Monthly Archives: August 2011

Steve Jobs’s Hollywood Connection

By JH staff | Published: August 28, 2011

As has been widely reported, Steve Jobs recently stepped down from his CEO position at Apple.

Jobs is not only the co-founder of one of the most successful businesses in history, he is an unconventional leader who follows his instincts, demands excellence, and rather than following trends, he pioneers them.

Even though Jobs’s management style stands apart from many other entertainment industry executives, his innovations have nevertheless been deeply intertwined with the Hollywood business community.  Read more...

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Reality Show Ethics and the ‘Real Housewives’ Suicide

By JH staff | Published: August 21, 2011

The recent suicide of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” reality TV star Russell Armstrong is drawing attention to the issue of the media’s ethical responsibilities, particularly the duties of those who are involved in the casting and production of the programs.

Reality shows are inexpensive to make, and they draw huge audiences. As a result, they have infused the network and cable television industries with mega-profits.

One of the major problems with reality programming is that, with the exception of celebrity-based shows, individuals who play the starring roles are not actors themselves. Rather, they are ordinary folks, usually with a compelling backstory with which to entertain TV viewing audiences.  Read more...

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President Obama Fundraises While Our Future Burns

By JH staff | Published: August 14, 2011

What does the President of the United States do when the country is teetering on the brink of financial ruin?

Well, in Obama’s case he heads to the New York home of movie executive Harvey Weinstein for a fundraiser.

Weinstein co-hosted a trendy affair at his West Village digs, along with Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.

Celebrities in attendance at the fundraiser included Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband Chris Martin, Jimmy Fallon, Vera Wang, Alicia Keys, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. All purportedly paid a ticket price of $35,800 of which $5,000 dollars was doled out to the Obama re-election campaign and $30,800 was hustled over to the Democratic National Committee.  Read more...

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Oprah: Obama’s Secret Weapon

By JH staff | Published: August 7, 2011

A lot of folks who were enthusiastic during President Obama’s 2008 campaign have turned lukewarm.

But not Oprah Winfrey. The former queen of daytime talk appears to be ready to reprise her unprecedented chief political endorser role, this time for Obama’s 2012 campaign.

Winfrey always had a habit of staying away from politics, but she supposedly changed her mind when she heard Obama’s famous speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

She may have ended her daytime show and may temporarily be struggling with her new cable channel, but her endorsement power is still intact, particularly when it comes to Democrats and Independent female voters.  Read more...

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