lbb - the bottom line

i am absolutely mortified
-don't worry, no one will remember
-you can ring my bell
-hey, stop it
-ring my bell
-she's really upset
-oh, please. i'm the only victim here
-why should i be forced to share credit with-- not fair
-your midget idea was tired
-his twist made it different
-thanks, i feel so much better
-if you make sweeps even with shared credit, that's a huge deal
-i happen to know that the people from harpo, oprah's group. tivo every one of our shows
-for what it's worth, i really like your little black book idea
-really?
-yeah. so don't cry in my soup
so how does it all work exactly?
-you put your best shows in sweeps
-the most outrageous, the most provacative attention-grabbers
-then they promo it.
-it's about getting eyeballs .. to get numbers, to get revenue, to get renewed
-we're beginning sweeps now, so things are in the can
so, what was pitched today?
-june sluts
-slots. of which we average nine a month
-we being the drones. the aps. when an ap gets a slut-- slot.
-it's like a credit. you need so many credits to advance
and you have the most?
-catching on
-he's next. the only way to jump ahead of him is if you land the live show
-please
this month?
-a week from friday
-aps never get the live show
-karen meskil
-urban legend
-anyway, if you do, you're instantly promoted
wow
-hi, barbara
-hey, kippie. great show
-let's not go there. you must be stacy
wow. i am so unbelievably sorry about what happened
-oh, please. let he who is without sin cast the first stone
-hello again
-ira
-nachlis
-yes, you are
-so sorry to hear about you and neil. i thought he was a keeper
-kippie?
-sorry. excuse me.
bye
who's neil?
-my boyfriend. ex, actually
-hi, barbara. how's neil? you must be stacy. what's missing here? oh, me
-you're right. i should get as many shows on the air as possible. be seen
-noticed by somebody. anybody
-okay, so, what i'm about to do should not be interpreted as groveling
-hypocrisy, or desperation. it's merely a loss of personal integrity
-excuse me. larry, wait up
he's funny
-yeah. talented too
-okay, i'll do the midgets
-too bad he'll never make it here
why not?
-he cares too much what everyone thinks. especially kippie
and that's bad because...?
-they're shopping for a newer model
but she's the boss.
-it's been in the works a long time
-who do you think leaked the pictures to the tabloids?
what?
-her ratings are down, and she's got five years left on her contract
-you do the math
so is it always like this?
-i don't know. i haven't been here long enought to say
oh, no, i thought you were
-a lifer? no. a year and a half ago i was on wall street
-and before that i drove a bus
-it's all pretty much the same. people will tell you who they are if you just listen
-you can figure them out. somethimes you can help
let's help kippie.
-i should warn you. i'm uncomfortable with touching and sentiment.
sorry
-thank you
-it's all about the bottom line. in every business.
does she know?
-she used to be prime-time out of new york. now she's syndicated in jersey
-it's one thing to start here, but you don't climb your way to trenton
-nothing we can do, short of winning sweeps
well, then let's win sweeps
-oh, okay
we can try
-win one for the kipper?
yeah, please
-this is too earnest for me. i mean, you've been teetering, and you just crossed over
don't you like her?
-i do, actually. a lot. but that's irrelevant