Dick Askin

Executive
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his four-hour interview, Dick Askin talks about his early days as an account executive at WNBC in New York, dealing with local shows like Not For Women Only. He describes his transition to KNBC in Los Angeles where he served as director of sales before transitioning over to Fries Entertainment where he distributed the acclaimed made-for-television movie, The Burning Bed, among others. He recalls his time at Samuel Goldwyn Television selling American Gladiators, and discusses his time as president and CEO of Tribune Entertainment, distributing shows like Geraldo, Family Feud, Earth Final Conflict, and Andromeda. Askin outlines his time as chairman of the Television Academy (2003-2007), where he made efforts to clean up the Emmy nominations process and to bring new media into the fold. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on April 1, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"As a television executive, it's important to listen. I've heard secretaries come out with some of the most profound observations on projects that all of us have missed. They'll say something and I'll think, 'They're right! I never thought about it that way.'"

People Talking About ...
Dick Askin
Highlights
Dick Askin on selling the made-for-television movie The Burning Bed to advertisers
06:13
Dick Askin on Family Feud
08:42
Dick Askin on Geraldo Rivera's talk show
03:53
Dick Askin on selling American Gladiators 
02:59
Dick Askin on becoming Chairman/CEO of the Television Academy
04:25
Dick Askin on how he'd like to be remembered 
00:53
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his favorite television shows growing up; on his first job in television
On the early days of cable television; on becoming an account executive at WNBC in New York; on the local WNBC show, Not For Women Only
On what he learned at WNBC; on becoming National Sales Manager at KNBC in Los Angeles
On the clients he served at KNBC in Los Angeles; on going to work for Fries Entertainment

Chapter 2
On selling the made-for-television movie The Burning Bed to advertisers; on becoming Vice President of Domestic Sales at Fries Entertainment; on the emergence of cable television
On moving over to Samuel Goldwyn Television; on American Gladiators and Rollerball
On syndicating American Gladiators; on the legacy of American Gladiators and the evolution of the concept
On various other shows he sold for Samuel Goldwyn Television

Chapter 3
On his leadership style; on his contributions to Samuel Goldwyn Television; on moving over to Tribune Entertainment
On helping to grow Tribune Entertainment; on working with Geraldo Rivera on his talk show
On Tribune partnering with other entertainment companies; on Tribune Studios
On Soul Train, Family Feud, Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda 

Chapter 4
On Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda; on Mutant X; on becoming Chairman of the Television Academy
On the changes he brought to the Television Academy; on the mission of the Academy 
On the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; on getting the Syd Cassyd Award; on his proudest accomplishments at Tribune
On then-current projects; on advice to aspiring television executives; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

American Gladiators

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Dick Askin on selling American Gladiators
02:59
Dick Askin on the success of American Gladiators and the short-lived series Rollerball
03:49
Dick Askin on the local stations and American Gladiators and how syndication works
05:47
Dick Askin on the legacy of American Gladiators and the evolution of the concept
06:07

Burning Bed, The

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Dick Askin on selling the made-for-television movie The Burning Bed to advertisers
06:13

Earth: Final Conflict

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Dick Askin on Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda 
03:41
Dick Askin on Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda
04:03
Dick Askin on marketing Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda
01:23

Family Feud

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Dick Askin on Family Feud
08:42

Geraldo

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Dick Askin on Geraldo Rivera's talk show
03:53

Howdy Doody

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Dick Askin on choosing projects as Vice President of Domestic Sales at Fries Entertainment
04:33
Dick Askin on choosing projects as Vice President of Domestic Sales at Fries Entertainment
04:33

Mickey Mouse Club, The

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Dick Askin on his favorite television shows when he was growing up
01:33
Topics

Advice

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Dick Askin on advice to aspiring television executives
03:18

Emmy Awards

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Dick Askin on the Television Academy's mission to honor excellence 
03:34
Dick Askin on the importance of the Emmy brand
01:19

First Big Break

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Dick Askin on his first job in television
07:34

Pivotal Career Moments

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Dick Askin on his first job in television
07:34

Runaway Production

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Dick Askin on the establishment of the Runaway Production committee at the Television Academy and new media
04:00

Television Industry

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Dick Askin on cable television encroaching on local broadcasting in the '80s and the programming he sold at KNBC
02:55
Dick Askin on advice to aspiring television executives
03:18
Dick Askin on the establishment of the Runaway Production committee at the Television Academy and new media
04:00
Professions

Executives

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Dick Askin on his leadership style
03:39
Dick Askin on advice to aspiring television executives
03:18

Television Executive

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Dick Askin on his leadership style
03:39
Dick Askin on advice to aspiring television executives
03:18
Genres

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Dick Askin on selling the made-for-television movie The Burning Bed to advertisers
06:13
People

Barbara Walters

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Dick Askin on the local WNBC show Not For Women Only
04:17

Gene Roddenberry

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Dick Askin on Earth: Final Conflict  and Andromeda 
03:41
Dick Askin on Earth: Final Conflict  and Andromeda
05:26
Dick Askin on Gene Roddenberry's legacy
02:17

Geraldo Rivera

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Dick Askin on Geraldo Rivera's talk show
03:53

Ryan Seacrest

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Dick Askin on selling the series Gladiators 2000
03:43

Samuel Goldwyn

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Dick Askin on various other shows he sold for Samuel Goldwyn Television
03:43

All Interviews

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