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
NOTE: This piece also appears today on our sister site, www.thedoubleovertime.com. Happy 4/20 Day to those who celebrate. From the looks of things from my perspective, that’s a more significant sector of my world than, say, those that celebrated last month on 3/17, and those who will celebrate next month on 5/5, (Though plenty, of … Read more
I can’t begin to tell you how many so-called friends begged, screamed, cajoled, pleaded and spent countless hours trying to sell me on the concept of settling disputes by spending money . Whether it was in the form of a legal settlement, or simply to buy someone a meal or a coffee to make amends … Read more
I’m a passionate advocate of research, and I’ve spent decades running staffs, negotiating literally billions of dollars of business with providers and clients, and garnering relationships and even some friendships with many I’ve dealt with. But being that I’ve spent most of that time outside of New York, and largely less involved in day-to-day negotiations … Read more
Just because I defended, apparently with a lot of blowback from Coastal Elites (of which I suppose I at least once qualified as), WBD’s informed decision to remove the letters HBO from MAX as of this summer doesn’t mean I don’t understand what and why shows worthy of being on it are so beloved. In … Read more
Of all of my career accomplishments, I relished my time as head of strategy and acquisitions for Game Show Network perhaps as much as any. While the network wasn’t as popular or as significant as some of my other stops were, I was being handsomely paid to indulge in a passion, rubbed shoulders with talent … Read more
I needed a drink and an escape last night. It’s that time of the month, so to speak. If you scroll down to the bottom of this entry, you’ll have an idea where my head, and my net worth, are at this writing. But at the advice of someone I respect, I’m trying to call … Read more
Of course I’m a fan of THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL. I was born into a world at a time where the series has been lovingly and meticulously set in, recreated in the few New York City neighborhoods that still resemble the early 60s time period that we have found our provocateur and her family and … Read more
For all the critical hype (and my hard-earned dollars) AIR received last weekend, the theatrical box office was overwhelmingly titled toward a film not featuring a single three-dimensional human actor, essentially retold a story that began 40 years ago with a 16-bit monkey rolling barrels and seemed to shock the world. As THE WRAP.com’s Jeremy … Read more
It’s been a bad week for HBO in some ways. Logan Roy is no longer with us and, soon, neither will the HBO name that had been affixed to the streaming service his old show SUCCESSION airs on. As J. Clara Chan of THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reported this morning: The wait is over. Warner Bros. … Read more