Getting well soon

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Thanks to everyone who wrote yesterday with get-well-soon messages. And thanks also to David Poland for saying this in person, although his posted get-well-soon is flecked with urine. It's a character-revealing note, this. Not in my darkest delusional imaginings would I suggest or wish for Poland's exit from entertainment journalism. It seems tantamount to life itself -- the thing that keeps him breathing. It's how I feel about what I do. But for as long as I've known him Rabbi Dave has always spoken from time to time of the desirability of this or that journalist going away...banished, shunned, fired...forcibly expelled into the desert with a measure of bread and water (like Yul Brynner 's Ramses did to Charlton Heston 's Moses). He's kind an absolutist in an ancient Middle Eastern sense. A greater part of him wants the sinful to die or have their hands cut off rather than repent or be saved. Such thoughts have never once fluttered into my head. Like any writer worth a damn I speak with passion and even anger at times, but I do nobody harm, I say none harm, I think none harm.

Hospital pics<< previous | next >>L.A. Times Stands Up

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 22, 2006 at 8:41 AM

comment #1

Lisa says ...

Hey, he does care about you, Jeff!!

Posted by Lisa at August 22, 2006 9:40 AM

comment #2

Daniel Fienberg says ...

Wait.

So which of you guys is Tupac and which is Biggie?

Nevermind. I suppose I know the answer to that one.

How did that particular feud end up, anyway?

Hug it out before somebody gets capped!

Posted by Daniel Fienberg at August 22, 2006 9:46 AM

comment #3

Suki Jonze says ...

In response to my interview Q&A with Mr. Wells and Mr. Poland last week, somebody commented:

"Was it the great twentieth-century philosopher Cosmo Kramer who suggested that when two people bicker constantly theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re really in love but are afraid to admit it?"

~Suki Jonze
http://www.dvdnewsroom.com

Posted by Suki Jonze at August 22, 2006 10:26 AM

comment #4

Filthy Rich says ...

I read Poland's post and I can't decide if it was brave honesty or just backhanded best wishes.

It was ugly and yet strangely sentimental.

You guys have both said nasty things about each other over the years.

Posted by Filthy Rich at August 22, 2006 10:29 AM

comment #5

NYCBusybody says ...

"Flecked with urine". Awesome writing.

Why Poland and Wells don't push to have their own contentious "Siskel and Ebert" type criticism show beats me. Man, that would be entertaining!

Posted by NYCBusybody at August 22, 2006 10:37 AM

comment #6

JoeGreenia says ...

Filthy Rich, I've been saying that for years. There was a lot of tension between Siskel and Ebert back in the day, and it made for great TV.

Posted by JoeGreenia at August 22, 2006 10:55 AM

comment #7

tholl-yung says ...

Oh, is this good on so many levels. I feel like those must have in Ancient Rome in the colosium, such pompos glory. More later.

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 10:57 AM

comment #8

Dave Polands Gut says ...

Who doesnt care about Jeffy here??

Posted by Dave Polands Gut at August 22, 2006 10:59 AM

comment #9

Gabriel says ...

Fucking Jews.....responsible for all the wars in the world.

Posted by Gabriel at August 22, 2006 11:00 AM

comment #10

gustav13 says ...

Maybe they could do their review show as a special iKlipz/Elsewhere Podcast simulcast!

(whatever happened to the podcasts?)

Posted by gustav13 at August 22, 2006 11:05 AM

comment #11

jeffmcm says ...

JW is a journalist?

Posted by jeffmcm at August 22, 2006 11:07 AM

comment #12

tholl-yung says ...

I'm not the only one who had to read DP's last line twice. I first thought: It's from the ranks of entertainment journalists that he wished you "the best of health and a quick exit" "to become a crusader for better health care." Double meaning on purpose? Where'd DP get "blood poisoning," even that would have made you chuckle. Jeff, is hand messed up becsuse you sinned and need to repent to be saved? Confess now.

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 11:57 AM

comment #13

MarkEbner says ...

By not responding to my repeated requests for help on a private, professional matter, Mr. Wells is killing my journalism career while Mr. Poland continues to submarine his own. It won't be long before Poland and Wells ramblings are folded into the Huffington Post. Then, I shall rule.

Worst wishes,

Mark Ebner
http://www.hollywoodinterrupted.com

Posted by MarkEbner at August 22, 2006 12:25 PM

comment #14

SpamDooley says ...

When you reported on a non screening 14 years ago your career ended

Posted by SpamDooley at August 22, 2006 12:29 PM

comment #15

Spacesheik says ...

I luv ya both ya big palookas.

Posted by Spacesheik at August 22, 2006 1:03 PM

comment #16

J. Huff says ...

Siskel and Ebert did have some glorious shouting matches, didn't they? That was some good TV there. So how about it? Wells vs. Poland? But the problem is that the show might wind up (as their columns often do) being more about the stories about the movies than the movies themselves, which would be sad.

Posted by J. Huff at August 22, 2006 1:23 PM

comment #17

FNG says ...

Non screening?

Posted by FNG at August 22, 2006 1:28 PM

comment #18

murdocdv says ...

I suggested the Siskel & Ebert style video podcast for Poland and Wells on a Poland post a few weeks ago. No one every gave it any consideration, but damn that would be entertaining.

I have been reading Jeff since at least the Mr. Showbiz days, this year has been some of his best writing in a while. Keep it up.

Posted by murdocdv at August 22, 2006 1:46 PM

comment #19

NYCBusybody says ...

God, Mr. Showbiz. Makes me nostalgic. I remember that from 1999, back in my college days. Reading Jeff, getting into film. Good times.

Anyone else remember that Mr. Showbiz Summer Box Office Showdown game?

Posted by NYCBusybody at August 22, 2006 1:57 PM

comment #20

tholl-yung says ...

Spacesheik, I like em both too, but MCN is easier to use because it tells you who posted last and that thread rises to the top of the list. And the comments copy is laid out better for reading.

Posted by tholl-yung at August 22, 2006 2:08 PM

comment #21

Jay T. says ...

DP is a boring asshole - stopped reading him years ago. Tried to give him another chance recently and got bored again after a few days.

Posted by Jay T. at August 22, 2006 4:59 PM

comment #22

EDouglas says ...

And the dance continues...

Posted by EDouglas at August 22, 2006 8:08 PM

comment #23

p.Vice says ...

I think this is all a staged WWF-style feud intended to drum up more readership between the two of them. It's always much more enjoyable when you can not only get news but a dash of personal melodrama as well.

Behind closed doors, these two are probably laughing their asses off. I mean, how is it that Poland knew details of Jeff being in the hospital before everyone else?

Posted by p.Vice at August 23, 2006 6:19 AM

comment #24