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Back to Which Way, L.A.?

Which Way, L.A.?

Hollywood and Lew Wasserman's Legacy

America demands to be entertained, and the death of Lew Wasserman puts a spotlight on how and why entertainment happens. Wasserman was not as well known as Hollywood titans like Sam Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer or Jack Warner. He is known to have said, -publicity is for clients.- But it is Wasserman who created the TV series and summer blockbuster movies that made Hollywood studios rich and powerful. And by creating free agency for Hollywood stars, he helped undermine the studios by making actors rich and powerful, too. We'll talk to Wasserman's biographer, the Chairman of Fox, a producer/writer, and a contributing editor of Esquire about the achievements of Hollywood-s Last Mogul, the unintended consequences, and what it all means for the movies and TV we watch. Newsmaker: Incumbent Long Beach Mayor Wins as Write-in Candidate A termed-out incumbent wins her third race in a city ardently for term limits, and does so as a write-in candidate. Impossible? Not in Long Beach, where 16,500 people wrote in their votes for Mayor Beverly O'Neill to help her beat her opponent by a 10 point margin. O'Neill joins us to talk about her record as Mayor, and how even the author of the city's term-limits ordinance could have endorsed her.

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By Warren Olney • Jun 6, 2002 • 1 min read

America demands to be entertained, and the death of Lew Wasserman puts a spotlight on how and why entertainment happens. Wasserman was not as well known as Hollywood titans like Sam Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer or Jack Warner. He is known to have said, -publicity is for clients.- But it is Wasserman who created the TV series and summer blockbuster movies that made Hollywood studios rich and powerful. And by creating free agency for Hollywood stars, he helped undermine the studios by making actors rich and powerful, too. We'll talk to Wasserman's biographer, the Chairman of Fox, a producer/writer, and a contributing editor of Esquire about the achievements of Hollywood-s Last Mogul, the unintended consequences, and what it all means for the movies and TV we watch.

  • Newsmaker:

    Incumbent Long Beach Mayor Wins as Write-in Candidate

    A termed-out incumbent wins her third race in a city ardently for term limits, and does so as a write-in candidate. Impossible? Not in Long Beach, where 16,500 people wrote in their votes for Mayor Beverly O'Neill to help her beat her opponent by a 10 point margin. O'Neill joins us to talk about her record as Mayor, and how even the author of the city's term-limits ordinance could have endorsed her.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Frances Anderton

    architecture critic and author

    News
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