About
"The reason I stayed away from movies is they take it away from the producer and it's all about the director. In TV, it's still about producers. Although that's beginning to soften up. Except in my case."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, David Gerber (1923-2010) talks about his start in television working as a television supervisor and as a packager at Famous Artists Agency. He describes becoming familiar with network and agency executives and the importance of making those vital career connections. He details his tenure as senior vice president of television at General Artists Corporation (GAC), working with such television luminaries as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. He describes his move to 20th Century Fox where he worked as vice president in charge of television packaging. He recalls working with producer Irwin Allen on his many science-fiction series. Gerber relates how he became affiliated with Columbia Pictures Television, and then became president (and explains how he suggested that the name of the division be changed from "Screen Gems" to "Columbia Pictures Television"). He recounts the creation, issues covered, and production of the 1970s drama series Police Story. He speaks in detail about spin-off series Police Woman and the highly-rated miniseries Beulah Land (and the controversy surrounding its production). He talks about becoming the president of MGM Television and discusses the series he oversaw including thirtysomething (and his initial excitement over the pilot script and fight to get the series financed) and In the Heat of the Night (and working with star Carroll O'Connor). B-roll consists of stills from Born Free, Police Story, Nanny and the Professor, The Adventures of Sinbad, and The Lost Batallion. Karen Herman conducted the interview on September 13, 2006 in Bel Air, CA.
Highlights

David Gerber on facilitating Lucille Ball's return to television and representing Desilu Studios for Ball and Desi Arnaz

David Gerber on getting into producing

David Gerber on being President of Columbia Pictures Television

David Gerber on shepherding thirtysomething for MGM

David Gerber on advice to an aspiring producer
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his interest in radio and the movies as a child; on his experience in World War II; on studying journalism and drama in college
On going to work in television advertising as the television supervisor; on early television he watched and thinking he had a future in the television business; on working at Famous Artists Agency
Chapter 2
On what a television packager does and shows he packaged at Famous Artists Agency; on becoming Vice President of Television at General Artists Corporation; on the first shows he produced
On facilitating Lucille Ball's return to television and representing Desilu Studios; on doing television deals at 21 and The Polo Lounge; on making money from television packaging deals; on packaging the series Felony Squad
Chapter 3
On going to work for 20th Century Fox Television; on approving Batman as head of 20th Century Fox Television; on selling Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; on selling Lost in Space and working with Irwin Allen
On getting into producing; on producing the ABC After School Special "Follow the North Star" and getting involved in the editing process; on going to work for Columbia Pictures Television and producing Police Story
Chapter 4
On producing Police Story; on the look and production of Police Story
On producing Police Woman; on producing Joe Forrester; on producing David Cassidy: Man Undercover and Medical Story
Chapter 5
On producing Medical Story; on being President of Columbia Pictures Television; on his management style; on changing the name of Screen Gems to Columbia Pictures Television; on shepherding productions for Columbia Pictures Television
On shepherding That's My Mama for Columbia Pictures Television; on producing Gibbsville and Beulah Land; on producing The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case
Chapter 6
On producing Quark; on going to work for MGM and shepherding George Washington
On shepherding thirtysomething for MGM
On shepherding In the Heat of the Night starring Carroll O'Connor
Chapter 7
On shepherding In the Heat of the Night; on his legacy at MGM and producing Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; on going to work for All American Television
On producing various made-for-television movies in his later career; on producing Flight 93
On then-current projects; on his proudest career achivements
Chapter 8
On advice to an aspiring producer; on his sales ability; on his wife, Lorraine; on how he'd like to be remembered
On b-roll pictures from his career- on the set of Born Free; the cast of Police Story; on the set of Nanny and the Professor; filming the pilot for Police Story; at the Emmy Awards, having won for Police Story; on the set of Sinbad; on location for Born Free; on the set of The Lost Battalion
Shows
ABC Afterschool Specials
David Gerber on producing the ABC After School Special "Follow the North Star" and getting involved in the editing process
Batman
David Gerber on approving Batman as head of 20th Century Fox Television
Beulah Land
David Gerber on producing Beulah Land
David Cassidy: Man Undercover
David Gerber on producing David Cassidy: Man Undercover
Felony Squad
David Gerber on packaging the series Felony Squad
George Washington
David Gerber on going to work for MGM and shepherding George Washington
Gibbsville
David Gerber on producing Gibbsville
In the Heat of the Night
David Gerber on shepherding In the Heat of the Night starring Carroll O'Connor
David Gerber on shepherding In the Heat of the Night
Joe Forrester
David Gerber on producing Joe Forrester
Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, The
David Gerber on producing The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case
Lost in Space
David Gerber on selling Lost in Space and working with Irwin Allen
Medical Story
David Gerber on producing Medical Story
David Gerber on producing Medical Story
Police Story
David Gerber on going to work for Columbia Pictures Television and producing Police Story
David Gerber on producing Police Story
David Gerber on the look and production of Police Story
Police Woman
David Gerber on producing Police Woman
Quark
David Gerber on producing Quark
That's My Mama
David Gerber on shepherding That's My Mama for Columbia Pictures Television
Thirtysomething
David Gerber on shepherding thirtysomething for MGM
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
David Gerber on selling Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Topics
9/11
David Gerber on producing Flight 93
Advice
David Gerber on advice to an aspiring producer
Historic Events and Social Change
David Gerber on his experience in World War II
David Gerber on producing Flight 93
Pivotal Career Moments
David Gerber on getting into producing
Television and the Presidency
David Gerber on going to work for MGM and shepherding George Washington
Television Industry
David Gerber on what a television packager does and shows he packaged at Famous Artists Agency
David Gerber on making money from television packaging deals
David Gerber on doing television deals at 21 and The Polo Lounge
David Gerber on advice to an aspiring producer
War
David Gerber on his experience in World War II
World War II
David Gerber on his experience in World War II
Professions
Executives
David Gerber on his management style
Producers
David Gerber on his management style
David Gerber on advice to an aspiring producer
David Gerber on his sales ability
Television Executive
David Gerber on his management style
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
David Gerber on approving Batman as head of 20th Century Fox Television
David Gerber on selling Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Comedy Series
David Gerber on shepherding That's My Mama for Columbia Pictures Television
David Gerber on producing Quark
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
David Gerber on going to work for Columbia Pictures Television and producing Police Story
David Gerber on producing Police Story
David Gerber on producing Police Woman
David Gerber on producing Joe Forrester
David Gerber on producing David Cassidy: Man Undercover
David Gerber on shepherding In the Heat of the Night starring Carroll O'Connor
David Gerber on shepherding In the Heat of the Night
Drama Series
David Gerber on producing the ABC After School Special "Follow the North Star" and getting involved in the editing process
David Gerber on shepherding thirtysomething for MGM
Medical Dramas
David Gerber on producing Medical Story
David Gerber on producing Medical Story
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
David Gerber on selling Lost in Space and working with Irwin Allen
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
David Gerber on producing Gibbsville
David Gerber on producing Beulah Land
David Gerber on producing The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case
David Gerber on going to work for MGM and shepherding George Washington
David Gerber on producing Flight 93
People
Irwin Allen
David Gerber on selling Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
David Gerber on selling Lost in Space and working with Irwin Allen
Desi Arnaz
David Gerber on facilitating Lucille Ball's return to television and representing Desilu Studios for Ball and Desi Arnaz
Lucille Ball
David Gerber on facilitating Lucille Ball's return to television and representing Desilu Studios for Ball and Desi Arnaz
David Cassidy
David Gerber on producing David Cassidy: Man Undercover
Carroll O'Connor
David Gerber on shepherding In the Heat of the Night starring Carroll O'Connor