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Nobody knows better than agents that payback is a bitch. So the publisher of an autiobio by the former TV honcho at the William Morris Agency, Sam Haskell, has smartly timed the release to the WMA-Endeavor merger. I and other journos got a taste this week, and the book bashes Jim Wiatt for forcing out Haskell and other key board members in what was a 2004 palace coup. At the time, many thought Haskell left on his own. Instead he was blindsided. Things got so bad that Sam sought solace at his church. He was that rarity among top Hollywood TV agents: goyim. WMA knew from Italian-Americans in its midst (affectionately dubbed “faux Jews”) but not from Haskell, who hails from the spit-sized town of Amory, Mississippi. There’s even a street named after him. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if this book is a precursor to Haskell, a Republican, running for Congress with the help of his Mississippi buddy Trent Lott, the ex-Senate majority leader. Oh, and here’s what is also hilarious: the book is repped by Endeavor.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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That is funny. Endeavor is repping the WMA book, but wouldn’t touch the Ultra-Unauthorized Harvey Weinstein book. Now what do you think would sell more copies???
Love ya Nikki!
Glad you’re back.
More than 3 people will read this book…trust me.
I was there and saw how Jim and Aaron Kaplan pushed Sam out. Sam got paid out a pretty penny for giving us his board seat. Sam was a pretty good agent, but there is one thing everybody will say about him and that is he is a classy guy unlike Jim Wiatt and Aaron Kaplan. Aaron is a pig and pigs eat shit. Aaron talks and eats shit. You don’t need to know Aarron to know that, one can take a look at him and see that he is a pig. The way he treats and yells at his assistants and the support staff is uncomfortable to watch. It’s amazing how agents who make money for the company are allowed to behave this way. Someone needs to put their foot down and not allow this behavior anymore. It is destroying Hollywood and has already destroyed the William Morris Agency. Sam was one of the good guys and good guys never last in Hollywood.
Hey, why does someone taking solace in their faith elicit a response like “Huh?” The Industry – like the world in general – can be a brutal, ugly place. Having some spirituality in your life can help shield you from that ugliness and brutality… Or at least keep you from internalizing it.
well,it will be funny.
it is interesting how people like smoller get a bonus when haskell didn’t, no?
sam haskell was pushed out for being a good guy and a fair negotiator while still protecting his clients. i guess wiatt wanted him to be more of a greedy shark. since sam left WMA has gone to shit. if not for mark geiger and mark itkin, that place would have crumbled to the ground. wiatt and his band of brothers are jokes.
I’m sure it’s full of vitriol for Wiatt and all (and well-deserved vitriol, no doubt), but the notion that Haskell “timed the book release” for the Morris/Endeavor merger is ludicrous. This release date’s been set for over a year, if you look back at Ballantine’s schedule. Happy coincidence? Definitely. Uber-evil/good-genius plot? Hardly.
Sam, was a great agent at WMA and got pushed out. He is too classy a guy to take cheap shots at any of the people who rode WMA into the ground. i look forward to reading his book and learning about how he handled all the bullshit and backstabbing of Hollywood and remained a man of his word. In this business it is easy to take cheap shots at anyone or anything that does not appear edgy but in the long run talent and quality rise to the top of the heap sometimes.
Good luck with the book Sam and screw the weasels that root for everyone else to fail.
tp
I remember Sam Haskell. Great guy and a true gentleman. A rarity in the business. Good luck to him, and glad to see you’re back in the saddle, Nikki.
I have to tell you. These last few weeks at WMA, I have rediscovered Catholicism. I haven’t said a rosary since the 12th grade, but found myself in church on Good Friday saying a rosary so that this too shall pass. It seems silly in a godless town, but yes, you need more than just a good lawyer to deal with this crowd.
Sam Haskell’s an old buddy of mine a good egg but his son Eddie Haskell is a real creep always trying to be nice to me and June just so he can get my boys Wally and Beaver in big trouble. Of course Eddie would make a good talent agent but he’s still a very bad boy. Nothing like his old man.
It has become abundantly clear that Jim Wiatt is a fraud….and a complete weasel….Sam Haskell is a good man…always treated people well…then you have Dumbo Wiatt and his little Trooper sniffling Dave and they go on their merry way….
Hollywood raises awkwardness to an art-form.
Sam Haskell is one of the true gents in the business. On the
‘God” front Nikki, at least somebody is seeking help from above — the heathens who remained at WMA are definitely seeking from below. Dear Satan, It’s Jim. Should I throw 150 of my colleagues into the ocean so I can enrich myself? Yes, Jim that’s what I would do. In NYTIMES today they are reporting that during a Haskell /Wiatt squabble, Wiatt through a plate of pasta against a wall, screaming “I need control; I need control.” You got it, Jim — and look what you did? How about a vote to toss that loser to the street.
I worked in an industry that didn’t suit me. But I’m an egomaniac so I’m writing a book about how unfair that was for me. And to drive home my superiority, please note that I’m also churchy. Thanks, SH.
I’m sure Sam had nothing to do with the release date coinciding with the WMA Endeavor merge, that would be the publisher. He’s not that clever. I’d wait til the book is in the discount box to get it. That shouldn’t take long
Haskell was a snake – don’t be fooled.
Ironic he claims Wiatt undermined him, particularly on the outside – that’s what Sam was an expert at, so he could be seen “solving the problem” -
Lol@ Mighty Mouse, that was funny. It was probably true too, but funny nonetheless.
Those who commented on Sam Haskell probably didn’t work with him. Most at WMA thought he was probably the most rotten person they had ever worked with. I concur and he wasn’t even in my department.
Another day in agent world…The number of those who actually read the entire book vs. the coverage will be the real truth.
Ex-WMA for an Agent/Snake while Sam was Head of Television. Only two people I respected in the biz – Sam Haskell and Ron Meyer. Only two people I valued respect from – Sam Haskell and Ron Meyer. When I voluntarily left Sam tried to keep me – Agent/Snake went to the mattresses to destroy me – wasn’t going to stay in the biz so “you’ll never work in this town again!” didn’t carry much weight. To this day I still feel bad that Sam heard the Agent/Snake venom and I never knew until it was too late. Sam was/is truly an honorable man, integrity. Proved one could be successful in the biz without being a total jerk. He was a pleasure to work with and I learned a lot from him. I’ll bash when bashing is due..this isn’t one of those times. Good Luck Sam! If you run in ol’ Miss I’ll move home and biz there to support your win.
Men are such fools, who make a mess of everything with their childish petty games and fragile mental states.
sam was creepy…VERY creepy – i didnt buy he southern hospitality….
@Biz – you’re not helping our cause by generalizing sexist comments right back in their face.. this is a PEOPLE problem, not a MEN problem.
Reading all these comments over the past couple of weeks have been fun. Lotsa interesting memories, including the coup of 2004/2005 that coincidentally happened (if anyone remembers) around the time Wirtschafter slip up in The New Yorker when we lost a lotta clients.
But anyway, let the slugfest continue.
PS – Anyone up for an EXWMA Shakedown party! Woo HOO!!!