About Jon Taplin
Jonathan Taplin is a Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California and Director of the USC Annenberg Innovation Lab. Taplin’s areas of specialization are in international communication management and the field of digital media entertainment. Taplin began his entertainment career in 1969 as Tour Manager for Bob Dylan and The Band. In 1973 he produced Martin Scorsese’s first feature film, Mean Streets
In 1984 Taplin acted as the investment advisor to the Bass Brothers in their successful attempt to save Walt Disney Studios from a corporate raid. This experience brought him to Merrill Lynch, where he served as vice president of media mergers and acquisitions. In this role, he helped re-engineer the media landscape on transactions such as the leveraged buyout of Viacom. Taplin was a founder of Intertainer and has served as its Chairman and CEO since June 1996. Intertainer was the pioneer video-on-demand company for both cable and broadband Internet markets. Taplin holds two patents for video on demand technologies. Professor Taplin has provided consulting services on Broadband technology to the President of Portugal and the Parliament of the Spanish state of Catalonia and the Government of Singapore.
Mr. Taplin graduated from Princeton University. He is a member of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and sits on the advisory board of Public Knowledge. Mr. Taplin was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California Broadband Task Force in January of 2007. Mr Taplin is married to the photographer, Maggie Smith and has three children–Daniela, Nick and Blythe.
Jon baby, you are such a role model.
You look like the guy on Myth Busters.
Remembering Rick Danko today who passed away nine-yrs ago…….
Thank you for your efforts in keeping it real.
I will log on as many times as I get the chance.
I love your blog. You have begun to only offer the abbreviated previews for blog readers. This makes me sad as I do not click into actual blogs as I read many blogs and I have a slow internet connection.
However, I do love your posts. Thanks for considering this thought.
Hi Jon. Thought you should know your blog is one of millions inaccessible through the Great Firewall of China. At least it is inaccessible through a variety of internet connections in Beijing. I don’t know what you’ve done to upset the powers that be in China.
Hi John,
Your mention of being a member of the Motion Picture Academy made me wonder if you were aware of plans to give Jerry Lewis a humanitarian award at this year’s Oscars. Although Mr.Lewis may have done some good work in helping to raise money for muscular dystrophy, the statements he has gone on record saying about people with disabilities expose the ignorance and contempt with which he holds them, once they are no longer children. Things like, “You don’t want to be pitied because you’re in a wheelchair? Don’t leave your house.”
As an adult with a disability (who is also a graduate of your alma mater), I find the idea that this attitude (no matter how dressed up in false sympathy it is) should be rewarded deeply wrong. I encourage you to learn more about the things Mr. Lewis has done to degrade those he is allegedly helping, and if you see fit, or have any capacity to do so, to make a statement against this award.
I apologize for putting this in a general comment thread, but it didn’t seem appropriate for the actual Oscar thread.
Thank you for your time.
Mr. Taplin — I mentioned an article relating to junk language and the threat it poses to our already handicapped species, where technical and engineering skills and “financial wealth” and all our other great successes far outstrip our collective abilities to point those potential weapons of very mass destruction in a useful direction. Reminds me of a Biblical story about human pride and a tower in some place called Babel.
I found my paper version of the article I referred to. It’s from Harvard Law Review, Vol. 109:1801, and is a book review titled “This Could Be Your Culture — Junk Speech In A Time Of Decadence,” by Pierre Schlag. The book loosely reviewed is “The Death of Discourse,” by Ronald K. L. Collins, Westview Press, 1995. I imagine you can find these references on the net.
Good luck changing the course and momentum of our collective human sociobiomass. You certainly have my prayers for success in moving things maybe a little closer to world homeostasis, the meta-stability that would please old Gaia.
All of CNBC are idiots – altho’ I agree that Larry Kudlow is the biggest idiot. The other idiots are Trish, Melissa, and Denis Kneale.
They have no solutions – just complaints and criticisms. Listen to their comments on executive compensation. Maybe we can get the Daily Show to make fun of them to get more exposure of their stupidity. Problem is many people follow CNBC and take what they say as intelligent analysis.
Just read a PDF scan of an old Rolling Stone article about Philip K. Dick. The article mentioned you tried to negotiate rights to The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. If you ever get a moment, I would love to hear more about that experience.
As always, keep up the good work . . .
My father was Dennis Douglas Taplin from Stevenage, Herts, England. Do you have any relatives in England? Trying to piece together my family tree – have most bits to the early 1800′s.
Thanks, Linda Cain, Victoria, BC Canada
Stumbled on your site trying to google Stephen Moore of the WSJ who was on CSPAN spewing some amazing right wing hog wash at some conservative meeting. Anyways you nailed it on this guy! He is so full of hot air! My only concern is that he really believes what he spews and he is trying to brainwash others as well!
I’ll continue to check out your blog. Regards from the great state of Massachusetts!
Jon,
Longtime reader of this great Blog (comments (most) are often insightful, interesting and intelligent as well – It seems keeping the comments merit worthy is getting tough out there in the internets of late).
You’ve probably seen this but if not, it may be of interest:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/business/global/13rail.html
Jon,
Just wanted to say how much I enjoy the blog. Like getting to rub elbows with the actually intelligent stars (who knew?!?
My request : more video lectures. I find them riveting and have learned much about the world, finance and politics that I’m not sure I would have picked up elsewhere. I think we (the Internet) might be the real subject of “A Canticle for Leibowitz” and I’d rather not just be a grocery list.
Cheers, mate,
g
Mr. T. – Ever read Al Aronowitz’s tale about you holding up Dylan at the Isle of Wight?…You got a GREAT line out of Mr. D. so you shd be proud of that. Liked your latest line on Obama AND your read on OWS as well…Might try our Roundtable on OWS at firstofthemonth.org…Bet you’d dig it. And if you’ve got a review copy – or is it just an E-book? – of Outlaw Blues – might send it on to this poor editor – Benj DeMott – 160 Claremont Ave. #3e NYC 10027! Respect, b.
Any plans to put Outlaw Blues on Kindle?
Dear Great Teacher, Activist, Producer.
Jonathan Taplin.
Congratulation to reportage in the Journal Folha de Sao Paulo, you a very important to my cause, i need to help me to divulgate and to show my cause, for a Better World, Nature and Life.
I need to click in my Fanpage in Facebook, and help me to divulgate….
visit my Blog….
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Platform-to-Sustainability-in-Favor-to-Earth-Planet/272057859529776
Jonathan,
I sent you a Facebook email earlier tonight.
The best way to reply is either: cphaley@umich.edu or craig@rontexamerica.com
I am trying to avoid social media as much as possible.
Thanks.
Craig
Jon,
So many memories, so much love. When you have a few, e-mail me, we’ll get caught up. Short version: I am still here (on an island in the Pacific Northwest), happier than ever (married now to the right woman for seventeen years), and (thanks to the WGA pension) still afloat.
Billy
I really loved the Cadillac Desert for PBS
I was with T Bone in London last night and he told me about your book so I’ve downloaded it today. I’ve met all three guys on your cover so am interested!!
I was with T Bone in London last night and he told me about your book so I’ve downloaded it today. I’ve met all four guys on your cover so am interested!!
Hi Jon, great blog. I am trying to buy Outlaw Blues from New Zealand or Australia – but iTunes isn’t having it. Any idea if it will be available? Cheers