About
"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."
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.
Highlights

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

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

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

Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on his management style

Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on working at The William Morris Agency; on packaging early television shows
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
On his distribution deal with Thames Television; on distributing The World at War; on producing and distributing Three's Company
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
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
On his philanthropic efforts; on advice to aspiring television executives; on his son, Donald Taffner, Jr.
Shows
Benny Hill Show, The
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on how television distribution has changed since the '60s and distributing The Benny Hill Show
Mr. Garlund
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on getting into producing television series at Paramount
My Family
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on the writing process of My Family
Three's Company
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing Three's Company based on the British series Man About the House
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on shooting the pilots for Three's Company
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on the contract negotiations with Suzanne Somers for Three's Company
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on syndicating Three's Company
Too Close for Comfort
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing and distributing Too Close for Comfort
World at War, The
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on distributing The World at War
Topics
Advice
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives
Television Industry
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on starting his own production and distribution company
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on how television distribution has changed since the '60s and distributing The Benny Hill Show
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives
Professions
Executives
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on his management style
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on negotiating a deal
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives
Television Executive
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on his management style
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on negotiating a deal
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives
Genres
Comedy Series
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing Three's Company
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on producing and distributing Too Close for Comfort
People
Suzanne Somers
Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on the contract negotiations with Suzanne Somers for Three's Company