David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. Press Tour Slash Fiction
Peter Liguori and Kevin Reilly worked together before, elevating the cable network FX to its current acclaimed status. So it only seemed natural that when NBC booted Reilly in order for Ben Silverman to cheerlead that network to success, Fox chairman Liguori would bring his old friend aboard to serve as the network’s Entertainment president.
But few of the reporters attending the TCA Press Tour in Beverly Hills were prepared for the bald mutual admiration society that emerged during Fox’s executive session.
Oh, but first, a bit of news before proceeding: Tony-winner Cherry Jones will play the President next season on “24.”
OK, that out of the way, perhaps the best way to describe what happened is to get out of the way and allow the official transcript of Liguori and Reilly’s press conference tell the story:
ALL TCA PRESS TOUR TRANSCRIPTS ARE PREPARED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PRESS CONFERENCES. DUE TO THE SPEED WITH WHICH THESE TRANSCRIPTS ARE PREPARED, COMPLETE ACCURACY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.
QUESTION: For both Kevin and Peter. You've worked together before, but this is kind of an odd situation. Can you shed a little bit of light on what the style is going to be? You walk into a situation -- how do you guys sit together and work out something that you're essentially adopting and something you created? And then going forward, how is that style?
PETER LIGUORI: We're all one team. Kevin doesn't come to the office today saying, "Okay. I'm ready to develop my shows. Peter, you take care of this season."
This relationship has worked very, very well because, first of all, we can laugh at each other. We have certainly healthy egos, but we can –
(Laughing.)
KEVIN REILLY: His has gotten much, much bigger since cable. I can tell you that.
PETER LIGUORI: Yes, and not stopping. We know who we are. We know how we complement each other. I think the single biggest thing that Kevin and I share, other than a specific creative DNA, is just kind of a bit of a life philosophy, which is, let's succeed and go home to our families. There is not any ego competition or "your shows versus my shows." They're FOX shows. Frankly, that's why I really enjoyed working with Kevin when we were at FX, which is a way smaller pond to be playing in.
I just have to tell you, over the course of the last three weeks, mostly my talking to Kevin, and then one week of really getting down to business, on a personal basis, I don't think I've ever been happier in the offices within FOX. It's comfortable. It's collaborative. The energy is raised up in the place. It's like an old love. We finish each other's sentences.
KEVIN REILLY: Kind of like -- wow.
(Laughter.)
PETER LIGUORI: Maybe that was a bit of a stretch.
KEVIN REILLY (referring to a small coffee table on stage between the executives’ chairs): Should we move the table out from between us?
PETER LIGUORI: Yes.
(The two men toss the table aside roughly, then fall into one another, each man’s arms frenziedly exploring the other man.)
KEVIN REILLY: Oh, Peter (gasping), I’ve missed you so!
PETER LIGUORI: And I, you!
KEVIN REILLY: Why did I ever leave you for Jeff Zucker? He’s brutish – all hands, clumsy and simian-like – and a lousy kisser!
PETER LIGUORI: Don’t ever leave me again, Kevin Reilly! Just don’t ever leave me again!
(As their embrace becomes ever more impassioned, a couple of stagehands wheel a large Jacuzzi onto the platform. Liguori and Reilly kick their chairs into the audience to make room for the giant tub, then, tearing one another’s jackets and shirts off, tumble headlong into the steaming, bubbling water.)
PETER LIGUORI: Let me see that “American Idol!”
KEVIN REILLY: It’s time for “Bones,” and I’m not talking about Emily Deschanel!
(Reporters sheepishly sneak out of the International Ballroom.)
(Honest -- about thee-quarters of this is true, which is pretty good as far as blogs go.)