Acknowledgments
Covering a revolution is like aiming at a moving target. Every day brings a new development, a new business model, a technological advance, the executive shuffle, a new mandate, a new start-up, a fresh strategy. Out with the old, in with the new while still clinging to the old, letting go, grieving, moving on. It’s a financial and emotional slow-motion rollercoaster that can speed up at random intervals.
The digital television revolution hasn’t happened overnight and, like the plotline of one of its brightest new streaming serialized shows, it’s been a gradual unfolding. And certainly a phenomenon of global proportions. The Internet has connected the world, and now TV has the potential to unite us all through a vast array of scripted and unscripted provocative new programming—bringing us laughter, tears, and empathy.
This book has taken countless hours to assemble, from years of research and binge viewing, to 50-plus interviews with some of television’s most established and emerging trailblazers … which is a long preamble to my indebtedness to everyone who pitched in and helped bring this project to fruition.
First and foremost, infinite gratitude to these trailblazing interviewees for carving out a niche in their busy schedules to share their invaluable insights and hard-earned wisdom.
Highest praise and special thanks to my two amazing editors/researchers/schedulers/confidantes: Sharon Rapose and Teresa Sullivan. I literally could not have finished this book without you, much less on time!
I’m enormously grateful to Focal Press/Taylor & Francis Publishing for their belief in this project, and especially to my stellar Focal Press editor, Emily McCloskey, who’s remained my champion from day 1.
Special thanks to each of the following friends, colleagues, current/past students, savants—all trailblazers in their own right—for their generosity of time and spirit:
Steven Canals for his awesome—and fast—transcriptions, friendship and guidance.
To my very punny [sic] Yoda hipster ol’ friend and fellow wordsmith, Walter Wanger. With love and graciasness.
My UCLA family: Barbara Boyle, Channing Dungey-Power, Brian Fagan, Ben Harris, Karl Holmes, Denise Mann, Beau Marks, William McDonald, Tom Nunan, Teri Schwartz, Sylvia Terry, Linda Voorhees and, especially, Richard Walter. Hal Ackerman and Fred Rubin, you’ve only just retired but are already sorely missed.
The gang at Crackle: Eric Berger, Andy Kaplan, Anil Kurian, John Orlando, Stephen Shaw and Courtney Yago.
The team at NATPE: Rod Perth, Olivia Thomas, Jordan Ryder, Beth Braen, Natgeda Remy and Jenean Atwood Baynes.
Major props and appreciation to: Spencer Ballou, Mark V. Burley, David Koepp, Lisa Kudrow, Allison Liddi-Brown, Ken Lipman, Pamela K. Long, Cory Miller, Irina Pivovarova and Sergey Kalujanov, Meghan Lechette, Robin Schiff, David Semel, Anna Siri, Elizabeth Squires, Maira Suro, Gaia Violo, Marcus Viscidi, Steven Vivell and Liz Wise Lyall.
And finally, love and thanks to my immediate and extended family for their patience and understanding during this all-consuming endeavor as I’ve been immersed in my man cave watching endless hours of television and writing: Noah and Zach, Mom, Mike and Elaine, Debbie and Katie, Sandra and Brian, Kiko, Max and Truman, Tim and Bird, and, most of all, to my beloved Trent.