JERRY SPRINGER AND STEVE WILKOS MOVE
Jerry Springer With James Edstrom And Steve WilkosI have very mixed feelings from a e-mail I received yesterday from friends at The Jerry Springer Show and The Hit Steve Wilkos Show. I am being told that it's almost a done deal. I am being told that both shows will be moving to Stamford Connecticut. My sources said NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, the company's syndicated television arm, plans to relocate "The Jerry Springer Show" and "The Steve Wilkos Show" from Chicago to a new facility in Connecticut this summer in time for the start of the 2009 television season. Maury Povich's syndicated NBC Universal program "Maury" also would move there from New York City. Springer's show has originated from NBC Universal's NBC Tower in Chicago since 1992, after making its debut a year earlier in Cincinnati Ohio. Connecticut is luring the shows by offering a 30 percent production tax credit, as well as a 20 percent tax credit on infrastructure costs after the first $1 million spent. Sources said NBC Universal's attempts to negotiate more favorable incentives from Illinois were unsuccessful. Springer is heading into his 19th year in production and Wilkos into his third.
The reason we have mixed feelings are because of the wonderful people in Chicago that make both shows, who I have worked with many times over the years. The director's, the cameramen, the stage managers, the makeup artists, the security, the producers, and many other talented people. Most of all, the shows publicist Linda Shafran. This woman is one of the most talented publicist's I have ever worked with. I have worked with every big publicist in the world, and none of them can match the talent of Linda. She thinks out of the corporate box. She comes up with the best ideas. If she knew she would get good publicity for her shows, she would have a fist fight in the NBC Towers parking lot with Naomi Campbell. Linda's cell phone is bigger. I have watched Linda work over the years. She in in the office in the morning, on the set all afternoon, taking notes, taking photos and then staying up half the night sending everything out to the media. When I am in Chicago, and sitting in her office working along side her, she will sometimes stay till midnight working and working. All at the same time, she is caring about everyone who works on the shows and making sure that everyone has what they need and everyone is happy. A woman like this can not be replaced.
No one knows who will be invited to move to Connecticut with the shows. In one way we are happy that Jerry and Steve will be closer to us in New York City. They are fantastic stars to work with. We wil be able to do more work with them. On the other hand, I hate to see so many talented people who have made both shows successful, lose their jobs. I do not think that NBC can find such talent around Stamford Connecticut or even in New York City. So we would hope that NBC brings as many people along with the move as they can. Right now, no one knows if they will get a offer to move. I think one of the key ingredients in both shows were the people of Chicago. The love and the friendship we have developed over the years with the staff of both shows, will be with us forever !
The reason we have mixed feelings are because of the wonderful people in Chicago that make both shows, who I have worked with many times over the years. The director's, the cameramen, the stage managers, the makeup artists, the security, the producers, and many other talented people. Most of all, the shows publicist Linda Shafran. This woman is one of the most talented publicist's I have ever worked with. I have worked with every big publicist in the world, and none of them can match the talent of Linda. She thinks out of the corporate box. She comes up with the best ideas. If she knew she would get good publicity for her shows, she would have a fist fight in the NBC Towers parking lot with Naomi Campbell. Linda's cell phone is bigger. I have watched Linda work over the years. She in in the office in the morning, on the set all afternoon, taking notes, taking photos and then staying up half the night sending everything out to the media. When I am in Chicago, and sitting in her office working along side her, she will sometimes stay till midnight working and working. All at the same time, she is caring about everyone who works on the shows and making sure that everyone has what they need and everyone is happy. A woman like this can not be replaced.
No one knows who will be invited to move to Connecticut with the shows. In one way we are happy that Jerry and Steve will be closer to us in New York City. They are fantastic stars to work with. We wil be able to do more work with them. On the other hand, I hate to see so many talented people who have made both shows successful, lose their jobs. I do not think that NBC can find such talent around Stamford Connecticut or even in New York City. So we would hope that NBC brings as many people along with the move as they can. Right now, no one knows if they will get a offer to move. I think one of the key ingredients in both shows were the people of Chicago. The love and the friendship we have developed over the years with the staff of both shows, will be with us forever !
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