"I had offers from Warner Bros. and Viacom to distribute Three's Company in syndication, but I said, 'No, I'd rather do it myself.' I said no to $10 or $15 million. Then the first deal I made was for $70 million."

    About This Interview

    In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Donald L. Taffner, Sr. (1930-2011) talks about his work in the television division at the William Morris Agency in the 1950s, commenting on the shows that the agency packaged in those days. He recalls his move to Paramount, running their New York office and selling series such as the adventure program Mr. Garlund. He describes founding DLT Entertainment in the early 1960s, representing broadcasters overseas in the purchase of U.S. shows. He describes his company's association with Thames Television and the tradition of programming on the BBC. Taffner chronicles the packaging of The Benny Hill Show for American television, and comments on Benny himself. He details the adaptation of several British sitcoms into successful American series, including: Three's Company, Too Close for Comfort, and Check It Out!  He speaks about his later work in live theater and the series Mystery Wheel of Adventure, As Time Goes By, and My Family. John Fitzgerald conducted the interview in a joint venture with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on August 26, 2008 in New York, NY.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
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    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on shooting the pilots for Three's Company

    03:45
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    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on syndicating Three's Company

    03:36
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    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on early animated television programs he produced

    01:38
    Thumbnail of Donald L. Taffner, Sr.

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on his management style

    02:18
    Thumbnail of Donald L. Taffner, Sr.

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives

    02:22
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on working at The William Morris Agency; on packaging early television shows

    11:44

    On getting into distribution at Paramount; on starting his own production and distribution company; on how television distribution has changed since the '60s; on distributing The Benny Hill Show

    17:38

    On his distribution deal with Thames Television; on distributing The World at War; on producing and distributing Three's Company

    16:13

    On producing and distributing Too Close for Comfort; on getting into the theater business and producing the series As Time Goes By; on producing and distributing the BBC series My Family

    11:03

    Chapter 2

    On the writing process of My Family; on his management style and negotiating a deal; on producing and distributing The Saint; on career achievements and his family

    13:02

    On his philanthropic efforts; on advice to aspiring television executives; on his son, Donald Taffner, Jr.

    15:10

    Benny Hill Show, The

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on how television distribution has changed since the '60s and distributing The Benny Hill Show

    06:27

    Mr. Garlund

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on getting into producing television series at Paramount

    03:47

    My Family

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on the writing process of My Family

    01:58

    Three's Company

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing Three's Company based on the British series Man About the House

    01:51

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on shooting the pilots for Three's Company

    03:45

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on the contract negotiations with Suzanne Somers for Three's Company

    01:56

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on syndicating Three's Company

    03:36

    Too Close for Comfort

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing and distributing Too Close for Comfort

    05:04

    World at War, The

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on distributing The World at War

    02:05

    Advice

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives

    02:22

    Television Industry

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on starting his own production and distribution company

    03:29

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on how television distribution has changed since the '60s and distributing The Benny Hill Show

    06:27

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives

    02:22

    Executives

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on his management style

    02:18

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on negotiating a deal

    01:51

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives

    02:22

    Television Executive

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on his management style

    02:18

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on negotiating a deal

    01:51

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives

    02:22

    Comedy Series

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing Three's Company

    11:10

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing and distributing Too Close for Comfort

    05:04

    Suzanne Somers

    Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on the contract negotiations with Suzanne Somers for Three's Company

    01:56

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