Talk:Leslie Moonves

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Contents 1 Biography 2 Name Issues 3 Neutrality 4 Nationality???

[edit] Biography

First, the article needs more information on his early years. He didn't just go from a struggling actor to head of two large media companies.

Also, clarify exactly when he was president on Warner Bros. Televison and when he served that role for CBS to Viacom back to CBS. Wings made it's debut in early 1990, Survivor made it's debut in the summer of 2000...he's listed as 'greenlighting' both of these shows....but then he didn't become president of Warner Bros. Televison till 1993 and was President of CBS in 1995. Someone who knows more on this subject should write and research a better biography.

[edit] Name Issues

This should be at Les Moonves because it is what he is always called. See Wikipedia:Naming conventions (common names). Acegikmo1 20:06, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

Every biographical article about the man calls him by his proper legal name, Leslie Moonves. Even the CBS biography page lists him as "Leslie". Therefore I submit, he is not "always" called "Les".

• Biography from CBS Corp. website

Bark 20:15, 30 March (UTC)

A Google search shows more than twice as many results for "Les Moonves" as for "Leslie Moonves"[1]. Acegikmo1 22:44, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

The Internet Movie Database lists him as "Leslie". Every official site I have seen to date refers to him as "Leslie".

• Leslie Moonves at IMDb.

Bark 18:05, 14 April (UTC)

Yes, but naming conventions state, "When choosing a name for a page ask yourself: What word would the average user of the Wikipedia put into the search engine". The media more often calls him "Les Moonves" than "Leslie Moonves". There are more instances of CNN using Les (218) than Leslie (184). The same is true for nbc.com and cbs.com. Even IMDB returns 645 results for "Les Moonves" but only 151 for "Leslie Moonves". I think it's clear that "the average user" would know him as "Les Moonves". But you seem reasonable and bring up good points. Should we call a vote to resolve it? Acegikmo1 01:37, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

We have a good redirect, so making reference of the nickname in the article itself should be sufficient. Bark 19:06, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Also, remember the Internet Movie Database. IMDb has a similar naming convention policy of referring to common names. Bill Clinton and Tony Blair are good examples. They are specifically cited in Wiki's naming convention policy. As such, those common names are what both are listed under here. They are also listed under those common names at IMDb. However, Leslie Moonves is listed under "Leslie Moonves". "Les" is relegated to a nickname that he is sometimes credited as. Therefore, if credible biographical sites on the Internet, especially ones with similar common naming conventions policies to Wiki, (in this case IMDb), has rejected the use of "Les" in favor of "Leslie", it seems obvious to me we adopt the same standards. Have the main article under "Leslie", redirect "Les", and make mention of the nickname in the article. Bark 10:29, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Neutrality

I am concerned about the neutrality of the section mentioning the shows he's cancelled. When I found the article, I was directed from a Star Trek page; I thought "hrm... here's the man responsible for ending Star Trek", in a fairly negative way... on the other hand, someone who hated "Judging Amy" may come and say "Sweet! the man who ended Judging Amy!". Would it be possible to expand this, maybe with a couple of references as to why? Though being able to back that up may in itself be a problem... David Souther

The only reason Moonves gave for cancelling JOAN OF ARCADIA was "talking to ghosts may skew younger than talking to God". I think a lot of people would consider this a stupid reason, particularly since targeting young viewers isn't supposed to be a goal of CBS in the first place. It's not the writer's fault if Moonves is more famous for destroying award-winning shows than creating them. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.17.48.157 (talk • contribs).

[edit] Nationality???

Does anyone know what his ethnicity is? This would make his early biograpghy better. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.225.232.80 (talk) 23:59, 4 February 2007 (UTC).

—His nationality is American. His name is derived from Munweis or Monbesz (cf. his great-aunt Paula Ben-Gurion). His great-uncle was David Ben-Gurion the founding PM of Israel.69.204.163.4 08:44, 16 March 2007 (UTC)