It’s not fun to report that Paramount Pictures is crumbling before our eyes. Under the late Brad Grey they were steady and fun to work with. There were plenty of hits and lots of good will. It was a Renaissance for the studio.

But now my old pal Megan Colligan, who’d risen to be worldwide president of marketing and distribution, is exiting after 11 years with the company. Literally loved by everyone who deals with her, Megan put together a crack PR team on both coasts and did a superlative job.

With her exit she’s claiming gender discrimination. Her lawyer told Deadline.com: “Megan had no choice but to leave after enduring a pattern of gender bias and discrimination. The disparate treatment of women by Paramount is evidenced when you unfold the truth of the exodus of high-level women in recent months. At least four other women have left and we believe that there are more to follow.”

Since Grey was forced out and died almost simultaneously (something that still boggles the mind), Paramount has gone into free fall. They blew it with Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!” They are currently grasping for a lifeboat on “Suburbicon.” And coming next is Alexander Payne’s “Downsizing.” Three strikes and you’re out.

On top of that trio, we have “Daddy’s Home, Part 2” or whatever it is, coming fast with Mel Gibson. This is designed to normalize Mel Gibson. This is not happening. Mel Gibson is anti Semite and a racist. His team can try it, but Gibson is not waltzing back into Hollywood. No way.

What a shame that Paramount has taken this turn. I thought new president Jim Gianopolous would set the ship straight, so to speak. According to Deadline, Colligan sent this memo to her troops today:

To my incredible team,

Thank you for everything and I look forward to what’s next.

Awards season has started and two women that we will definitely be seeing is the Director Dee Rees and Singer/Actress Mary J. Blige for the simply wonderful, searing “Mudbound.” The film is an epic story of two families, one white, and one black, pitted against each other in the Mississippi Delta. Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell and Garrett Hedlund round out this truly impressive cast. Taking place in post World War 2, the racial tension and despair, along with humanity and loyalty, make “Mudbound,” one of the year’s best films. Kudos also to cinematography Rachel Morrison for her unique visual take, actually making the rain and mud characters in the film. Simply brilliant.

I spoke with Mary J. Blige last night at a preview and reception for the film in Beverly Hills. I asked her why this film and why now? She answered, “I’ve had a lot going on. Dee called me, offered me the role and trusted me to deliver the work I did. I thank her all the time for offering me this role when she did. I had a place to put what I was going through. I used it as therapy. Every day was amazing for me because it was such a tough time for me. If she didn’t call me when she did, I don’t know where I’d be right now. She gave me something to take my mind off what was going on.”

Mary continued: “I’m proud of the film of the cast of Dee and most of all the message. I’m so truly grateful that I’m even a part of it. “ I then switched gears and asked her about the news of sexual harassment in Hollywood. She replied, “I’m just happy to see that women are standing up. We have to stand up. From the very beginning we have to fight for what we believe in. I champion every last one of these women for telling their story because who knows what they had to deal with for so many years with this secret. I’m sure it’s everywhere. I’ve never had a problem in the music business. But I’m behind every woman that comes forward.”

Mary’s longtime friend, the multi talented Sheryl Lee Ralph, her date was her handsome filmmaker son Etienne Maurice, just finished a stint on Broadway in “Wicked,” told me she’s as busy as ever.

“I have a new Hallmark holiday movie, “Christmas at Holly Lodge,” that is going to be shown every day for a month before Christmas. I’m on the Amazon show “One Mississippi” and always busy with my work with “Project Angel Food.” The films noted Producer Cassian Elwes and Tim Zajaros came out to support this film, (Netflix’s Ted Sarandos is also a Producer,) that surely will garner awards. “MudBound,” is a classic. Congrats to all involved. Well deserved.

So: no one in Los Angeles cared that Disney banned the L.A. Times from critics screenings of “Thor: Ragnarok.”

With a 90+ on Rotten Tomatoes, “Thor” snared $46 million on Friday night in its national debut. Estimates are for a $110 million opening weekend. Yippee!

So what happened with the LA Times? It’s serious, actually, in a time of fake news vs. real news and censorship. The L.A. Times ran a substantial piece on the effect Disneyland is having on Anaheim, California by Daniel Miller back on September 24th. The piece was called “Is Disney Paying Its Share in Anaheim?”

Apparently, Disney– sometimes known as Mauschwitz– didn’t like the conclusions Miller drew. So when it came time for a big new Marvel movie from the studio they decided to punish the LA Times. They wouldn’t allow their critics into screenings or reporters into the premieres.

The Times explained this to their readers. Disney responded by attacking the Times over journalistic standards:

“We regularly work with news organizations around the world that we don’t always agree with, but in this instance the L.A. Times showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards,” Disney said in a statement in response to The Times’ allegations. “Despite our sharing numerous indisputable facts with the reporter, several editors, and the publisher over many months, the Times moved forward with a biased and inaccurate series, wholly driven by a political agenda–so much so that the Orange County Register referred to the report as ‘a hit piece’ with a ‘seemingly predetermined narrative.’ We’ve had a long relationship with the L.A. Times, and we hope they will adhere to balanced reporting in the future.”

Who will stand up for the LA Times journalists? Miller came to the Times from the Hollywood Reporter, a trade publication that won’t cross the studio lest they lose not only access but their big ad budget for Christmas and the awards season. So THR simply reported that this all happened without taking a stand. I don’t see anyone at Variety backing Miller up either.

So Miller hangs out there on his own. But good for him. In time, Disney will have to crawl back to the LA Times– they’re the only newspaper in that town. Meanwhile, reviews aren’t really necessary for Marvel movies. Thor’s fans would have come even if he cooked Loki in a Cuisinart.

Yes, Scientology is a crazy thing, and it just gets crazier by the minute. Even Leah Remini won’t be able to figure this one out.

Jenna Elfman’s husband, actor Bodhi Elfman, is going to star in a Scientology feature called “Hipsters, Gangsters, Aliens and Geeks.” It’s written and directed by Bodhi’s father, Rick Elfman. Yes, they are all followers of late nut case L. Ron Hubbard. (Jenna Elfman was the star of a sitcom called “Dharma and Greg” years ago.)

What’s the movie about? Here’s the description I was read:

“A horror/sci-fi/comedy of the century & Eddy Pine is our Hero. A struggling actor on the verge of breaking out when he discovers the true meaning of his birth in which his anus holds the key to opening a portal to the next dimension.”

Did you read that? Carefully? This sounds like the possible description of a fictional movie by Kilgore Trout, Kurt Vonnegut’s invented and loony antagonist who more and more sounds like he was based on Hubbard. Kurt must be laughing in heaven. Kilgore Trout was a nut but at least he didn’t really exist.

Back to the movie: Danny Elfman is contributing the music. He’s a well known Hollywood composer married to Bridget Fonda, eleven years his junior.

Bodhi Elfman is more a name you read in association with Jenna. He’s been a minor TV actor for a long time. But now thanks to his, er, portal, he’s destined for something or other.

The film is said to be casting for a bunch of Little Persons to play alien “clowns” and cadets.

You know, Scientology is big into aliens and sci-fi. And they believe it. This is what Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, and Jenna Elfman call their “religion.” One day their space ship will come in. No word yet on whether the Elfmans’ movie will include any of the star Scientologists.

PS Previous Scientology sci fi films, like Travolta’s “Battleship Earth,” were humongous failures.