John Drayman starts cable show
Former Councilman John Drayman has launched a talk show on a local TV channel, but its schedule has been scaled back from daily to once a week.
Launched earlier this month, Drayman had planned to make the talk show, “Face to Face,” his full-time job, but it hasn’t turned into the moneymaking program he envisioned, said Mike Lawler, a guest on the show.
“It’s a great idea, but it’s not the right economic time. Nobody wants to sink any money into this kind of thing,” said Lawler, president of the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley. “He wanted to do it for a living. It’s just a bad time to start a business.”
Drayman declined to be interviewed for this article.
“Face to Face” on Charter Cable Channel 3 aired from 7 to 8 p.m. from Aug. 1 through 26. Drayman’s CP Studios paid $4,800 for the first month of airtime, Charter spokesman Kevin Allen said.
The show was renewed for another four weeks as of Monday, Allen said, but because the air time is paid for per episode, the weekly schedule will reduce the cost.
Drayman’s episode featuring Lawler had been on repeat for four weeks, Allen added.
Mike Morgan, a Glendale historic preservation commissioner, said he was interviewed a few days ago for a second episode of “Face to Face” focusing on Glendale’s history.
Drayman’s foray into local broadcast comes on the heels of several issues for the Montrose resident.
Earlier this year, subcontractors who worked on a remodel of his condominium said they had been interviewed by the FBI regarding the work and connections to Advanced Development & Investment Inc., an affordable housing developer accused by its court-appointed receiver of defrauding Glendale, Los Angeles and others of millions of dollars.
In addition, city officials have said Drayman and his contractor underreported work on the condo when filing permits. Drayman’s contractor, National Fire Systems & Services, had filed a lien on his condo, claiming he owes the company $98,222.48. Drayman has denied any wrongdoing and said National Fire’s claim is incorrect.
The Glendale Police Department is also investigating claims that Drayman embezzled money from the Montrose Farmers Market, which he helped organize. Glendale police officials have declined to comment on the investigation.
Morgan said Drayman shouldn’t have to stall his life because of the recent controversy.
“You have to live your life as passionately as you can,” Morgan said. “He’s not going to stop because of what’s happened. He’s not. That’s who he is. He’s saying: ‘I’m going to go on with my life …no matter what people say.’”
Only those who subscribe to Charter can view the program. Allen said per company policy, he could not disclose how many subscribers Charter has in the Burbank/Glendale area.
“It’s been hard for him to move around without a clear reputation,” Lawler said, adding that the show could help Drayman in that department.
Charter does not weigh in on programming content, so the investigations didn’t hurt Drayman’s chances of getting on the air, Allen said.
“Time slots are available on this channel on a first-come, non-discriminatory basis,” he said.