I recently was connected to a group of veteran media folks who convene once a month at a deli in the San Fernando Valley for lunch. It’s one of those throwback places that hasn’t changed the menu or the decor since the last time I had been there–more than two decades ago. Like the patrons, the name of the place has changed but the vibe has not. It’s one of those places that I once mocked as an “alta kocker hangout”–in those days, it was open much later in the evening and therefore much emptier when I’d go with a bunch of folks for a post-mortem after a support group meeting. Now, apparently, at least on the surface I’m an alta kocker myself.
At our most recent schmoozefest a one-time colleague of mine with a long history in research of her own joined the gang–turns out she went out on a blind date with the same person that had invited me. Apparently he lied about his age by a significant enough margin to piss her off. In his defense, he sees himself in a similar but more exaggerated light as I see myself–we don’t look it, we don’t act it and fortunately for the most part our physical health is pretty darn good. If we’re now in a world where people can identify as non-binary, I can identify as someone a decade or two younger. Well, his form of apology was to invite her to our lunch, since she too carries an AARP card.
When the crowd had cleared we caught up on our lives, at one time far more intertwined than they’ve been of late. She’s moved on to a different career as I have, though it’s clear she’s far more comfortable with the reality than I am. Her poignant lament was that we were the last of our kind–research executives in an industry that actually valued them who learned from our bosses and took great pride in preparing our staffs for their eventual ascension. We both tried to think of examples where the next wave of leadership could come from–or even what sustainability those we trained are having where every merger and acquisition seems to eliminate more and more positions–especially those that carry higher price tags. None came to mind.
Which is why I was actually quite happy to soon after see this blurb from yet another seasoned veteran, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Rick Porter: A week after a heavy round of layoffs, the company is reorganizing its linear TV business under George Cheeks, chair of TV media at Paramount. The changes will add cable outlets BET, Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon (among others) to Cheeks’ portfolio in the TV Media division alongside broadcast network CBS. As part of the changes, Laurel Weir, previously executive vp and head of programming, strategic insights and research for Paramount Media Networks (the previous name for the cable group) will lead programming and global acquisitions for Paramount TV Media.
Now I don’t know Weir personally; she’s been primarily New York-based during her two decades going back to the Viacom days. The last time her name even came up in the trades was about two and a half years ago where she indeed ascended as my generation intended, as THE WRAP’s Lucas Manfredi reported:
Kim Lemon, Paramount’s executive vice president of data strategy, research, scheduling and programming, will exit Showtime after 34 years to “embark on his next chapter. Throughout his tenure, Kim has played an integral role in Showtime’s evolution from a linear network to a bonafide streaming service, establishing a first-in-class data science group,” Showtime, MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks president and CEO Chris McCarthy said in a memo to employees. “He is a pioneer in brand strategy, always prioritizing our content and being mindful of how it would inform our growth while showing great reverence for the creative process and our audience’s feedback.” …Weir, MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks’ executive vice president and head of programming and strategic insights and research, will step in and expand her purview to now include Showtime. She will report to McCarthy on the programming and strategy side and Paramount executive vice president and chief research officer Colleen Fahey Rush on the research side.
And indeed she is replacing Rush this time around on the research side, while also adding responsibilities once held by another longtime friend and colleague of mine who also recently embarked on her next chapter. Which is a darn good thing for Weir’s career stability since it fully elevates her out of what is not only perceived by far too many internally as a non-revenue generating line item, it also carries a lot more outside respect. Witness how the ever-snarky Sean McNulty of THE ANKLER reported Weir’s news in yesterday morning’s WAKEUP newsletter:
- Programming Head for all PAR cable networks: Lauren Weir, who came up in the Research group . . . and will still lead that group across all TV Media too in addition to doing this job, which probably tells you all you need to know about how PAR is viewing the cable TV business in the late 2020s.
Crissakes, Sean, you could have respected her enough to spell her freaking name right!!
Trust me, I heard the same sort of snark–and sometimes far worse–when I made the transition to head of acquisitions within FOX. At the time, the actual jobs were separate, but the nature of the company–let alone my experience–never took me fully away from the research world. My new division frequently brought me in to discuss detailed issues with measurement with our stations’ research directors, and my peers and friends at who were now my vendors who held those jobs were often brought in where they had previously not to help figure out ways to better try to sell me something than their existing pitches designed for the less astute were. If you’ve actually been in the sausage factory where you see what goes into those casings, you’re a lot more reluctant to binge on them blindly.
I’m confident Weir brings those skill sets to her newly expanded role and, from my own experience, I know it will make her a damn good deal maker. And please don’t think I’m the only precedent out there; the gentleman who holds a similar acquisitions responsbility to hers now across Disney, my one-time FX colleague Chuck Saftler, began his career in research. For the moment, Disney still has enough respect for research to keep it as a separate entity. But a coupla bad quarters in this day and age–and one never knows.
And I’m also not naive that putting all of this responsbility on Weir’s plate at the expense of folks I actually do know and have histories with is a telling sign that practically supports my lunch buddy’s lament. I also know that whenever the phrase “embark on their next chapter” is thrown out it more often than not means it wasn’t necessarily voluntary.
So while I’m celebrating Weir’s ascension I’m also putting it out into the universe that it sure appears that she might be able to benefit from some help when things get particularly busy. May I remind all–Weir in particular– I’ve worked in companies run by Jeff Shell and I know full well how he sees the idea of large staffs. It’s one reason he allowed me to get deeply involved in the other businesses under his purview. Why hire full-timers and add to head count when you can just borrow from within when necessary?
I’m resigned to the reality that my days in such an annointed executive position are over. I’m not resigned to a reality that keeps me fully out of an industry I know I know a lot better than many and a little better than most. And it’s because I’ve been among the few that have actually been able to be both a researcher and an acquisitions executive. You belong to a pretty exclusive club, Laurel.
It sounds like you’re going to be spending a lot more time on this coast–maybe even relocating. Since I’m aware you’re a long-suffering Giants fan, the timing couldn’t be better. We actually have NFL teams that compete for the post-season. I’m sure you’ll be taking full advantage of your CBS privilages to get to SoFi as often as possible. I highly recommend the chicken loaded nachos; they’re way better than just about anything you might have experienced at the Meadowlands.
And that’s really all I’m hoping for, Laurel. A face-to-face meeting, comparing notes of who and what we both know. So that you can see I’m still relevant and worthy. Maybe you might have a need for a consultant who can match your skill sets since you might not have too many experienced colleagues to draw from? Maybe you might at least know someone else personally who does?
I’m still self-confident–please don’t call it arrogant–enough to think I’m worthy of that. We’re a very select group–I know to many I do know we do consider each other sort of a family. And if nothing else–know that one day perhaps not as far off as you might prefer you too might be “moving on to your next chapter”. I’d like to think you’d expect to be treated to an occasional meeting at that point, too.
When your busy schedule allows, let’s try to do a lunch? I promise not to take you to an alta kocker deli.
Until next time…