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Normally, I don’t do music. (As I often say, I have enough trouble dealing with the scoundrels in Hollywood that I can’t possible take on the crooks in the recording biz as well.) That said, I was leaked the following memo which may be of interest to many of you, especially after the recent death of Pierre Cossette. (I’ve edited out some IDs):
From: Tisha Fein
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: (no subject)Here is the letter that went out. The responses have been amazing. Basically saying no one can imagine the Grammys without me:
Dear _________
I am writing to all of you to let you know that Ken Ehrlich informed me that after 30 years in my position as Talent & Coordinating Producer of The Grammy Awards, he wants to make a change and has personal issues working with me. He said it has nothing whatsoever to do with the “quality of my work”on the show. It is totally his decision, but told me he’s gone to Neil Portnow and Jack Sussman to enlist their support.
I have treasured working with all of you and have given my “heart and soul” to the artists appearing on the Grammys. I fought hard to keep a level playing field and give as many artists a chance as I was allowed…
Ken also told me the other reason he wanted me gone, is that he feels I take the artists side over Production. I do care deeply about how artists are treated, and also feel I also know what is best for the show, am collaborative with Production and try to strike a fair balance. I always strive to make the Grammys a great and rewarding experience for everyone who participates: Artists, Labels, Managers, Agents, and Publicists, bands and crew. All have an important role in the success of the show, and that should be acknowledged and often isn’t.
I honestly feel I am the best for the job and have earned all of your love and respect over the many years I have done the Grammys,
I have treasured working with all of you and look forward to doing so on all my upcoming shows.
Love & Appreciation,
Tisha Fein
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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God, can’t anyone leave a job without embarrassing themselves with this kind of whining. She’s been doing this for 30 years and chooses to leave like this? Awkward x 100. Retire already, you’ve worked for 30 years, go relax.
I think it’s brave that she’s fighting for her job. Only in show business could someone get away with firing someone else for personal reasons when the employee performs their job well.
and as for you Chris…I can’t wait for someone to put YOU out to pasture and then tell you to go relax. You’re gross and heartless and the reason this business is disgusting.
Tisha is the Grammys. What a shame. The talent won’t like this. Life won’t be the same without those calls from Tisha — and no one knows the stars and the show like she does. Major bummer.
Based on this letter, I would say Ken was right.
The Grammy Awards are boring and have been for many years now… why not a fresh take?
then fire ken, not Tisha. He drives the creative on the show!
Isn’t that position the equivalent of a cocktail hostess? Who cares? If you get canned, go quietly. If you write letters questioning your boss’ judgment, maybe that’s the reason you got let go in the first place. I venture the guess the Grammy’s will go on just fine w/o Tisha.
If the people posting here knew Tisha Fein at all, they would know her letter has nothing to do with whining, but comes from the same passionate place all the blood, sweat and tears she gave to the show for the last three decades also come.
Tisha was the face of the Grammys to the record labels, the publicists, tour managers, talent assistants, and the artists themselves. She personified that show, and worked tirelessly to keep it fun and interesting. The fact that some may have found the show at times dull or out of touch was never Tisha’s fault. She fought to feature new talent, but was often forced by Ehrlichman or the Cossettes to go with the same ol’ same ol’ each time (CBS should take some blame too). She was merely responsible for filling the performance slots that that dinosaur Cossette, his son and Napoleon-esque little Ehrlichman allotted her.
If the show needs a new look, I think Portnow should get rid of the Cossettes and Ehrlichman. The C-E dynasty has loomed over the production for as many decades as Tisha worked on the show. It’s a dynasty that reeks of cronyism (no surprise, while television, it’s still the same old record business). The Oscars brought in an entirely new team of producers, not just new talent executives, and it worked. While Tina was SO much more than a just booker, perhaps Neil should consider a complete overhaul if he wants to freshen up the show.
Uh, let’s hold on a second here.
Ken Ehrlich’s move here has nothing to do with Tisha — but rather trying to ease out John Cossette, Pierre’s son, from the executive producer job. It’s his second step in the consolidation of his power.
Tisha, like director-producer Walter Miller, are Cossette fans and have been loyal to the show for decades — and are very good at what they do. Now, they are both gone.
It’s no secret that Ken is gunning for John, and has done everything deviously possible to get Portnow and Co. at the Recording Academy to turn the keys to the kingdom over to him. (One presumes that with Pierre’s passing that a contract between his company and the Academy expired, which probably had granted him (and his company & John, effectively) the exclusive right to the produce the show, since Pierre created the telecast in 1970. Now that he is gone, it probably leaves John vulnerable to someone like Ken).
Ehrlich — the ambitious, Hollywood Napoleon (redundant, I know) — just wants everything for himself on the Grammys now that he’s proven to everyone that his skills as a producer on other shows are questionable (he, the architect of the “Reality” Emmys last year, as well as that miserable Emmys 4 years ago where Donald Trump sang the “Green Acres” theme).
He’s protecting his one, full-time job because with the crash of the music business, he cannot count on one-off, star specials funded by Sony/Columbia (Mariah, Celine, etc., etc.) — and no other network (other than CBS, where the guys over there love him; has anyone ever figured out why?) will hire him after that Emmy fiasco.
What Ken did to Tisha is lame — and not right. Booking talent on the Grammys, like the Oscars, has more to do with fielding offers, than beating the bushes and begging for people to come on the show. Tisha did a wonderful job — and there’s no reason to suggest that anyone coming in to replace her is going to improve the position.
Return the job to Tisha; keep John C as executive producer; and keep an EYE on Ehrlich.
Give me a break! Tisha, you had thirty years, count your blessings.
I agree with production, “Based on this letter, I would say Ken was right.” Geez!
The Grammy’s are pretty boring but Tisha has nothing to do with the production of the show. She deals with the musicians.
Out w/the old, in w/the new. And of course this won’t mean anything if Ehrlich exchanges her for another over-the-hiller.
Linda Publicist, NO, Tisha Fein is NOT The Grammys! And HOW do I know? I’ve canvassed my office of 45 employees and asked each if he/she watched The Grammys because of, Tisha Fein. ALL 45 of ‘em looked at me blankly and asked, “Who?” Tisha, my love, just like a 6-month, Hollywood marriage, your time’s UP!
You moron. Linda was talking Tisha being the face of the Grammys to the people in the music business that count. Not your 45 employees.
HaHa!!!! I guess she told you. And it’s true! Who gives a damn what your 45 dumb-ass employees think? It was the people in the industry she was talking about! Why don’t you add you to the bunch and make it 46 dumb-ass employees!!!!
Tisha has always done a fantastic job and is a pleasure to work with. This is really a shame.
Agree with the above. The Grammys, like most award shows, seem hopelessly corny and out of touch. No matter how lovely and amazing I’m sure Tisha was, she’s old guard, old ideas, old school. And you know what they say… out with the old, in with the new. Sorry Tisha, the Grammys will go on without you.
Must be a slow news week… It’s Ken’s ass on the line then he has every right to work with the team he wants.
I don’t know who leaked the letter to you but if I were a producer it would tell me to never hire Tisha Fein because you never know when it will come back to embarrass you in the future.
Nice gig to lose but her sacking will not stop ONE performer from trampling over her 30 years of service to get on the stage. Please post if any of them hire you as their aide de camp…you’ll get lots of posts and tons of gift baskets but probably not one job offer from any of them. Publicists, agents, or talent. Meat baby meat.
Airing dirty laundry is not classy…
Ah Ken, are you that insecure?
You are NOT the artists singing and performing, dont over value yourself- you should be replaced by a younger Director who has a clearer, fresher direction for this stale show-
I bet you cannot even name five top artist now, do you even know about Facebook or Twitter??? How sad you kicked a woman out of her home after 30 years of putting this show together-
I will pray for you in hopes you find the BALLS to pick up the cell phone( if you have one and can see the small font) and call Tisha to tell her she is hired back….. ( how do you sleep at night, why would you want to hurt someone towards the end of their career ,shame on you) I laugh when i see you wag your tail around celebs, you are such a wanna-bee with the in crowd, too bad the in crowd is much taller and younger)
I’ve found in all the years I’ve worked in this business, the most powerful, successful and creative executives, as well as the biggest stars, usually are the most down to earth and nicest people I’ve had the pleasure to know and work with. TISHA is one of those people.
Ken (among others that I’d love to mention, and will one day, if I win the lottery) are NOT!!
His actions and attitude is the epitome of of one not only taking themselves too seriously and abusing whatever “power” they (think) they have, but also, that this will last forever..rather than “this too shall pass”.
Tisha not only gave so many artists their chance on the Grammy’s, among so many other shows, but she gave YOUNG people that worked for her, their opportunity to move on and up and become top industry movers and shakers themselves!
What have you done for anyone like that lately Ken?
anonymous
Trish was a nice lady, as part of the Talent production staff she always made you feel welcome and appreciated.
As someone who’s worked on the Grammys for years, it seems bizarre and frankly silly to me for this to become a matter of public debate in which everyone seems in a rush to see heroes and villians. These are all good people who’ve come together to put on a great show year after year. So as someone who’s quite fond of Ken and Tisha, I would suggest that rather than use this forum to spread nasty gossip, we wish everyone well — and watch the show next year.
With all due respect to Tisha Fein, Ken Ehrlich is the heart and soul of the Grammys. Say what you will about him, but you can’t dismiss the fact that the guy loves music and he knows his shit…even the new artists. And, trust me, the artists respect him for it. I’m no fan of the Grammys (or any award show for that matter), but I do watch it for the interesting pairings of performers that they always have. Making TV is whole lot harder than picking up the phone and booking talent based on casually flipping through Billboard, it’s about creating memorable moments. Trust me, that’s Ken…NOT Tisha.
With all due respect to Tisha Fein, Ken Ehrlich is the heart and soul of the Grammys. Say what you will about him, but you can’t dismiss the fact that the guy loves music and he knows his shit…even the new artists. And, trust me, the artists respect him for it. I’m no fan of the Grammys (or any award show for that matter), but I do watch it for the interesting pairings of performers that they always have. Making TV is whole lot harder than picking up the phone and booking talent based on casually flipping through Billboard, it’s about creating memorable moments. Trust me, that’s Ken…NOT Tisha.
I’ve worked with both Ken and Tisha over the years. Ken fired me once (unceremoniously!). Tisha got me a really great job once. But DESPITE that, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I’m gonna have to side with Ken on this one. Tisha has been cruising along for years on thin ice, constantly out of touch with the music (and televisoin) business. Her ideas, when she bothers to have them, are weak. But the worst, is her entourage of dozens of rotating “assistants” who take care of her and protect her from the real world. (They even chauffeur her around like a queen sometimes!) Instead of complaining, Tisha should THANK Ken for keeping her expensive ass around for so long!
With all due respect to Tisha Fein, Ken Ehrlich is been the heart and soul of the Grammy Awards. Say what you will about him, but you can’t dismiss the fact that the guy loves music and he knows his shit…even the new artists. And, trust me, the artists respect him for it. I’m no fan of the Grammys (or any award show for that matter), but I do watch it for the interesting pairings of performers that they always have. Making television is whole lot harder than picking up the phone and booking talent based on casually flipping through Billboard, it’s about creating memorable moments. That’s Ken…NOT Tisha.
Wow. A lot of misplaced venom here. While all of us who know and love Tisha truly feel sorry for her, we shouldn’t be converting our support for Tisha into anger towards Ken over what was, I’m sure, a very difficult decision. I’ve worked with Ken on countless productions, and he has had virtually the same team in place on all of his shows for years. Decades, even. To me, that says he is extremely loyal to his staff (and they to him). None of us posting here will ever know the complete reasons for this split, so the all of these comments (mine included) are pure speculation. We should all wish Tisha nothing but the best, but we should offer that same support to Ken, as well.