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Variety finally got around to bare-bone reporting today my detailed scoop from June 5th and 6th about Bob Shaye's and Michael Lynne's new company, its first-look deal with Warner Bros and the hiring of Mark Kaufman. Trade rehashed 12-day-old news.
And... Variety did a 180-degree reversal from Friday to Monday to reflect my more accurate info that Sony had lied to the WGA writers about working for the IATSE toon Sit Down, Shut Up! At first, on Friday, the trade accepted Sony's spin that the scribes knew all along it was an IATSE show. But then the story was rewritten for Monday's edition to say: "Now, it appears likely that some execs may have given assurances to scribes without fully understanding they couldn’t deliver. After weeks of promising that a WGA deal was in the works, the execs finally broke the news to scribes that it wasn’t happening."
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I wonder if Variety asked any of the writers about their situation, or just took the Sony press release to heart.
Variety may “suck”, but it is still a far more complete overview of the news than I get here. Granted you do occasionally have a scoop or news ahead of the trades and even the mainstream media (which is why this is a daily stop for so many) but as much as you may like to malign Variety, it is a pretty good picture of what’s up around town on a daily basis. (They can probably point out hundreds of “scoops” or just plain news they’ve reported before you. . .)
Just had to chime in since your headline was kinda bratty.
But we alway knew you were awesome! And Variety get lamer and lamer as the days go bye.
Good for you.
Those poor execs. They just didn’t understand. They weren’t lying to anyone. Because everyone knows that no one who works for the studios would EVER lie to anyone or try to screw them over. Not those innocent studio execs. Why, they’re like Shirley Temple. Except taller. And with sharper teeth.
If there had been any doubt in my mind after the strike coverage as to which side Variety’s bread is buttered on (and there wasn’t), it would be eradicated by this latest shoddy excuse for journalism. Shame, Variety!
Dear Nikki,
Your blog is a daily read for me and your sources are unparalleled. That said, can you please stop with the juvenile headlines.
Look I get it, you’re journalistic prowess is far superior to that of Variety. But there’s really no need to be so childish about it.
Reading “TOLDJA!” makes my skin crawl.
Got to agree with theTVaddict… what is this, High School? Settle down… Reporting this is almost like REPEATING the old news yourself…
I like the Toldja’s. True they are annoying and make the skin crawl, but both Variety reporters and Nikki have a job of being insiders. The only difference is that Nikki does her job while Variety reporters don’t or do theirs or do it in such a shoody way that Variety can be considered a rag compared to DeadlineHollywooddaily.
Now “Rag” is an unfair title to bestow on such a publication as Variety, but they deserve it after they get some “facts” wrong regarding a FOX show, report news that Nikki has broken 12 days ago, and reports Box Office news five weeks late.
As for this site, I suppose you could call it a “Rag” as well, but you can give your opinion in blogs and Nikki does that right here. While the trades were playing the tune of the AMPTP, Nikki was playing “Let’s Make a Deal,” which was the focus of almost every post from October (2007) through February. Finally, almost everybody loves her Oscar coverage which included a 2007 post where she spoiled eight things to expect on that show. All everybody has to do is click the Oscars section under archives and they will find that post.
I’ve always thought Hollywood was high school with money and lawyers.
Nikki..that was why you won all the awards. Breaking news, scoops, in-the-know news etc.. Just like ‘
TVaddict’ said, your blog is a daily ‘MUST-READ’
Please don’t stop what you’re doing cause you are the damn best thing out there in Lala Land
Variety sucks big time. Should have renamed themselves ‘ Lack-of-Variety’
Pfff! Print media.
…Then again, I do love fossils.
The best part is the “Oh I’m relevant too! Really!” aspect of Variety’s big nasty in residence Peter Bart’s new blog. HILARIOUS. It’s like watching Mr. Burns trying to play Grand Theft Auto with the younger demos.
SAGwatch.net hates NF and DHD, NF hates Variety. It really is classic Hollywood penis envy. All these toldja’s are just NF’s feather fluffing. Stick to what you do best- report the word on the street. Leave the shit-talk to the ten-percenters.
Oh please, Variety breaks TONS of news every week; casting/director announcements and useful info like that. Do we see that stuff here? Um, hardly ever… Variety is still quite relevant. Deadline H’wood is good for Box Office News (cuz we can’t get that anywhere else), updates on contract talks (worthwhile, no doubt), and learning how much everyone else is inept and “sucks.” (Class act journalism, there.)
Shimmy,
Variety doesn’t “break” news. It publishes press releases and announcements that are given to it by PR firms.
Nikki is an actual journalist.
A journalist gloating over a scoop. Naw. Really? Who would have thunk?
And in this town, a person gloating over their success…. No way. Unthinkable. A cause for umbrage. This town is the mecca of the understated.
Nikki,
I don’t mind your toldjas when they set the record straight. YOU, my Dear, are one of the only Independent Journalistic sources we Artists have.
Love ya, Nikki. Don’t change a thing.
Here are the punishments/rewards for the WGA strike.
(Detention is defined as 3 hours after 5 PM local time.)
Patric Veronne and the rest of the WGA leadership get 2 days of detention for striking in the first place.
DGA leadership gets 1 month of detention for rushing to a deal with the AMPTP while the WGA was on strike.
The AMPTP negotiating team, minus Nick Counter, gets a 1 month out of hollywood suspension for driving the WGA to strike, not negotiating in good faith, and causing Nikki Finke to get sick.
Nick Counter himself will be expelled from Hollywood for directly causing the WGA strike and being the main obstacle to a good deal.
Finally Nikki Finke, the doll of our hearts, and the face behind this great site, gets to skip a grade for the wonderful reporting during the strike.
Yes, this is a school and as principal, I have rendered my verdict.
ANNOYING! TIMES 10!