RIP Eric Wishnie

[Signature on File]

Former NBC News Producer falls off building last night.

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by Signature on File:
Former NBC News Producer falls off building last night."Falls" off building.

Yeah.

Our industry claims another life.

[Desert Rat]

TVMatt,

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/07/31/2007-07-31_producers_tragic_end-4.html

I'm sure that the fact that he suffered from alcohol and drug addiction and the fact he let his job define his life played nothing into his suicide right?

[5w40]

There for the grace of God go many of us.
Kid fresh out of college works for big company. Lifelong dream on its way to being fulfilled.
He works his way up; impresses elders, sees the world.
There's nothing ever as precious-metal plated as that black NBC/GE corporate MasterCard with pretty much no limits -- after all, you're one of Brokaw's guys. Everything's good. Marry within the business.
Then things change. Regime changes, managers change. Big company sloughs off big-name and big-ticket talent right and left. Assignments change, contract windows come up. Performance suffers. People in the hallways whisper and sharpen knives, which in the NBC tradition are shoved in from the front and in the back.
Lose job.
See job daily in wife who works at same big company in high-profile position ... have same circle of friends. They wonder why he can't get work.
Industry is saturated with cronies and bimbos who'll work for much less, and have lower standards.
Meantime, one finds out all flavors of Absolut and Stoli seem to all taste the same.
OK .. behind the snark.
My prayers are with Eric's family.
I hope they and close friends tried to get inside to help Eric when he was in need.
A firing/non-renewal/NBC 2.0 means it's time to study one's self. Re-evaluate, and renew.
20/20 hindsight is one thing, but I know of several people - including one person very close to me - who came extrememly close to doing what Eric was alleged to have done.
Too close, and it's damn scary.

[TopRamen]

Bless him and Dawn and all their friends and family.

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by Desert Rat:
TVMatt,

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/07/31/2007-07-31_producers_tragic_end-4.html

I'm sure that the fact that he suffered from alcohol and drug addiction and the fact he let his job define his life played nothing into his suicide right?You're new to this industry, aren't you?

[Brain Cramp]

I didn't know him or anything about him but reading the story above made me feel very sad for what he went through and what others, mired in addiction, face on a daily basis.

RIP.

[Desert Rat]

Matt,

Let's see.....26 years, so no....

I also many many people who are in the business who....

Don't have a drug problem...

Don't have an alcohol problem...

Don't let the job define them...

I infer from your post that these problems were brought on by the profession only.

If that's the case, care to explain why millions of people who have those addictions who don't work in TV, have them?

[ August 01, 2007, 11:26 AM: Message edited by: Desert Rat ]

[Eyegetit]

I can't answer any of your questions Desert Rat. I just know that there are men too gentle to dance with wolves.

That previous poster was right. There but for the grace of God go many of us.

My heart goes out to this guy. I did not know him, but I understand the slings and arrows that might have led to his condition.

Why are some of us stronger? Who knows. It's just a shame that this business couldn't embrace a man who was obviously very talented. At the very least, offer him a chance at rehab.

How many times have they done that with talent? I know of two at NBC alone. My heart breaks for this guy and his family.

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by Desert Rat:
If that's the case, care to explain why millions of people who have those addictions who don't work in TV, have them?That's the dumbest leap of logic I've seen in a while on this board.

Congratulations.

[Diplomat]

Besides drugs and alcohol, we do not know what other demons may have haunted this talented man. Only God knows that and I believe He understands that stuff a lot better than we do.

I hope and pray this man's family members are not torturing or blaming themselves over this tragedy. They must be hurting more than we can imagine and we should pray for them.

It could have been anyone of us in any profession.

[Desert Rat]

It could have been anyone of us in any profession.

Exactly Dip...

Matt,

For you to declare that a business caused this man's suicide without knowing anything about him or his medical or mental makeup is the DUMBEST leap of logic I've seen on this board...and I've seen a lot.

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by Desert Rat:
It could have been anyone of us in any profession.

Exactly Dip...

Matt,

For you to declare that a business caused this man's suicide without knowing anything about him or his medical or mental makeup is the DUMBEST leap of logic I've seen on this board...and I've seen a lot.How do you know I *don't* know?

Stop making assumptions, please.

[anti-spam]

That's right - he was a married man, Matt probably tried to do him.

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by anti-spam:
That's right - he was a married man, Matt probably tried to do him.That was uncalled for and totally declasse.