Norm! column

Aug. 21, 2007

LEWIS DROPS PUBLICIST

[see the blog posts that launched this item here]

Film legend Jerry Lewis has fired his publicist after he claimed Lewis required $20,000-an-hour for an interview.

Freelance writer Steve Friess said he was informed by Lewis' camp on Monday that Lewis was appalled by publicist Rick Saphire's actions. Friess said he was told the fee was something Lewis set up several years ago for international media because he was trying to shrink the number of interview requests he receives. The fee never was intended for mainstream U.S. media, Friess was told.

Friess, who had called Saphire to arrange a Q&A with Lewis, a Las Vegas resident, for Newsweek, reported in his blog Sunday at TheStripPodcast.com that Saphire informed him that any interviews outside of the realm of the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon would need a fee.

"It's a healthy sum, but any story about him receives international attention and raises readership," Friess quoted Saphire as saying.

Lewis has agreed to an interview with Friess this week without a fee.

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