Nino and Me by Bryan A. Garner

Author:Bryan A. Garner [Garner, Bryan A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Threshold Editions
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Network Negotiations

When it came to publicizing Reading Law, I thought that the best possible television appearance would be with CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight—a full hour-long interview, as he would sometimes do with major guests. The Thomson/West marketing team recommended otherwise. They wanted 15 minutes, perhaps 20 at most, on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. I countered by arguing for a Fox News show. The marketing team—who seemed not to be Fox News enthusiasts—recoiled.

I sat in chambers with Justice Scalia and explained the impasse. He had begun getting media requests through the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office. I persisted in touting Piers Morgan Tonight as the best down-the-middle forum. Justice Scalia had never heard of Piers. I gathered that he simply didn’t watch TV news much.

“Bryan, you know a lot more about this than I do. Just tell me what we want to do.”

“Piers Morgan. Full hour.”

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

“Wait a second, though,” I said. “Piers will have to commit to a full hour, and we haven’t approached him yet. But I think we should stipulate that it must be a full hour.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a major figure—and it slights you to have something less.”

“I see that.”

“Plus,” I said, “what if he had you on for the first half and then Lady Gaga on for the second half—or, worse, he puts you on after Lady Gaga?”

“Who’s Lady—Lady what?!”

“Gaga. She’s a racy pop star.”

“Yeah. Not good. Need to keep it dignified.”

I said, “West wants to limit the time to 20 minutes. I think it’s a grave mistake.”

“Then tell them we’ll do it only if it’s for the full hour,” he said. “We’ll be on together, right?”

“You bet. I think that’s helpful to you, Nino. Remember when Lesley Stahl kept you way overtime, in that hot room, with the camera trained on your face?”

“Yes, I do!”

“If I’m there on camera with you, I can call him out for asking an improper question. I can deflect so that you don’t have to.”

“I see that. But I’m pretty good at defending myself.”

“Sure you are. But we have a good dynamic, and I can be a buffer if necessary.”

“Well, you should be there anyway. You’re my coauthor.”

“This interview will go well,” I assured him.

Although the Piers Morgan Tonight producers eagerly agreed to the full-hour format, they said they wanted Justice Scalia alone—no Garner.

Justice Scalia called to tell me. “Bryan, this is supposed to be about the book. You’re my coauthor. I’m not going on without you. That’s what I want to tell them. Do you agree?”

“I do. Thank you, Nino.”

“I’ll tell them.”

“One more thing, though,” I said. “You’re scheduled to film at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, right?”

“That’s what we’ve said so far.”

“We need to limit the amount of filming. Otherwise, they’ll tape more than they need, ask more sensationalistic questions, and edit things down.”

“Ooh. That’s right.”

“They need at most 45 minutes of footage. We should agree to film no more than 55 minutes. That way, your full answers will have to go in.”

“Okay. I’ll add that to my usual stipulations,” he said.

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