Post by Scorpion's Den on Feb 6, 2009 22:46:28 GMT -5
*** An After Life Media, USA, FX Simulcast. Also Available at CWF Online (www.freewebs.com/cwftenn) and at Den WWF Online (www.denwwf.com) ***
OPEN IN:
A bustling, rather crowded Radio City Music Hall main lower-level auditorium. Tons of media types are present, seemingly from all corners of the world. Lots of buzz is in the air, people coming to and fro the main area, lots of talking among the various members in the name-tagged, cell-phone-talking, blue-tooth-blinking, beat-reporting hoard of humanity, as ROCK tunes play over the PA system.
The rounded-top stage has a life-sized black partition from high above, that covers the face of the stage. In front of the black partition is the special and elaborate press conference stage set. There is a royal blue background that stretches across the breadth of the stage, with 2 large screens on the walls of either side of the stage.
A large BOOK Awards 2009 lit logo board is embedded at the center of the blue background. The black press table is positioned front-and-center, stretching across the stage with high-tech mini-mics protruding from each of the 10 seat stations at the table. The main podium portion of the table has a large, streamlined bendable mic arm attached at the center – a clean, very high-tech look.
PA Announcer (female): Ladies and gentlemen of the local, national, and international media… (crowd comes to attention & the buzz quiets)… welcome to one of the most renowned entertainment venues in the world; Radio City Musical. And welcome to the official Media Day event for the 2009 BOOK Awards, brought to you by Tenniversal Productions and Scorpion’s Den Entertainment, in conjunction with Cablevision Systems Corporation. (The flashbulbs begin to pop, as several big-wig execs from all 3 companies make their way onto the stage and begin taking their seats at the various mini-microphones at the table.) If you’d like to Power Up, there are internet-ready portals that have been installed all throughout the seating area.
The execs are now in place on stage & the media types seemed to have assumed their positions in their seats, laptops, recorders, and/or pens eagerly ready to write as the flashbulbs continue popping. There are 2 empty seats each to the immediate right & left of the podium.
PA Announcer (cont’d): And now, ladies & gentlemen, please welcome at this time, the President & CEO of Cablevision Systems Corporation, the honorable Mr. James Dolan.
A ROAR OF APPLAUSE erupts in the house as a grinning Dolan makes his way out to the podium, from stage-left, in a black suit and blue-lined tie. He takes the podium, wearing a bigger smile, taking in the applause.
Dolan: Hello New York City! (Cheers erupt from sections of the applause) National media, how are ya? Europe, hello! (Bigger cheers erupt from the consistent applause) Asia’s in the house as well! (Cheers erupt again.) Welcome one, welcome all! (The applause dies down & so does the song over the sound system) Again, welcome, as we said, to Radio City Music Hall. Welcome to Media Day for the 2009 BOOK Awards. The world-rocker event is on the fast track, headed our way in just over 1 month’s time, LIVE, right here in this most historic place, on Saturday night, February 28th at 8 PM Eastern. Well, as was advertised, this is a very special morning as well, as we continue on the road to the fateful night here at the venue known as the Showplace of the Nation. This morning, we have the opportunity to speak with some of the most major players, with whom we at Cablevision Systems are delighted to be working, to make that night a spectacular. A show that has celebrated the fantasy booking industry over years, like none other. Joining us will be the both of our show creators. Both, bona fide legends to the world of fantasy booking. Each of them, record-tying 13-time BOOK Awards winners. And they share that tie with one another. So we’re very excited about being involved so heavily in bringing this project to fruition. So without any further ado, allow me to take this time to introduce… 1 of those creators. He is the creator of the world-famous CWF series on FX, and is also the Founder & CEO… of Tenniversal Productions. Ladies & gentlemen, the one, the only… TENNESSEE !
APPLAUSE ERUPTS as “Tennessee” by Arrested Development kicks in on the sound system. Tenn finally makes his way on from stage-left. Dressed in a casual sport coat, unbuttoned-collar shirt and khaki slacks, he waves at the applauding crowd with a smile. He moves along the rear of the table, behind the clapping execs who are seated. He shakes hands or pats many of them on the shoulder as he makes his way by. He arrives to the podium, shakes hands with Dolan, who then respectfully backs away & leaves the podium to Tenn. Dolan sits down in 1 of the 2 empty seats at the right of the podium, as Tenn takes in the applause. The song dies out & the applause eventually begins to settle.
Tenn: Hey guys, thanks for coming out to talk with us today. This is just a thrill for me. Den and I could not be more excited to see this response, the support from these executives and our sponsors. We really think this is a springboard opportunity for the awards, to go from just another ceremony to become a true event. I’m proud to see the tradition return to the scene, perhaps in a form never yet seen before. You know, I remember back to what it was like at the tail-end of the '90s & into the 2000s. You know... back when the CWF was current instead of retro. (Laughter all around) The wrestling industry was a much different place then. A lot of the faces in booking have changed. The spirit of creativity, however, is the constant and I remain convinced that it's as solid as ever. In a little over a month’s time, this grand hall we’re all in is gonna become… something else. A place where you could have a heartfelt tribute one moment... and a
government appointee getting thrown through a table by the Dudleys the next. It’s going to be a night of celebration, of tribute, and acknowledgement. But it's also going to be absolutely unpredictable. And I, for one, can’t wait. You know, I've never been a guy to do a lot of bragging. So what I'm about to say might come as a bit of a surprise. These awards coming up? They are absolutely going to blow away any other BOOK Awards that have ever taken place. The combination of Den and myself running the show? Guys, I guarantee it is going to be an unforgettable event. Thanks again everybody, I appreciate it. (APPLAUSE ERUPTS as Tenn nods & waves). And now I’m gonna hand the ball off here to my co-creator. My virtual wingman. A longtime peer of mine in our industry, and more importantly, a long-time friend. Ladies & gentlemen, I give to you the Founder & CEO of Scorpion’s Den Entertainment, and the Creator of the Den WWF Series that you can see on USA . Please give it up… for Scorpion’s Den!
APPLAUSE ERUPTS as “Public Service Announcement” by Jay-Z kicks in on the sound system. Den emerges from stage-left, dressed in a casual leather sport coat, jeans & an unbuttoned-collar shirt, wearing a genuine smile. He two-finger-salutes the applauding audience, and handshakes with the seated execs as he walks behind them toward the podium. He arrives there, exchanges a handshake & a casual half-hug with Tenn , before assuming the podium as Tenn returns to his seat at podium-left. The song dies out & the applause begins to settle.
Den: Thank you very much for that, this is awesome. You know… partner in crime to my left is not the only one who’s super-excited about all this. I’m gonna be honest, I am ready, man. I am so ready. Like Tennessee , I’ve been a part of this art form for many years. We’ve seen shows come & go, series come & go, writers & personalities come & go. Through it all, I’m actually pretty proud to see that we’re still here, and still arguably at the tops of our respective creative games. But the night we’re gathered to discuss is not so much about Tennessee . Not so much about Scorpion’s Den. This night, as it always has done in its most unique of ways, honors the creativity that has always served as the backbone to our community – WHEREVER we found ourselves. Whether it was BOOK or After Life, the foundation of what has made our industry go has been that sense of creativity, the sense of community shared among all of us who claim a little piece of it. This event honors the contributions of many of the guys who shared their ideas, their visions with the rest of our little universe here. It’s a night that, aside from the glitz & glamour, aside from the hilarity & all the colorfulness that goes into them, gives ALL of us the opportunity to pay tribute & recognize 1 another for what they bring to it. That’s special to me, I can’t lie about it. And I know my potna in crime here gets a kick out of it, as well. This is my foray into the production end of a BOOK Awards event. And it’s a first-time BOOK-related collaboration for the 2 of us. But without the community, without the creative spirit that anchors the whole thing, without the guys who use our arena to share & create, there IS no BOOK Awards, there would’ve been no BOOK, and there’d be no After Life either, for what it’s worth. This night is not about ANY 1 guy, but a celebration of an art form that many have called home, to some extent, for years… as well as for those who’ve been calling it home for months, or even weeks. What I’m saying is that this show, this tradition, is for all of us. And for that reason, it’s an honor to wear this proverbial hat. And I’m confident that, with all our efforts, we’ll do the damn thing justice. Thanks again to all of you for being here. Thanks very much.
APPLAUSE ERUPTS as Den backs away from the podium. Dolan stands, clapping, and shares another handshake-half-hug combo with Den. Den then re-assumes the podium.
Den: OK, so now that the jabronis are all here… (laughter from crowd. Den looks over at Dolan with a grin.) Not you, Jim. (Laughter again from everyone) What would a morning like this be… without our esteemed host for the evening? Our next guest is arguably the prevailing presence in Late Night Talk Show TV. He was absolutely at the top of the list of folks we were hoping to bribe, to convince to host this grand event of ours next month. He’s here with us today & we’re thrilled about it. Ladies & gentlemen, please welcome Mr. JIMMY KIMMEL!
LARGER APPLAUSE ERUPTS as Kimmel’s TV show theme hits on the sound system. Kimmel, dressed in a tan-ish suit, enters from stage-left to larger applause. He’s playfully feigning confusion about if he’s in the right place. When he sees the crowd reaction, he pretends to have the confirmation. He happily waves at the applauding assembly, and handshakes with the seated execs as he walks behind them toward the podium. He arrives there, exchanges a handshake & a casual half-hug with Den, before assuming the podium as Den takes to his seat at podium-left, next to Tenn. The song dies out & the applause begins to settle.
Kimmel: Wow man, this is so cool! I gotta say, I can get used to this applause thing. I mean, it doesn’t even appear that anyone in this assembly has been given alcohol of any variety to clap for me, so you’re already a leg up from what we do at OUR show in Los Angeles (Crowd laughs, Kimmel starts to chuckles), so uh… thanks for that. But man, how cool is this? Media Day? BOOK Awards ’09? I’m tellin’ ya man, this is pretty cool stuff for me. I actually have been a longtime wrestling fan. Even my family’s gotten in on the fun in recent memory. And since I have written for show business, for career purposes on occasion, I guess it’s not inconceivable that I might be a fan of fantasy booking. Believe it or not, I’ve followed every BOOK Awards those guys have put on over the years. I enjoyed them thoroughly, being the degenerating glutton that I am for bright lights, violence, sex, drugs, rock & roll. My only concern for this year, as the host of a show like this, is not being able to keep up with it all. I was thrilled when I received calls from Tennessee & from Den along the way here, asking if I’d be willing to host. I asked Tenn if anyone had turned them down ahead of me, and he told me that I was tops on their list of hopefuls. So I was touched that some guys so talented would, at the same time, be so easy to impress. (Crowd laughs) But uh… but really, I’m happy to do this, to be a part of a returning tradition like this, that I’ve been such a fan of. It was a no-brainer for me, especially since Den saw to it that they paid in cash (Crowd laughs)… so that was nice of them. Yeah, based on what they gave me, it’s looking like all your stimulus packages are a NO-go (Crowd laughs heavily)… but at least we’ll try to give ya a good show on the outhouse. (crowd continues laughter. Kimmel begins chuckling also) Hell, they’re even letting Guillermo work security that night. (Kimmel points out Guillermo over at stage-right near the exit. The spotlight lands on him & the place erupts in laughter & applause as Guillermo stands there, waving with his customary goofy mustachey smile) Gotta keep the fam on point, I’m SURE you understand that’s how us brothas do. (Crowd laughing huge) But anyway, thanks for having all of us. I’ll do my best to keep the superstar fits to a minimum and uh… what the hell, let’s have some fun & give out some hardware! Thanks everybody, appreciate it! (Crowd erupts in applause, as Den & Tenn stand up beside Jimmy and Dolan does the same on Jimmy’s other side. He exchanges handshakes & hugs with all 3, before parking down next to Dolan.)
Dolan (into his mini-mic at table): Now we’re happy to open this up for questions.
Reporter 1: This is for the 2 creators. First of all, how did it come to pass that this event would be the 1st time ever that you’ve worked on something together in fantasy booking? (Tenn & Den glance at each other to see who wants to take it 1st)
Tenn: Actually, it’s kinda funny, but it really sorta just fell into place by osmosis. We tossed around the idea, a while ago, about bringing back the Awards at some point. They hadn’t been done in a few years & we always thought it’d be cool to see them come back. It was always a good seal for our industry & it’s always fun to see it as a part of things. I think, one day, we just sorta touched base on it, and once we decided that, yeah ’09 is the time, it was almost an unspoken thing we’d both tackle the behind-the-scenes of it together.
Den: As far as this being our first-ever booking collabo, I guess it’s just 1 of those things that happen. We’re always in the loop on each other’s series, it’s been that way for years. But we always did it from more of a sounding-board angle. How something like this never happened sooner, there probably is no concrete answer for that one, other than to say it’s the first time in a long time that the situation really fit something like this happening. I can vouch that it’s murder for each of us, just managing the series we work on, much less to do separate booking-related series or shows. Before now, the Awards were always a 1-creator deal, but everything fell into place for this one to be different. So sometimes, it’s timing, I wager.
Tenn: Hence another reason for what makes this show so potentially special. It’s the return show, the show that’s been almost 4 years in the making. The show that re-establishes this decade-long tradition. So it might’ve been meant to be, that things fell into place that way.
Reporter 2 (British): This is for Mr. Kimmel. Jimmy, I think many of us would like to know how long you’ve been a fantasy booking fan, and what was it that sealed the deal for you that you’d be this year’s host?
Kimmel: Uh, actually I’ve been a fan since the late 90’s when BOOK dominated the scene over at Other Arena. Wrestling was such a huge deal at the time, and I’d been a wrestling fan since childhood, as I mentioned. So I thought this was a really cool niche, and it was fun to see a lot of different, naturally creative guys create their own worlds & their spins on how things would be if they were the ones pulling the triggers. So, for me, it was as much fun as fantasy football is for a lot of people. Myself included. It was a good escape, and even though I’d never claim to be either Tenn or Den at what they do, I got what always made their world such fun – even if a schlep like me is just watching from a distance. So, having been a fan of both those guys’ work over the years, and continue to be, to be asked to head up something I’d followed for so long as 1 of my guilty pleasures, for me it was merely a matter of the schedules lining up, which they did, perfectly.
Reporter 3: This is for Scorpion’s Den. Den, you mentioned this being the 1st time you’ve delved into the creative end of a BOOK Awards. Tennessee , your cohort, knows what it’s like, having been the top exec behind 1 in the past. How does this compare, for you, to the creative that goes into your WWF series?
Den: Actually, believe it or not, it’s got lots of similarities. Mainly because, as everyone has pointed out this morning, the BOOK Awards are never just a straight-up-and-down awards show where some guy just announces some people & says “And the winner is..” It’s so m—
Kimmel: It will be, now! (Everyone shares a laugh)
Den: I think that stimulus package is back on! (Everyone laughs much harder) But uh… the BOOK Awards have always been every bit as much about the show, about the sex, drugs & rock-n-roll that Jimmy mentioned, as much as it ever is about the awards ceremony aspect. Yeah the purpose for the show is to celebrate our art form & the people in it, but the awards shows themselves have always been about characters & segments & promos & explosions & random craziness – almost in the same spirit of my series, his series, and so many others. So it’s not as big a departure as 1 many think. It’s a great creative adventure for me, but it carries some common threads as well. So I’m loving this whole process.
Reporter 4 (French): To Monseur Nolan. How closely are you & your company working in making the 2009 Awards a success.
Dolan: I don’t work. (Crowd laughs, Dolan chuckles) No, well obviously, Cablevision is the proud owner of our esteemed venue here, among several others in the city. We are proudly charged with the tasks of ensuring that this monster event comes off without a hitch, in the way of resources. To ensure that the venue provides the bells & whistles necessary to make certain this process goes along with the smoothness that they need for it to. We’re the host for the night, so the physical experience of the venue that so many of the fans, honored guests & performers will have, hinges upon how well in concert we work with many of the ladies & gentlemen gathered at this very table this morning. The show itself, however, is in good hands with these great folks to my left & my right.
Reporter 5 (Asian): To either Den or Tennessee, you both win 13 awards during your career, each. What expectations for this year?
Tenn: Expectations? None, that I can say. I never go into these Awards shows with expectations for wins. Everyone’s more partial & more critical of their own work. Every Award I’ve received has been an honor, and a pleasant surprise, whether people buy that or not.
Den: I totally don’t buy it. (Crowd laughs) But seriously, I’m in agreement with that. No matter what “pedigree” or reputation any one of us may or may not have, it’s always a pleasant surprise because ya just can’t guarantee how your peers will vote or nominate. Everyone has their own tastes with what hits them the hardest, what shows are best, what series, what characters, etc. It’s always a nice surprise when you’re voted a winner with things like that because it’s so varied & unpredictable. It’s nothing short of great fortune to have that type of Awards resume. All “reputations” had a beginning.
Reporter 6: This is for Jimmy. Jimmy, Joel Albright, New York Times. I was wondering what you’re most looking forward to with this year’s show, aside from your own hosting duties.
Kimmel: Well, generally, any time Megan Fox is under the same roof with me, I get violence in the undercarriage if you know what I’m talking about. (Crowd laughter) That is one insanely gifted human being, in every conceivable way. I could not, unfortunately, convince the guys to include Megan in the compensation package, however. (Crowd laughter) But uh, I mean, wow there’s already a huge lineup. Huge music acts, huge names in pro wrestling, huge athletes. I mean, I think it’s fair to say the gentlemen’s clubs around town are gonna do great that night, let’s face it. (Crowd laughs) I’m looking forward to the sheer spectacle of the whole deal & I get to see it up-close this time. I’ve been lucky enough to meet many of those fine people appearing, so it’s fun to see them again. But to just be a part of it all, to try not to get too much in the way of things, and enjoy it like everyone else. Just likely from a better seat in the house is all.
Reporter 7: This is also for Jimmy. Jimmy, Arnold Bachman , Washington Post. There’s been a great deal of advertising & high-profile promotion so far for the show. Considering you’ve hosted awards shows in the past in other avenues, are there any nerves about doing this one, given it’s somewhat different?
Kimmel: Honestly, nah not really. My guess is it’ll just be a better show, but not hugely different in genre. There’s still gonna be big music acts performing, still gonna be major celebs, lots of glitz & all that good stuff. So I anticipate it won’t be too huge a deviation for me. I’m just gonna be myself with it… Well, there’ll be pro wrestlers here too, so I guess that’s 1 difference. But not a difference that adds any pressure for me. I’m good to go, this’ll be fun stuff.
Reporter 8: Hi, this is for either Tenn or Den, or both. Guys, is the premise, going into this year’s show, to make this show the best BOOK Awards yet? Or do you not approach it from that angle?
Den: Actually, I think there is a little bit of that, the desire to produce the biggest, baddest show in the lineage of that tradition. But it’s not the sole approach for us. I think the bigger onus is for us to just produce the best possible show that we can. ( Tenn nods in agreement) There’s always a playful competitiveness we have, even with each other sometimes. So it’s only natural, with this being the most recent show in the line of BOOK Awards, that we’d want it to be the most spectacular one yet. But, if our main focus is on doing all we can, with all the great people we’re working with as well, to make the best show we possibly can, then I think we can be confident that we’re killing 2 birds with 1 stone.
Tenn: I second that emotion.
Reporter 8 (cont’d): Any hints on what or who will be opening the show?
Tenn: Well… we could tell you but we’d have to kill you. (Crowd laughs.)
Den: I think they thought you were joking, partner.
Kimmel: Yeah, they clearly don’t know you. (Crowd laughs harder.)
Tenn (chuckling): Not good. Nah, but I can assure you the show will begin with a bang. The show is shaping up tremendously. I mean, the public will determine the winners for the Awards themselves, but as a show, I think it’s gonna be a hell of a night in a number of ways. Which ways are those? (winks) You’ll have to either show up or tune in to find out.
Dolan: And if I may make this announcement, as we’re just getting word this morning. We’ve gotten word that the show itself is officially sold-out as of this past Friday, the 16th of January. The tickets went on sale December 20th & have sold out in less than 1 month, so we’re ecstatic that our great fans have made that happen in such short order. We expected a show of this magnitude to sell out our wonderful venue here, but I’m delighted to see it happen with more than a month left before the event. So, thanks to all our fans across the country & I think I can speak for everyone here in saying that we all look forward to seeing you there & being a part of all the spectacle.
Kimmel: And knowing James the way I do, I can assure everyone at the table that this is in NO WAY his way of putting pressure on each & every one of us to now have a great show, so that the national reviews are positive. (Laughter all around) Jim’s known to be a no-pressure kinda guy. (Laughter abounds, including Kimmel)
Dolan (tickled pink): Kimmel is such a mess. But really, I’ve got no doubts this will be a phenomenal show, and I know Jimmy will be 1 of the reasons why. I couldn’t be happier with the assembly of talent at this table, and from around the world that will converge on this place on the 28th of February. I’m going to be watching as a fan that night, along with millions of others, and I can’t wait. I would also like to thank all the media assembled here. Given our timeline here today, we’re going to need to bring the Q & A to a close, so that the various personalities here can begin some of the 1-on-1 media commitments they have this morning. But uh… (looks to Kimmel & the 2 co-creators)… any final thoughts, guys, before we disperse?
Den: Thanks for the all the support, to everyone, and we look forward to rockin’ your universe at the end of February.
Tenn: It’s gonna be a great night, it’s great to see the tradition return, and I look forward to a new era that this year’s BOOK Awards ushers in.
Kimmel: Uh yeah, I’d just like to say I look forward to the big night. Apologies to Matt Damon for not fitting him in, here today, we’ll reschedule him as soon as possible. (Crowd chuckles) I’ve enjoyed kicking off the big Media Day here at Radio City, and I promise that, come February 28, I’ll do everything I can not to break anything. (crowd chuckles) Although I’m serious about Guillermo running security. (Everyone chuckles)
Dolan: Well that’s gonna do it for us here. Thanks for assembling here to kick things off, everyone, and let’s get on with the rest of the event.
The assembly applauses as everyone at the table on the stage stands up. They exchange pleasantries, as the flashbulbs continue popping from all over the auditorium from random photogs. The rock music returns to the PA system.
Kimmel, Tenn, Den, and Dolan all leisurely work their way to the very front of the stage, so that the various international photogs converge below them for more up-close shots. The 4 men pose together for a rush of flashbulb-riddled shots, signifying the solidarity of this powerful alliance.
FADE TO BLACK