About
"I love television. Every job I've had had ups and downs, but overall it was wonderful. My secret is simply love the job you're doing. I'd always wanted to be in TV ever since we got our black and white in 1952."
In his four-hour interview, Alan Perris talks about his early years in local television in Cleveland and Buffalo. He recalls his successful stint in Jacksonville as general manager of WJXT (the CBS affiliate/part of Post-Newsweek Stations) and later, working as general manager for both WPLG (ABC) and WTVJ (CBS) in Miami. Perris outlines programming for Columbia Tri-Star and going to work for Telepictures as Senior Vice President of First Run Programming, where he oversaw such shows as Ricki Lake, Jenny Jones, Change of Heart, Judge Mathis, Extra, and Street Smarts. He talks about his time at The Hallmark Channel and the new media company Entertainment Media Works. He discusses becoming COO of the Television Academy, where he helped get its financial house in order and negotiated new deals for the networks to run the Emmy Awards telecast. He also shares his philosophy of management and what he looks for when hiring staff. Karen Herman conducted the interview on December 3, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Alan Perris on programming wrestling on WTVJ in Miami
Alan Perris on overseeing Ricki Lake
Alan Perris on programming Dragon Tales
Alan Perris on the significance of the Emmy
Alan Perris on becoming COO of the Television Academy
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television; on his first television job at the PBS station in Cleveland
On working at KFBK in Cleveland; on working as a program director at a local station in West Virginia; on working as a program director and news director at WKBW in Buffalo
On working as head of the Post-Newsweek Stations; on being General Manager of WJXT, the CBS affiliate in Jacksonville, FL
On working with CBS at the General Manager of a CBS station; on promoting diversity at WJXT in Jacksonville and working for Ben Bradley; on the vision for the Post Newsweek Television Group
Chapter 2
On notable people he worked with at WJXT, Jacksonville; on being General Manager of WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami
On various local shows he programmed and his hiring process; on stories about being General Manager of WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami; on becoming the head of Post-Newsweek Productions
On being General Manager of WTVJ, the CBS affilaite in Miami
On having fun in local television and living in Miami; on leaving WTVJ and his legacy in Miami local television; on going to work for Scripps Howard
Chapter 3
On working at Scripps Howard and taking charge of programming at Columbia Tri-Star; on overseeing Ricki Lake
On programming Dragon Tales; on working with Dick Clark; on becoming Senior Vice President of First Run Programming for Telepictures
On the series Judge Mathis; on overseeing Extra; on being Senior Vice President of Programming at Odyssey and The Hallmark Channel
On his career as an expert witness and at the company Entertainment Media Works; on becoming COO of the Television Academy; on the mission of the Television Academy
Chapter 4
On dealing with the networks for the Emmy Awards telecast; on the Emmy Awards show; on the NATAS/ATAS lawsuit
On the challenges of working at the Television Academy; on his legacy at the Television Academy; on then-current activities
On his success in television; on how television has changed since he started; on his innovations in dealing with local television stations budgets
On advice to aspiring television executives; on what he looks for in his staff; on achievements and regrets and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Alan Perris on negotiations for the networks to carry the Emmy Awards
Alan Perris on the Emmy Awards show
Alan Perris on the significance of the Emmy
Jenny Jones Show, The
Alan Perris on the Jenny Jones trial
Ricki Lake
Alan Perris on programming Ricki Lake
Topics
Advice
Alan Perris on advice to aspiring television executives
Emmy Awards
Alan Perris on negotiations for the networks to carry the Emmys
Alan Perris on the Emmy Awards
Alan Perris on the significance of the Emmy
First Big Break
Alan Perris on his first television job at PBS station WVIZ in Cleveland
Historic Events and Social Change
Alan Perris on promoting diversity at WJXT in Jacksonville and working for Ben Bradley
Pivotal Career Moments
Alan Perris on his first television job at PBS station WVIZ in Cleveland
Representation on Television
Alan Perris on promoting diversity at WJXT in Jacksonville and working for Ben Bradley
Television Industry
Alan Perris on advice to aspiring television executives
Professions
Executives
Alan Perris on various local shows he programmed and his hiring process
Alan Perris on managing local stations budgets
Alan Perris on what he looks for when hiring staff
Alan Perris on advice to aspiring television executives
Station Manager
Alan Perris on various local shows he programmed and his hiring process
Alan Perris on managing local stations budgets
Alan Perris on what he looks for when hiring staff
Alan Perris on advice to aspiring television executives
People
Katie Couric
Alan Perris on hiring Katie Couric
Bette Davis
Alan Perris on Post-Newsweek Productions financing the made-for-television movie Right of Way for HBO
Larry King
Alan Perris on becoming the head of Post Newsweek Productions
Steve Kroft
Alan Perris on notable people he worked with at WJXT, Jacksonville
Ricki Lake
Alan Perris on programming Ricki Lake
Brandon Tartikoff
Alan Perris on working as head of the Post-Newsweek Stations