Monday, May 26, 2008

Puttin It Out There...

SO, MY SUGGESTON that the almost-omnipotent TV knowledge of Macleans TV blogger Jaime Weinman might make him a good consultant, or even CBC President, was met with some amusement by his Macleans colleagues.

It's not just Macleans, of course. Any TV writer with a decent working knowledge of the medium, or anybody who reads Desperate Networks, for instance, knows that bench strength at a network is a rare and incredibly valuable thing.

But sure, maybe it was an outrageous suggestion.

Or...was it?

NEW YORK, May 23, 2008 -- Frank Rich has signed on as a creative consultant to HBO, it was announced today by Richard Plepler, co-president, and Michael Lombardo, president programming group and west coast operations.

In this capacity, Rich will both initiate and help develop projects at the pay-TV network.

"Frank is one of the smartest and most astute observers of popular culture and we are thrilled that we can call upon his judgment and superb instincts," said Plepler and Lombardo.

Added Rich, "To my mind, HBO has always been the gold standard for some of the best work in television. I'm excited to be a part of this collaboration."

Rich will recuse himself from writing about HBO and Time Warner in his weekly OpEd column, which is largely about politics and public affairs.


See, Toronto media elite? Not a crazy idea at all. I mean, look...they do it in New York and everything!

3 comments:

Paul Wells said...

Jaime J's network would stomp a Frank Rich HBO.

Jaime J. Weinman said...

Jaime J's network would stomp a Frank Rich HBO.

Humbug, says I. Frank Rich's HBO will be non-stop Sondheim musicals and at least five sequels to Recount. That may have its problems, but I have to admit it would beat my programming ideas like "The Don Gibb Comedy/Variety Hour" and three-hour blocks of obscure '60s sitcoms.

Diane Kristine Wild said...

The thing is, I don't know Jaime personally, but he seems like a good guy - would you really wish the CBC on him? You're mean.