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The Final Dakar · Dec 6, 2013, 02:22 PM

Tom has multiple shows on the network. For some reason I assumed it was for TNT, but is this for all his shows? Seems weird that one guy can just easily supplant another, rather than taking it on a show by show basis.

subego · Dec 6, 2013, 02:43 PM

That's one of the reasons this ultimately isn't too surprising. He only has one other show.

The Final Dakar · Dec 6, 2013, 02:44 PM

It wasn't surprising the moment he moved to LA. We've been waiting for the other shoe to drop for how long?

subego · Dec 6, 2013, 02:48 PM

One year.

I had just started to think I could allow myself to be comfortable with him, and that he might not go.

subego · Dec 8, 2013, 07:27 PM

Lessin
McCracken
The Padre

starman · Dec 8, 2013, 11:08 PM

So biting my tongue on this...

subego · Dec 9, 2013, 05:28 AM

Looking into how Twitter has exploded over Tom getting ganked, it's been pointed out Tom, Veronica, and Molly are freshly unencumbered.

That'd be a force to be reckoned with. Even more if Shwood and Jury went along. Massive built-in audience.

Jawbone54 · Dec 10, 2013, 11:31 AM

Was...not...a...fan of the last show. Bored to tears.

subego · Dec 10, 2013, 12:49 PM

It was amateur Kremlinologist time for me over Tom Merritt, so I was pretty rapt.

Frankly, that was the top tech story, just like when Tim Stevens left Engadget.

The Final Dakar · Dec 10, 2013, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Was...not...a...fan of the last show. Bored to tears.

With the riveting McCracken? How is that possible?!

My ipod copy seems to have no sound, so bullet dodged, i guess

subego · Dec 10, 2013, 01:03 PM

Still trying to read between the lines. The best I can surmise is they were in the middle of lengthy negotiations and Leo went "**** it", likely based on having Elgan becoming available.

This explains why Tom is acting blindsided while Leo claims the opposite.

Here's a telling pair of tweets:

@millgroup: @acedtect Leo spent the afternoon positioning things as a 6-month inability to come to terms on contract. True?

@acedtect: @millgroup The truth is that Leo decided that TWiT needs an in-studio anchor for TNT, and a News Director. inside.TWIT.tv | ...the revolution will be streamed... - Blog - Changes at TWiT, Part 1

Shaddim · Dec 11, 2013, 01:09 AM

Truth, is Leo's ego as inflated as it appears? I know he tries to come off as "oh, gosh darn", but I've always felt that it's fake as hell. Not that I think it matters much, in terms of his show content, but dealing with him on a personal level appears to suck balls.

subego · Dec 11, 2013, 01:44 AM

It could very well be. I'm beginning to feel more that way.

I mean, I'm sure he's always had a big ego, it's more a question of how it manifests.

ort888 · Dec 11, 2013, 01:16 PM

Yeah, I think his on-air persona and real life persona are probably very different. That's the vibe I get.

The Final Dakar · Dec 11, 2013, 01:18 PM

Leo definitely has an ego; if you guys are implying he's threatened by Merritt, well that I haven't picked up on. I could see it, but that'd be sad.

subego · Dec 11, 2013, 06:00 PM

I don't think it's a threat issue.

I heard Tom say something telling yesterday. He was brainstorming on G+ with chat and said "I want to focus on content. I don't want to run my own network because I've seen what that's like, and I don't want to do that [emphasis added]".

If you look at the other public, employment meltdown at TWiT (Erik Lanigan), they seem to have a common factor of a massive breakdown in communications.

That one statement from Tom puts several years of his behavior in focus. He wanted to be Leo 2.0, and realized that was not for him. I have extra sympathy for his position because I used to think I wanted to be a producer. That's where the money is, and that's who's calling the shots.

The thing is, that's ultimately a people job. I didn't get into film because of people, I got into it because I love the tech, and I love the artistry in using it effectively. It took me a while to realize I'm just fine with my job not being more than that.

To be fair, that decision also kinda ****ed over my business partner in terms of the course we had plotted for the ship. It worked out though. After a long hiatus, my ex-partner is now my boss. I'm thrilled with this. He deals with people, which is his strong suit, and I deal with gear, which is my strong suit.

Back to Tom. It's clear he made this decision pretty early in his tenure, but it was entirely unclear to Leo.

Jawbone54 · Dec 12, 2013, 05:23 AM

Listen to Leo get uppity on MacBreak Weekly 378 for a glimpse of his ego. The facade comes down for a few minutes as he goes off, vaguely in the direction of Andy Ihnatko. It's uncomfortable.

subego · Dec 12, 2013, 02:48 PM

I saw that at the time.

Frankly, I thought Andy was full of shit.

The Final Dakar · Dec 12, 2013, 03:05 PM

Care to clarify for those of us who don't watch MacBreak?

subego · Dec 12, 2013, 03:08 PM

Andy's thesis: Apple doesn't have a press blacklist, it's just some people serve their needs at certain times, and they have limited space at things like keynotes.

Leo's counter thesis: You're on crack, or you're trying not to say anything which gets you on the blacklist.

The Final Dakar · Dec 12, 2013, 03:11 PM

lol

Yeah, there's definitely both a preferred and banned list.

subego · Dec 12, 2013, 04:25 PM

And I read Leo's getting ticked as how someone who's on the blacklist would react to an insistence the blacklist doesn't exist.

ort888 · Dec 12, 2013, 07:36 PM

Yeah, I saw that. Andy is so wrong on this one. They totally have a black list.

He's either deluding himself or blowing smoke to stay on their good side. Either way, blech.

Leo's statements were a little egotistical, but they were also factually correct. In a normal world, Leo Laporte would be having his butt kissed by Apple.

I also find apple's random press access to be pretty shady. I mean, it's their prerogative and all, but when they do things like invite you to 2 out of three press events, and give sites like the verge pre-releases of all sorts of things but not other things, you have to ask why? Why would the Verge get an iPhone early but not an iPad?

Apple is just playing games with these people.

Shaddim · Dec 12, 2013, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Andy's thesis: Apple doesn't have a press blacklist, it's just some people serve their needs at certain times, and they have limited space at things like keynotes.

Leo's counter thesis: You're on crack, or you're trying not to say anything which gets you on the blacklist.

Yeah, I saw that. I think Andy lives in Andy-world, where all of Apple's shit smells like honeysuckle and roses.

Shaddim · Dec 12, 2013, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

Yeah, I saw that. Andy is so wrong on this one. They totally have a black list.

He's either deluding himself or blowing smoke to stay on their good side. Either way, blech.

Leo's statements were a little egotistical, but they were also factually correct. In a normal world, Leo Laporte would be having his butt kissed by Apple.

I also find apple's random press access to be pretty shady. I mean, it's their prerogative and all, but when they do things like invite you to 2 out of three press events, and give sites like the verge pre-releases of all sorts of things but not other things, you have to ask why? Why would the Verge get an iPhone early but not an iPad?

Apple is just playing games with these people.

At one time I was on Apple's HW test list, but once I started doing the same with other major manufacturers, whose names start with G & S, they dropped me like a hot rock. Why? Because they found out from a third party, still not 100% sure who, and I didn't tell them upfront (or so they claim). How is that their business? I signed NDAs like everyone else, I wasn't sharing trade secrets. I think they just wanted to try and show me who's boss, when all they did was push me to branch out to other brands for my personal use. That was smart, huh?

It really helped put them into focus for me, and showed just how petty those brats in Cupertino truly are.

starman · Dec 12, 2013, 11:00 PM

Tom's doing a new thing. Hot off the press.

Daily Tech News Show

subego · 08:54 PM

Leo's sorta trying at least (@acedtect is Tom)

The Final Dakar · Dec 13, 2013, 05:03 PM

Like Tim Stevens I assume he'll be picked up real soon.

subego · Dec 13, 2013, 06:22 PM

I don't think Leo is lying when he says Tom will probably do better unencumbered by TWiT.

subego · Dec 15, 2013, 05:53 PM

Elgan
Dvorak

The Final Dakar · Dec 18, 2013, 01:29 PM

It's early to judge, but Elgan does not excite me and the thought of TNT and the network in general getting older seems like a big step in the wrong direction.

subego · Dec 18, 2013, 01:33 PM

So, begging Dvorak to work for you is not how'd you play it?

subego · Dec 18, 2013, 02:07 PM

I do agree, as a show which was supposed to set the tone, it set the tone at dull.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's possible Mike is a better news guy than Tom, but I think it's unquestionable Tom is a better TV guy.

Which is kinda sorta important if you want to do, umm... TV.

The Final Dakar · Dec 18, 2013, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by subego

I do agree, as a show which was supposed to set the tone, it set the tone at dull.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's possible Mike is a better news guy than Tom, but I think it's unquestionable Tom is a better TV guy.

Which is kinda sorta important if you want to do, umm... TV.

I'm also concerned about chemistry with the TNT crew. Not that I know who it is, but I believe Sarah Lane is on there so that's one young person.

Stogieman · Dec 18, 2013, 02:51 PM

Young? She's 37. That's like 45 in man years.

subego · Dec 18, 2013, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

I'm also concerned about chemistry with the TNT crew.

In what sense?

The Final Dakar · Dec 18, 2013, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

Young? She's 37. That's like 45 in man years.

She doesn't act her age. As for Elgan, I assume he's in his 50s. If not, tough break, dude.

The Final Dakar · Dec 18, 2013, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by subego

In what sense?

Age.

subego · Dec 18, 2013, 03:00 PM

Well, chemistry is it's own thing, but Sarah and Leo probably have the best chemistry on the network.

The Final Dakar · Dec 18, 2013, 03:01 PM

Leo doesn't act his age, either.

subego · Dec 18, 2013, 03:22 PM

Not a bad point. I don't see Elgan doing the jester routine.

subego · Dec 18, 2013, 03:24 PM

Best line was from the chatroom during pre-show. Elgan suggested Dvorak should market his own wine, chatroom said "call it 'Sour Grapes'".

The Final Dakar · Dec 18, 2013, 03:26 PM

Yeah, that's a sick burn.

Shaddim · Dec 18, 2013, 03:57 PM

Every time I think I have Dvorak pinned-down politically, he'll say something that changes my opinion. From what I can gather he's a lot like me, only older and crustier.

subego · Dec 22, 2013, 06:29 PM

Dvorak and I have a good deal of political overlap, but Curry is way off the reservation, and tends to drag Dvorak with him.

To be clear, I'm entertained by Curry, but he's psycho.

subego · Dec 22, 2013, 06:37 PM

Bott
Beja
Hiner

subego · Dec 23, 2013, 07:13 PM

Iyaz just quit the network to go to Cnet.

Merry Christmas, Leo.

The Final Dakar · Dec 23, 2013, 09:12 PM

No way that's unrelated to Tom's departure.

subego · Dec 23, 2013, 09:32 PM

It's in Leo's court to disabuse us of that notion.

Tom's new show started today. Iyaz was in the chat.

subego · Dec 23, 2013, 09:46 PM

For me, the key factor is if Shwood and Jury stay on.

Problem is, Leo doesn't quite understand what they have, and may not see the need to fight for it.