Nikki Finke: Semi-batshitinsane.

March 20, 2007 9:14 PM

Los Angeles Magazine asks, "Can the LA Times be saved?" One suggestion is to hire Nikki Finke, Hollywood's ultimate contrarian reporter. Finke was canned in 2002 by the New York Post over a series of articles critical of Disney. [1 2] She sued in response.

Shortly afterwards, she landed at the LA Weekly, where she boasts an incredible archive of weekly columns - recent entries include a quasi-defense of Mel Gibson, coverage of Cruise versus Redstone, and Michael Ovitz's gay problem. On the side, she likes to bite people's heads off, and reminisce about a New York that's now gone. She now gets to let it all out on her own blog, Deadline Hollywood Daily. [previously mentioned 1 2 3 4]
posted by phaedon (15 comments total)

Oh, my God, there is no one more boring than Nikki Finke. Her recent column on how she would have fixed this year's Oscars broadcast included her outrage that there were no jokes about Britney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith. Yeah, that would have been fresh and compelling, Nikki. Thanks.
posted by OolooKitty at 10:12 PM on March 20, 2007

Christ, what am I getting myself into, wanting to move to LA and get a job in media...
Out here in flyover, good stories still depend on noblesse oblige, but at least the sucking up is only to an editor unsure on why anyone would ever want to read about historic hoaxes or wetlands mitigation.
posted by klangklangston at 10:16 PM on March 20, 2007

Actually, mocking people like Nikki Finke is part of what I miss most about living in LA. Sigh. Good times!
posted by miss lynnster at 10:19 PM on March 20, 2007

Contrarian that I am, I love Nikki Finke's writing. But she would be making a big mistake by going to the Times. She should keep her blog, were she can take her vitriolic potshots with abandon.
posted by blucevalo at 10:30 PM on March 20, 2007

I enjoy reading her when I have the time.
posted by bardic at 10:44 PM on March 20, 2007

Wow. She can't write her way out of a paper bag.
posted by docgonzo at 11:42 PM on March 20, 2007

Wow, a serious journalist! (giggle giggle)
posted by Poagao at 1:26 AM on March 21, 2007

She also had an entertaining spat with Kevin Smith last summer as well.
posted by antifuse at 4:20 AM on March 21, 2007

The very recently deceased and sadly missed Cathy Seipp had a few dust-ups with Finke over the years and wrote some great stuff on her. You could start here.
posted by Heminator at 6:24 AM on March 21, 2007

The point she made about people in New York sometimes forgetting that interesting things happen outside the city limits is a fairly good one.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 1:05 PM on March 21, 2007

i find the la weekly an incredibly dull read. the only exception being finke's column, as well as jonathan gold's.
posted by phaedon at 4:07 PM on March 21, 2007

I'm with Herminator. Why isn't this a post about Cathy Seipp? Finke stinks. And Gold's shtick is getting old. (Why isn't there another food writer in L.A.? And no, Merrill Schindler and Elmer Dills don't count.)
posted by turducken at 4:25 PM on March 21, 2007

Oh my Lord, is Elmer Dills still alive?
posted by miss lynnster at 4:35 PM on March 21, 2007

echoing heminator, cathy seipp apparently died yesterday or the day before. this post wasn't intended to coincide with her death.

.
posted by phaedon at 4:50 PM on March 21, 2007

She was wonderful liveblogging the Oscars--her voice and attitude really comes thru. (whether it's right for the LAT or not is another story, of course)
posted by amberglow at 8:45 PM on March 21, 2007