Posted on 11/30/2016 9:47:53 AM PST by EveningStar
Grant Tinker, former chairman and CEO of NBC, died on Tuesday, Nov. 29. He was 90.
In 1969, Tinker and his then-wife, actress Mary Tyler Moore, launched MTM Enterprises. The company became an indie powerhouse, producing such popular series as the ground-breaking The Mary Tyler Moore Show, starring Moore, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere.
In 1981, Tinker left to become chairman and CEO of then-last-place network NBC. There, guided by his famous motto “First be best, then be first,” Tinker, with Brandon Tartikoff as his entertainment president, spearheaded a ratings turnaround as NBC rose from last to first place on the strength of a slew of hit and acclaimed new series, including The Cosby Show, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Night Court, and Hill Street Blues. Tinker left NBC in 1986, following its acquisition by General Electric.
(Excerpt) Read more at deadline.com ...
GREATEST LINE..”As God is my witness..I thought turkeys could fly”
http://people.com/archive/cover-story-success-becomes-her-vol-40-no-9/
Mary Tyler Moore, meanwhile, earned her designer evening pumps by employing a different philosophy. “Control,” Moore has admitted, “is something I have always dodged.” MTM Enterprises, which she and then husband Grant Tinker cofounded in 1969 to produce her classic sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, went on to produce such hits as The Bob New-hart Show, Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere. But all of MTM’s post-Mary Tyler Moore success, the actress has said, is strictly thanks to Tinker, whom she divorced after an 18-year marriage in 1981. “It’s his company,” she said. Her contribution: “My initials.” Still, when MTM was sold in 1988 to TVS Entertainment, a British broadcasting company, for $320 million, the silent partner walked away with $113 million in cash and stock.
Who gives a tinkers DAMN...glad he lived to see the demise of his Party
What are you talking about?
ping
So we’re going to p*ss on the grave of a 90-year old man because he was a Lib?
That makes us no better than their crackpots.
I loved all the MTM shows. Soft, funny, non-political and filled with comedy talent!
Well Duh, yea.
Is he the guy that came up with that tremendous flop show about the big train or the big bus or something like that?
No. That was Fred Silverman.
http://www.avclub.com/article/horror-supertrain-almost-brought-down-network-212188
anyone married to MTM had to have some good in him, just saying....
RIP.
Rather gratifying to see Victor Newman get a pie in the face.
This guy owned the late 70’s and 80’s in a way that no one else has really come close to doing.
And anyway...he already started. At his age, its tough to stop it once its started. He might “hurt” something.
The Big Bus wasn’t successful but it was funny and had tons of talent. It wasn’t an MTM production.
Supertrain almost railroaded NBC though.
So absolutely true. Bob Newhart, WKRP and Hill Street Blues are still favorites. All had tremendous moments of absolute perfection.
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