Raising The Bar For Publicists Everywhere

News that New York playwright Neil Simon received a kidney from his publicist made Gothamist wonder how much do publicists, agents, and managers charge for organ donation? On the downside, it's not the easiest of procedure, but the upside is that you have a kidney left and it is free publicity.. But it's great that Simon's publicist, and good friend, Bill Evans, was able to do this - organ donation is too little utilized. And Evans himself was happy to help his friend/client, "You hear nothing but success stories. So I think it's an exciting thing. The real good that can come out of it is that somebody will think, 'Oh, I can give a kidney and be O.K.'"

Besides dealing with kidney issues the past few years, Simon was very upset with Mary Tyler Moore and the Manhattan Theatre Club over the production of his play, Rose's Dilemma; Moore walked off! American Masters on Neil Simon.
Organ and tissue donation is important; learn more here.

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By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on March 4, 2004 1:31 PM

Comments [rss]

Sterling

Shouldn't there be a Lizzie Grubman joke in here somewhere? I clicked the comments link expecting to find a Lizzie Grubman joke, and now I feel strangely empty.

Rimshot

Right -- and still charge you for the photocopies.

And mine would charge me 15%, so count your blessings.

I wonder if the surgeon gets a co-agenting fee.

And how does Neil know when he's earned out? I mean, what exactly is the royalty rate for a new organ?

And who gets UK rights?

Hey does Gothamist want to co-publish the Agent Organ Donor Joke Book with me? I think it could be huge. I bet Neil's agent would give his left nut to be involved.

Okay. I'll stop.

Rimshot

Ugarte

An agent would take 10% of the kidney back.

rimshot

or the Wizards of Buzz...

Ajit

funny, the above commentary sounds like the plot for a new "wizard of oz"...

Alex

Neil Simon has long been known as a mean old bastard. From that perspective, it's no wonder the only person willing to help him was his publicist.