Commentary

Behind-The-Scenes Media Business Drama May Bring Financial Gain -- And Better Foot Care?

by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, March 1, 2011

Behind the scenes, you can only wonder what goes on among the rich, powerful, and seemingly Teflon-resistant lives of big media executives and talent.

It's always good to keep your opponent off-balance. Attack first, ask questions later. Intimidation always works, on or off the air. Compromise? Deals? Those are for losers. For dramatic effect and even possible higher net worth, go for what you want -- with attitude.

Roger Ailes, chairman of News Corp.'s Fox News, allegedly did just that when it came to Judith Regan, a former employee at News Corp.'s HarperCollins Publishing. Regan taped a phone call in which Ailes allegedly told her to lie to federal investigators about her relationship with former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and other information. The report surfaced in The New York Times, through court documents.

Whether in front of the camera or behind it, it's these kind of stores we cling to -- looking for the bad guys, the good guys, and the next installment. Charlie Sheen? We can only hope for another press interview. What's on the lucid mind of TV's highest-paid actor never fails to entertain. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Of course, lawsuits and court documents give us another level. In his quest for damages, Sheen wants to virtually double his per-episode salary, file a lawsuit for $300 million, and have those at CBS apologize "while licking my feet." Kind of a tall order, metatarsically speaking.

Stories are even better when executives and talent think they are powerful, or -- as in Sheen's case -- without publicists who can steer them in some sort of friendly direction to a hungry press corps.

Wherever this story is going, it's sure to give us not only more interesting Sheen stories, but some inside-business dealings -- if not a shoe-shine or pedicure.

television, tv

2 comments about "Behind-The-Scenes Media Business Drama May Bring Financial Gain -- And Better Foot Care? ".

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Douglas Ferguson from College of Charleston, March 1, 2011 at 5:47 p.m.
I don't find Charlie Sheen interviews entertaining in the least. He's clearly a mentally unstable person. He needs medical attention. It's not my uneducated opinion. Health professionals have already sounded alarms about his interviews.
The same people who would be repulsed by anyone laughing at mentally challenged children should think twice about "enjoying" a mentally disturbed person act out. It's sick voyeuristic behavior, either way. Shame on you.
Reply

Jon Sinton from Progressive Agenda, March 1, 2011 at 6:46 p.m.

Thanks to Douglas Ferguson, I no longer have to post. But I will reinforce his point, shame on you for not knowing the difference between a mentally ill person and an entertaining one. I presume you have no children. At least I hope not.