Others queried in the last week mentioned power, money, an itch to surpass the Creative Artists Agency, and, most intriguing, the surge of ambition that came with the return of Emanuel’s brother Rahm. Even hardened observers of Hollywood’s coarse ways were stunned when Emanuel and his colleagues dumped dozens of Morris agents and parted ways with Wiatt, who had since become the Morris chairman, less than a month after the merger was approved.

Even as Wiatt opted out, Emanuel’s temper flared in negotiations with NBC over the drama Medium, which was created by one of his clients, Glenn Gordon Caron. The spat, which broke out when the network balked at financial terms, concluded with Medium moving to CBS and Emanuel threatening Marc Graboff, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, with personal ruin.

“Nobody wants to be on the wrong side of Ari Emanuel, especially now that his brother is running the White House,” said a TV executive, who asked for anonymity to preserve harmony with him.