By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Licensing and entertainment veteran Michael Peikoss and Looney Tunes artist Fred Bode have just released a book that’s sure to turn your own frustrations into laughter.
Titled A Smart Man Wouldn’t Have Thought About That, the book is a short and punchy read based on the witty and occasionally acerbic musings of Peikoff’s father Elliot, who was well-known throughout the American entertainment industry.
“Some people are fortunate enough to have a father who is—or was—their best friend,” said Peikoff. “Elliot was my hero and my closest friend who inspired me with his integrity and humanity. He was born with a razor-sharp wit which served as a catalyst for his peerless success as a salesman. Writing this book about his many chucklesome quips was a great labor of love for me.”
A Smart Man Wouldn’t Have Thought About That is a 35-page book filled with treasured quips and “knee slappers” called “Elliotism’s” from Peikoff’s late father. From what I’ve seen of the book so far, it’s packed full of quips that speak to anyone who’s worked in business and particularly licensing, where it’s all about the deal.
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Some of the Elliotisms I liked included, “I’m working on so many deals I don’t know which is gonna fall through first,” or “How many people do you have working for you, Elliot? … About HALF of them!”
One joke in particular could have been a motto for the entire pandemic era, as Elliott once said, “Business is looking up, if you happen to be lying on your back.” Since I have fond memories of lying on my back for three weeks, trying to fight brain fog while writing articles for The Licensing Letter, I know exactly what he means!
The book is a short and entertaining read, particularly because Elliott Peikoff’s witty remarks are illustrated by the legendary Looney Tunes artist Fred Bode, who captures the humor in his illustrations and brings them to life.
The people most looking forward to this book are the ones who knew Michael Peikoff personally, and remember his anecdotal stories about his father’s clever bon mots.
Peikoff began his career at Fox Broadcasting, where he rose to become the VP of Publicity. He then joined Warner Bros. Consumer Products as a Vice President in a variety of departments, and also worked at Sony Pictures Consumer Products and at Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising.
“Michael worked for me at Warner Bros. where I heard my first Elliotism,” said Dan Romanelli, the founder and former president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Elliotism’s were and remains a wonderful way for me to entertain and joust colleagues who direct a statement to you that they believe will resonate.
“Elliot was one man I wish I could have met, but I feel like I have. I know readers will love this book as much as I did.”
Peikoff’s friend and former president at Fox TV Studios David Grant is also a fan of the book, partly because he did know Elliot.
“As a teenage friend of the author, I had a front row seat to hundreds of rapid-fire Elliotism’s'” Grant said. “But it was only after decades in business that I could appreciate Elliot’s gift for the perfect, ironic one-liner.
“If you are in the world of sales, when you read this collection—and you will over and over again—you will both laugh and wince as you relate to every word.”
The new book is published by Kent Press, an imprint of Kent Communications, Ltd., a Connecticut based publisher that specializes in licensing and intellectual property topics.
It currently publishes Licensing Tales, The Business of Licensing and an earlier series called the Basics of Licensing, which has three editions. Kent Press has also published The Toy & Game Inventor’s Guide, A Primer on Licensing, Licensee Survival Guide, Guide to License Artwork, Trademarks for Entrepreneurs and the Essentials of Technology and Patent Licensing.
To my knowledge, this is the first comedy book from Kent Press.