Left Coast Bias
-
Left Coast Bias: A Self-Hating Journalist Comes Around (a Little)By Ben Grossman, June 20, 2009I used to claim that working at a television trade brand, I had the least important job in the world. I mean, what is more banal than writing about television for people who work in the television business? Recently, I think I helped chase a young journalist out of the profession. Just let go from his job, he came to me to talk next steps. More
-
Left Coast Bias: Oh, Calm Down: Late Night Is a MarathonBy Ben Grossman, June 13, 2009It's amazing what happened last week in Universal City when David Letterman's ratings eclipsed those of Conan O'Brien for the first time on the night of June 9. According to my well-placed late-night moles, to say NBC went into unabated panic mode is an incredible understatement. The morning after being honored at a big dinner in New York, Jeff Zucker jumped on a flight to Los Angeles for an em... More
-
Left Coast Bias: Joe Buck's New GigBy Ben Grossman, June 6, 2009
The first night of any new talk show tends to stink. And that's where Joe Buck is getting screwed. His new HBO show Joe Buck Live debuts June 15. But with series airing only four times a year, his second show won't be until September.
More
-
Left Coast Bias: Sports Is Still the Biggest Game in TownBy Ben Grossman, May 30, 2009Let's play a game called “See if my bosses read my column.” Last Wednesday, I was holed up in a bar in the middle of the day. Well, technically it was for work. I was in a Santa Monica pub watching European soccer's version of the Super Bowl with a couple of network execs who shall remain nameless. More
-
Highlights and Lowlights and Cougars, Oh MyBy Broadcasting & Cable Staff, May 23, 2009If you skipped the upfronts in New York last week, here's a quick primer on what you may have missed while you were apparently setting your computer to speed-dial for Kris Allen. Come to think of it, the week included a performance by LL Cool J and a show called Melrose Place, so if you were at the upfronts in the 1990s, you didn't miss much at all. More
-
B&C’s Grossman Is People’s Choice for Mirror AwardBy B&C Staff, May 21, 2009Wins People’s Choice for commentary in Newhouse School awards More
-
Left Coast Bias: Time for Nets to Restore Some FaithBy Ben Grossman, May 16, 2009Not long ago, I was in a pre-upfront meeting with a few network executives—some of the ones who had the guts to actually talk just before the upfronts—when I asked one of them to tell me what their hot projects were. When one started to recite some of the bigger bets, another exec interrupted, looked right at me and started to laugh. More
-
Left Coast Bias: Confessions of a Twitter CynicBy Ben Grossman, May 9, 2009Here's how clueless I really am: One day a long time ago, a friend called me and I told him I would call him right back on his cellphone. When I dialed his digits, I was immediately met by the theme to a popular TV show. Figuring it had gone right to voice mail, I hung up and dialed again. Again, no ringing, just the same song. More
-
Left Coast Bias: Live Together or Die AloneBy Ben Grossman, May 2, 2009I always love this time of year. Baseball season is kicking into gear, sundresses are back, and my annual trip to Alaska to try to reel in the biggest fish ever hooked by a Jew (halibut, not gefilte) is on the horizon. And in the TV business, it's the season of good old behind-the-scenes smear campaigns, when broadcast network execs trash everything about the other guys. More
-
Left Coast Bias: This Is Gonna Hurt a Little BitBy Ben Grossman, April 25, 2009In general, I consider myself pretty unflappable. For instance, I haven't had a legitimate panic attack since 1995. And I don't know from angry grudges—even against, say, Northwestern University, which rejected my undergrad application. (And it's not like I still show bitter joy toward their pathetic athletic department, just because I ended up at Boston University, home of hockey's natio... More
-
B&C Receives Mirror Award RecognitionBy BC Staff, April 22, 2009Editor Ben Grossman's Left Coast Bias column finalist for commentary honor More
-
Left Coast Bias: A Standard-Def Holdout Goes HDBy Ben Grossman, April 18, 2009B&C's editor-in-chief breaks down, gets a high-definition TV and learns that the Yankees still stink in HD. More
-
Left Coast Bias: My Advice for Peter RiceBy Ben Grossman, April 11, 2009
B&C Editor-In-Chief Ben Grossman offers three specific tips for the new Fox Broadcasting chief
More
-
Left Coast Bias: Lopez Show Won't Be Par for the CourseBy Ben Grossman, March 28, 2009
George Lopez is responsible for one of the best moments in my life, not including my marriage, kids' births and especially the Minnesota Twins' World Series titles. So I probably shouldn't be writing about his upcoming TBS late-night talk show. But here's why I think his show has a real chance.
More
-
Left Coast Bias: Fox Business Network Needs to Answer the BellBy Ben Grossman, March 21, 2009Okay, it's pop quiz time. Let's say there are two networks. One of them, which has bombastic personalities firing out declarations that draw heaps of headlines and buzz, has seen its credibility come under fire recently. The other is decidedly below the radar, quietly going about its days with a relatively toned-down approach. More
-
Left Coast Bias: Comedy Central Got-R-DoneBy Ben Grossman, March 7, 2009I've learned a lot from my redneck brother-in-law. My wife's brother taught me how to blow a bird out of the sky with a shotgun, and haul a 100-pound halibut into a boat and finish it off like a 'roided-up Yankees third baseman. So long, entire vegetarian readership, and good riddance. Go eat a steak already and get over it. More
-
Left Coast Bias: All Eyes on CBSBy Ben Grossman, February 21, 2009
Despite Les Moonves' signature optimism, CBS's relative lack of revenue diversification is increasingly troubling to investors in this marketplace.
More
-
Left Coast Bias: MLB on TV Will Be A-OKBy Ben Grossman, February 14, 2009The A-Rod steroid scandal stinks on many, many levels; but it won't hurt Major League Baseball as a TV product one bit. More
-
Left Coast Bias: As Seen On TVBy Ben Grossman, February 7, 2009
What does B&C Editor-in-Chief Ben Grossman have in common with 30 Rock’s Liz Lemon? Hint: Questionable taste in art.
More
-
Left Coast Bias: NBC Could Use 'Lipstick'By Ben Grossman, January 10, 2009Given the state of its primetime, NBC should reconsider letting Lipstick Jungle go or look for a partner like Oxygen to keep it on the air. More
Advertisement
Advertisement