[8] With D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, Friedman co-produced Only the Strong Survive, a 2002 documentary film about Memphis soul musicians, in which he also appeared.
[9] Reviewing the documentary, James Sullivan wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle: "With Friedman, the narrator and emissary, tossing questions as squishy as Jell-O and heaping praise on the performers for their unexceptional appearances on the oldies circuit, it's a wasted opportunity.
[7][1][11] In 2002, he was criticized by Mica Rosenberg of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency for writing a review of a film even though he had never seen it, but only read an advance copy of the screenplay.
'"[13] In April 2009, Friedman was fired by Fox News after he reviewed the unfinished film X-Men Origins: Wolverine based on viewing a bootlegged copy of the movie online.
When we advised Fox News of the facts they took immediate action, removed the post and promptly terminated Mr. Friedman ...
... [T]he complaint] ... doesn't even quote from the contract, or lay out what, precisely, it obligated Fox to do or not do relative to Friedman.
If there's a news story about you dipping your balls in the Frosty mix at Wendy's, you don't get to work at Steak n' Shake.
"[30] In March 2010, after Friedman alleged a link between her Organic Liaison weight-loss system and the Church of Scientology, Kirstie Alley accused him of libelous statements about her company.
[2] In addition, Friedman alleged that the Organic Liaison weight loss system was a sham.