|
|
Date and Issue: September 4-10, 1977.
What makes Samuels run? Beautiful women, but, only with a lifetime guarantee. If you mention Ron Samuels to one 'crowd of people, you get cheers, smiles and giant Cheshire cat grins. If you mention Samuels's name to another crowd, you get Icy stares, dirty looks and a suggestion that you change the subject Immediately.
Why?
Ron Samuels, TV's hottest personal manager„ Is known as the man who "shafted" the Black Tower, the nickname for Universal Television, the biggest; and, some say, the toughest production company in Hollywood.
He did It by demanding and getting an enormous salary for "Lindsay Wagner, a relatively unknown actress at Universal, who was fired, but, who became the key to getting the series "The Bionic Woman" on ABC.
You see, she was going to be the star and to get her back, Universal had to dig into its vaults - or forget about the series.
"Pretty please, Ron, would you, let Lindsay play the role of, Jamie Sommers?" Universal asked.
Sure, said the 34-year-old Samuels. "We'll take '$25,000." The Black Tower moved. You see, the price was 10, times a normal guest shot fee.
When it came to signing her for the series, the Black Tower shook again: $17,500 for each show, a percentage from the sale of Bionic Woman toys, and a movie contract. The deaf could make Miss Wagner somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million.
Miss Wagner Is not the only actress to be thankful to Samuels. Right now, the trim, clean-cut and tennis-addicted manager is charting the course of his wife, Iii Carter, TV's "Wonder Woman," and Jaclyn Smith. Charlie's angel.
It Is no coincidence, said Samuels, that he decided to manage the careers of beautiful women in Hollywood. "Women are really bso Important. The bigger shows on the air are carried by women stars. I felt this was an area not being properly exposed." Samuels is not a talent agent, and if you make the mistake of calling him that as one reporter did, he was quickly remind you that he is a manager. It should be noted that an agent makes 10 percent of his client's salary. A personal manager can pull in 50 percent on a specific deal, but Samuels warns that not everybody who Is called a manager is worth it.' Obviously, Samuels,' who screens applicants, for their potential, feels he is.
|
|||||
|
