Casey Anthony Trial Has Networks Hot For Lawyer: Baez Courted For The Casey Interview

Casey Anthony may be in hiding, however, her  lawyer Jose Baez, has been living like a king in New York City. Seen eating steak dinners with Matt Lauer and sleeping at the Mandarin Oriental , Baez is on the "first date" of his life.

California high profile attorney Mark Geragos was spotted carousing with Jose Baez at the Mandarin Oriental hotel bar on Thursday. Perhaps Baez was learning the tricks of the trade from Geragos on how to negotiate the best deal.

Behind the scenes of "the courting of Baez",  major network reps scramble to sign him as an exclusive legal eagle / talking head with hopes to eventually score the "big interview".  

In reality, Baez is of course "first base", if you will.  Casey Anthony is the real prize, or "home plate" using this "dating" analogy.  Some media are implying Baez is 'pimping' Casey, per se,  for her first interview.

"Everyone is trying to buy Baez," an industry source told us. "He's the key to Casey Anthony."

The Post reported that network reps met with Baez a week after the verdict, and he made it clear that Anthony would not be making TV appearances for six to nine months.

So the networks are dangling a legal-analyst position in front of Baez to get access to Anthony when she's ready to talk.

Jose Baez: The Pimping Of  Casey Anthony's First Interview

"Baez wants to be the next big talking head," an inside source revealed.  "The networks need him down the road to score the interview with Casey when she's less radioactive."


Three years ago, Baez was a green Florida defense attorney. His struggling practice made him an unlikely, unlikeable, and unsuitable attorney for this caliber of case. With little experience, Baez was unqualified to try this death penalty case as first chair. Enter Cheney Mason, a pompous, southern attorney who criticized Baez and his tactics early in the case.

Surprisingly, Baez pulled off the seemingly unthinkable when the jury found Casey not guilty of murder in the 2008 death of her daughter, Caylee. To some, Jose Baez now has 'legal appeal', and those few also see him as the new Johnnie Cochran.

An NBC rep said, "We've talked with Baez about getting an interview with Casey Anthony, but only under NBC News standards and conditions -- no payment, and absolutely no job offers for any member of her defense team."

Read carefully -- NBC is saying "no payment," but it refers to an "interview." That doesn't cover paying huge money for pictures, video, etc. That's S.O.P. in the network game.

Paradigm talent agency signed Baez to represent him in broadcasting after the trial but reportedly dropped him hours later because of a negative backlash in Hollywood.

ABC has taken its knocks on the Anthony story after reportedly paying $200,000 to the family to license video and photos. An ABC rep said, "We're not bidding for any interview. Period."

Sources say Baez will not work with CBS. "CBS News is not courting and will not court Jose Baez to become a legal expert," a CBS spokesperson said.

A statement from Baez Friday said: "Contrary to recent published reports, I am not negotiating paid interviews with anyone."

some content: The New York Post