David Spade Blames California Leaders for Hollywood's 'Terrifying' Decline

The former SNL star says the film industry is dying, pointing fingers at Gov. Newsom and Mayor Bass

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:33pm

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Former Saturday Night Live star David Spade is criticizing California Democrats Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the decline of the film industry in Hollywood. Spade spoke of his dismay over the fall of Hollywood during a recent podcast episode, asserting that the 'Hollywood industry is dying' and blaming Newsom and Bass. Spade's co-host Dana Carvey agreed that the 'Hollywood studio system is dying' and said something needs to be done to save it.

Why it matters

Hollywood has long been the center of the entertainment industry, but it has faced significant challenges in recent years, with job losses and declining film production. Spade's comments highlight the growing concerns about the future of Hollywood and the potential impact on the local economy and culture.

The details

Spade brought up the bankruptcy of the CBS Radford Studio Center in Studio City, California, a major film studio facility that has hosted decades of movie and TV productions in Los Angeles. Spade said he remembered being on the lot when filming 'Just Shoot Me' and seeing Jerry Seinfeld riding his bike, calling it 'the greatest lot' before it filed for bankruptcy. Carvey suggested that to save the industry, there needs to be negotiations with unions and tax incentives to compete with other production hubs like Romania.

  • In 2025, Hollywood lost 17,000 jobs, an 18% increase from the previous year.
  • Earlier this month, Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, who is the president of the Directors Guild of America, said employment for his members is down about 40% and the trend marks a 'very worrying time for the industry'.
  • FilmLA reported that filming permits in Los Angeles had declined 16% last year, on top of a 50% decline since 2018.

The players

David Spade

A former cast member of Saturday Night Live who is now criticizing the decline of the film industry in Hollywood.

Dana Carvey

Spade's co-host on the Fly on the Wall podcast, who agreed that the 'Hollywood studio system is dying' and said something needs to be done to save it.

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic governor of California, who Spade blames for the destruction of the film industry in Hollywood.

Karen Bass

The Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, who Spade also blames for the decline of Hollywood.

Christopher Nolan

The director of Oppenheimer and the president of the Directors Guild of America, who said employment for his members is down about 40% and the trend marks a 'very worrying time for the industry'.

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The takeaway

Spade's comments highlight the growing concerns about the future of Hollywood and the potential impact on the local economy and culture. Despite efforts by local leaders to support the industry, the decline in film production and job losses suggest that more needs to be done to address the challenges facing the entertainment industry in California.