Tess joined TheWrap as the company’s first reporting fellow in 2024. Tess is from Birmingham, Alabama and attended the University of Southern California, graduating with degrees in theatre and journalism. She also served as the executive editor for Annenberg Media, closely overseeing coverage of campus protests amidst the Israel-Hamas War.

Tess Patton
Experience:
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Melania Trump Lands Legal Victory as Judge Tosses Michael Wolff’s Epstein Lawsuit, Citing ‘Tactical Gamesmanship’
Wolff sued the first lady after her lawyers threatened him with a $1 billion defamation lawsuit for linking her to Jeffrey Epstein
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Xavier Becerra Unveils Plan to Protect Hollywood Jobs With Entertainment Summit, Tax Credits and AI Protections
The leading Democratic candidate for California governor says, if elected, he will expand the “scale, capacity and access” of the state’s tax credit program
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Colbert Bids Farewell to ‘Late Show’ With a Swan Song, Famous Friends and a Warning for Late Night
The host ends the show on his terms with help from The Strike Force Five, Paul McCartney, a giant wormhole and more
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Los Angeles Magazine Shredded for Its AI-Created Mayors Race Cover: ‘So Stupid I’m in Shock’
“Whether you love it, hate it, question it or can’t stop looking at it… this is the L.A. we’re living in,” the magazine writes on X
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Karen Bass Says She’s Ready to Cut More Red Tape for Local LA Production: ‘Whatever Is in the Way’
The incumbent mayor tells TheWrap why she took three years to appoint a film liaison and addresses the city’s preparedness for the LA28 Olympics
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‘Law & Order’ Mobile Game Launches on Peacock With New Cases Dropping Weekly
“Clue Hunter” marks the first title in NBCUniversal’s partnership with Wolf Games
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LA Mayor Candidate Adam Miller Calls for ‘Complete Overhaul’ of Film Production to Bring ‘Bread and Butter’ Jobs Back
The businessman tells TheWrap he will uncap tax incentives, allow no-fee use of city property and deputize a Mayor of Entertainment
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Final California Governor Debate Ignores Hollywood Issues Altogether
Seven of the leading gubernatorial candidates interrupted each other throughout another debate, in which they discussed education, affordability and Xavier Becerra’s fraud connection
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Spencer Pratt Denies Reports of LA Mayor Reality Show: ‘No Contract’ and ‘No Series in Production’
Multiple reports on an already-underway reality project from “AKA Charlie Sheen” producers Boardwalk Pictures are false, reps for the candidate tell TheWrap
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Dhar Mann’s ‘Unlikely Romances’ to Debut as Samsung TV Plus’s First Original Scripted Series | Exclusive Video
The four-part anthology premieres June 5 with new episodes airing weekly
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BET to Develop and Produce Microdramas With aTwist, Formatted for Multiple Platforms
BET will have a limited first-run window of the long-form episodes before they move to aTwist, formerly known as MicroCo, in a vertical format
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Spencer Pratt Says He Left Airstream Due to Safety Concerns of LA Mayoral Race: ‘You Can Literally Snipe Me Out From Any Part’
“I haven’t lived anywhere since my house burned down,” the former “The Hills” star says on TMZ Live
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YouTube Upfronts: 4 Alex Cooper Projects and Dude Perfect Among Avalanche of New Shows
“Recess Therapy” creator Julian Shapiro-Barnum will put his own twist on the late night talk show with “Outside Tonight”
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Spencer Pratt Never Lived in His Airstream Trailer After LA Fires, Stayed at the Hotel Bel-Air
“Hey guys, why don’t they wanna talk about why I need a hotel in the first place?” the mayoral candidate responds on X
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Issa Rae’s New Microdrama Series Nears 75 Million Views in First Week | Exclusive
The first act of “Screen Time” became the top performing vertical series to date on PineDrama and TikTok














