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Brandon Tartikoff

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Brandon Tartikoff
Tartikoff in 1988
BornJanuary 13, 1949
Freeport, New York,U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 1997(1997-08-27)(aged 48)
Los Angeles, California,U.S.
Education
Occupations
  • Television network executive
  • Hollywood studio chairman
Employers
Known for
OfficePresident of NBC Entertainment
Term1981–1991
PredecessorFred Silverman
SuccessorWarren Littlefield
SpouseLilly Samuels(1982–1997, his death)
Children2

Brandon Tartikoff(January 13, 1949 – August 27, 1997) was an American television executive who was head of the entertainment division ofNBCfrom 1981 to 1991.[1]He was credited with turning around NBC's lowprime timereputation with several hit series:Hill Street Blues,L.A. Law,Law & Order,ALF,Family Ties,The Cosby Show,Cheers,Seinfeld,The Golden Girls,Wings,Miami Vice,Knight Rider,The A-Team,Saved by the Bell,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,St. Elsewhere,andNight Court.

Tartikoff also helped develop the 1984 sitcomPunky Brewster;he named the title character after a girl he had a crush on in school. He was also involved in the creation ofStar Trek: Deep Space NineandBeggars and Choosers.

Early life and education

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Born to aJewishfamily[2][3]inFreeport,New York,Tartikoff was a graduate ofLawrenceville SchoolandYale University,where he contributed to campus humor magazineThe Yale Record.

While attending Yale, Tartikoff worked as an account executive and sales manager forWNHC-TVinNew Haven,Connecticut,as well as inHartford, Connecticut.Tartikoff spent vacations in Los Angeles looking for a job in network television. After graduating from Yale, he took a series of jobs in advertising and local television, includingWLS-TVinChicago,Illinois.

Career

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Tartikoff was hired as a program executive atABCin 1976. One year later, he moved to NBC (after being hired byDick Ebersolto direct comedy programming). Tartikoff took over programming duties at NBC fromFred Silvermanin 1981.[4]At age 32, Tartikoff became the youngest president of NBC's entertainment division.

When Tartikoff took over, NBC was in last place behind ABC and CBS, and the very future of the network was in doubt. A writers' strike was looming, affiliates were defecting, mostly to ABC, and the network had only threeprime timeshows in the Top 20:Little House on the Prairie,Diff'rent StrokesandReal People.Johnny Carsonwas reportedly in talks to move his landmark late-night talk show to ABC. The entire cast and writers ofSaturday Night Livehad left that late-night sketch-comedy series, and their replacements had received some of the show's worst critical notices (except for fellow cast membersEddie MurphyandJoe Piscopowho stayed with SNL until 1984). By 1982, Tartikoff and his new superior, the former producerGrant Tinker,began to turn the network's fortunes around.[5]

As head of NBC's Entertainment Division, Tartikoff's successes includedThe Cosby Show,for which he had pursuedBill Cosbyto create apilotafter having been impressed by Cosby's stories when Cosby guest-hostedThe Tonight Show.Tartikoff wrote abrainstormingmemothat simply read "MTVcops",[6][7][8][9]and later presented the memo to series creatorAnthony Yerkovich,formerly a writer and producer forHill Street Blues.The result wasMiami Vice,which became an icon of 1980s pop culture.[7]Knight Riderwas inspired by a perceived lack of leading men who could act, with Tartikoff suggesting that a talking car could fill in the gaps in any leading man's acting abilities.[5]

During the casting process ofFamily Ties,Tartikoff was unexcited aboutMichael J. Foxfor the role of Alex P. Keaton.[5]However, the show's producer,Gary David Goldberg,insisted until Tartikoff relented saying, "Go ahead if you insist. But I'm telling you, this is not the kind of face you'll ever see on alunch box."Some years later, after the movieBack to the Futurecemented Fox's stardom, Fox goodnaturedly sent Tartikoff a lunch box with Fox's picture on it, with a handwritten note reading: "Brandon, They wanted me to put acrowin here, but... Love and Kisses, Michael J. "[10]Tartikoff kept the lunch box on display in his office.[11]

Jerry Seinfeldcredited Tartikoff with savingSeinfeldfrom cancellation during its first four years of struggling ratings.[12]Johnny Carsonbroke the news of his retirement in February 1991 to Tartikoff at the Grille in Beverly Hills. For several days, only Tartikoff and NBC chairmanBob Wrightknew of the planned retirement.[5]

Tartikoff wrote in his memoirs that his biggest professional regret was cancelling the seriesBuffalo Bill,which he later went on to include in a fantasy "dream schedule" created for aTV Guidearticle that detailed his idea of "The Greatest Network Ever".[citation needed]

During his time at NBC, he made appearances in several of the network's shows. He was played byDavid Leisurein "Prime Time," episode five of season two ofALF.[13]In the penultimate scene when ALF suggests a sitcom about a family hosting a lovable alien, he replies "Not in a million years, pal, it's too far-fetched." He hostedSaturday Night Livein 1983 and appeared as himself in an episode ofSaved by the Bell,where he briefly entertains the notion of a "show about a high school principal and his kids", before scoffing at the idea. During his 1983 appearance onSaturday Night Live,one skit featured Tartikoff in a black leather ensemble, with the words "Be There" spelled out inrhinestoneson the back of his jacket. "Be There" was NBC'ssloganduring the 1983–84 season. Tartikoff appeared as himself on episodes ofNight CourtandNight Stand with Dick Dietrick,and in the background of one of the final episodes ofCheers.

On New Year's Day 1991, Tartikoff was involved in a car crash near the family'sLake Tahoehome that injured him and his eight-year-old daughter Calla, who suffered a severe brain injury and received intense therapy in order to walk and speak again.[14][15]

He left NBC, moving toParamount Picturesto become its chairman from July 1, 1991.[16]His first film wasAll I Want for Christmas.[17]

Just over a year later, Tartikoff left that post to spend more time with his recovering daughter in New Orleans.[18][19]The biggest hit of his reign wasWayne's World.[18][19]After he left Paramount, he started Moving Target Productions in 1992, and his first work was a joint effort withMCA TVin 1993.[20]

In 1994, he made his comeback to national TV withLast Call,a short-lived late-night discussion show he produced. That same year he also producedThe Steven Banks ShowforPBS.Later that year, he began a brief run as chairman ofNew World Entertainment,from 1994 to 1996.[21][22]Shortly after New World bought out Moving Target Productions, he renamed his production company to MT2 Services (short forMovingTarget2), and instrumental in developingStrange LuckforFoxandSecond NoahforABC.[23]Through MT2 Services, he also developed the failed Marvel TV pilotGeneration Xfor Fox.[24]

Just prior to his death, Tartikoff served as the chairman of theAOLproject Entertainment Asylum, for which he teamed withScott Zakarinto build the world's first interactive broadcast studio. He also continued to do on-air appearances on shows such asDave's WorldandArli$$.In 1996, he left New World Entertainment, following the announcement of its purchase byNews Corporation,and then subsequently started H. Beale Company.[25][26]

Personal life

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In 1982, Tartikoff marriedLilly Samuels,and the couple had two daughters, Calla Lianne and Elizabeth Justine. Princess Calla on Disney'sAdventures of the Gummi Bearswas named for Calla Tartikoff.[27]

Tartikoff's parents were survivors of thecollision of two 747sinTenerife,Canary Islands,in 1977.[28]

Death

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Tartikoff died on August 27, 1997, at age 48 fromHodgkin lymphoma,a disease with which he had three separate bouts over 25 years. He was interred atMount Sinai Memorial Park CemeteryinLos Angeles.TheDeep Space Ninesixth-season premiere, "A Time to Stand",began with a title card reading" In memory of Brandon Tartikoff. "A similar card appeared at the end of the ninth-season premiere ofSeinfeld,"The Butter Shave".On August 29, 1997,Dateline NBCran an extended tribute to Tartikoff that featured many famous figures whose careers he had influenced, includingWarren Littlefield,Dick Ebersol,Bill Cosby,Michael J. Fox,Ted Danson,andJerry Seinfeld.[29]

Tartikoff, through H. Beale Company, posthumously produced the TV pilotsBlade Squadin 1998[30]and the TV showBeggars and Choosers;it aired from 1999 to 2001.[31]

References

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  1. ^"TV programming wizard Brandon Tartikoff dead at 48".CNN.August 27, 1997.RetrievedNovember 29,2015.
  2. ^Norwood, Stephen Harlan; Pollack, Eunice G. (2008).Encyclopedia of American Jewish History.United Kingdom:ABC-Clio.p. 477.ISBN978-1-851-09638-1.
  3. ^Brook, Vincent.From Shtetl to Stardom: Jews and Hollywood: Chapter 1: Still an Empire of Their Own: How Jews Remain Atop a Reinvented Hollywood.Purdue University Press. p. 12.
  4. ^Barbera, Joseph (1994).My Life in "Toons": From Flatbush to Bedrock in Under a Century.Atlanta, Georgia:Turner Publishing.pp.188–189.ISBN1-57036-042-1.
  5. ^abcdTartikoff, Brandon (1992).The Last Great Ride.New York: Hyperion Books.ISBN0-394-58709-X.
  6. ^Janeshutz, Trish (1986).The Making of Miami Vice.New York: Ballatine Books. p. 12.ISBN0-345-33669-0.
  7. ^abZoglin, Richard(September 16, 1985)."Cool Cops, Hot Show".Time.Archived fromthe originalon December 11, 2007.RetrievedNovember 2,2007.
  8. ^Boyer, Peter J. (April 19, 1988)."Guiding No. 1: The Man Who Programs NBC".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 8,2008.
  9. ^"About the Show".NBC Universal, Inc.Archived fromthe originalon April 23, 2008.RetrievedMay 28,2008.
  10. ^Rose, Lacey (October 17, 2012)."The Private Files of Brandon Tartikoff Revealed".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedApril 3,2017.
  11. ^Dawidziak, Mark (June 25, 2013)."Gary David Goldberg, who fought to cast Michael J. Fox in 'Family Ties,' dies at 68".cleveland.com.The Cleveland Plain Dealer.RetrievedApril 3,2017.
  12. ^The Howard Stern Show,June 26, 2014. SiriusXM.
  13. ^"Prime Time – ALF (Series 2, Episode 5) | Apple TV (UK)".October 18, 1987.
  14. ^Carter, Bill (January 3, 1991)."Tartikoff Is Injured in Car Crash".The New York Times.p. C14.RetrievedMay 19,2023.
  15. ^Carter, Bill (April 23, 1991)."Tartikoff Is Reported in Paramount Talks".The New York Times.p. D1.RetrievedMay 19,2023.
  16. ^Carter, Bill (May 2, 1991)."Tartikoff to Run Paramount Pictures".The New York Times.p. D17.RetrievedMay 19,2023.
  17. ^"All I Want for Christmas".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedMay 19,2023.
  18. ^abBrown, Corie (November 1992). "Who Needs This?".Premiere.p. 22.
  19. ^abWeinraub, Bernard (October 30, 1992)."Tartikoff Resigns at Paramount Pictures".The New York Times.p. D1.RetrievedMay 19,2023.
  20. ^"Tartikoff's back, and MCA's got him"(PDF).Broadcasting.October 18, 1993.RetrievedSeptember 29,2021.
  21. ^"Tartikoff to head New World Entertainment"(PDF).Broadcasting.June 20, 1994.RetrievedSeptember 29,2021.
  22. ^"Tartikoff to Head Unit of New World: Entertainment: Production company hopes to become force in global television market".Los Angeles Times.June 15, 1994.RetrievedSeptember 29,2021.
  23. ^"Brandon Tartikoff".IMDb.RetrievedSeptember 29,2021.
  24. ^Sandler, Adam (February 20, 1996)."Fox Tuesday Night at the Movies Generation X".Variety.RetrievedSeptember 30,2021.
  25. ^"News Corp. builds syndication muscle"(PDF).Broadcasting.July 22, 1996.RetrievedSeptember 29,2021.
  26. ^"TV loses Tartikoff touch"(PDF).Broadcasting & Cable.September 1, 1997.RetrievedSeptember 29,2021.
  27. ^"Back On Her Feet".Los Angeles Times.March 25, 2007.
  28. ^Newsweek,March 1977.
  29. ^"Tartikoff service private; NBC airing tribute tonight".Variety.August 29, 1997.RetrievedDecember 2,2016.
  30. ^Hontz, Jenny (January 28, 1998)."Fox sharpens 'Blade' pilot".Variety.RetrievedSeptember 30,2021.
  31. ^Richmond, Ray (June 14, 1999)."Beggars and Choosers".Variety.RetrievedSeptember 30,2021.

Further reading

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  • Tartikoff, Brandon and Leerhsen, Charles.The Last Great Ride(New York: Turtle Bay Books/Random House, 1992),ISBN0-394-58709-X
[edit]
Business positions
Preceded by President ofNBC
1981–1991 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman ofParamount Pictures
1991–1992 		Succeeded by
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