Latest news with #SimonAndSchuster
Geek Girl Authority
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Tessa Gratton Archives
Categories Select Category Games GGA Columns Movies Stuff We Like The Daily Bugle TV & Streaming It's International Women's Day, and we're celebrating with some of our favorite literary female warriors. Did yours make the list? Books List Articles Stuff We Like We need to celebrate and stand by trans and nonbinary people. Read on for some great trans and nonbinary writers Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for a copy of Moon Dark Smile in exchange for an honest ... Thank you to Viking Books/Penguin Young Readers for a copy of These Fleeting Shadows in exchange for an honest review. ... Good morrow, GGA folx! In this go of 'Queer Tested, Teacher Approved,' we're shining a spotlight on young nonbinary* characters ... Hello there! Welcome to the inaugural edition of Queer Tested, Teacher Approved! I'm a queer educator who's been working with kids ...
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Book excerpt: "Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television"
Simon & Schuster We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. In the new biography "Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television" (Simon & Schuster), Todd S. Purdum explores the impact on American culture by the Cuban-born entertainer who (as husband and business partner of Lucille Ball) changed the rules of TV. Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Mo Rocca's interview with Purdum on "CBS Sunday Morning" June 15! "Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television" Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. Prologue He was adored as the man who loved Lucy, the combustible Cuban bandleader whose spluttering Spanish and long-suffering straight man's frustration at the comic antics of his crazy wife softened into a loving embrace at the end of each episode. But Desi Arnaz was so much more than Ricky Ricardo. If Ball's brilliant clowning—her beauty, her mimicry, her flexible face and fearless skill at physical comedy—was the artistic spark that animated I Love Lucy, Arnaz's pioneering show-business acumen was the essential driving force be- hind it. He was, as NPR's Planet Money once put it, the man who "invented television." "There's a misconception that we—that Desi wasn't all that important to the show," Madelyn Pugh Davis, the founding cowriter of I Love Lucy, would recall years after his death. "And Desi was what made the show go. And he also knew that she was the tremendous talent. He knew that. But he was the driving force, and he was the one who held it together. People don't seem to realize that." Today, nearly four decades after his death, Arnaz the performer remains a widely recognizable figure—"one of the great personalities of all time," as his friend the dancer Ann Miller once put it. Much less well understood is the seminal role he played in the nascent years of television, helping to transform its production methods, and transforming himself, a successful but second-tier Latin bandleader, and his wife, a journeyman actress in mostly forgettable B movies, into cultural icons. It was Arnaz (and I Love Lucy's head writer and producer, Jess Oppenheimer) who assembled the world-class team of Hollywood technicians who figured out how to light and film the show in front of a live studio audience, with three cameras in sync at once—a then-pathbreaking method that soon became an industry standard for situation comedies that endures to this day. It was his ability to preserve those episodes on crystalline black-and-white 35-millimeter film stock that led to the invention of the rerun and later to the syndication of long-running series to secondary markets. This innovation also made it possible for the center of network television production to move from New York to Los Angeles and created the business model that lasted unchallenged for the better part of seven decades, until the streaming era established a competing paradigm. "I Love Lucy was a crucial part of entertainment in this country," said Norman Lear, the creator of the landmark situation comedy All in the Family and many other shows. "Lucy and Desi—I think it can be said they pretty much opened the door of Hollywood to America, and to the situation comedy. There was only one Lucy and one Desi, and between them, they knew what it took. He was a great businessman in the persona of a wonderful entertainer." Excerpted from "Desi Arnaz" by Todd S. Purdum. Copyright © 2025 by Todd S. Purdum. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. Get the book here: "Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television" Buy locally from For more info:
Fox News
05-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Bill Belichick's publicist texted coach saying CBS interview would be 'without risk': report
Bill Belichick's publicist reportedly "assure[d]" the UNC head coach his interview with CBS would be about his new book. TMZ Sports reported that David Kass, Simon & Schuster's senior director of publicity, told Belichick the interview would be a "puff piece." Instead, the interview went off the rails. Belichick's girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, was present for the interview, and Belichick was asked how they met. Hudson interrupted the CBS interview to shut down that question, and, according to reports, she interrupted several times and even stormed off at one point, delaying the interview by around 30 minutes. But Kass reportedly wrote to Belichick, "This is a book segment that looks at your life in football and what people can learn from you to achieve success in their own lives." After Belichick reportedly wanted to turn down the interview, another text Kass wrote reportedly said, "I wouldn't be this insistent if this wasn't so important to book sales and without risk." Kass is also said to have told Belichick he spoke to a CBS producer "about sticking to the book and shared that if they do, they'll get a great interview, and he was really open, saying he's not interested in going beyond the book." Belichick released a statement saying he was "surprised" about getting the questions about his relationship and that when Hudson had stepped in, she was doing her job. He also accused CBS of creating a "false narrative" with "selectively edited clips." "I agreed to speak with 'CBS Sunday Morning' to promote my new book, 'The Art of Winning — Lessons from My Life in Football.' Prior to this interview, I clearly communicated with my publicist at Simon & Schuster that any promotional interviews I participated in would agree to focus solely on the contents of the book," he said at the time. "Unfortunately, that expectation was not honored during the interview. I was surprised when unrelated topics were introduced, and I repeatedly expressed to the reporter, Tony Dokoupil, and the producers that I preferred to keep the conversation centered on the book." "After this occurred several times, Jordon, with whom I share both a personal and professional relationship, stepped in to reiterate that point to help focus the discussion. She was not deflecting any specific question or topic but simply doing her job to ensure the interview stayed on track. Some of the clips make it appear as though we were avoiding the question of how we met, but we have been open about the fact that Jordon and I met on a flight to Palm Beach in 2021. "The final eight-minute segment does not reflect the productive 35-minute conversation we had, which covered a wide range of topics related to my career. Instead, it presents selectively edited clips and stills from just a few minutes of the interview to suggest a false narrative — that Jordon was attempting to control the conversation — which is simply not true." CBS responded, disagreeing with Belichick's version of events. "When we agreed to speak with Mr. Belichick, it was for a wide-ranging interview," the company said. "There were no preconditions or limitations to this conversation. This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place and after it was completed." In a request for comment regarding Kass' text messages, CBS sent the same statement. Kass did not immediately respond. Belichick, 73, and Hudson, 24, have been linked since last year. She has attended several events with him, including February's NFL Honors. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Broken promise that left Bill Belichick 'furious' after disastrous CBS interview
Bill Belichick was reportedly promised by his publisher that the now-infamous April interview with CBS would only be about his book and not veer into outside topics. Belichick was asked questions not directly about the novel, most notably about 49-years-younger girlfriend Jordon Hudson, who was on set, seated off camera. The questions to Belichick about Hudson sparked the 24-year-old to interrupt and prompt weeks of questions as to her influence on the North Carolina head football coach. More than a dozen days before the interview aired on April 27, Belichick was reportedly written by Simon & Schuster's senior director of publicity, David Kass, stating 'I can assure you that the conversation [will be] about the book' and was 'furious' at what occurred, per TMZ. 'This is a book segment, that looks at your life in football and what people can learn from you to achieve success in their own lives,' Kass added. Kass has not immediately replied to request for comment. However, A CBS News spokesperson did give a statement, not changing their stance about the interview. 'When we agreed to speak with Mr. Belichick, it was for a wide-ranging interview. There were no preconditions or limitations to this conversation. This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place and after it was completed,' the CBS News spokesperson told Kass was reportedly insistent on Belichick doing the interview, even flying to Chapel Hill in March to make sure the Tar Heels leader and he were on the same page about doing press for his book. It was Kass not attending the interview's taping, which was filmed in Annapolis, Maryland, that led Hudson to feel empowered to direct what Tony Dokoupil was asking. Belichick and Hudson have stayed firm that CBS did not honor their part of the deal for the interview in direct contradiction with the network's message. 'I agreed to speak with CBS Sunday Morning to promote my new book,' Belichick said. 'Prior to this interview, I clearly communicated with my publicist at Simon & Schuster that any promotional interviews I participated in would agree to focus solely on the contents of the book. Unfortunately, that expectation was not honored during the interview.' 'I was surprised when unrelated topics were introduced, and I repeatedly expressed to the reporter, Tony Dokoupil, and the producers that I preferred to keep the conversation centered on the book. 'After this occurred several times, Jordon, with whom I share both a personal and professional relationship, stepped in to reiterate that point to help refocus the discussion. 'She was not deflecting any specific question or topic but simply doing her job to ensure the interview stayed on track. Some of the clips make it appear as though we were avoiding the question of how we met, but we have been open about the fact that Jordon and I met on a flight to Palm Beach in 2021. 'The final eight-minute segment does not reflect the productive 35-minute conversation we had, which covered a wide range of topics related to my career. Instead, it presents selectively edited clips and stills from just a few minutes of the interview to suggest a false narrative - that Jordon was attempting to control the conversation - which is simply not true.' In what appears to be a show of support from UNC to Belichick's tenure, his statement was released by the school in order to try and calm the outpouring of shock at Sunday's scenes. Daily Mail exclusively reported last month that Belichick and Hudson are unfazed, overall, by the response to the interview. Belichick thinks some of the critics from his all-conquering run as Patriots coach now want to see him fail in Chapel Hill. After the interview aired, Pro Football Talk claimed that Hudson interrupted proceedings on so many occasions, CBS decided to include one moment to reflect her overriding influence. TMZ then claimed that Hudson stormed out of the interview for 30 minutes at one stage as she was so unhappy with the direction it was going. Belichick's statement doesn't address those allegations but it is perhaps notable that he described the overall discussion as a 'productive 35-minute conversation'. The New York Times reported that Hudson's presence was 'instrumental' in a deal breaking down
ABC News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
The #BookTok backlash over former Canberra Raiders player Luke Bateman's book deal, explained
When Queensland farmer Luke Bateman posted his first TikTok video in April this year, he spoke earnestly about finding a community where he could discuss books and get recommendations. The former rugby league player and star of the television show The Bachelors Australia, had joined #BookTok, a section of the platform where book lovers review and recommend their favourite reads. "I've loved books my entire life … I've never really had anywhere to talk about it or share those things, obviously being a male in blue-collar work," he shared. For many, seeing someone like Bateman interested in books stood out. His first video received two million views, and his account exploded, amassing nearly 180,000 followers in less than two months. But while his reception was initially positive, the tide was about to turn. Just weeks after his viral debut, Bateman hopped on TikTok to announce he had signed a two-book deal for a fantasy series with Atria Books Australia, an imprint of publishing house Simon & Schuster. The announcement drew a mixed response on #BookTok, with some users taking to the comments section of the video with questions around Bateman's writing experience and if the deal was based on his virality alone. Comments included: "Well, good to see that publishing is still a colossal joke," and "The anger here is aimed at the wrong person. He's not the problem. The publisher is". Bateman had said in the announcement video that his social media presence was a big factor in his book deal being finalised. The ABC has contacted Bateman for comment. "It was obviously everyone on here resonating with me that they [Atria Books] gave me this opportunity … all of you have helped me to fulfil my childhood dream." Anthea Bariamis, who acquired the international rights to Bateman's books for Atria Books, confirmed in an Instagram live that she spotted Bateman on TikTok and reached out to his agent. "I had seen Luke online, like I know many people have for the last month or so, and I just loved his content and I was like 'Oh my god, he's a big book nerd!'" Bariamis said that she had a meeting with Bateman, who pitched her a fantasy series that he "had in his mind and has been working on for a long time". She also confirmed that he would not have a ghostwriter, as some had speculated, and that she had been provided a writing sample before the deal was finalised. The ABC has contacted Bariamis for comment. Even by industry standards, Bateman's deal is notable. "For someone who's never previously published anything before … it's quite unusual to get signed for a two-book deal … particularly if you're writing fiction," says Julian Novitz, a senior lecturer in Media and Communications from Swinburne University. Dr Novitz said that typically, debut authors sign a contract for a single book, with publishers reserving the right of first refusal on the second. The speed and scale of Bateman's book deal have also drawn criticism from content creators on #BookTok and authors from marginalised backgrounds, who view his rise as emblematic of a lack of diversity in Australia's book publishing industry. Bron Bateman, an Australian queer author and poet living with a disability, says the news of Bateman's book deal reflects a lack of effort from big publishers to invest in marginalised authors. "I find it extraordinary that six weeks on TikTok is enough to generate the kind of lavish outspending that Simon & Schuster are obviously prepared to do," she says. "The problem isn't Luke Bateman. The problem is big publishing companies." It has been long reported that Australia's publishing industry is lacking diversity. In 2022 the inaugural Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey on Diversity and Inclusion found there was much work to be done. The survey found that fewer than 1 per cent of Australian publishing professionals are First Nations, only 8.5 per cent have an Asian cultural identity, and just over 5 per cent identified as living with a disability. Teo Jing Xuan and Marina Sano, co-founders of Amplify Bookstore in Melbourne which solely stocks books written by Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) authors, said they weren't surprised by the Bateman deal going through. "I'm deeply unsurprised by it, to the point where I'm honestly kind of surprised by how much outrage there is because this is so run of the mill," Sano says. Teo, who has worked in publishing, says deals like this come down to sales appeal. "It's very common in publishing … they will sit around and say 'What is the sale potential for this book?' before it's being acquired," Teo says. "For books by people of colour, the chat around sales potential is a lot more in-depth than you would get from a white author per se." Bigambul and Wakka Wakka author Melanie Saward, a lecturer at the University of Queensland, said deals like Bateman's send an "awful" message to authors from marginalised backgrounds. "It shows them that they're not exceptional enough for the industry, that their stories aren't valued," she said. Dr Novitz says Bateman's book deal is an example of how virality has become an increasingly decisive factor in publishing decisions. "Publishing is a business … in terms of the works that [publishers are] looking to take a risk on, having an author who already has public visibility, and large followings on social media is a real advantage." Dr Novtiz adds that "publishing has a responsibility to broaden representation," and that when visibility begets more visibility, "it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy". "It becomes assumed that writers from a particular demographic are who readers are most interested in, because they dominate the list of published works." In an interview with entertainment news website Chattr following the outrage, Bateman acknowledged the backlash and said he wants to use his platform to spotlight marginalised authors. "A lot of these conversations are very new to me," he admitted. But one particular quote stirred further criticism. "There is no barrier to entry for reading and writing," Bateman said. It's a comment that struck a nerve with Dr Saward. "As soon as you say something like that, your privilege is out there for the whole world to see," she said. Author and person of colour, Chemutai Glasheen, says the discussions happening in light of the Bateman book deal are important, but should motivate readers to champion diverse authors. Author Bron Bateman agrees with the sentiment, saying that she hopes Luke Bateman takes this opportunity to lift up other marginalised writers. "Now in a time of political and social and cultural upheaval, the need for counter voices to be heard is more important than it has ever been … As a matter of absolute importance." Dr Saward says she also hopes this moment prompts readers to reflect. "Audit your own bookshelves and book buying habits. "[If you] make an effort to buy Australian books that have diversity in them … it's telling the publishing industry that that's what you're interested in and they'll go chasing more of those authors."
