About
"To be successful and to have long [series] runs there has to be synergy. There has to be a kind of pride in the work. And you have to be good at spotting talent and putting the right talent in the right places -- in front of the camera and behind the camera. You’re only as good as those people you surround yourself with."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Charles Floyd Johnson discusses his early interest in the entertainment industry and attending Howard University for both undergraduate studies and for law school. He talks of being drafted in the Vietnam War and working at Fort Dix, and later working as a lawyer for the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. He recalls his move to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of acting and details how he got a job in the Universal mailroom (for three days) before getting hired by Business Affairs as a production coordinator to work on Night Gallery, The Rockford Files, and Toma, among other shows. Johnson describes how he became an associate producer and later a producer on The Rockford Files, working closely with Meta Rosenberg, Stephen J. Cannell, David Chase, and James Garner. He talks about his years producing Magnum, P.I., B.L. Stryker, and the final season of Quantum Leap, and recounts what he enjoys about the craft of producing. He discusses his experiences producing JAG and NCIS and executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis. Johnson also shares his thoughts on how the industry has changed since he started in television, his greatest career achievements and regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on March 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Charles Floyd Johnson on executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
Charles Floyd Johnson on his biggest takeaways from producing The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on 9/11 occurring while JAG was in production and how it impacted the show
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. being a show about Vietnam veterans returning home
Charles Floyd Johnson on how NCIS got its start -- as a backdoor pilot/spin-off of JAG -- and why it was called NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on his proudest career achievements: projects that dealt with color and race (Voices of Our People: A Celebration of Black Poetry, Red Tails, John Lewis: Get in the Way) and the variety of programs that he's had a chance to work on
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years and influences; on acting in plays growing up; on attending boarding school and being one of two African-American students at the school; on always wanting to work in the entertainment industry and his early film and television influences
On attending Howard University, being a member of the Howard University Players, majoring in political science and history, and minoring in education; on attending Howard Law School; on being drafted in the Vietnam War and working at Fort Dix; on working for the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C.; on working on legal projects in Delaware and Sweden; on moving to Los Angeles; on his trips to Paris
On attending Perpetual Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles; on getting a job in the Universal mailroom (for 3 days) and then getting hired by Business Affairs as a production coordinator; on working on Night Gallery, The Rockford Files, and Toma; on becoming an associate producer and later a producer on The Rockford Files; on working with Meta Rosenberg, Stephen J. Cannell, and David Chase on The Rockford Files
On working with James Garner on The Rockford Files and several other shows; on guest stars on The Rockford Files; on winning an Emmy in 1978; on his biggest takeaways from producing The Rockford Files and the legacy of the show; on staying at Universal Studios until 1980, working on the second pilot of Simon & Simon, and on Hellinger's Law
On leaving Universal for Warner Bros. to produce Bret Maverick; on meeting Don Bellissario and getting brought in to produce Magnum, P.I.; on producing the pilot of Baa Baa Black Sheep; on moving to Hawaii to produce Magnum, P.I.; on changes he made to the show, working with the cast and crew, memorable episodes, and the success of the show
Chapter 2
On producing B.L. Stryker in Florida; on producing the last season of Quantum Leap; on shooting Magnum, P.I. at the same studio where Hawaii Five-O was shot
On the craft of producing and why he enjoys it; on his role models and lessons he's learned from them; on how his background as an actor and a lawyer helps him as a producer
On producing JAG; on changes he made to the show; on working with the Navy; on 9/11 and how it was incorporated into the show; on the short-lived show First Monday; on ratings and demographics of JAG
On the domestic and international success of NCIS; on cast and showrunner changes on NCIS; on guest stars and spin-offs of NCIS
Chapter 3
On executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
On how television has changed since he first started in the industry; on how opportunities for African Americans have changed since he first started in the industry; on teaching at Georgia Southern University and advice for students who want to become producers
On the value of oral history interviews; on his proudest career achievements: projects that dealt with color (Voices of Our People: A Celebration of Black Poetry, Red Tails, and John Lewis: Get in the Way) and the variety of programs that he's had a chance to work on; on career regrets; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
B.L. Stryker
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing B.L. Stryker in Florida
Baa Baa Black Sheep aka Black Sheep Squadron
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing the pilot of Baa Baa Black Sheep
Bret Maverick
Charles Floyd Johnson on leaving Universal for Warner Bros. to produce the reboot of Maverick called Bret Maverick
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Charles Floyd Johnson on watching Toast of the Town, which often featured performers of color
First Monday
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with James Garner on First Monday
Charles Floyd Johnson on working on JAG, NCIS, and First Monday at the same time
Hawaii Five-O
Charles Floyd Johnson on shooting Magnum, P.I. at the same studio where Hawaii Five-O had just shut down production
JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on liking Brock Peters in the film Carmen Jones, becoming good friends with him, and later casting him in Peters' last role, on JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing JAG and changes he made to the show
Charles Floyd Johnson on the relationship between "Harm" and "Mac" on JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with the Navy on JAG, and on notes from Standards & Practices and the Navy
Charles Floyd Johnson on 9/11 occurring while JAG was in production and how it impacted the show
Charles Floyd Johnson on having a recurring on-camera role as "Dr. Bruce Gasden" on JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on JAG coming to an end
Charles Floyd Johnson on the demographics on JAG
John Lewis: Get in the Way
Charles Floyd Johnson on executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on getting brought in to produce Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Don Bellisario on Magnum, P.I., moving to Hawaii, and changes he made to the show - bringing writers to Hawaii, and on working with the cast and crew
Charles Floyd Johnson on writing several episodes of Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on co-writing the "Limbo" episode of Magnum, P.I. -- at one point it was supposed to be a series finale
Charles Floyd Johnson on the "Did You See the Sunrise?" episode of Magnum, P.I. -- an episode that Standards & Practices and sponsors had concerns about
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. being a show about Vietnam veterans returning home
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. crossover episodes with Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote
Charles Floyd Johnson on Frank Sinatra appearing in an episode of Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. ending after eight seasons
Charles Floyd Johnson on the identity of Robin Masters on Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on the success, popularity, and ratings of Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on not being consulted on the reboot of Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on shooting Magnum, P.I. at the same studio where Hawaii Five-O had just shut down production
Murder, She Wrote
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. crossover episodes with Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote
NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on asking James Garner to play Mark Harmon's father on NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on incorporating Marie Kondo into NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on incorporating real organizations on NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on working on JAG, NCIS, and First Monday at the same time
Charles Floyd Johnson on the domestic and international success of NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on how NCIS got its start -- as a backdoor pilot/spin-off of JAG -- and why it was called NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on cast changes over the years on NCIS and how that has impacted the show
Charles Floyd Johnson on guest stars on NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on planning season arcs on NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on the look of NCIS and the "foofs"
Charles Floyd Johnson on Don Bellisario's departure from NCIS and how it impacted the show, and on the producers and showrunners on NCIS over the years
Charles Floyd Johnson on how long NCIS might run for and whether or not the show could go on without Mark Harmon
Charles Floyd Johnson on how he taught students about producing: by dissecting an episode of NCIS from pre to post-production
NCIS: Los Angeles
Charles Floyd Johnson on JAG's "Harm" and "Mac" appearing on NCIS: Los Angeles
Charles Floyd Johnson on his involvement with spin-offs of NCIS -- NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans
NCIS: New Orleans
Charles Floyd Johnson on his involvement with spin-offs of NCIS -- NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans
Night Gallery
Charles Floyd Johnson on being a production coordinator on Night Gallery
Quantum Leap
Charles Floyd Johnson on how he came to produce the last season of Quantum Leap
Charles Floyd Johnson on the research on Quantum Leap -- particularly on the episodes dealing with historical moments like JFK's assassination, and on not having permanent sets
Charles Floyd Johnson on the two-part "Lee Harvey Oswald" episode of Quantum Leap and Don Bellisario's connection to Oswald
Charles Floyd Johnson on the series finale of Quantum Leap
Charles Floyd Johnson on a possible reboot of Quantum Leap for Peacock
Rockford Files, The
Charles Floyd Johnson on being a production coordinator on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on becoming an associate producer on The Rockford Files and giving up his acting career, and on working with James Garner
Charles Floyd Johnson on writing answering machine messages for The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on issues with Standards & Practices on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on The Rockford Files winning the Emmy for best drama in 1978
Charles Floyd Johnson on his biggest takeaways from producing The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on the legacy of The Rockford Files: humor
Simon & Simon
Charles Floyd Johnson on working on the second pilot of Simon & Simon
Topics
9/11
Charles Floyd Johnson on 9/11 occurring while JAG was in production and how it impacted the show
Advice
Charles Floyd Johnson on what he learned from watching his role models
Charles Floyd Johnson on advice to students who want to be producers
Barack Obama
Charles Floyd Johnson on the many guest stars on NCIS: Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Charles Floyd Johnson on the "Did You See the Sunrise?" episode of Magnum, P.I. -- an episode that Standards & Practices and sponsors had concerns about
Charles Floyd Johnson on issues with Standards & Practices on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on notes from Standards & Practices and the Navy on JAG
Civil Rights Movement
Charles Floyd Johnson on his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
Charles Floyd Johnson on executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Charles Floyd Johnson on role models in his career and what he's learned from them
Emmy Awards
Charles Floyd Johnson on winning an Emmy for best drama as a producer on The Rockford Files
Historic Events and Social Change
Charles Floyd Johnson on being the sole, or one of very few, associate producers of color when he accepted the job on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. being a show about Vietnam veterans returning home
Charles Floyd Johnson on 9/11 occurring while JAG was in production and how it impacted the show
Charles Floyd Johnson on meeting John F. Kennedy, attending his inauguration, and watching his funeral procession
Charles Floyd Johnson on his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
Charles Floyd Johnson on executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
Charles Floyd Johnson on how opportunities for African Americans have changed since he first started in the industry
Charles Floyd Johnson on addressing a racist comment made to him early in his career
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Charles Floyd Johnson on meeting John F. Kennedy, attending his inauguration, and watching his funeral procession
Pivotal Career Moments
Charles Floyd Johnson on role models in his career and what he's learned from them
Representation on Television
Charles Floyd Johnson on being the sole, or one of very few, associate producers of color when he accepted the job on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on how opportunities for African Americans have changed since he first started in the industry
Charles Floyd Johnson on addressing a racist comment made to him early in his career
Technological Innovation
Charles Floyd Johnson on how computers and fax machines impacted TV production
Charles Floyd Johnson on how evolving technology has impacted television production
Television and the Presidency
Charles Floyd Johnson on the many guest stars on NCIS: Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden
Television Industry
Charles Floyd Johnson on the "Did You See the Sunrise?" episode of Magnum, P.I. -- an episode that Standards & Practices and sponsors had concerns about
Charles Floyd Johnson on issues with Standards & Practices on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on notes from Standards & Practices and the Navy on JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on what he learned from watching his role models
Charles Floyd Johnson on how television has changed since he first started in the industry
Charles Floyd Johnson on advice to students who want to be producers
Underrepresented Voices
Charles Floyd Johnson on being the sole, or one of very few, associate producers of color when he accepted the job on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on how opportunities for African Americans have changed since he first started in the industry
Charles Floyd Johnson on addressing a racist comment made to him early in his career
Vietnam War
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. being a show about Vietnam veterans returning home
War
Charles Floyd Johnson on Magnum, P.I. being a show about Vietnam veterans returning home
Professions
Producers
Charles Floyd Johnson on becoming an associate producer on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on becoming a producer on The Rockford Files and what that role entailed
Charles Floyd Johnson on his biggest takeaways from producing The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on the craft of producing and what he enjoys about it
Charles Floyd Johnson on how his background as an actor and a lawyer has helped him as a producer
Charles Floyd Johnson on his methods for teaching students about producing
Charles Floyd Johnson on advice to students who want to be producers
Production Professionals
Charles Floyd Johnson on being a production coordinator at Universal Studios
Genres
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing B.L. Stryker
Drama Series
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing NCIS
Legal Dramas
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing JAG
News and Documentary
Charles Floyd Johnson on executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Charles Floyd Johnson on producing Quantum Leap
People
Sasha Alexander
Charles Floyd Johnson on Robyn Lively starring in the NCIS backdoor pilot and Sasha Alexander replacing her when the show went to series
Charles Floyd Johnson on Sasha Alexander's departure from NCIS
Scott Bakula
Charles Floyd Johnson on helping to get Scott Bakula cast on NCIS: New Orleans
Juanita Bartlett
Charles Floyd Johnson on meeting Stephen J. Cannell and Juanita Bartlett on The Rockford Files
Catherine Bell
Charles Floyd Johnson on Catherine Bell becoming the new female lead on JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on the relationship between "Harm" and "Mac" on JAG
Donald P. Bellisario
Charles Floyd Johnson on meeting Don Bellissario and getting brought in to produce Magnum, P.I.
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Don Bellisario on Magnum, P.I. and ultimately moving to Hawaii to produce the show
Charles Floyd Johnson on the two-part "Lee Harvey Oswald" episode of Quantum Leap and Don Bellisario's connection to Oswald
Charles Floyd Johnson on how he came to work on JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on Catherine Bell becoming the new female lead on JAG
Charles Floyd Johnson on how NCIS got its start: as a spin-off of JAG and changing it from a Law & Order format to solely an investigative show
Charles Floyd Johnson on the look of NCIS and the "foofs"
Charles Floyd Johnson on Don Bellisario's departure from NCIS and how it impacted the show
Maria Bello
Charles Floyd Johnson on the relationship between "Gibbs" and "Sloane" on NCIS
Jill Biden
Charles Floyd Johnson on the many guest stars on NCIS: Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden
Steven D. Binder
Charles Floyd Johnson on the showrunners on NCIS
Steven Bochco
Charles Floyd Johnson on meeting Steven Bochco
Stephen J. Cannell
Charles Floyd Johnson on meeting Stephen J. Cannell and Juanita Bartlett on The Rockford Files
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Stephen J. Cannell on The Rockford Files and Cannell encouraging him to write
Frank Cardea
Charles Floyd Johnson on the showrunners on NCIS
Rocky Carroll
Charles Floyd Johnson on Rocky Carroll's summation of the success of NCIS
David Chase
Charles Floyd Johnson on going to Paris with David Chase and Meta Rosenberg
Charles Floyd Johnson on David Chase joining The Rockford Files and becoming a producer at the same time Charles did
Ossie Davis
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Ossie Davis on B.L. Stryker and how much Ossie Davis loved his wife, Ruby Dee
Cote de Pablo
Charles Floyd Johnson on Cote de Pablo joining NCIS and on "Tiva" - the pairing of "Ziva," played by Cote de Pablo, and "Tony," played by Michael Weatherly, and on "Ziva's" return over the years
Ruby Dee
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Ossie Davis on B.L. Stryker and how much Ossie Davis loved his wife, Ruby Dee
Philip Deguard
Charles Floyd Johnson on working on the second pilot of Simon & Simon, written by Philip Deguard, and learning about location shooting
Kathleen Dowdey
Charles Floyd Johnson on executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
David James Elliott
Charles Floyd Johnson on the relationship between "Harm" and "Mac" on JAG
James Garner
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with James Garner on multiple TV shows
Gary Glasberg
Charles Floyd Johnson on showrunner Gary Glasberg's death and how it impacted NCIS
Mark Harmon
Charles Floyd Johnson on Mark Harmon as "Leroy Jethro Gibbs" and how Harmon works with the cast on NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on the relationship between "Gibbs" and "Sloane" on NCIS
Charles Floyd Johnson on how long NCIS might run for and whether or not the show could go on without Mark Harmon
Roy Huggins
Charles Floyd Johnson on being a production coordinator on The Rockford Files (and on Huggins' shows Toma and Alias Smith and Jones)
Charles Floyd Johnson on tensions between Meta Rosenberg and Roy Huggins on The Rockford Files, Roy Huggins' leaving the show, and Charles getting hired as an associate producer
John F. Kennedy
Charles Floyd Johnson on meeting John F. Kennedy
Angela Lansbury
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Angela Lansbury during a crossover episode of Magnum, P.I. and Murder, She Wrote
John Lewis
Charles Floyd Johnson on executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis
Robyn Lively
Charles Floyd Johnson on Robyn Lively starring in the NCIS backdoor pilot and Sasha Alexander replacing her when the show went to series
Leslie Moonves
Charles Floyd Johnson on Catherine Bell becoming the new female lead on JAG
Rita Moreno
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Rita Moreno on B.L. Stryker and The Rockford Files
Michelle Obama
Charles Floyd Johnson on the many guest stars on NCIS: Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden
Lee Harvey Oswald
Charles Floyd Johnson on the two-part "Lee Harvey Oswald" episode of Quantum Leap and Don Bellisario's connection to Oswald
Pauley Perrette
Charles Floyd Johnson on Pauley Perrette's departure from NCIS and bringing on Diona Reasonover
Brock Peters
Charles Floyd Johnson on liking Brock Peters in the film Carmen Jones, becoming good friends with him, and later casting him in Peters' last role, on JAG
Diona Reasonover
Charles Floyd Johnson on Pauley Perrette's departure from NCIS and bringing on Diona Reasonover
Burt Reynolds
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Burt Reynolds on B.L. Stryker in Florida
Meta Rosenberg
Charles Floyd Johnson on going to Paris with David Chase and Meta Rosenberg
Charles Floyd Johnson on tensions between Meta Rosenberg and Roy Huggins on The Rockford Files and Roy Huggins' leaving the show
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Meta Rosenberg on The Rockford Files
George Schenck
Charles Floyd Johnson on the showrunners on NCIS
Tom Selleck
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Tom Selleck and becoming close friends
Charles Floyd Johnson on joining Tom Selleck's production company
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Tom Selleck as an Executive Producer on B.L. Stryker in Florida
Frank Sinatra
Charles Floyd Johnson on working with Frank Sinatra on an episode of Magnum, P.I. -- his last dramatic role before he died
Wilmer Valderrama
Charles Floyd Johnson on Wilmer Valderrama joining the cast of NCIS and the relationship between "Bishop" and "Torres"
Michael Weatherly
Charles Floyd Johnson on Cote de Pablo joining NCIS and on "Tiva" - the pairing of "Ziva," played by Cote de Pablo, and "Tony," played by Michael Weatherly
Charles Floyd Johnson on Michael Weatherly's final episode of NCIS and leaving to star in Bull