Category: The TV Biz

Herbie J Pilato Tells Us What It was Like to Meet Elizabeth Montgomery

by Herbie J Pilato

I’ll never forget the day I first heard Elizabeth Montgomery’s voice on my answering machine, trailing off and on tape, in bits and pieces, with a chipper, near stuttering rhythm.

I had been attempting to contact the iconic Bewitched star for months. William Asher, her former husband and the show’s core producer/director, had been playing matchmaker for us, recommending that she speak with me.

“You really should talk to Herbie,” he told her on more than one occasion. “He is sincerely concerned with this entity known as Bewitched.”

“He never tells me that I should talk to anyone,” Elizabeth would later share with upon our first meeting.

But she talked with me. Elizabeth welcomed me into her hushed world….

Read it all at medium.com

Writer/producer Herbie J Pilato is the host of the TV talk show THEN AGAIN WITH HERBIE J PILATO, now streaming on Amazon Prime and the author of several pop-culture/media tie-in books. He has been part of TVWriter™ for over 20 years and is Contributing Editor Emeritus. Learn more about Herbie J HERE

Last Week’s Most Important Cord Cutting Developments

Cord Cutters News gives us the latest on the cord cutting front! Roku’s Strong Quarter, Mulan’s Premium Premiere, New Hulu Menus, & More!

Cord Cutters Video Channel: https://twitter.com/CordCuttersNews
Cord Cutters Web Site: http://cordcuttersnews.com

Oh, and you can even buy a nifty coffee mug so you can settle back and sip while you watch

Latest on WGAW Connect

What has our Writers Guild done for us lately?

Glad you asked because the Guild has a wonderful answer in Writers Connect, a short newsletter members get every week. (See? Another good reason to bust your butt to qualify and join.)

Twitter Celebrates WGA-ICM Agreement

After news of the agreement between WGA and ICM broke on Wednesday, there was an outpouring of support and celebration on Twitter. ICM became the second of the four largest agencies to sign a franchise agreement with the WGA, thereby clinching the sunset date on packaging for all franchised agencies. See some of the highlights. Read more >>

Antitrust in Tech Hearing

Why last week’s hearing was important to writers.

The House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee held a blockbuster hearing on “Big Tech” and its effect on American consumers and competition on Wednesday, July 29. Members of Congress presented compelling evidence that US antitrust law has failed to prevent Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon from conquering markets and quashing competition. Read more >>

Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying

Find answers and support through the Guild’s resources.

The Guild stands ready to advise and advocate for members facing unlawful discrimination, harassment, or bullying in the workplace. Contact the Guild’s experienced staff if you are interested in bringing a discrimination, harassment, or bullying claim; merely wish to have a confidential discussion about your situation; would like a representative to accompany you to file a complaint; or have been asked to submit to an interview regarding allegations of discrimination, harassment, or bullying.

Learn more about your rights and what the Guild can do on our Discrimination, Harassment, and Workplace Bullying FAQ page.

For more immediate support, contact Latifah Salom at (323) 782-4521, or email Latifah Salom.

 

WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA & ICM Partners Give Nod to New Franchise Agreement

Yesterday’s good news from the WGAW.

via Writers Guild of America West

August 5, 2020
Dear Members,

The WGA and ICM Partners (ICM) agreed to a new franchise agreement today. ICM may once again represent WGA members for covered writing services.

In line with the previous agency agreements the Guild has made, the ICM agreement protects writers in three fundamental areas emphasized since the beginning of the campaign:

Now that the WGA has agreements with both ICM and UTA, the packaging sunset period for all franchised agencies ends on June 30, 2022.
Contract, deal memo and invoice information will be provided to the Guild, allowing the WGA and the agency to partner in systematically addressing late pay and free work.

Strict limitations apply to agency ownership of production entities.
The terms of this agreement substantively match the deal signed with UTA in July. You can read a red-lined version of the franchise agreement here (reflecting changes from the UTA agreement). Click here for the list of all franchised agencies.

In solidarity,

WGA Agency Negotiating Committee

Chris Keyser, Co-Chair
David Shore, Co-Chair
Meredith Stiehm, Co-Chair
Lucy Alibar
John August
Angelina Burnett
Zoanne Clack
Kate Erickson
Jonathan Fernandez
Travon Free
Ashley Gable
Deric A. Hughes
Chip Johannessen
Michael Schur
Tracey Scott Wilson
Betsy Thomas
Patric M. Verrone
Nicole Yorkin
David A. Goodman, President WGAW, ex-officio
Marjorie David, Vice President WGAW, ex-officio
Michele Mulroney, Secretary-Treasurer WGAW, ex-officio
Beau Willimon, President WGAE, ex-officio
Kathy McGee, Vice President WGAE, ex-officio
Bob Schneider, Secretary-Treasurer WGAE, ex-officio

Herbie J Pilato Presents Michael Landon’s Remarkable Life

by Herbie J Pilato

Michael Landon enjoyed an astonishing career as an actor, writer, director, and producer. His success was all the more impressive given that he was relatively small in stature (5’9″), and retained a boyishness that would have robbed a lesser man of the aura of authority needed to attain his career heights.

Landon was a popular staple on television in the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s until he succumbed to liver and pancreatic cancer at only 54-years-old on July 1, 1991. But he will forever be remembered as Joseph “Little Joe” Cartwright on three of TV’s top shows, all of which aired on NBC: Bonanza (1959–73), caring father Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983) and Jonathan, the Angel, on Highway to Heaven (1984 to 1989).

“Grasshopper” Remember Charles

Actor Radames Pera, who portrayed “Young Grasshopper” on Kung Fu (ABC, 1974–1976), was later cast as John Jr. on Little House. Pera said Landon was “a consummate pro and real ‘actor’s director,’” but was ambivalent towards his fame, both embracing and suffering from it.

Read it all at medium.com

Writer/producer Herbie J Pilato is the host of the TV talk show THEN AGAIN WITH HERBIE J PILATO, now streaming on Amazon Prime and the author of several pop-culture/media tie-in books. He has been part of TVWriter™ for over 20 years and is Contributing Editor Emeritus. Learn more about Herbie J HERE