Isherwood Firing

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 5:19am

So what's really going on here? Is this article accurate? Was Charles fired more because he didn't get along with the Times staff or because of his close relationship with Scott Rudin, a producer he didn't review? Also, not too smart to bash your employer while using company e-mail. Like don't ever say anything negative about your employer in company e-mail or social media, duh!

 

New York Times critic fired over relationship with Scott Rudin

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New York Times critic fired over relationship with Scott Rudin


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[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 5:22am

I tried to copy and paste the article from today's NY Post describing what's going on between Isherwood and the Times but it wouldn't link. Maybe somebody more technically savvy than me can do it! Thanks! 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 6:06am

http://pagesix.com/2017/02/15/new-york-times-critic-fired-over-relationship-with-scott-rudin/

[lsteven]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 7:52am

Except that Isherwood reviewed Rudin's biggest money make of the past few years The Humans - twice.  Rudin announced the transfer of The Humans from the Roundabout "before the reviews came out" which no one ever does unless they have the review in advance.  

http://deadline.com/2015/10/the-humans-broadway-transfer-scott-rudin-1201595884/

[newintown]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 8:13am

Weird piece, but I doubt that any paper would print it if they couldn't back it up.

Two statements that I find false: 1) Isherwood never got to review any major shows, and 2) "He is a well-respected critic."

Good riddance. Now put that old nag Brantley out to pasture and get a new voice.

Updated On: 2/16/17 at 08:13 AM

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 8:19am

Interesting! So The Humans made more money than any of his other shows? That's interesting. I saw The Humans and thought the ending was sort of bleak. Nothing seemed to happen. It's like the family all just went home, their separate ways. Althougb I've heard some people say that the father went out to kill himself. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 8:25am

In just the last few months, he reviewed three major new Broadway musicals (The Great Comet, Dear Evan Hansen, A Bronx Tale), a few prominent Off-Broadway shows (like Sweat), Kristin Chenoweth's concert at the Lunt-Fontanne, the revival of Falsettos. We're not exactly talking about shows running in church basements on the Lower East Side. The idea that Isherwood was kept from reviewing A-list shows is preposterous; and even if it was true, he's not the chief theater critic. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 9:36am

It's true that he's been complaining about not getting the top shows for years. I've heard that from tons of people. What a bizarre entitlement. He was never the top critic, why would he get the top shows? Good riddance.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:03am

Also, WTF was Isherwood doing corresponding with Rudin from his work email? 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:10am

Two lessons every employee should take from this:

1. Be careful what you write in your work email. Your bosses can read it if they want to.

2. If they don't like you at your job, they will find an excuse to fire you. So be nice to everyone.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:11am

Rudin has his hand in a lot of theatre in NYC. A critic should not be maintaining any sort of relationship with him beyond the professional level. And clearly, gossiping and bitching about the top critic at your publication with a producer is remarkably unprofessional.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:17am

Isherwood got himself fired...

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:33am

AC126748 said: "Also, WTF was Isherwood doing corresponding with Rudin from his work email? "

 

I mean, that's the real question isn't it? Especially after an election season all about emails.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:35am

Ish was unhappy for the classic reason of someone in a job that has no potential for advancement. There are plenty of people who would kill for his job, but that does not change the fact that no one wants to feel stuck. And Ish was not shy about saying it, not just to Rudin and Goodman but to anyone who would listen. 

The best drama critic the Times had in the last quarter century, Peter Marks, left when he saw the writing on the wall, to take a great gig (that ironically is keeping others at the WashPost from advancing). Ish has no similar option, and so just wallowed in his unhappiness. But make no mistake: what he did was a no-no.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:37am

And now nobody will hire him. Way to go.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 10:55am

neonlightsxo said: "AC126748 said: "Also, WTF was Isherwood doing corresponding with Rudin from his work email? "

 

I mean, that's the real question isn't it? Especially after an election season all about emails.

 

 

"

Particularly when it's a known fact that employers can (and do) read emails sent from workplace accounts. Not excusing Isherwood's conduct--and from what I've heard, there's more to this story than what's reported here--but I'd at least hope he'd be smart enough to send communiques to Rudin from his Gmail.

[macnyc]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:00am

Why do you think Michael Riedel didn't write this story? Or maybe he basically wrote it and gave it to a Post colleague to print?

[Kad]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:12am

I would imagine the topic of "theatre journalist being too tight with producers" is not one that Riedel would like to bring up.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:15am

Maybe he can get a job in theater but in a different capacity? To me he's always come across as a little bit whiny. On FB he comes across that way as well. But he does have a vast knowledge of theater so I'm sure he can work with it in some capacity, but he may have to get creative and entrepreneurial about it. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:18am

Kad said: "I would imagine the topic of "theatre journalist being too tight with producers" is not one that Riedel would like to bring up.

 

"

Yeah, but Riedel is a columnist, not a critic. He has no mandate to feign objectivity and he's never been shy in writing about his past dealings with producers, Rudin included.

[CaseyBrent41]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:28am

Riedel didn't write about this because Riedel is tight with Rudin. He's been at Rudin opening nights....and if you read his column he's very rarely anti-Rudin. Also Riedel was pushing the narrative that SHUFFLE was a revival. Riedel also tried to force the HAMILTON producers' hands in bringing HAMILTON in during the 14-15 (FUN HOME season) so that it wouldn't compete with SHUFFLE, which they always knew was a NEW musical. 

[Kad]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:45am

AC126748 said: "Kad said: "I would imagine the topic of "theatre journalist being too tight with producers" is not one that Riedel would like to bring up."

Yeah, but Riedel is a columnist, not a critic. He has no mandate to feign objectivity and he's never been shy in writing about his past dealings with producers, Rudin included."

 

True, but I think there's still cause to be wary on his end, especially since he's been seeing ever-reducing space in the Post and clout overall.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:50am

So does the Times currently have any other theater critics besides Brantley? Will they be hiring more? 

[macnyc]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 11:53am

Yes, supposedly they are hiring a new critic. The job was posted. It pays over $100,000 a year.

Personally, I would jump at a job like that (if I were qualified), despite no chance of advancement.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 2/16/17 at 12:11pm

The Times also has a number of freelancers on the theatre staff already. It would be nice if they would hire someone who is not a white man but I'm not holding my breath.