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I’m told about 40 mostly producers and writers among the 200 in-house producing staff at TV Guide Network got pink slipped by Lionsgate yesterday. And another 35 or so freelancers in the studio/post/crew/operations group were also let go or had their hours cut back drastically. Yet zero employees on the executive floor were axed. 
“The managers say it wasn’t because of the economy or because the channel is losing money. It’s actually making money. It’s apparently a plan designed to make way for (or make money available for) acquisitions in the new ‘Lionsgate Era’,” an insider points out to me. “And what is the first big ‘genius’ acquisition approved by Lionsgate to ‘relaunch’ the network? The syndicated version of Ashton Kutcher’s Punk’d. Which has already run in syndication. Several times. And we hear they bought 4 theatrical movies to run — 3 from Lionsgate’s library, of course — and they are all big box office stinkers. And the movies are gonna run above the TV Guide listings ‘scroll’ because that’s how you want to watch a movie, on half the screen. That’s worth 70-80 people’s jobs?”
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Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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“Bitter and disgusting” doesn’t necessarily mean “inaccurate.”
These rants are incredibly asinine and immature. They may be intended to make those who are laid off feel a little bit better…It’s not working.
I AM one of the ‘ZERO’ people on the executive floor that was in fact laid off…and my direct supervisor is Lisa Germani. That is something I am incredibly grateful for.
I could choose to sign this post as ‘Anonymous’ or ‘Does it Matter Who I am’ but it’s easy to leave ones name when you speak the truth.
Good lord people. Adler is one of THE best at TVG Channel. As someone who has worked with him throughout the years I feel the need to defend the guy. He’s on top of his stuff.
Not only ‘ugh’ is your post uncalled for, I wonder how old YOU are? Angry and jealous much? Take it elsewhere.
I’m so appalled by these posts. I briefly freelanced at TVG a few years ago. Yeah, the management was questionable which the employees always complained about (not exactly unique to that company, BTW), but I was always struck by how much the employees stuck together there. There was no back-stabbing, there was no in-fighting, and most people seemed to socialize extensively outside of the office. AND they had staff production jobs, virtually non-existent in this business!
It’s upsetting and disappointing to see the staff reduced to these ridiculous, hateful — and anonymous (how very brave!) — comments. I have to believe they don’t represent more than a couple of people there… at least, I hope.
Some of the comments posted don’t even make sense: commenters (clearly producers themselves) calling the shows “shitty.” Didn’t you guys PRODUCE them? Saying the execs couldn’t get jobs elsewhere?!? HELLO, didn’t YOU PEOPLE work there too?!
And a small aside to the aptly named “Ugh” who commented above about PA, whom I’ve known for some time: you may have noticed he wasn’t there last week during the layoffs. That’s because he’s spent the better part of the last two weeks at the bedside of his father, who’s been hospitalized with a serious disease. …and you think it’s been “a tough few days” for you… ?! Maybe you should sniff around for some facts before you post again.
Who was responsible for hiring Lisa Rinna and the fat one? Now that was some bad TV. The sad thing is the people producing live events at TV Guide are self proclaimed “veterans” of red carpet shows. Really? Your pre-show is unwatchable. The academy awards is the most important weekend in Hollywood and the best you can do is lips on crack screaming at people. And the fat one pretending to drive across country. My God! What was that crap?
Well PA seemed awfully chipper for someone who had a rough 2 weeks. He was all happiness and digging his haircut. So spare me your drama.
These post are not appaulling…they are truthful. The execs running these shows are not providing the proper staffing and production time to make these shows happen. And they really don’t care. And it shows in the final product. There are a lot of frustrated producers who wish they had the time and resources to produce a show but the EPs and SPs aren’t giving it to them.
Are you kidding me?
I have worked with the talent department, as well as hair/make-up and Raf in the studio crew, for years. As a publicist, I have brought multiple people into the studio, your (former) 6922 and 1800 building. I have worked with the likes of many of your talent bookers (Lisa, Michael, Tricia, Fernnitaa) and producers. My experience has been better than that at CNN, MSNBC, Kimmel or any of the E! group.
Bitterness is ugly when directed at people, personally. Anyone attacking individuals obviously doesn’t know what it’s like to be an adult, living and working with real-life issues. Come in at 10. Leave at 5. Take a long weekend…Whatever.
We make television, people. Not cure cancer.
Taylor ur loyalty is admirable but it obviously didn’t make u a invaluable employee and can u really call it the truth? Ur story is the same as everyone elses. The place chose not to give u the opportunity to shine and ultimately let u go.
Maybe ur in denial but I give u until ur 2wk severance runs out until u realize that despite ur contributions u meant nothing to them. Don’t expect any support or loyalty from them. Cut the cord they already have.
U were one of the nice ones, where did u finish?
A small piece of advice from a freelance producer: it doesn’t seem like it right now, but those of you who got laid off may have actually been given a gift of sorts…
Everything Lionsgate has said about TV Guide is that they are not interested in original programming but rather want to buy shows. Already bought Punk’d and are negotiating for a dozen other series. A company spokesman even reiterated this IN PRINT after the layoffs (go to The wrap-dot-com and search “TV Guide Network” and see what they said). There probably won’t even be any in-house production by the end of the year.
So those of you let go now just got a HUGE gift: a jump on the (very very very VERY limited) job market. Better to be looking now when a handful of people with similar experience are doing the same — AND in the summer months when fall shows start crewing up! — than to have to do it when the other 100+ producers all start looking for work in a few months!
So heed the advice of an old TV Guider who now works on a network show — and yes, who got laid off from there once too — skip the blogs and start hitting the streets! Check out the TV Acad and PGA job sites — good leads! Read the “In production” list in the trades — good leads! Carpe Diem!
Publicist, I think that’s commendable that you’ve worked with these people once a week for a few years. You don’t work with them eight to ten hour days everyday. These people have a different perspective. When I was there, I noticed that the production staff worked 10 to 12 hour days everyday sometimes on weekends. The executives however were like bankers. They didn’t care about the people that worked for them or how hard they worked. The execs are vapid insincere managers. There’s a reason why the production staff have nothing nice to say. It starts at the top from Singerman down!
It’s funny that only once someone loses their job do they have the balls to express how they really feel. For those people trying to discredit the network and execs at the guide they should have left a long time ago if that’s how they really felt. Times are tough, we are not the only company downsizing, and working in the entertainment business these layoffs should have not come at such a surprise after the acquisition from Lionsgate. We all new it was going to happen, it was just a matter of when.
I feel for the people that have lost their job but taking it out on the company and the people that work here is rather childish. If you’ve worked in this business long enough you would know that TVGN is a great place to work and there is a great group of people at the company.
As far as programming, without a budget it’s hard to put on the most amazing television ever. For all the cut backs over the last year I think everyone has done a pretty outstanding job all things considered.
stop crying, buck-up, get your resume together and get a new job. It sucks;that’s life.
Sabrina – it’s sweet your loyalty to Lisa. Too bad she didn’t show the same loyalty to you when she handpicked you to get let go. Oh oops, maybe you didn’t realize that. If she wanted you – you’d still be there. Or perhaps she was too busy saving her own worthless butt.
Listen…You are all eventually going to get axed. It’s just a matter of time. So for those of you handing out the words of wisdom like “stop crying and buck up” You better get you resume together too cuz your next. When it happens… the job market will probably be worse and you will all be competing for that last position available on VH1′s awesomely baddest celebrity weightloss breakups of 2009. In the meantime…go ahead and discredit TVG. A poorly run network thanks to Singerman and his band of merry turds.
Anon- I’m looking for the axe but haven’t found it just yet. I’m not naive, I do expect it but spare me the scary doomsday outlook. I have been paying attention to the failing economy and rising unemployment and realize the job market sucks. This is part of life and whining about it doesn’t accomplish anything. I still don’t understand why you’re blaming Singerman? Who hired you? How long did you have a job? Why did you even bother working for TVG if you hated it so much? It sounds like you should be ecstatic to have been let go by your vile hatred of the company and the people that you worked with.
Interesting. Look, TVG gets no respect because of a lot of reasons. Take Singerman, he does hire friends of his dads kids, and former “foxers”. It’s very true. He’s going to be needing a job soon too, so he’s playing his cards. He knows nothing about entertainment and he’s brought in a lot of people who know nothing about entertainment. No doubt the Lionsgate guys know this, afterall he hired Lisa and Joey, speaks for itself.
It’s really sad. It’s not like it used to be. And, he got the job b/c of his dad, nothing new. He’s just a geeky college kid riding on daddy’s success, fantasizing about all those girls coming through his office that he could never get in college. He makes a lot of empty promises, again, nothing new. But, everybody talks about it, even his so called friendly execs. Somebody needs to tell him he’s earned a bad reputation in that area alone. I feel bad for his wife! He’s a major flirt and he’s bad at his job.
Huh…I didn’t know daddy got him the job. Well…I think everyone has figured out that Singerman isn’t qualified. Like Berta sayz “you can roll manure in powdered sugar but it’s still not a jelly doughnut”.
The good news…Hooters is right around the corner. He can have his farewell party there.
The people running this network would best serve the world as paper weights and door stops.
How about the fact that Greg Hughes is a fucking moron.
Greg Hughes is a big moron. He got rid of the one person who knew what was going on and took care of the crew. We’ll miss you Chris.
Come on…..I dare someone to name one person that’s GOOD! Let’s take this in a positive turn. There are a lot of them there. Give some credit.