Wasserman

"I watched the absurdity of these titans frozen in their positions. Slowly Charlie inched his way around to Kerkorian’s window, his hands up in surrender and apology. He shouted acceptance of Kerkorian’s price. Kerkorian simply nodded and drove off. Meanwhile, Wasserman shrugged and got in his car. A distraught Charlie walked back into the house saying, “I’m starving, I’m starving—bring on the hot dogs.” *Oh my god,* I thought, *I am so over my head.*"

"Stung, I nevertheless wouldn’t let it go: “And, as is usual for them, the price is way inflated. I know I could do it for far less. I could keep us independent of the MCA Octopus that’s been able to take over most television production and keep the networks basically out of producing shows.” That was a reference to Wasserman’s political strength in having gotten the FCC to bar the networks from owning most of their own production."

"Charlie yelled at me to come into the room and put me on the phone with Lew, who was also rather startled at the news about the new statehood of his daughter’s childhood friend. I was hardly someone he took seriously, but like everyone else in Hollywood, he didn’t much like Yablans, so he congratulated me heartily. The ever-charming Wasserman told me he always knew I’d go places when, as a twelve-year-old, I’d beaten his wife at gin rummy at their Palm Springs house."