Reeling in the Eves

On the weekend eve of the Emmys, something has been bugging me.  In advance, I may insult some people that I know and love, but I mean no harm.  For years, casting directors were lobbying to get into the teamsters union.  They did.  For years casting directors lobbied for Emmy consideration. They succeeded.  (In the off camera awards show, the casting director for Mad Men won).  Really bugs the crap out of me.  The only people left out of the show business food chain now are agents.  The maggots of the process according to many.  As Rodney Dangerfield said, we get no respect.  Yes, I say we because no matter how far from actually having a license as a theatrical agent, I still think like one.  

Agents are the unsung workers that spend countless nights in crappy off-off-Broadway theatres searching high and low to discover and nurture new talent that will undoubtedly dump you after becoming a "star."  Working for free for the most part until your client hits.  Begging casting directors for appointments for jobs.  Casting directors work really hard, too.  I am not saying they don't.  They get blasted with lists upon lists of names of actors to audition from directors, producers, musical directors, studios, networks, etc. They don't have power.  Maybe they did 25 years ago, but not anymore.  Heck, directors don't have that much power. The studio always wins. The producers have the last say.  All a casting director can do is bring forth the very best talent for each role.  The rest is up to the powers that be.  So why do they get an Emmy category?  Maybe there should be an Emmy for the agent that discovers the best new talent in a single year. 

Agents and casting directors used to be near the same lowly bar.  Now, it's just agents.  No safety net, no union, no protection.  If this sounds bitter, maybe.  I think protective of a career path that gets so little respect.  I never thought that we were entitled to anything until the evolution of the casting director. Now....

Five days before the Jewish people observe their day of atonement, Yom Kippur, it struck me how insulting and absurd it is that the ultimate anti-semite gets to speak at the UN General Assembly.  How is it possible that the schedule allowed for Ahmadinejad to spew his hate and lies on the most sacred day in the Jewish religion?  I know that I am speaking without all the information, so if anyone knows how the UN allowed this to happen, I'd like to know.  I do know that many people think that the UN is also anti-Israel so maybe that's the answer illustrated clearly on Yom Kippur.  It's bad enough that NYC has to be subjected to the UN General Assembly with road blocks and gridlock everywhere for two weeks, but to have to listen to crazy, ignorant people makes it that much worse.

Sidebars:  Emmys on Sunday night!  Could be fun.  The season finale of The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Sunday, too.  The Fall season is finally on its way.  The regular season baseball is almost done and soon we will be into the World Series playoffs and finals. Only two teams have clinched a playoff spot, Washington and Cincinnati.  Still rooting for the San Francisco Giants to get in, though I can't imagine that they won't.  The Yankees are going to take it down to the wire.  No way to predict.  It's Friday.  Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. It's Autumn in New York and I love it!

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