2023 has unquestionably been a year of losses for my most recent full-time employer, Sony Pictures TV. They bid goodbye to two veteran scripted series, THE GOLDBERGS and THE BLACKLIST, the last link to the three-headed presidency that I had the honor of working for, and plenty of my respected one-time colleagues that somehow seemed … Read more
I was all set to offer up a few musings on the circus of name-calling, posturing, futile public castigations and pleas for America’s votes that took place on the WEAKEST LINK-type set that was set up in the shadow of Ronald Reagan’s jet and legacy last night in Simi Valley. Once they all but ignored … Read more
With the WGA strike that fell mere days short of an all-time record now thankfully in the rearview mirror, with a 150-minute season premiere of DANCING WITH THE STARS mercifully going off on time without disruption, with Bill Maher already announcing that he will be back in his studio Friday night with an original episode … Read more
Look, I freely admit I am hardly in the demographic wheelhouse to be a Swiftie. I don’t have children who are, either, and, honestly, if I passed Taylor Swift in a hallway, I wouldn’t know who she was save for what I am certain would be paparazzi and swooning fans that would accompany her every … Read more
I write this with the disclaimer that, frankly, I’m hurting. I’m at a loss for words, and my doctors simply aren’t the immediately responsive types, but migraines are really starting to impact me, and the fact that it’s Yom Kippur isn’t helping. Sorry to say for all of you medical experts that it is most … Read more
I was going to devote today’s musing to the fact that despite my strong belief, based in large part on my own direct experience—yes, mostly positive—with Rupert Murdoch, that although he has released a statement that insists he is technically passing the stewardship of his companies to number one son Lachlan, there is little question … Read more
A writer once stopped by my old apartment to work on a script with my roommate, who was ostensibly collaborating with him on a “passion project”. While they were brainstorming, the writer took over the kitchen to prepare dinner for them, which included his “special sauce”, which he casually explained was “like the kind usually … Read more
So yesterday’s breaking news was all abuzz about Rupert Murdoch’s announcement that after a 70-year career helming the companies that eventually became News Corporation and the array of assets known as FOX he was at last stepping down from that position. As (ironically) CNN reported: Rupert Murdoch, the powerful right-wing media mogul who built and … Read more
Far too many years ago for me to be comfortable owning up to (ok, it premiered 48 years ago this month; happy?!!?) a breakthrough sitcom set at a Brooklyn high school called WELCOME BACK, KOTTER was appointment TV. While most of the fans from that era will recall the show being where we first saw … Read more
Nielsen’s monthly and eagerly anticipated snapshot on the world of video, THE GAUGE, dropped its August report yesterday, with its own PR firm (somehow spared from the recent budget cuts that cost dozens of highly experienced researchers their actual JOBS) prolifically chortling their version of facts to an overly salivating world of observers, investors and … Read more