Guess what, bottom-effers? Today marks my employer's most hated time of year, also known as "contract renegotiation day"! For me, it's like Christmas, Halloween, and Mardi Gras all rolled into one. For my boss, it's more like 9/11, leukemia, and tofu wrapped in a poop tortilla. True, I've often been labeled a "difficult negotiator"âbut I always get results! (Dear employer: spoiler alert ahead! Can you please excuse yourself, so I can reveal my most cunning negotiation secrets? THANKS.)
Negotiation Secret #1: Always appear like you're asking for a small amount of money, when actually it's an enormous amount of money. Example: I'll ask to be paid only three cents per television columnâBUT! In addition, I must also be paid $97 per letter (including spaces). That roughly comes out to $485,000.03 per column, which makes my boss freak out and say, "OMG!! I can't afford $485,000.03!" "Okay," I say calmly. "Then how about half that much, which is $300 per column?" (Which is, of course, not even close to correct, but that's the point: He'll be so confused, he'll give me the $300 I ask for, just to avoid a brain seizure.)
Negotiation Secret #2: Always include a "rider." You know... like the stuff rock stars demand in their dressing rooms? For example, my rider includes finding the following on my desk every morning: one thong with "Home of the Whopper" hand-stitched on the crotch. Three tubes of airplane glue. Five boxes of Totino's Pizza Rolls. One hamster named "Karen." One pair of "nude" nylons. One High School Musicalâbrand hand sanitizer. Tissues! And a loaded revolver... just in case.
Negotiation Secret #3: Agree to your employer's crazy demandsâbut only in exchange for $30 million. As you may have read, negotiations for season five of AMC's Mad Men almost ground to a halt. The network promised to pay creator/runner Matthew Weiner a whopping $30 millionâIF he added "product placements" within the show (he refused), cut two minutes per episode for commercials (he mostly agreed), and eliminate two characters (refused, but agreed to limit the cast budget). As you can see, Weiner came very close to telling AMC to cram it up their baloney holes (my phrasing, not his), but by agreeing to a smidge of their demands, he got his $30 mil and we'll get our season five of Mad Menâprobably by spring 2012.
Me? I would have done things a bit differently. Such as CAVING IN TO ALL THEIR DEMANDS AND TAKING THE MONEY! For $30 million, I would happily mention Hormel Chili in each and every column. For $30 million, I would ecstatically cut 200 words, just to make room for more Hormel Chili ads. For $30 million, I would cheerfully cut two regular "characters" from my column (perhaps the phrases "baloney hole" and "diaper gravy"). And YESâif asked, for $30 million I would happily murder you in your sleep. Yes, you read that correctly: I would sneak into your house while you blissfully snored in bed and strangle you with my nylons (see rider for details).
Oops, here comes my boss to renegotiate my contract. Let's hope you haven't pissed him off lately. 
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6
9:30 FOX BREAKING IN
Debut! A new workplace comedy starring Christian Slater (whom I donât recall inviting back).
10:30 COM WORKAHOLICS
Debut! Three college roomies get stupid jobs as telemarketers in this potentially hilarious new series!
THURSDAY, APRIL 7
8:00 CW VAMPIRE DIARIES
Matt canât convince the sheriff that a vampire killed his sister. Hasnât this guy seen Twilight?
11:00 SHO GIGOLOS
Debut! A new reality series about men who sell their bodies in Las Vegas! (Sadly, Iâm not involved.)
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
9:00 HBO THE RICKY GERVAIS SHOW
Ricky, Stephen, and Karl discuss âartââand how Karl knows absolutely nothing about it.
SATURDAY, APRIL 9
9:00 SYFY FEROCIOUS PLANETâMovie
(2011) When their experiment malfunctions, scientists are transported to the âass-eating beastâ dimension.
10:00 TLC LETâS TALK ABOUT SEX
What do todayâs teens think about sex? If they can stop fucking for a second, maybe weâll find out.
SUNDAY, APRIL 10
9:00 COM THE COMEDY AWARDS
A new awards show celebrating the best in pants-wetting comedy, featuring Tina Fey, Andy Samberg, and more!
10:00 AMC THE KILLING
Police think a teenâs murder may be connected to something in a high-school basement called âThe Cage.â Umm⊠ew!
MONDAY, APRIL 11
8:00 FOX HOUSE
Itâs the 150th episode, and the gang celebrates by holding a âspud gun competition.â Was that splash the sound of a shark jumping?
8:00 AMC DELIVERANCEâMovie
(1972) My fave deadly hillbilly movie featuring half-naked Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty squealing like a pig.
TUESDAY, APRIL 12
8:00 ABC JAMIE OLIVERâS FOOD REVOLUTION
Jamie âfood revolutionâ is blocked by the Los Angeles school district. (Told ya theyâd do a background check!)
10:30 COM SPORTS SHOW WITH NORM MACDONALD
Debut! The very funny comedian takes on the world of sports. (Finally! A reason for sports to exist!)
Iâll take my $30 million now, please.
