L.A. Times: Gail Berman Out At Paramount This Week; Grey To Begin Search For Next Backbiting Victim
Today's LAT reports that Paramount Emperor Brad Grey and embattled lieutenant Gail Berman are expected to finally part ways this week, ending a partnership so doomed that early drafts of Grey's press release announcing the TV veteran's puzzling ascendency to his studio's presidency ended with the phrase, "I couldn't be more excited to welcome Gail into the Paramount family, and to eventually fire her long after it becomes apparent that this relationship just isn't working out, after an acceptable interval for saving face." The Times takes a look back at Berman's rocky tenure at the 'Mount, during which her "exclusionary, aloof and non-confrontational" boss made the classically passive-aggressive move of buying an entire movie studio rather than prod her about the slow progress of her development slate:
Shortly after joining Paramount, Berman was confronted with published rumors that her job was in jeopardy. Agents and executives complained that Berman was often too tough and impolitic in her dealings with those accustomed to being coddled.
When confronted with such complaints, Berman made amends with various top agents. She took home piles of scripts to read each night. But Berman never clicked with some of her colleagues.
Her supporters said Berman bristled under Grey's management style, which at times can be exclusionary, aloof and non-confrontational.
Several people who do business with Paramount fault top management for its lack of teamwork and rampant backbiting.
The Times notes that it's unclear who might step in for Berman (though underlings Brad Weston and Rob Moore are mentioned) after Grey ceremonially processes her off the Melrose lot behind a symbolic, twenty-foot-tall cardboard box full of her belongings, but we imagine that the Paramount chief will quickly fill her spot, as he suddenly finds himself with a surfeit of free time now that he's been relieved of his responsibility to constantly release statements reinforcing her job security.
[Photos: Getty Images]
