et al.: SU Variety II SPECIAL 'GOIN' HOLLYWOOD' EDITION II

NEWSPAPER Second Class P.O. Entry

Supplement to Syracuse University Magazine CURTIS: IN MINIS Role Credits! "War" Series Is All-Time Screen Dream Syracuse- We couldn't pos­ sibly get 'em all, but in these 8 By RENEE LEVY series "Winds of War," based on to air in late spring and the entire pages find another 40-plus SU Hollywood- The longest. The Herman Wouk 's epic World War II package will air in Europe next year. alumni getting billboards on most demanding. The hardest. The novels, "War and Remembrance" Curtis, exec producer, director the boulevard. In our research, most expensive. That's the story was shot in 757 locations in 10 and co-scribe of the teleplay, spent we discovered a staggering net­ behind Dan Curtis 'SO's block­ countries, using more than 44,000 two years filming and a year and a work of Syracusans in the busi­ buster miniseries " War and Re­ actors and extras and nearly 800 half editing "War and Remem­ ness-producers, directors, membrance," which aired the first sets. The production- the longest brance," a project he originally actors, editors, and more! We 18 of its 30 hours in November on in television history--cost an es­ considered undoable-particular­ soon realized that all of them ABC-TV. timated $ 105 million to make. The ly because of the naval battles and would not fit, and to those left A sequel to Curtis's 1983 maxi- concluding 12 hours are expected the depiction of the Holocaust. on the cutting-room floor: Known to industry insiders for regrets. Know that this healthy his incredible energy and tenacity, sampling represents you all: Curtis refused to give up. He spent Syracusans 'gone Holly­ nearly two years negotiating with wood.'-ed. the Polish government for the right to film at Auschwitz. For the fi rst time ever, the death camp was opened to the crew of a dramatic Frons launches film. Curtis's Auschwitz sequenc­ es are thought by many to be the Soap Sensation most accurate portrayal of the Final Solution and certainly some Hollywood- NBC is making of the most graphic footage seen history as the first network to on network television. launch a daytime drama focusing Telling the story of the war took on blacks. "Generations," the nearly I 0 years of Curtis's life, but newest NB C soap, will feature (Continued on page 5) daytime television's first "core" black family. Inside The show, preeming March 26, is a con tempo social drama center­ POST-PROD ing on the relationships of two • Adler's Post Group is tops Chicago fam ilies, one black and in music-vid market . . . . . 2 one white, whose lives have been linked for many years. TOP BRASS Guiding "Generations" is Brian e Takeover has Leider's lTC Frons G'78, NBC E n terta in­ on the move ...... 5 ment's veepee of daytime pro­ grams. If his record i s a ny ROLE CHANGE indication, the show should be a hit. e Fred Silverman is back, (Continued on page 4) Miniseries King Dan Curtis. selling hit series ...... 6 Published by SURFACE, 1989 1 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 5, Iss. 3 [1989], Art. 6

2 BUSINESS UfRJETY Former Columbia Adler's Post Group Goes Gold Exec Casts His In Music-Vid Postproduction Line Elsewhere Los Angeles-The former top­ per of talent and casting at Colum­ By MARY ELLEN MENGUCCI organization provides. bia/Embassy Television, Marc Los Angeles-The Post Group, The Post Group's clientele, in Hirschfeld ' 78, has formed his an L.A. postproduction firm that addition to music-vid prods, in­ own casting co. with partner Meg adds an array of finishing touches cludes an assortment of directors Liberman. to some of Hollywood's finest and producers representing every­ Two-year-old firm, Liberman audio and video work, is doing big thing from sitcoms to docus to Hirschfeld Casting, has cast plen­ business in music videos. news shows. ty of series: "The Days and Nights Per Joan L. Adler G '76, veepee Adler, overseer of the facility's of Molly Dodd," "The 'Slap' Max­ of operations at Post, "Fifty to operations, says the 180-person well Story" and "It's Garry Shand­ sixty percent, maybe even more, f irm " is basically the largest ling's Show." Firm now serves as of the music videos shown on TV fac ility in the country in terms of consultants to Fox Broadcasting are done here." equipment. We buy the latest and for all pilots, works on NBC's Video editing, film-to-tape trans­ we are definitely the state-of-the­ mid-season replacement " The fers, audio sweetening, 2-D and art. Whatever is new, you can Live-In" and casts for Rob 3-D video graphics are among the come to the Post Group and find it Reiner's co., Castle Rock Enter­ special effects and services the Joan L. Adler here." tainment. In his seven years with Colum­ In the best scenario, a project bia/Embassy TV, Liberman cast would have several lives- as a series "The Facts of Life," "The 'Jogger' Prod. Team Based hardcover, a paperback and then Jeffersons" and "One Day at a as a film or miniseries. Time." He's responsible for the Corwin acquired Tudor with original casts of the current sit­ partner Gerry Sindell in 1987. He coms "Married ...Wi th Children" In Martin Shapiro Stable and "227." was formerly president and CEO of Pinnacle Books and was veepee Of late, the 33-year-old exec Los Angeles- "Salute of the Shapiro grew up in the industry of both Prentice-Hall and Grosset won an Artios Award from the lugger," a feature recently lensed and formed a small booking firm & Dunlap. Casting Society of America for in Australia and skedded for sum­ called the Marwin Agency as an Corwin was exec producer of Outstanding Achievement in mer release, undergrad at SU.He and his room­ the Orion fi lm "Remo Wi lliams," Daytime Casting, for his work on is the latest mate/partner skedded acts and and is credited with discovering the CBS Schoolbreak Special, opus from bands for clubs on campus and the blockbuster best-seller " ... And " Babies Having Babies," which writer I dir­ around the city, "just for fun," sez Ladies of the Club," which Tudor is was helmed by Martin Sheen. ector David Shapiro.-M.E.M. currently developing for tele­ - M.E.M. Peoples and vision.-R.G.L. produc e r C huck Ro­ ven. Both are Corwin Scores c li ents of Martin With Crossover f4RIEfi Shapiro '57, Martin Shapiro Hollywood- Is Elvis a live? partner in Trade Mark Registered That simmering question has been Supplement to SU Magazine the L.A.-based Shapiro-Lichtman a boon for Tudor Communications By permission of Variety Inc. Talent Agency. Firm reps scribes, prez Stan Corwin '60. directors and producers. Tudor, a publishing and feature/ Whether on the Coast or back East, those in The Business stay on top Per Shapiro, who formed the TV development co., published of The Business by reading "Variety." So when we chose to highlight agency in 1969, "I package and Gail Brewer-Giorgio's " Is Elvis , Hollywood news made by Syracusans, we decided how better than place people and their work, nego­ by "Variety"? Our sincere thanks go to "Variety" and publisher tiating contracts, and advising on Alive?" last summer, just in time for the II th anniversary of the Syd Silverman for permission to fondly imitate the style and in-the­ careers." Most of his time is spent King's death. Marketed with a know-ness that are "Variety." The "Variety" logo and other on packaging, developing new tal­ supposedly "authenticated" tape graphic trademarks borrowed for this supplement are copyrighted by ent or putting together deals for of Presley speaking after his 1977 Variety Inc., New York, N.Y. features and TV. death, the book made the "New Firm 's clients include writer/ York Times" best-seller list. A REPORTERS director W.O. Richter, helmers telefilm is in the works. Renee Gearhart Levy Mary Ellen Mengucci Joseph Sargent, Lee Phillips and Tudor, which buys or options Peter Hunt. Also screenwriters/ RESEARCH/STYLE novelists William Gibson, Harlan screen rights to everything it publishes, specializes in literary George Lowery Ellison, and Jim Carabatsos. works with potential wow power. https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol5/iss3/6 2 et al.: SU Variety

UiRIETY BUSINESS 3 'BATMAN' LATEST MilLER COUP Fox Veep Coler Exec Lands Warner Pix Hamm Is Univ. By RENEE LEVY That's de rigeur for Miller, who Hypes New "Hy" Hollywood-Warner Bros.' supervises a staff of 50. "We dis­ Top Dog On "Batman," preeming this summer, tribute about 20 to 25 films per Hollywood-Joel Coler '53 will add another notch to the belt year," sez Miller, "so you have to 'Vice', Others just wrapped an international of studio exec Jim Miller '63. For negotiate 25 directors, 50 or so ac­ Hollywood-William Hamm promo effort for "Fly II," sequel to Miller, Warner's senior veep of tors, lots of books. We make those '79, topper for current program­ popular insect sci-fier "The Fly." worldwide business affairs, "Bat­ out of about 250 films in develop­ ming at Universal television, is the It's one of many films that man" was 10 years in the making, ment. ... There's a lot of negotiat­ studio's point man for four series: Coler- V.P. of advertising and and that was before production ing that goes on all day long. NBC's "Miami Vice," CBS's "Al­ publicity for Fox- has tub­ even began. There are 12 hour days- five of most Grown," "Coming of Age" thumped. While a small number of Miller is Warner's chief deal­ them- and there's work every and "Coach," a mid-season re­ Fox films are exclusive to the maker, responsible for the nego­ weekend." placement. domestic market, most are dis­ tiations to acquire literary material A lawyer by training, Miller got Hamm oversees the creative con­ tributed worldwide. Fox has and services of producers, directors, involved in showbiz as an attorney tent of shows produced at Universal offices in 50 countries and Coler actors, writers and financing for the in a case against United Artists. He and sold to the nets. That means spends about development of theatrical pix. was later offered a job in the legal taking a show from the idea stage one third of The "Batman" project began in department of the studio, ~working through filming and editing. He hi s time 1979, when Warner acquired the there for five years before moving works regularly with writers and abroad pow­ rights to the strip from DC Com­ to Paramount, Columbia, and in producers, reading and reworking wowing with ics. Four scripts were written 1979 to Warner. He was appointed scripts and screening footage. He marketing during the ensuing decade, involv­ to his current position in 1987. also acts as liaison to the nets. "It's reps and ad ing five different directors. A The gratification, says Miller, is the studio equivalent of a network agency execs writer and director were finalized the finished product. "At the end programmer," sez Hamm. in various off­ and Miller negotiated for the ser­ of the day when you look at one of Universal has nine skeins in shore territor­ vices of SU grad Peter Guber and those 25 movies, you can proudly production and six on the air. To ies. Jon Peters to produce the pic. say, 'I had a part of putting that keep up with the influx of new "Certainly, Joel Coler Miller pacted actors Jack Nichol­ thing together, "' he sez. "It's like material, Hamm spends about half where we can, son, Michael Keaton, and Kim building a building. When it's his day and plenty of weekends TV is the most important medium Basinger and handled financing. done you can go over and kick it." reading scripts. Between his own for getting our message out," sez shows and those he reads on spec, Coler. "But there are a number of Hamm estimates that he scans 600 countries, including France and Cougar Mellencamp, Bruce ing a tour for Madonna's new scripts per annum.- M.E.M. Scandinavia, where you can't ad­ Hornsby, the Bangles, Hall and album.-M.E.M. vertise a film on TV. So we're also Oates and the Kinks are among the very involved in print advertis­ musical performers he represents. Light, one of the top reps in the ing-magazines, newspapers and postirig." music biz, works for Creative Ar­ Newhouse in Hollywood! Coler, with Fox since 1964, has tists Agency in L.A. handled ad-pub for such block­ Light books all of his clients' Syracuse-Twelve N ew­ Highlights of the trip in­ busters as the "Star Wars" trilogy, live appearances, which means house students got a taste of cluded a taping of "The Tonight " The Sound of Music" and dealing with promoters in local their futures over Christmas Show"; a rehearsal of NBC's "Chariots of Fire." - M.E.M. markets all across the country, vacation when they spent four "227," directed by Irma Kalish routing tours, coordinating ducat days visiting the sets and stu­ '40; and a visit with producer sales, advertising and working dios of Hollywood's movers Peter Guber '64. with personal managers. and shakers-all SU alums. The students were led by Jackson Home, "The most exciting thing is to Showbiz luminaries such as Newhouse Dean Ed Stephens find a new band and help them go Fred Silverman '58, Marshall and Larry Martin, exec direc­ Light Books from being a club act to a headliner Gelfand ' 50, Henry Plitt '39 tor of program development. at a major arena," sez Light. He and Peter Hyams '64 hosted Per Martin, "The Hollywood did just that with Bruce Hornsby the group and gave them a sense trip is the highlight of a stu­ Elsewhere and Bryan Adams. Los Angeles- Superagent Rob of life inside the entertainment dent's four years in the New­ Light, named Agent of the Year Light '78 recently wrapped up industry. Their message: Don't house School. Show business in 1986 by "Pollstar" magazine Michael Jackson's multi-million­ get into this business unless alumni open their doors to us dollar, 13-month tour and is cur­ and again in 1988 by " Perfor­ you're absolutely certain you year in and year out. We thank mance" magazine, is now prep­ rently planning tour skeds for won't be happy doing anything all the 'Hollywood alumni' who ping Jackson Browne's summer some of his other topliners. else. It's hard, competition is have shared trade secrets with tour, working on a tour to promo Madonna, Bryan Adams, John fierce. us through the years."-R.G.L. Neil Diamond's new disc and slat- Published by SURFACE, 1989 3 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 5, Iss. 3 [1989], Art. 6

4 FILMS UfRJETY Former DGA President ueroe~~ro.~ [~ ~~=!~n] Frons was tapped for the CBS Gil Cates Lensing Again Hollywood-Wearing one hat exec training program after earn­ has never been enough for Peter ing his M.S. from Newhouse and Hyams '64. The director often was named director of daytime Hollywood-A year after step­ was twice president of the DGA, produces and writes his films. As programs two years later. ping down from his post as prez of from 1983 to 1987. He successful­ the lone helmer in the cinematog­ Since taking over NBC's day­ the Director's Guild of America, ly negotiated two industry-wide rapher's union he often shoots his time programming in 1983, Frons Gilbert Cates '55 is back in the film and TV contracts, averting films himself as well. has boosted ratings by introducing throes of his craft. the Guild's first major strike. The Hyams first doubled as director/ younger characters to the net­ Cates directed two telefilms in 9,000-member org began con­ cinematographer on "2010," sequel work's soaps, emphasizing love '88: the Patty Duke/ Tom Conti struction on new headquarters in to the classic "2001: A Space Odys­ stories and shooting exotic re­ starrer "Fatal Judgment" for CBS Hollywood and launched a cam­ sey," also serving as writer/direc­ motes. and the Beatrice Arthur vehicle paign against colorization during tor/producer. His most recent films The network's last soap start-up, "My First Love" for ABC. his tenure. as director/cinematographer: "Run­ "Santa Barbara," which Frons in­ On deck is Cates's first feature film Cates achieved his greatest ning Scared" and "The Presidio." itiated in 1984, won the 1988 •KJ!IEI•II since "Oh, renown in films and on Broadway, Hyams studied art and music at Emmy for best daytime drama. God! Book but he's done much TV as well. SU and began his career as a news­ II" in 1981, He's perhaps best known as man at WCBS-TV in New York ... ,-,...... " Backfire," producer/director of 1970's "I City. An anchorman at 21, he be­ conditions in the battle zone. He toplining Never Sang For My Father," came the youngest such person in landed in Hollywood four years Karen Allen which he originally produced on the country. He left in 1966 to later, selling his first script, "T.R. and Keith B'way. Pic received three Oscar cover the Vietnam War for CBS. Baskin," to Paramount. He is at Carradine. nominations. There, he worked on a docu on work on a new feature. - R.G.L. Pic is a thril­ Other credits include directing ler about Broadway plays "Tricks of the Vietnam vet Trade" and "Voices" and features suffering "The Last Married Couple in lndie Frank Dawson Intends from delay­ America" and "Summer Wishes, Gilbert Cates ed stress Winter Dreams." He also directed syndrome. "Hootenany"- the first musical Distribbery: ITC Entertainment series to be filmed on location- in Sixties Feature Fdm Project Group. the late '50's. He shot the pilot at Well-respected in the biz, Cates SU's Sims Hall.-R.G.L. Hollywood- ! 968 was a year studio experience was tremendous of many things: turmoil, change, in teaching him what the business discovery, emotion. That year is all about. Per Dawson, "I think indie producer Frank Dawson my approach to every project I do ANIMATION REPORT G'79 fled the projects to enter his is not just, 'Do I like it creatively freshman year in college. He in­ and is it something I'm passionate The production of an animated Mouse Detective" and now she's tended to party and have a good about?' But 'Is it something the feature fi lm is a long, exacting, animating a sequence of Disney's time. What happened was some­ marketplace will accept? Will it time-consuming process, some­ "The Little Mermaid," skedded thing else entirely. sell?'"- R.G .L. times requiring three years of for fall release. Events in 1968 are the basis of work. So when a a film hailed by • John 0. Francis Jr. '84 is Dawson's first screenplay, tenta­ crix such as Disney's "Oliver and also working with animated pro­ tively titled "There Was A Time," Company" comes along you can ductions as supervising associate penned for Universal. The screen­ bet its animators spent thousands producer at DIC Enterprises, an play is not Dawson's only project. of hours on the project. animation house in Burbank. "In this business, the percentage • Award-winning animator One of Francis's recent projects of what you develop against what Ellen Woodbury '82 is one of is ABC's animated Saturday morn­ actually goes forward is so minus­ many who painstakingly perfected ing kidvid show titled "Slimer and cule," sez Dawson, "the idea is to "Oliver." She joined the feature the Real Ghostbusters." The title do as many things as you can, to animation division of Walt Disney may be strange, but the show's a throw as many things as you can Productions in 1985 after a one­ hit with the small fry. up against the wall and see what year stint as a TV animator for Fil­ Francis, responsible for all sticks." mation. stages of animation production for Dawson's production company, Per Woodbury, who received an the firm's network, syndicated, Regis Entertainment IV, has many MFA from the California Institute and cable TV series, also super­ noodles on the wall, so to speak: it of the Arts in 1984, "I like bring­ vised the production of "Mad­ pacted with CBS for a half-hour ing the characters to life. I like get­ eline" for HBO, " Dennis the comedy show and soon begins ting ideas in my head and getting Menace," "Hello Kitty" and "Kidd photography on "Banana Bay," a them to come out on screen." Video" for CBS. The best part of feature. In addition to "Oliver," Wood­ his job? "Making children laugh," A former Universal exec, Daw­ bury has worked on "The Great he sez.- M.E.M. son started Regis in I 986. The Frank Dawson https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol5/iss3/6 4 et al.: SU Variety

~IETY FILMS 5 POST-BUYOliT, lTC BIG PUSH Walter is H'wood's Leider Topper of Cinema Megabiz Top Script Prof By RENEE LEVY dramas for Greek television; and CBS. He also directed legit on Hollywood-Four months after " Daughter of Silence," a telefilm Broadway and the West End. Los Angeles-"Screenwriting: company execs, led by prez Jerry to be beamed Down Under. ITC's greatest asset is its TV The Art, Craft, and Business of Leider '53, sealed a management lTC, owned by the Bell Group library, valued at nearly $150 mil­ Film and Television Writing," a buyout of lTC Entertainment Ltd. until the November coup, has lion. It contains such series as "The new tome by scripting guru Group, business at the production four divisions: lTC Productions, Saint," "The Persuaders," "Secret Richard Walter '66, is fast be­ and distribution co. appears to be TV, cable, theatrical release and Agent," plus films and minis. "A coming the leading source on the solid. home video; lTC Entertainment, library is just films on a shelf," topic. Feature films "Backfire" and domestic distrib; lTC Entertainment Leider has said. "Our people are our Published by New American "State Park" will be unspooling Ltd., international distrib; and lTC most valuable asset." Library, the 240-page manual of­ soon. Dominick Dunne's best-seller Films, production headquarters in One of them is SU alum Dennis fers would-be scribes practical ad­ "People Like Us" will be a TV mini the U.K. Leider is topper of each Brown '66. Brown is exec V.P. of vice about screenplay form and and "Secrets and Mysteries," a TV unit. production for lTC Productions. He structure, stories, themes and the series about ghosts, UFO's and Leider joined lTC Productions as is overseer of production and post­ industry. other oddities, is being shopped prez in 1982. He previously owned prod. He's supervised the minis Walter, who penned "American around to the nets for fall lineups. his own production company and "Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Graffiti," joined UCLA's highly Also skedded by lTC: "The Trial held top posts as both exec V.P. and Hutton Story" and "Billionaire Boys of Mata Hari," a mini for the BBC; president of Warner Bros. television Club" as well as telefilms "A Time "The Life of Byron;" three one-hour and director of special programs at to Live" and "Unnatural Causes." 'Sucka' Recent Clearfield Docu Brown Topliner Hits Discovery [ Comi~,~~gd J he was a veteran of the business Hollywood-Actor and one­ Hollywood- "Vacation Nicara­ long before the project began. An time football great Jim Brown '57 gua," producer/director Anita avid golfer, he began his produc­ stars in "I' m Gonna Get You Clearfield '75's award-winning ing career with his own creation, Sucka," a parody of '70s blaxploi­ 1986 docu, is finding new life in "CBS Golf Classic," which was tation pix. Comedy, written by '89 with its airing on cable's Dis­ broadcast for I 0 years and won an Keenen Ivory Wayans, enables covery Channel. Emmy in 1965. blacks to poke Film, revealing U.S./Nicara­ The following year, Curtis sold Richard Walter f un at black guan conflict through eyes of a pilot to ABC based on a dream stereotypes. "average" American tourists visit­ he'd had about a girl taking a train competitive screenwriting dept. to begin her job as a governess. He more than I 0 years ago. Now the Brown i s ing Nicaragua, was named best showing up in docu at the San Antonio Cinefest, added a vampire and a few ghosts chairman, Walter is a prime broker and created the spook opera "Dark for Hollywood's hottest new other features awarded a Silver Hugo at the Chi­ too: " Street cago Int'l Film Fest and a Bronze Shadows," a cult fave that ran five screenwriters. Walter says he years on ABC. Two "Shadows" receives five or six calls a day Dreams" and Star at Houston Film Fest. Arnold Schwar­ Clearfield began her career at a telepics and nearly a dozen others from agents looking for scripts by including "The Night Stalker, " zenegger starrer J' B CBS-owned TV station in San his tale nted pupils. "Rive r's " Dracula," and "Trilogy of Ter­ Edge," "Robocop" and "Stand and " R u n n i n g •m rown Francisco. After receiving a grant ror," and the feature "Burnt Offer­ Deliver" are among the films writ­ Man." Brown began his acting from the American Film Institute career in such fi lms as "Real Con­ she moved to Los Angeles and ings," earned Curtis the reputation ten by his students. as "King of Horror." He credits the success of his clas­ chos" and "The Dirty Dozen" and joined Rock Solid Productions, helmed "Pacific Inferno." He also where she produces industrial and Actually, his credits include a ses, students and book to the no­ mixed bag of titles, including nonsense approach he takes to produced Richard Pryor pic "Here promo films and docus. " The Last Ride of the Dalton writing salable film and TV and Now." She recently wrapped on a pro­ Two years ago Brown became a mo video for Medical Aid for El Gang," "The Great Ice Rip-Off," screenplays. He advises students to the semi-autobiographical "When write good plots with satisfying end­ principal in Ocean Productions. Salvador. Org sends medical assis­ Every Day Was The Fourth of ings and he's not embarrassed to Film co. emphasizes black partic­ tance to civili ans in El Salvador. ipation. Per Brown, firm is Clearfield is is also skedded to July" and "The Long Days of admit it. "We're story hard-liners Summer," based on his reminis­ here." Per Walter, theories of developing high-quality, low­ make a promo for Carecen, the budget pix by new black fi lm­ Central American Refugee Cen­ cences of his boyhood in Bridge­ dramatic tension are important, but port, Connecticut. so are the nuts and bolts.- M.E.M. makers.- M.E.M. ter.- R.G.L. Published by SURFACE, 1989 5 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 5, Iss. 3 [1989], Art. 6

6 TELEVISION ~IETY

'Newhart' Scribe Silverman Returns With Heads New NBC's 'SB' Cruises CBS Sitcom With Kent At Helm 'Matlock' 'Mason' Others Hollywood - " Newhart" Hollywood-With the 1988 writer Norman Gunzenhau­ Emmy Award for best daytime . ' ' ser '78 has ankled for CBS's Hollywood-Fred Silverman "Perry Mason" are all produced by drama on its mantel, super soap '58 may have faced some hard The Fred Silverman Company (ne " Murphy "Santa Barbara" is hotter than times after being ousted as presi­ Intermedia Entertainment Com­ Brown ." ever. dent of NBC in 1981, but he's back pany). He's also developing syn­ He's pro­ "SB" has been on NBC's slate on top as producer with a slate of die and cable telefilms. ducerofthe about five years. In its infancy, the popular TV series. Known as the "king of tele­ new com­ show's creators sought out veteran "Matlock," "Jake & The Fat­ vision," Silverman holds the edy, which producer Stephen Kent '76, G'79 man," "In the Heat of the Night," distinction of being the only indi­ preemed to oversee production. Kent was "Father Dowling Mysteries" and vidual to ever top programming of last fall. associate producer of CBS's all three major nets. He was direc­ The sit­ "Capitol" during that show's start­ tor of daytime programming at com stars up. CBS at 33, later rising to V.P. of Candice Now Kent monitors each aspect programming. Bergen as of "SB 's" production: set design Silverman joined ABC in 1975 an investigative TV reporter on and construction, scripts, casting, as prexy of entertainment. He was a "20/20"-type show. Per Gun­ props and wardrobe. "It all funnels credited with leading the network zenhauser, "Murphy Brown" is towards me," he sez. from third to first place in prime­ CBS's strongest comedy, Kent has an undergraduate time ratings in less than two years. ranked among the top 20 TV degree in TV and a master's in He became prez and CEO of NBC shows. - M .E.M. business and says this combo has in 1978 and faced the losing battle been a big plus for him. "I was able of competing against hit shows to go from a finance department to he'd created at CBS and ABC. the associate producer of 'Capi­ "I now want to be highly selec­ 'Password' latest tol,' because of my educational tive in what I do," Silverman said background." in a 1984 interview. "I will pro­ For the past two years, Kent and duce only shows I believe in with Choderl\er SucceM Gary Kanofsky G'79, entertain­ J great passion. Ultimately, l have Hollywood- Speed and instan­ ment producer for KNBC-TV in Fred Silverman only to satisfy myself."-R.G.L. taneous decision-making are the L.A., have returned to SU to teach essence of NBC quizzer "Super production seminars at the New­ Password." It's what show's direc­ house School of Public Commun­ tor George Choderker '66 likes ications.-M.E.M. best about it too. Miller Hypes NBC Offerings "This game can be played on many levels," sez Choderker. "For instance, if the word the contestant Bell Hits ToP. Hollywood- Of the nearly 60 He used the time to promote has to guess is 'ghost', you could minutes of commercial airtime in new NBC skeins "Father Dowling offer the clue 'specter,' or the clue With Real-Life NBC's Super Bowl broadcast Jan. Mysteries" and "Nightingales"; 'Caspar."' 22, eight minutes went to promot­ the mini "Brotherhood of the Choderker's directed "Super Screen Fare ing the network's own fare. Per Rose," which aired immediately Password" since 1984 and helmed John Miller '72, NBC's ad-pub following the game; and "Late its predecessor, "Password," from Hollywood- New pilot for veep, that eight minutes would Night with David Letterman," 1979 to 1982. Ironically, his first "Missing/Reward," about things retail for close to $10 million. "Today" and soap operas. industry job was as a page for the and people missing and the Per Miller, the NBC promotion original "Password" on CBS. rewards offered for their return, is dept is the biggest network adver­ Since then he's directed commer­ latest from "real TV" honcho tiser, using air time worth nearly cials, episodes of "Edge of Night" David Bell G'SS. half a billion dollars a year. Result: and "Love of Life" and quizfests Prez of Dave Bell Associates, at least 7,000 promos per year, "128,000 Question" and "Block­ Bell specializes in what he calls each overseen by Miller. "The busters." He also directed CBS "reality-based" programming. He American viewer is always look­ coverage of the 1976 political con­ produced the "Missing . . . Have ing for something new," sez fabs and the bicentennial celebra­ Seen This Person?" specials for Miller. "As a result, we keep our tions, winning him Director's Guild NBC and originated net's "Un­ promotion new." of America awards.- R.G.L. solved Mysteries." Miller joined NBC in 1982 as He produced award-winning V.P., affiliate promotion services telepic " Do You Remembe r Love?," on Alzheimers disease and was upped to his current post SU alumni in Hollywood are in 1984. He previously topped ad­ featured elsewhere in "Syracuse and is at work on "Long Walk Home," a feature about the genesis pro at CBS News and was promo­ University Magazine." See "Short tion manager at WBBM-TV in List," page 4; and big Clark and of the civil rights movement. - R.G.L. John Miller ~hicago .-R .G .L. Guber write-ups, pages 10, 16. https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol5/iss3/6 6 et al.: SU Variety UfRIETY TELEVISION 7 Chomsky's Stra~ For Overseas Tinker's 'Tattingers' Project Pioneers European Market

Latest Paltrow Hollywood-The family of the mini in November on Vienna, Johann Strauss is the subject of a Prague and Leningrad locations. Quality Offering 12-hour mini to be produced by He expects to wrap project up by Marvin Chomsky '50 for a con­ Nov. '90. He says the mini will air Hollywood-Reservations are sortium of Euro nets. It's the worldwide. suggested Wednesday nights for largest project in size, scope and Chomsky says project will be an "Tattingers," NBC's half-hour budget ever attempted on the Con­ amalgam of drama and music. "I dramedy set in a Manhattan eatery. tinent. expect it will be relatively histori­ Show, once an hour long, was "The rest of the world is starting cally accurate but it will not be a saved from NBC chopping-block to catch up," sez producer/director documentary," sez Chomsky. by halving it's length. Chomsky. "In all the years people Chomsky's last project was "Tattingers," produced by have been talking about global "Broth"erhood of the Rose," an MTM's Paltrow Group-creators networks, Americans have NBC two-parter. Other credits of "St. Elsewhere" and "The dominated the market. That's include: "Billionaire Boys Club," White Shadow"- centers on a starting to change now. This is the "Roots," "Holocaust," "Peter the well-connected NYC restauran­ first cloud on the horizon." Great" and "Attica." He's won teur, his socialite ex-wife, their Chomsky is skedded to shoot Marvin Chomsky three Emmys. - R.G.L. friends and associates . Exec producer Mark Tinker '73 offers several ex planations for the series' ratings woes. "I think some viewers may have Locke's S~die expected another 'St. Elsewhere' Kidfare Is Domain Of Sonski and were disappointed," sez "Court" Ta~s Tinker. "The restaurant arena may Hollywood­ ming. She finds ideas everywhere: not ... have enough inherent dra­ Children spend books, games, fashions, fads and Split Craze ma in it to get people worked up more time in topics of general interest to tots. Hollywood-Divorce is no about it. It's all sorts of little front of the tele­ "Unlike syndicated childrens' laughing matter, unless it's someone things. They may not be respond­ vision than any­ programs, which are often pro­ ing to the writing or the actors. else's, that is. Per Peter Locke '76, one else, but gram-length commercials, we G'77, whose Kushner-Locke Com­ They may not be responding to the they're not very strive whenever possible to make pany has had five seasons of syndie thrust of the show, although I think selective. De- learning so entertaining that child­ we're making it better now than success with its "Divorce Court." Janice Sonski veloping intel- ren don't realize there is a Jesson Other Kushner-Locke projects: we did in the beginning." ligent kidvid is in their cartoons," sez Son ski. " We HBO series " I st & Ten," Disney Quality is the credo of the the challenge Janice Weinstein strive to create characters who are Paltrow Group. "St.E" won II Channel's "Contraption," game Sonski '77 faces as topper of identifiable and through diversity show "Relatively Speaking," CBS Emmys, Tinker receiving the childrens' programs for NBC. of personality offer positive role telefilm "Liberace," and NBC 1987-88 Emmy for outstanding Sonski 's mission: develop new models or examples of appropriate telefilm "Sweet Bird of Youth." direction, single episode. and innovative moppet program- behavior." - R .G .L. Tinker joined MTM Enterprises Locke, co-chairman of Kush­ as associate producer in 1975 for ner-Locke, is a 20-year industry "Three for the Road," "The Bob veteran. His producing credits Newhart Show" and "The Chopped inc I ude serie s "The Stockard Liver Brothers." He produced INTRODUCING: THE Channing Show" and "Love at "Shadow," exec produced "St. E" SYRACUSE CHANNEL First Sight," features "The Hills and now exec produces "Tattin­ Have Eyes" and "You Gotta Walk gers." What if you took all network programs connected to SU principals? It Like You Talk It." He formed Tinker is prepping a half-hour You'd have the following dream line-up: Kushner-Locke with Donald comedy for the Paltrow Group. "Santa Barbara" (NBC); Stephen Kent, producer Kushner in 1983.- R.G.L. "It's a huge switch," he sez. Tinker "Murphy Brown" (CBS); Norman Gunzenhauser, producer is aiming for a sophisticated com­ "Night Court" (NBC); Denny Dillon, actress edy a Ia "Cheers." "There's noth­ "It's Garry Shandling's Show" (FOX); Alan Rafkin, director Henry Plitt '39 is pioneering ing wrong with slapstick," he sez, "Married .. . With Children" (FOX); Marc Hirschfeld, casting Showscan, revolutionary new "but juvenile is not what we're in­ "A Different World" (NBC); Darryl Bell, actor projection technology, with "Star terested in."- R.G.L. "Tattingers" (NBC); Mark Tinker, producer Wars" FIX man Douglas Trumbull. "Matlock" (NBC); Fred Silverman, producer-G .L. For more see "Syracuse Unive r~ ity Magazine," December 1988. Published by SURFACE, 1989 7 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 5, Iss. 3 [1989], Art. 6

8 FACES UiRIETY

Sheldon Leonard: Retired, CASTING CALL

Several former SU students tant D.A. Irwin Bernstein on But Still the Showman can be seen on TV and movie NBC's "Hill Street Blues," he's screens these days. Tune in and now co-starring (with Suzanne you may see the following: Summers) in the syndie "She's Beverly Hills-Sheldon Leon­ Director's Guild Pension and • Since he landed a continu­ the Sheriff." ard G'29 retired from the busi­ Health and Welfare Plan, the Per­ ing role on NBC's "A Different • Comedy writer and actor ness, but he's still active in manent Charities Fund and he World," Darryl Bell '86 has be­ Jerry Cerwonka '80 has found Hollywood. serves as secretary-treasurer of the come a recognizable face in himself in some strange situa­ Leonard, a self-described "re­ Director's Guild of America. He's Hollywood. A former econom­ tions of late. tiree who is still ambulatory," says also winding up a three-year pro­ ics major, he Over the last he's "in demand for practically all ject as head of a committee plays Ron John­ three years, he's charged with putting up a $30-mil­ son in the sit­ been a top actor lion home for the Guild. com. He got the in TV commer­ Leonard (ne Leonard Bershad) part after a sea­ cials-singing was on B 'way in the early '30's. son as an extra "I'm a Little He went to Hollywood in 1940 on the show and Teapot" for an under contract to Fox, appearing an appearance ice cream bar, catapulting out of in 140-plus features. A regular on in Spike Lee's "School Daze." cars to demonstrate the variety the top radio shows of the '40's, • "Designing Women" and of ChemBank Ready Teller with the advent of TV he became "Night Court" are among the locations, etc. He's now in a Jer­ director/producer of "The Danny programs where Denny Dillon key Treat commercial, attract­ Thomas Show." He and Thomas '73 has been seen lately. The ing 75 dogs to his doorstep by formed T&L Productions and cre­ former "Saturday Night Live" blowing them a whiff of the dog ated "The Dick Van Dyke Show," regular also had snack with his living room fan. "The Andy Griffith Show," "I Spy" recurring roles Cerwonka, a former German and "My World And Welcome To Sheldon Leonard on two Fox ser­ professor at SU, is following the It," among others. ies, "Women in advice of many of his former the non-paying jobs associated Leonard retains the rights to Prison" and "Dr. students by performing as a with our industry." many of his TV properties and in Science." , stand-up comedian. His gratis toiling: he's a trustee his spare time manages their syn­ Dillon, nomi- ~ • Kim Myers '89 plays Sam­ and board member of the Motion 'jlt dication. He says he also enjoys nated for a Tony antha Hurley in the new ABC Picture and TV Fund, the Motion playing a round of 30-handicap award for her role as Mickey in series " Studio 58." A series Picture Home and Hospital, the golf now and then.- R.G.L. the Broadway show "My One about a series, "58"- based and Only," is writing comedy loosely on for herself and developing a TV "Broadcast pilot. News"-offers • George Wyner '69 has one a fast-paced Falk Returns as P.I. Columbo of the most familiar mugs on glimpse into the TV, though few could tell you workings of a his name. Char­ network news­ Hollywood- It's been 12 years, ner "The ABC Monday Mystery acter-actor Wy­ ma g azin e . but finally "Columbo" is back. The Movie." Other shows in the rota­ ner has guested Myers plays the show's hustling cigar-chomping detective with the tion are Louis Gossett Jr. and Burt on " The Odd young production assistant. rumpled raincoat and beat-up Reynolds starrers. Couple," "The Myers was an SU drama stu­ Peugeot has returned to the small Falk has appeared in many fea­ Rockford Files," dent in 1986 when she landed screen, this time on ABC. ture films and recently returned to HQuin cy," the female lead in the screamer Lt. Columbo, played by Peter the stage in the Pulitzer Prize-win­ "MacMillan and "Nightmare on Elm Street II." Falk G'53, charmed TV viewers ning drama "Glengarry Glen Wife," "Rhoda," "Kojak" and On leave from Syracuse, she's of the popular NBC series from Ross" and in a revival of "Light many other series. been plying her trade since. 1972-77. No one is happier to see Up the Sky."- R.G.L. Probably best known for his -Mary Ellen Mengucci "Columbo" return than Falk him­ six-year recurring role as Assis- self. "I wanted to do Columbo ever Sammys in H'wood since it went off the air," Falk has Larry White '48. TV exec and among many others. said. "So it wasn't a decision to What are the chances? One produce r, "The Blue and the Stan Corwin '60. Producer, come back to do it. The problem chapter of one fraternity places so Grey," others. " ... And Ladies of the Club." was to work out some kind of for­ many individuals in the Holly­ Dan Curtis '50. Producer (see Bill Persky '53. Producer/ mula which would be acceptable wood establishment! page 1). director, "The Dick Van Dyke to the network, whatever network Following is just a partial list of Marshall Gelfand '50. Busi­ Show," "Kate & Allie," others. that was, the studio, myself and Syracuse Sigma Alpha Mus prom­ ness manager, Diane Keaton, Deb­ Jim Miller '63. Senior Veep, the producers." inent in the Business: ra Winger, others. Warner Bros. As with the original series, Seamon "Si" Jacobs '32. TV Alan Rafkin '50. Director, Peter Hyams '64. Director/ "Columbo" alternates with other writer, "Maude," "The Jeffersons," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," writer, "20 I 0," "Running Scared," shows- this time under the ban- etc. "It's Garry Shandling's Show," "The Presidio. "-G .L. https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol5/iss3/6 8