SOURCES: NBCU’s Lauren Zalaznick In Talks To Become MTV Entertainment Prez

COMMENTS (46)

• mtv is no longer a music video channel if you want music videos go to VEVO.com

  Comment by mediaman — Saturday December 12, 2009 @ 4:35am PST  Reply to this post

• Have to agree with anon. As someone who worked with Lauren when she was at VH1, the woman is anything but a class act — she’s obnoxious, crass, self-promoting. When you treat people like shit they get rid of you unless you have hit shows under your belt…which was what happened when she got fired from vh1. She had one hit show she developed – POP UP VIDEO – and because of that she thought she was the cat’s meow…until John Sykes canned her and Gaspin.

  The irony in all of this is that MTV is just going down the tubes and doubtful anyone can save it at this point. Yes, Jersey Shore has certainly garnered some press for the network but is that the type of programming they are proud of — Come On! Van Toffler is still yearning for the days of Beavis 8 Butt-head, all Tony DiSanto does is post articles on Facebook everytime someone writes something positive about one of his shows. They need to clean house over there — that place needs fresh blood. Steve Friedman as GM of the channel — another person who has no idea what’s going on. Too many SVPs and EVPs running around scared shitless for their jobs. Take it from me, I still work there and the place is a sinking ship.

  Comment by insider — Saturday December 12, 2009 @ 7:23am PST  Reply to this post

  • BEHIND THE MUSIC. STORYTELLERS. VH1 FASHION AWARDS.

    “John Sykes canned her and Gaspin.” Hmm. Seem to think they’ve done pretty well since…

    Comment by Insider? — Saturday December 12, 2009 @ 10:18am PST  Reply to this post

  • Agree with both Insider and Anon. Zalaznick is nothing more than a self-promotion machine. Check out the archives of the NY Times Magazine to read the most self-indulgent, self promoting ‘in her own words’ article about herself and her shock at being fired from VH1. She was responsible for Pop Up Video and that is all. I have worked with her at VH1, Trio and Bravo and she is a completely inept manager. Awful creative executive. And all around odd bird.

    But the one thing that she does exceptionally well is manage up. She impresses morons like Gaspin and Zucker with her catchy ad sales speak (a term she coined? ‘Affluencer’ – a combination of influence and affluence to describe Bravo’s audience. Neato, huh?) and flashy in-house presentations. She arrived at a network on a massive upswing and took all the credit for it (even though she had little to do with it), but she made sure the dipshits at the NY Times thought it was her – with glowing articles about her programming prowess. Believe me, she has none.

    As far as her and MTV/VH1 – it won’t make a difference. Judy McGrath and Van Toffler and all the ridiculously untalented, scared shitless executives under them have completely raped the networks for all they’re worth, leaving a black hole, money losing heap of crap. And they still run around and talk about how their programming is ultimately unimportant because MTV is the star – the brand is the star. So like Zalaznick, they too are self-promoting whores – so it’s a perfect pairing. Forget how the steak tastes like shit, the waiter’s hilarious.

    Every month the geniuses at MTV/VH1 come up with a new marketing plan to cater to their audience, and every month they lose more audience. They had their moment in the sun – and it’s over. Judy McGrath is nothing more than a glorified ad copy girl who lucked out. Why Redstone and Daumann keep her there is a mystery to everyone. The fact that they would be looking to Zalaznick as some sort of saviour is, ultimately, not surprising considering the retards they have in power positions.

    Comment by someone who knows — Saturday December 12, 2009 @ 3:51pm PST  Reply to this post

    • Please remove chip from shoulder and re-post. She’s moving up, you’re not. Suck it.

      Comment by eyeknow — Saturday December 12, 2009 @ 9:48pm PST  Reply to this post

    • Agree that she is malicious executive who succeeds by stepping on others.

      I’ve watched person after person pitch shows to her that she had never heard of but her response was ” Oh we have a show just like that in development”

      I’ve watched those that suckle her get far until they look to move to become independent then she steps on their throats.

      She’ll go far again at MTV and take it to it’s death finally…

      Comment by another who knows — Sunday December 13, 2009 @ 8:17am PST  Reply to this post