The 20 year anniversary of TV's greatest screw-up | RIP TV legend Ted Turner
It’s silly, but my favourite moment in the history of television was an interview on the BBC. This week marks its 20 year anniversary.
On May 8, 2006, Guy Goma walked into the BBC HQ in London to interview for a job as a data specialist. Interviews are stressful at the best of times and everything feels a bit heightened.
Guy Goma was moved into a room and asked to sit at a table. Moments later in came a news anchor and Goma realised things were about to go horribly wrong.
The man that was supposed to be in that chair was technology journalist Guy Kewney, leading to the understandable mistake where producer Elliot Gotkine brought Guy Goma into the studio to discuss the verdict in a legal case against Apple.
Watch the video as Goma realises what has happened, then as he just goes for it and tries to roll with the situation.
Goma didn’t get the BBC job. These days he works with people that have learning disabilities. Producer Gotkine soon left the BBC job. Nowadays he works as a freelance journalist and moderates conferences. The two have since teamed up to write a book together about the incident titled The Wrong Guy.
Is this story worthy of writing an entire book about the incident? I haven’t read the book, but I think we all know.
Note: To save you looking it up. Robert Kelly’s infamous BBC interview interrupted by his daughter Marion was on March 10, 2017.
RIP Ted Turner
Cable TV legend Ted Turner has died at the age of 87. A few weeks ago in the newsletter I was reflecting on the idea that Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is one of the all-time most influential people in the history of the TV medium. Ted Turner is right up there with him.
No man has had a greater impact on TV than Ted Turner, with his influence felt in the US through early investments in cable TV and the founding of CNN in 1980. His impact was also felt globally through the international expansion of CNN.
As the creator of CNN he is the guy responsible for the 24-hour news cycle.
While a lot of stories today will be focused on CNN as the founder of CNN, I think it’s really important to also acknowledge the contribution of its co-founder, the late Reese Schonfeld.
Schonfeld was an early satellite TV pioneer, delivering news stations with pooled news coverage. Turner first approached Schonfeld for information on the costs involved, then later engaged him again to work out how to launch a news cable channel. Turner brought the initial vision and (importantly) the money, but it was Schonfeld that made it all work.
Schonfeld has a really great memoir that’s worth a read: Me and Ted Against the World : The Unauthorized Story of the Founding of CNN.
Turner’s contribution to television didn’t end with CNN.
After Turner’s purchase of the MGM studio library of films, he went on to create Turner Classic Movies (usually referred to these days as TCM). A purchase of the Hanna-Barbera library similarly saw the creation of Cartoon Network.
In 1996 he merged his cable giant Turner Broadcasting System with Time Warner.
In addition to incredible wealth and influence as one of the 20th century’s most successful media tycoons, he had a number of other achievements:
Marriage to Jane Fonda (it didn’t last, but good on him)
He co-created Captain Planet and the Planeteers (it was supposed to get pollution down to zero. It didn’t, but good on him)
He walked past me once in Brisbane in 2001. He was in town for the Goodwill Games.
There are, obviously, quite a number of articles and obits about Ted Turner today. All are worth a read. My recommendations:
New York Times has a great obit
CNN has an even better obit. All of the great pics I’ve published here are from this CNN obit
Deadline has comments from rival Rupert Murdoch and current Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav
THR provides context on the transformational impact of CNN
THR also reflects on Captain Planet
Atlanta News First has a video story about Ted Turner and Captain Planet
While Jane Fonda hasn’t yet commented, Deadline has video of her talking about the contribution of her “favourite ex-husband” to cinema through the founding of TCM.
News Desk
FX / Hulu has confirmed what we all knew: The fifth season of The Bear will be its last. The show returns with all eight episodes available June 25. Read: thefutoncritic
Oscar Isaac is closing negotiations to star in Netflix’s new Untitled Vegas series from Billions creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien. JC Chandor is directing the first two episodes. Read: Deadline
HBO has made it official with a second season greenlight on the new Harry Potter series. Read: THR
UKTV has acquired 420 30-minute episodes, comprising Aussie soap Neighbours first two years on air, starting in 1985. Read: C21
PBS Kids is rebooting the ultimate Big Dog, Clifford. Read: THR
I’m always delighted when I see Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David sharing time together, so was frustrated that I’d not be able to see their interview at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival. But, good news… the event was part of a live podcast taping, so it’ll be in my earholes soon. Here’s a summary of the event… Read: THR
Hope Valley: 1874, the prequel series to When Calls The Heart, has been picked up for a second season. Read: Deadline
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins has been renewed for a second season at NBC. Read: THR
Apple TV has ordered thriller series Disavowed, which is set to star the man of the moment James Marsden in the lead. Read: THR
I was a big fan of the narrative podcast American Hostage. Jon Hamm, who voiced the lead character will star in the MGM+ TV series adaptation which has just had a ton of international sales including HBO Max in France and Movistar Plus+ in Spain. In Australia it will stream on Stan. Read: C21
Trailer Park
Elle debuts on Prime Video July 1.
Season One of Elle follows Elle Woods before she was a fish-out-of-water at Harvard. We meet her in 1995 as a fish in the tumultuous waters of high school where she encounters tricky friendships, forbidden romance, and questionable fashion choices. Through it all, Elle uses her family as a touchstone, and forms an even tighter bond to her mother, proving that they can get through anything life throws their way as long as they have each other. With each challenge she faces, Elle grows closer to the Elle Woods we know and love today.
Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine debuts on Netflix May 15.
Hungry for a new heist, Berlin summons the gang to Seville and turns an ambitious duke into the victim of his own plan: to steal a Da Vinci masterpiece.
Propeller One-Way Night Coach was written, directed, narrated, and produced by John Travolta. It debuts on Apple TV May 29.
Set in the golden age of aviation, a young airplane enthusiast, Jeff (Clark Shotwell), and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime.
County Rescue returns for season 3 on Great American Family.
Dragon Striker debuts on Disney+ June 10.
Blending European fantasy with Japanese animation influences, the series follows an underdog hero's journey, brought to life through high-stakes battles, visually stunning action and expansive mythology.
Deli Boys is back for season 2 May 28 on Hulu./
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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