Alex Gibney

Somewhere along the line, Michael Eisner, as part of this Americana project, decided that he was going to build an Americana museum, sort of like Disney World.

But he ran into two problems. One was he was going to build it by a Civil War battlefield. And two is discovered that one of the highlights of the park was going to be a slave ride. Like an amusement park ride. To show you what it would have been like to have been a slave, yeah. Yeah.

But he ran into two problems. One was he was going to build it by a Civil War battlefield. And two is discovered that one of the highlights of the park was going to be a slave ride. Like an amusement park ride. To show you what it would have been like to have been a slave, yeah. Yeah.

But he ran into two problems. One was he was going to build it by a Civil War battlefield. And two is discovered that one of the highlights of the park was going to be a slave ride. Like an amusement park ride. To show you what it would have been like to have been a slave, yeah. Yeah.

All of this is a long way of saying that when it came time for the premiere, the 50s, my co-creator, Tracy Dolbin, I went down. And at some point during the big party, which was at the Hard Rock Cafe, they said, and now we'd like to introduce the people who are responsible for this series.

All of this is a long way of saying that when it came time for the premiere, the 50s, my co-creator, Tracy Dolbin, I went down. And at some point during the big party, which was at the Hard Rock Cafe, they said, and now we'd like to introduce the people who are responsible for this series.

All of this is a long way of saying that when it came time for the premiere, the 50s, my co-creator, Tracy Dolbin, I went down. And at some point during the big party, which was at the Hard Rock Cafe, they said, and now we'd like to introduce the people who are responsible for this series.

And I had, you know, bled this series for like three years, you know, moved to Canada in order to be able to do it. And so Tracy and I are puffing ourselves up. And then they proceeded to introduce the advertisers. The execs at A&E didn't really even understand why we were there. Like, why would you bother to show up? You're just... Widgets.

And I had, you know, bled this series for like three years, you know, moved to Canada in order to be able to do it. And so Tracy and I are puffing ourselves up. And then they proceeded to introduce the advertisers. The execs at A&E didn't really even understand why we were there. Like, why would you bother to show up? You're just... Widgets.

And I had, you know, bled this series for like three years, you know, moved to Canada in order to be able to do it. And so Tracy and I are puffing ourselves up. And then they proceeded to introduce the advertisers. The execs at A&E didn't really even understand why we were there. Like, why would you bother to show up? You're just... Widgets.

The people who are really important are the advertisers. It's like the paper towel company. Yeah.

The people who are really important are the advertisers. It's like the paper towel company. Yeah.

The people who are really important are the advertisers. It's like the paper towel company. Yeah.

Well, I understood that TV isn't about the conversation between a creator and a viewer. You're about renting viewers to advertisers.

Well, I understood that TV isn't about the conversation between a creator and a viewer. You're about renting viewers to advertisers.

Well, I understood that TV isn't about the conversation between a creator and a viewer. You're about renting viewers to advertisers.

And that the creators aren't really creators at all. You're just providing the catnip that is just tasty enough It's good enough to lure you in so that you'll stay for half an hour and please the advertisers. And the last thing they want is any kind of personality or originality.

And that the creators aren't really creators at all. You're just providing the catnip that is just tasty enough It's good enough to lure you in so that you'll stay for half an hour and please the advertisers. And the last thing they want is any kind of personality or originality.

And that the creators aren't really creators at all. You're just providing the catnip that is just tasty enough It's good enough to lure you in so that you'll stay for half an hour and please the advertisers. And the last thing they want is any kind of personality or originality.

It felt awesome. And not only did they write bigger and better checks for it, but, you know, sometimes you could take a swing and make it for a little bit of money and sell it for a lot. And there was a tremendous amount of excitement because it was about how do you do something weird and original that was seen as a market benefit.