tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post2682722900750222542..comments2024-03-15T17:03:45.018-07:00Comments on Las Vegas Blog: Steve Friess' VEGAS HAPPENS HERE: The Erich Bergen DramaTHE STRIP PODCASThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03593322167326380577noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-77839133553582951352009-09-24T11:13:15.910-07:002009-09-24T11:13:15.910-07:00No Steve, I didn't imply anything, nor did I a...No Steve, I didn't imply anything, nor did I argue there are only two ways to cover something.<br /><br />I believe that in a case like the death of Danny Gans, investigative reporting is required, and the responsible thing to do, rather than waiting for a press conference to provide a pat conclusion<br /><br />Danny was more than an entertainer. He was talking the talk, but obviously not waling the walk.<br /><br />And, quite clearly, there was a real possibility of foul play.<br /><br />I made no claims about the significance of Erich's story. I just thought it odd that you felt Erich's deserved so much attention, while Danny's death was off limits.<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time with your readers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-61363532454540060292009-09-24T07:44:00.032-07:002009-09-24T07:44:00.032-07:00Yes, you see, this is where keeping things in cont...Yes, you see, this is where keeping things in context is useful, but some "writers" simply are incapable of doing so and that is why they are unworthy of being given interviews or recognition where the proven record is exclusively one of distortion, lies and deliberate misrepresentation.<br /><br />No, it's NOT an IMPORTANT story, a story of any consequence or impact for most people. That doesn't make it not a story.<br /><br />In that same piece, I quite logically explain what of the Danny Gans case deserved broader coverage, how the issues involved could transcend his specific case and why the press held back until actual facts existed to go from. I know that's a sophisticated argument and simplistic people aren't capable of grasping such complex views, but fortunately most readers can. Whew!<br /><br />Erich's case, too, is not an IMPORTANT story. It's of no real consequence to much beyond him and his fans. It doesn't actually impact anyone. I'm just arguing that it deserves about as much coverage as what it's received, especially when Richard was claiming media overkill at a point where MSM coverage consisted of a few Tweets and a four-paragraph blog post.<br /><br />What you seem to imply is that there are only two ways to go -- either blanket, wall-to-wall coverage giving voice to every idiotic rumor or provably false conspiracy theory or ... no coverage at all. If I don't advocate irresponsible journalism, then I'm advocating no journalism at all? Really?<br /><br />The rest of the sane world knows there is middle ground, moments and tactics that are appropriate and not appropriate, stories of all sorts of sizes, shapes and flavors. Hours after Danny Gans' death, for instance, was NOT the moment, if ever, to suggest with absolutely no evidence whatsoever that he was having an affair. Just using that as a random example because that's what some desperate loser did, believe it or not!<br /><br />Sadly, though, even the blurb you took out of context contains no advocacy against coverage. I look forward to your retraction!THE STRIP PODCASThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593322167326380577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-33480107868351285472009-09-24T06:52:03.160-07:002009-09-24T06:52:03.160-07:00From that same LVW column:
"It’s just a cele...From that same LVW column:<br /><br />"It’s just a celebrity death. That’s all.It’s a sad and curious event, sure. But a story of consequence? One that impacts the day-to-day lives of anyone beyond the bereaved? No. This wasn’t even a celebrity who liked the limelight. Unlike other celebrities whose deaths were being used as yardsticks-- Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, Elvis Presley- Gans didn’t use his self-destruction, if that’s what it was, to market himself."<br /><br />Hmmm...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-32017445701952794202009-09-24T05:23:11.697-07:002009-09-24T05:23:11.697-07:00Gosh, "anonymous", I never argued that, ...Gosh, "anonymous", I never argued that, as you well know. From my own LVW col:<br /><br />"It’s not that journalists here didn’t want to know and report what had happened to Gans. It was that nothing we could report could be concrete, backed up by any data. Reporters were stuck in a holding pattern until the toxicology reports were completed, because absent of an official report by the scientists analyzing Gans’ remains, no amount of speculation could be credible or based in fact. ... Now that the coroner has made his ruling, the media has certain facts to work off of, and has done so. Review-Journal Editor Tom Mitchell wrote this week that the paper is trying to unseal the autopsy results because the Dilaudid explanation raises more questions about whether Gans was an addict to that or something else, and whether his doctors were irresponsible. Mitchell made that pursuit sound hopeless.<br /><br />The Las Vegas Sun’s Marshall Allen, the medical writer who had already been digging in on the data related to the reckless overprescription of pain medication in Las Vegas, came back on June 11 with a piece quoting pain and addiction specialists suggesting there must be more to the story. All that is as it should be. If there is an issue of broader societal relevance in the Gans death, it’s as a high-profile example of what Allen has been writing about for months. That problem actually does impact thousands of other patients in Nevada.<br /><br />But until the coroner had offered his conclusion, Allen couldn’t go there, because had he been wrong—had something unrelated felled Gans—the journalist’s credibility would have been shot, and the stories written would have had to be retracted. Whether this analysis happened on June 11 or May 11 made no actual difference to anyone, except that on June 11, it had the force of science behind it, too."<br /><br />There is no place where I ever argued that Danny Gans' death wasn't a news story. Ever. I certainly found the appetite for national coverage to be quite light, but I always expected it to remain a local story to be addressed when various pieces of real information -- as opposed to rumor some love to dwell on despite a lack of any actual evidence -- was available.THE STRIP PODCASThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593322167326380577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-6299467713822697392009-09-23T20:58:48.116-07:002009-09-23T20:58:48.116-07:00you argued that danny gans wasn't news!
are y...you argued that danny gans wasn't news!<br /><br />are you a hypocrite steve?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-28438068163275161872009-09-23T15:47:16.697-07:002009-09-23T15:47:16.697-07:00This was so sudden and out of the blue. Who the he...This was so sudden and out of the blue. Who the heck did he piss off? Because I know this could not have been because of his performance. Prior to hearing the news of his dismissal, I went to the show and was disappointed when the understudy walked out. Erich was my favorite "Bob" and I'll always miss him. Hope he keeps us updated as to his future projects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-18232217572186249452009-09-23T14:51:46.899-07:002009-09-23T14:51:46.899-07:00As I posted on the LAT blog...:
It seems a bit out...As I posted on the LAT blog...:<br />It seems a bit out of character for a responsible journalist--and Richard is one of the most in Las Vegas--to argue against anything being news. Isn't something "news" if it's a fact, and then "newsworthy" if it is of public interest (which this clearly is, judging by response). The tone of the LAT blog, which is certainly the most national forum the news has received, indicates that there's more behind it, that it has more to do with weighing Erich Bergen's "importance" vs. that of other Strip performers. <br />It is "news" that Stephanie Jordan was replaced in Fantasy certainly--news to the Vegas entertainment community at least. <br />It is certainly news that Bergen was replaced fast on the heels of his producing a huge and successful benefit show, and a national TV appearance. <br />If Richard is accusing a colleague of imbalanced coverage, well...maybe so. Maybe all of us have been guilty of that from time to time. But Bergen's firing is certainly newsworthy.<br />Further...Anyone who doesn't think Bergen made a significant contribution to the strength of the Vegas JB cast...is someone who's opinions on entertainment I would not trust.E C Gladstonehttp://ecgladstone.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-89408258659627848882009-09-23T08:56:29.035-07:002009-09-23T08:56:29.035-07:00Bad timing. I just got a discount ticket offer for...Bad timing. I just got a discount ticket offer for Jersey Boys in the mail. I was looking forward to seeing Erich, but until I know what led to his dismissal I won't know whether I want to give my money to that organization.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827149740685773273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-89882762584974387842009-09-23T07:43:45.324-07:002009-09-23T07:43:45.324-07:00Sure it's a kerfluffle.
Kerfluffle — noun. a...Sure it's a kerfluffle.<br /><br />Kerfluffle — noun. a disturbance or hubbub; a small scale disturbance. an upsetting event<br /><br />The media's reaction is a small scale disturbance and for Jacobs it's an upsetting event.Hikernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841356013250880291.post-80168593156230894562009-09-23T01:49:23.361-07:002009-09-23T01:49:23.361-07:00URGH! Are you kidding me??!! What the..??? I...URGH! Are you kidding me??!! What the..??? I'm so shocked. I'm so sad. I was planning on my 9th Jersey Boy show in October -- every time I've seen the show, Erich has been in it. I can't imagine not seeing him on that stage.<br /><br />Perhaps its time to check out Human Nature...<br /><br />So sad....Melissa Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13727690219556421411noreply@blogger.com