David Spade Says “The Hollywood Industry Is Dying” and Its Gavin Newsom’s Fault

• Comedian David Spade declared on his podcast that “the Hollywood industry is dying” and directly blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the decline.
• Spade reminisced about the vibrant CBS Radford lot during the 1990s heyday of shows like “Just Shoot Me” and “Seinfeld,” contrasting it with the lot’s recent bankruptcy filing.
• Co-host Dana Carvey agreed the traditional studio system is collapsing, citing high costs, union issues, and better incentives elsewhere as key drivers pushing productions out of state.
• Hollywood faces reduced local film and TV production, with many projects shifting to Georgia, New Mexico, Canada, and international locations offering tax advantages.
• Veteran actor Jon Voight, appointed by President Trump as a special ambassador to revive Hollywood alongside Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson, has likened the industry’s fate to Detroit’s decline if unaddressed.
• Voight has advocated for measures like tariffs on overseas filming to restore competitiveness and preserve jobs in California.
• Spade’s comments reflect broader frustrations with California’s high taxes, regulations, and governance failures that have driven businesses and residents away.
• The decline threatens not only entertainment jobs but also the cultural and economic influence Hollywood has long held in America.
• Spade, a longtime industry insider, used sarcasm to highlight leadership accountability in a state where opportunity once flourished.
• Growing celebrity criticism signals mounting pressure for reforms to halt the exodus and restore Hollywood’s former glory.

David Spade, the longtime comedian and actor whose career spans decades in Hollywood, delivered a blunt assessment of the industry’s collapse on his podcast, directly pointing fingers at California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for what he called a “terrifying” decline. His remarks come at a moment when the entertainment capital feels more like a shadow of its former self, with studios shuttering, productions fleeing the state, and once-vibrant lots falling into bankruptcy. Spade’s frustration captures a growing sentiment among those who have watched the Golden Age of Hollywood fade into memory.

On a recent episode of “Fly on the Wall,” co-hosted with fellow comedian Dana Carvey, Spade reflected on his early days working on the CBS Radford lot during the heyday of shows like “Just Shoot Me” and “Seinfeld.” He described the energy of that era—bumping into Jerry Seinfeld riding his bike between sets—and contrasted it sharply with today’s reality. The same lot recently filed for bankruptcy, a development Spade labeled as alarming for the entire city. “The Hollywood industry is dying,” he said plainly. “I’m just trying to put the blame somewhere.” He then turned his sarcasm toward the state’s top leaders: “Terrifying in L.A. Thanks, LA Mayor Karen Bass. Thanks, Gov. Gavin Newsom.”

Carvey echoed the sentiment, agreeing that the traditional Hollywood studio system is crumbling. He pointed to practical factors driving productions away, including high costs, union negotiations that have grown contentious, and the lure of tax incentives in places like Romania or other U.S. states. Without changes—such as competitive tax breaks or reforms to keep filming local—the outflow of jobs and economic activity will only accelerate. The conversation highlighted how what was once the heart of American entertainment now struggles to compete on its home turf.

The decline is not abstract. Fewer major films and television series are produced in California compared to previous decades. Studios face mounting financial pressures, with some filing for bankruptcy protection amid reduced output. Productions have migrated to Georgia, New Mexico, Canada, and overseas locations offering better financial deals. This shift has ripple effects beyond the industry itself, costing thousands of jobs in everything from crew work to supporting businesses in Los Angeles.

Spade’s comments arrive against a backdrop of broader celebrity concern over California’s direction. Actors like Jon Voight, who has long spoken out on these issues, have described Hollywood’s deterioration as a slow-motion crisis. Appointed in January 2025 by President Donald Trump as a special ambassador to help revive the industry—alongside Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson—Voight has emphasized the need for aggressive measures. In interviews, he has compared the situation to Detroit’s manufacturing collapse, warning that without intervention, Hollywood risks the same fate.

Voight has praised Trump’s willingness to back plans that restore competitiveness, including proposals like 100% tariffs on films produced overseas to discourage outsourcing. He has stressed that the issue transcends politics: it’s about preserving an American institution that once defined cultural influence worldwide. “We’ve got to roll up our sleeves here,” Voight said. “We can’t let it go down the drain like Detroit.”

The pattern of leadership failures in California extends beyond entertainment. High taxes, regulatory burdens, and policies that have driven businesses and residents away have compounded the challenges for Hollywood. While Spade’s podcast remarks focused on the entertainment sector, they resonate with larger questions about governance in a state that once symbolized opportunity and innovation. When even a comedian known more for his humor than political commentary feels compelled to call out specific officials, it signals how deeply the problems have penetrated.

Spade himself is no stranger to Hollywood’s inner workings. His career took off in the 1990s with “Saturday Night Live” and sitcom success, giving him firsthand perspective on how the industry functioned at its peak. His sarcasm in blaming Newsom and Bass carries the weight of someone who has seen the transformation up close. The lot he reminisced about was not just a workplace; it was a microcosm of what made Hollywood thrive—creative energy, steady work, and a sense of shared purpose.

The stakes remain high. Hollywood’s struggles affect not only those in the industry but the broader economy and cultural landscape of the United States. If productions continue to leave, the loss of skilled labor, tax revenue, and prestige could prove difficult to reverse. Spade’s straightforward blame assignment serves as a wake-up call: leadership matters, and when it falters, even icons of the industry notice.

As more voices from within Hollywood speak out, the pressure on state officials grows. Whether through policy changes, incentives, or federal support, addressing the root causes will require more than rhetoric. For now, Spade’s words stand as a stark reminder that the lights on the lots are dimming—and someone needs to turn them back on.