball player who comes out as gay at the height of his career.

Why bring “Take Me Out” back to Broadway?

We weren’t done. We had a lot more in the tank, and I felt like we were really hitting a new stride. The possibility of coming back was brought up to me before we even finished the first run, and frankly, I didn’t want to do it; I was tired and missed my children. But once I was able to recharge at home, I just kept thinking about the show. I’d find myself running lines in the shower or just doing scenes alone while I was sailing.

Click to read the rest of Variety‘s Q&A with Williams

These seven actors bravely bared all to form the starting lineup of Richard Greenberg’s play “Take Me Out,” the story of a baseball team dealing with the aftershocks of a star player’s decision to come out as gay. The production’s infamous shower scenes may have gotten all the press, but what packed the seats was their funny and moving performances. Appearing nearly 20 years after Greenberg’s play debuted on Broadway, and wisely retaining its early-aughts setting, “Take Me Out” served as a reminder of how far society has traveled, when it comes to gay rights. “Take Me Out” won the 2022 Tony for Best Revival of a Play, with Williams and Oberholtzer scoring supporting actor nominations. (They lost to co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson.) And after a brief summer hiatus, this sold-out iteration of the show will be back on Broadway later this month.

The documentary filmmaker behind the unlikely HBO hit “How To With John Wilson” is obsessed with New York: the scaffolding, storefronts, subways, street signs, sidewalk trash and, most of all, the lovable weirdos who populate the city. It’s in the oft-overlooked parts of the five boroughs where Wilson finds beauty. But the roads he travels are filled with unexpected detours and digressions. In one episode, a journey to learn about reupholstering furniture leads Wilson to the founder of TLC Tugger, a “foreskin restoration” gadget. In another, a curiosity about wine ends with Wilson eating centuries-old military rations with an expired-food enthusiast. With the greatest city on Earth for his playground, Wilson’s adventures are limitless.

Written by Aidy Bryant

Not to sound like a cigar-in-mouth Hollywood blowhard, but Bowen Yang is a star. Bowen is effortlessly funny and a pillar at “Saturday Night Live.” Bowen is the emotional heart of “Fire Island.” Bowen looks perfectly placed on a red carpet in platform boots — a hunk for the ages.

Click here to read the rest of Bryant’s essay