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March 4, 2004 #
Blood-Thurstday for Tina: Jesse The Oxfeld Edition Mediabistro Editor-in-Chief, Jesse Oxfeld, moderated "A Conflagration with Tina Brown" last night at La Belle Epoque. The night was fired-up by MB founder, Laurel Touby, with a story about having only ten friends in media after her first eight years in NYC. The pink boa draped around her had no comment. From here, things only got even more normal? Jesse is a seasoned Q&A pro and wouldn't dare T&A-kiss a media legend in front of a packed house annoyed at the cash bar and lack of free snacks. Instead, he did the opposite, not so much a 180 but more like a 540 because that's how far he roundly ass-pounded her in the other direction. It would have made a nice opening act for the Katie Couric/Jayson Blair interview. Since Jesse took the piss, shit, and vinegar out of Tina all night long (he even made her comment on the word "penis"!), it's only fair to analyze this discussion with the TOP's First Edition of JesseSpeakTM. JesseSpeak: "Your new weekly talk show on CNBC had an audience of 20,000 it's first night and 60,000 on its second. In television, those numbers mean no one watched it. Like, NO ONE." What it means: Mediabistro doesn't get 20,000 visitors in a month yet I still think I'm better than you. Tina's Reply: "CNBC hasn't had programming besides infomercials on Sunday nights before. We've gone up against Sex and the City and the Oscars. We can only go up." Takeaway: Cable talk shows are like launching a magazine. Also, if this show stays in the 8pm Sunday night slot it's gone in a couple months. JesseSpeak: "Are you under any pressure to reach a certain number of viewers after six months?" What it means: In six months I'd like to be your personal assistant, let's talk. Tina's Reply: "None at all, we have full support and commitment from CNBC. They've even put up a huge billboard advertisement on the West Side Highway." Takeaway: She'd rather be eating brunch at the Carlyle Hotel in full pantyhose regalia and a babushka scarf with Michael Wolff than answer one more of these questions. JesseSpeak: "Few people in magazine publishing provoke reactions from others quite like you. Why do certain people, how do I say this, DESPISE you so much?" What it means: (in this case, exactly what he said) Tina's Reply: "If you're just starting out or not very successful, you always take shots at the top. I would and did the same. I'm not offended by any criticism, I equate "obsessive stalking" to "unrequited love." Takeaway: On a personal note, I think she really nailed that last part, right? JesseSpeak: "The failure with Talk magazine was widely blamed on you. Do you regret the path of leaving Vanity Fair, then New Yorker especially since it makes money now?" What it means: Look, is that David Remnick over there? Tina's Reply: "No. I saved VF, defined an era, and set the New Yorker on the path to profitability. Si likes it up. I got it up. My work was done. I get antsy, I need to move around." Takeaway: Buy stock in antifungal creme. JesseSpeak: "You were once quoted as saying Talk magazine would have worked better on the web. What on earth were you thinking when you said that?" What it means: Crazy Lady, you drank the late 90's Kool-Aid. Tina's Reply: "I don't know, that was a stupid thing to say." Takeaway: Please get me some of that late 60's Kool-Aid and put me out of the misery of this interview now. Archives "The Other Page" powered by Removable Hype. RSS. Copyright © 2003 La Otra Página, Inc. All nights observed. Feel free to email "info(at)krucoff.com" for questions, comments, stock tips, and family gossip. |
