Doug Herzog
@dherzog77.bsky.social
Patersonian, Scaticonian, Emersonian. MTV and Comedy Central OG. Creator and host of the BASIC! podcast.
30 years ago, two weeks in to my new job as Comedy Central President, I got a phone call that would change everything. Bill Maher was leaving for ABC. Here’s the story of how that call led to The Daily Show. open.substack.com/pub/dougherz... @comedycentral.bsky.social @thedailyshow.com
A Moment Of Zen: The Dawn of The Daily Show
I’d been President of Comedy Central for exactly two weeks when the phone rang.
open.substack.com
I worked on Ted’s orbit several times. Visionary, fearless, chaotic and problematic. One of the architects of the cable biz I grew up in. I have a few memories. open.substack.com/pub/dougherz...
Ted Talk
Ted Turner walked into CNN’s booth at a cable show in Las Vegas wearing a colorful madras sport coat and lime green pants.
open.substack.com
Fifty years ago I arrived in Jamaica a Stevie Wonder fan, and left a Bob Marley fanatic. open.substack.com/pub/dougherz...
Stevie, Marley & Me
Roots Rock Revelation
open.substack.com
Not entirely sure how this quote from an industry podcast becomes a trade headline in 2025? Hell, I’m not even in show biz anymore. Slow news day? Epstein files distraction? #paramount #cable #streaming deadline.com/2025/08/form...
“You Need To Blow It Up”: Former Comedy Central Chief Doug Herzog On Paramount’s Future
Doug Herzog, a former top exec at Viacom, now part of Paramount, says his alma mater will soon look a lot different in the wake of its just-closed merger with Skydance.
deadline.com
Not one to miss an opportunity, particularly given the buzz around South Park.Yesterday marked the 28th anniversary of its debut & the 1,676,709th time I bragged about the small part I played in its success. Here’s a conversation with the boys from a few years back: open.spotify.com/episode/5Cef...
Is there a future for late night? “We still want to spend an hour with personalities somewhere,” says Doug Herzog. “They’re called podcasts. They’re the bastard child of late night and Howard Stern and where we now get our deep dives and daily takes.” www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-featur...
Last Call for Late Night
After 70 years of tucking America into bed, it looks like the curtain is about to come down on the late night genre. What’s being lost is more than a TV tradition but a backdrop for some of America’s ...
hollywoodreporter.com
Only a handful of A list artists (Springsteen for one) have used their voices and platforms to shout back. But some of the most noteworthy who have, share something in common: Comedy Central #SouthPark #JonStewart #TheDailyShow #StephenColbert #JimmyKimmel www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/b...
Paramount Settled With Trump. Its Shows Are Skewering Him.
nytimes.com
“Still more South Park: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
'South Park' creators reach deals worth $2 billion, among the richest in television history
After weeks of negotiations and the threat of a nasty lawsuit, 'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone wrangled two staggering deals, finally bring the foulmouthed cartoon to Paramount+.
latimes.com
Congratulations to Matt & Trey on their continued success and brilliance both creatively and business wise. Extraordinary. #southpark www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
'South Park' creators reach $1.5-billion streaming deal with Paramount
Paramount has reached an agreement that will bring 'South Park' to streaming service Paramount+ for the first time in the U.S.
latimes.com
On an incredibly memorable day, this may have been my favorite moment from Live Aid. Read more here: open.substack.com/pub/dougherz... #liveaid40
ROCKIN ALL OVER THE WORLD: MTV, The 80’s and Live Aid 40. open.substack.com/pub/dougherz...
This weekend marks four decades since the biggest concert in history momentarily united the planet. It all seems so quaint now. Hop in “The Way Back Machine” to revisit MTV, the 80’s and Live Aid at 40
ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD
MTV, The 80's, and Live Aid at 40
open.substack.com
Big congrats to @okcthunder.bsky.social and their team President (and Emersonian) Sam Presti on their @nba.com championship! @emersoncolonial.bsky.social
Unlike myself, apparently these stories never get old. #cable #television open.spotify.com/episode/125d...
He Brought You South Park and Jon Stewart. You're Welcome.
The Media Machine · Episode
open.spotify.com
As the young people of Southern Califorinia prepare to descend on the Coachella desert for their annual rite of passage, it feels like a good time to look back on another culturally significant spring ritual from a bygone era #decoderring #slate #mtv #SpringBreak podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
Spring Break Forever
Podcast Episode · Decoder Ring · 04/09/2025 · 50m
podcasts.apple.com
Thanks to @peabodyawards.bsky.social, Dr. Jeffrey Jones and the students of University of Georgia for a great afternoon talking television
Thanks to @abbijacobson.bsky.social for joining us at @emersoncollege.bsky.social Los Angeles tonight to share her journey from UCB to Broad City and beyond with our students. #emersoncollege #comedy
Talkin’ Cable TV Blues #cabletv #televison #streaming #cordcutting variety.com/2025/tv/news...
Inside the Cable TV Hospice: Can NBCUniversal’s Divorce From MSNBC, Syfy, E! and More Prolong the Life of Once-Popular Channels?
Inside Cable TV's Future: As NBCUniversal sends MSNBC, Syfy, E!, USA and more to SpinCo, can it prolong the life of once-popular channels?
variety.com
Almost 50 years ago, In Kingston Jamaica, I saw Bob Marley perform for the first time. It changed everything for me www.tumblr.com/dherzogblog/...
ROOTS, ROCK, REVELATION
Stevie, Marley & Me Ever fan has a story about discovering the music that changed their life. This is mine Over the years my mom had dozens of micro-careers. In the Fall of ‘75 she was trying her h…
tumblr.com
Given all the social media buzz around “Complete Unknown” I thought I’d share Dylan related family trivia. #bobdylan #peteseeger #woodyguthrie #completeunknown”
Great night north of the border for the Springsteen tour ender in Vancouver. Some cool setlist additions including an “audible” Ramrod #BruceSpringsteen
