The Bald Truth: Gary Shandling Testifies!
By John Nazarian, (c) DesperateExes.com, all rights reserved
On the last day of the second week in Anthony Pellicano’s celebrity wiretap trial, (comedian) Garry Shandling strolled in to tell his sad story and it was just that, sad.
As I was arriving this morning, I noticed a nice black BMW 700 series in the back where the Feds can get people in while avoiding the cameras and reporters, then a little after 8 am Mr. Shandling made his appearance. He started the proceedings with a little humor; when asked what he did for a living, he said, “That’s a bad sign, I’m a comedian.” The room erupted with laugher, and Judge Dale Fischer, also has good timing, said, “Not today sir! “ This judge is a class act and a true credit to her profession.
Shandling told the court and the jury that he had been friends with (talent manager and now studio executive) Brad Grey for more than 25 years and had met him when he was 31 and Brad was just 21. Brad had acted as his manager for more than 18 years — acted badly, I might say, based on what we all heard today!
According to his official bio, Brad Grey was “Chairman of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment (BGE). BGE’s affiliated companies include Brillstein-Grey Management, Brad Grey Television and Plan B, a motion picture production company in partnership with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Forbes Magazine has described BGE as ‘Hollywood’s most successful management and production firm.’
“In addition to The Sopranos, Brad Grey and BGE have produced “The Larry Sanders Show,” “NewsRadio,” “Just Shoot Me,” “According to Jim,” and “Real Time with Bill Maher.”
(Now here was a former client testifying against the private eye who worked for Grey’s lawyer, accused of wire-tapping Garry, no joke.)
It was brought to Garry’s attention by his accountant that he was paying a fishy commission, and when he confronted his manager-friend, Grey told him that such details were on a “need to know basis.” In essence, Shandling testified, it appeared Grey was stealing from his longtime pal. Garry had to hire a lawyer and that made things worse, and, of course, Brad Grey hired lawyer Bertram Fields, and it was stated that when you hired Bertram Fields, (as part of the bargain), you got (investigator) Anthony Pellicano!
Mr. Shandling goes on to say that his reputation was being attacked and it was “creepy.”
Brad Grey did in fact warn the poor guy that “he would make my life miserable…he was my manager!” It took him three months to get his money returned and he still had not seen any of his contracts. He did not have his copies, as he so sadly stated that he trusted Brad and you could tell this was still emotional for him.
Shandling told the court that Brad Grey had made “side deals” for himself and that “he was looking out for his (Brad’s) best interest.” Mr. Shandling hired Gavin DePecker to come and “SWEEP” his phones for any “TAPS.” It would be fair to say that Mr. DePecker had gone to the same school of counter-espionage as the representive of Pacific Bell/SBC! He told Mr. Shandling that “THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE PHONE LINES”…I was wondering if a refund is in order! Or will the whiz kid, DePecker, do the old “well it was not on when we checked!” Hey, how about this, if you put a gun to my head and I had to choose between joining Pellicano or DePecker, I would pick Pellicano! Yes I would…why you ask? He was a real Private Investigator…DePecker claims to be a security expert…hmm, has anyone ever checked his credentials?
This too was sad as Mr. Shandling needed help and looked in the wrong place. Not a question in my mind it would have all stopped had my team and myself been involved…as I have said, “sweeps” are just Hollywood hocus-pocus against a good wiretap, but there are effective counter-measures (like disposable cellphones) that should have been implemented. But, they were not, and the taps kept coming, and all of Mr. Shandling’s calls were up for grabs.
For the rest of John’s dispatch from the courtroom Friday, go to http://desperateexes.com/2008/03/14/pellicano-trial-garry-shandlings-not-so-funny-story/.
March 16th, 2008 at 2:15 am
It’s hard to be funny.
Well, once in a while it’s pretty easy, but for the long term, and to make a living at it…that takes work.