As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert sees the American press finally beginning to take an interest in his British phone hacking scandal. What has roused the interest of the American press? What else? Show biz. This week there will be a star-studded lineup of hacking victims testifying under oath; a list that includes such luminaries as Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller, and the most famous author in the world, J.K. Rowling.

Even the Hollywood Reporter is covering the story now.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert reads Variety magazine and discovers that a movie called "Tabloid" is in the works. It's about a tabloid newspaper in England that hacks into people's phones.

The man behind the film is Mick Jagger.

This is what happens when you take on celebrities, Rupert (by say, hacking into their phones). Turns out, they have a venue for getting back at you.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode of "As the Rupert Turns", we discover that the Australian branch of Rupert's empire just did an internal review to see if any of their journalists were guilty of phone hacking and found out that no one was.

Of course, an internal review of the English branch found the same thing a few years ago. For those of you keeping score, that was more than 5000 phone hacks ago.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert's son James Murdoch is forced to testify under oath to a very hostile Parliament.

He doubled down on his "What? Really? I had no idea" testimony and blamed the entire thing on his underlings.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode we learn that Rupert's newspaper not only hacked into innocent people's phones, it spied on the lawyers that represented those hacking victims (in at least two confirmed cases).

Keep peeling that onion. I wonder if we're ever going to reach a layer that isn't rotten.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode we discover that the former editor of the phone hacking newspaper in London was given $2.7 million, a chauffeur, and an office, and this was after she was arrested by British police.

All part of Rupert's renewed promise to emphasize integrity.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Scotland Yard arrests another person in the phone hacking case. This one is arrested for bribery/corruption.

Also, News Corp announces a compensation plan for hacking victims. I know they're doing this to try to mitigate the damage (by avoiding attorney fees), and it's probably a good plan. On Thursday, British police said they had identified 5,795 potential victims of phone hacking, and that the number could still rise.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, we find out that the Murdoch's are in family counseling over the tricky subject of succession (when Dad finally kicks it).

For those of you that think my description of Rupert's life as a soap opera (the inspiration for the title of this feature) is unfair, read this Vanity Fair article. The way he pits his children against each other and secretly undermines them is truly amazing.

I challenge anyone to find a family with more dysfunction at the junction. It's positively Shakespearean.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Parliament reveals they have a smoking gun that implicates James Murdoch in the phone hacking scandal.

It's not looking good for Rupert's boy. Especially since he explicitly testified (under oath) to these very same people that he didn't know anything.

A Smoking Phone

This is not good news for News Corp. London's Metropolitan Police have a phone in their custody that is registered to News Corp, which has hacked into more than a thousand unauthorized numbers.

The total number is 1150 different phone numbers. One thousand one hundred and fifty different phone numbers. And this is just one phone.

People are going to prison for this. This is the equivalent of a smoking gun. It's a smoking phone.

Rupert's Board Re-Elected

I normally don't post on Saturdays, but I thought I'd make an exception this one time because I've been following this story so closely (some might say obsessively).

The News Corp board of directors was re-elected yesterday, including Rupert himself and his son. It sounds like it was a circus, and he did have to get on his hands and knees and beg forgiveness, but in the end he got what he wanted: Full control with no strings attached.

We won't see the apologetic Rupert again. He can now go back to being himself.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, we lay out a blanket, pack a few sandwiches and beverages in a cooler, and snuggle up for a full day of fireworks. Today is the News Corp stockholders meeting in Los Angeles.

The LA Times previews the festivities.

Oh, and as a special fireworks bonus, Occupy LA will also be outside the meeting. I don't think I've ever seen fireworks inside and outside at the same time. Should be memorable.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, it's the day before the big stockholders vote. Rupert is expecting to face an angry mob of stockholders (Variety has the details)...but I suspect he has crunched the numbers and is pretty certain that they won't have the votes to get rid of him.

Despite the illegal activity in England, the unethical (and potentially illegal) activity in Europe, the political brinksmanship in Australia, and the Justice Department investigation in America, it will all come down to this: Rupert and his family control 40% of the stock, and the second biggest investor (a Saudi prince) controls 7% and is on Rupert's side, so he only needs 3% of the other stockholders to support him. The stock price is still in pretty good shape. That fact alone should be able to get him 3% of the vote. That's all he needs.

Rupert's Lawyer Testifies to Parliament

Watch this testimony. It's truly amazing. Rupert's attorney is testifying that he knew immediately that his client was lying to Parliament. I must say, I'm shocked that this story isn't considered particularly newsworthy in this country.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode the rift between Rupert and his son James is discussed at length by Rupert's arch enemy...the New York Times.

I'm guessing there are some crumpets being thrown at the staff this morning.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, we find Rupert hunkered down, getting ready for the big shareholders meeting this coming Friday. This article gives you the odds of his staying in power. It looks like he has about 47% of the shares locked up and only needs a little more to save his hide, but he's definitely sweating it.

He's probably not thrilled that even his efforts at rehabilitating his image through supporting education aren't working. His Friday speech was heckled by a group that called themselves "Occupy Sesame Street".

I kid you not.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert is really starting to get nervous about next week's Board of Directors vote. Another very influential group of investors is now publicly urging that shareholders vote out both of Rupert's sons, but that's not all. They're also urging the ouster of Rupert himself.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert deals with a brand new ethical crisis, this time involving the European edition of the Wall Street Journal.

This is the best case scenario reporting about that incident, because it comes from the Wall Street Journal itself.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert wakes up to a crowd of protesters outside his door. The Occupy Wall Street crowd has begun to protest specific billionaires. It seems like a no-brainer to protest the guy who controls the media for their opposition.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert's "compliance team" announces the creation of a hotline for News Corp employees to report their colleagues when they see them doing something illegal or unethical.

They insist that all whistleblowers will be protected and their legal fees will be paid for by News Corp if they are sued or fired for doing so.

Whoa. Rupert really is scared this time.