I came up in a media world that was on the last legs of the era so brilliant depicted in MAD MEN. Misoygnistic clients guiding subservient negotiators to pay as little as possible to buy time and space where options were often quite limited , especially on television (we didn’t call it video then). I … Read more
I have every reason in the world to despise Elon Musk. I nearly was side-swiped by a swerving Tesla while driving the other night, for which my rider blamed ME and dinged my record. I was appalled to see the celebration of his employees when his latest launch of a Space X rocket blew up … Read more
Jerry Springer died yesterday, and I was honestly stunned at to how many people in my professional and personal worlds were touched and impacted by this loss. While Springer was 79, few knew how severe the battle with pancreatic cancer that would claim his life was; as late as last week, he was actively giving … Read more
James Corden signs off tonight as the fourth and final host of CBS’ LATE, LATE SHOW, and in many circles it’s being lamented as all too quick a run. Corden only started in 2015, yet another out-of-the-box choice of former CBS czar Les Moonves, and was not among the 19 guest hosts that were given … Read more
You better believe I’m gonna watch a good old fashioned network tonight that celebrates the life and legacy of a good old fashioned variety show performer and host. Carol Burnett turns 90 today, and NBC will show the party she recently produced and taped that will remind those of those who made her Saturday night … Read more
Perhaps T.S. Eliot said it best. And he wasn’t even an anchorman. In a dizzying sequence of several minutes yesterday, one that despite any claims by either entity were not related to each other, two onetime rivals for primetime vierwership and parochial loyalty, FOX News’ Tucker Carlson and CNN’s Don Lemon, both joined the unemployment … Read more
Yesterday’s news of the shocking departure of NBCU’s top dog Jeff Shell hit me especially hard. I’ve made no secret of my deep admiration and respect for Shell, who ran the FOX Cable Network group during my period of ascent at FX, and who endorsed and embraced my ability to expand my purview and involvement … Read more
I intensely respect a dear friend who once headed marketing for networks and world class apparel companies. We don’t share a lot in common except our first names; these days, from what I can tell he’s far happier than I am. He lives overseas with the love of his life, runs a world class destination … Read more
I adore my best friend–seriously. Without this person, I wouldn’t be able to function or speak as honestly as I do nowadays. But sometimes, on occasion, I’m surprised by the degree of passion expressed when they opine about topics that most of the self-described “normies” that have populated my world would consider off-limits, and certainly … Read more
Media researchers, particularly those of us that were fortunate enough to steer networks and studios, used to be called “spin doctors”–people who could use creatively use data to paint a reasonably credible picture of dominance or momentum for an eager trade press and investment community. But in a world where increasingly the number of outlets … Read more