About
"I have never ruled against a producer in my life, ever, on anything. Because I learned very early that for the one time you're right, it will not be permissible. In the long run, you have to protect the freedom of a producer who has a record of doing what's tasteful."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Michael Dann (1921-2016) discusses his start in television as part of the publicity department at NBC. He describes his time with NBC News and his move to CBS, where he worked his way up the ranks to become head of programming for CBS. Dann details his experiences overseeing The Defenders, Gilligan's Island, 60 Minutes, and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, among others, and shares his thoughts on some of his colleagues at both NBC and CBS. He also touches on his work since leaving CBS - consulting for Children's Television Workshop, Warner Communications, and the BBC. Don West conducted the interview on October 26, 1998 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Michael Dann on the high point of his career - working with Pat Weaver
Michael Dann on saying that Mary Richards could not be divorced on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Michael Dann on taking The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour off the air
Michael Dann on how important The Chicago School of Television was to early television
Michael Dann on his involvement with The Defenders
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on ushering in theaters in high school and working as an army correspondent during World War II
On how the Great Depression affected his family; on listening to radio in the 1930s and 1940s; on his start in radio comedy writing for Jack Albertson
On his start in television in the NBC press department and then NBC News in 1948
Chapter 2
On his radio work in New York; on the early days of television at NBC
On moving from the press department to the news department in 1949; on early television programming at NBC
On Pat Weaver's reorganization of NBC and the beginning of participating sponsorship
Chapter 3
On The Chicago School of Television; on early dramas and variety shows - Texaco Star Theater
On Pat Weaver's programming innovations; on early televison anthology programs and the need to shoot variety programs in color
Chapter 4
On moving to CBS to become Vice President of New York programs; on Your Hit Parade, The Defenders and other CBS programs he approved
On working with CBS' Jim Aubrey, Frank Stanton, and William Paley
Chapter 5
On his involvement with the show Medic; on the raciness permitted then and now on television
On his process for scheduling prime time television at CBS; on his crisis decisions at CBS
Chapter 6
On getting The Defenders on the air
On The Hollywood Blacklist; on leaving CBS; on the cable industry and evolving technology
On his reflections on working in the industry; on the future of television
Chapter 7
On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on today's most talented producers
On the future of television
Shows
Bewitched
Michael Dann on how he lost Bewitched
Born Free
Michael Dann on Fred Silverman's scheduling advice to promote Born Free as a children's show
CBS Playhouse
Michael Dann on his involvement with CBS Playhouse
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Michael Dann on producing The Colgate Comedy Hour
Death of a Salesman
Michael Dann on his involvement with Death of a Salesman
Defenders, The
Michael Dann on his involvement with The Defenders
Michael Dann on Herbert Brodkin not being censored on The Defenders
Michael Dann on getting The Defenders on the air
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Michael Dann on wanting to air an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show in which the son walks in on his parents making love
Ding Dong School
Michael Dann on how important The Chicago School of Television was to early television
Garroway at Large
Michael Dann on how important The Chicago School of Television was to early television
Home Show, The
Michael Dann on Pat Weaver and the creation of Today, The Home Show, and The Tonight Show
Jack Carter Show, The
Michael Dann on Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver's Saturday night philosophy of television
Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Michael Dann on how important The Chicago School of Television was to early television
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
Michael Dann on saying that Mary Richards could not be divorced on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Medic
Michael Dann on his involvement with Medic, the first series to show the birth of a baby
Nurses, The
Michael Dann on defending producers and voting in favor of a scene many questioned on The Nurses
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Michael Dann on production of Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The
Michael Dann on taking The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour off the air
Studs' Place
Michael Dann on how important The Chicago School of Television was to early television
Texaco Star Theater
Michael Dann on Milton Berle's humor
Michael Dann on Milton Berle and Texaco Star Theater
Michael Dann on Milton Berle and the cancellation of Texaco Star Theater
Today
Michael Dann on station managers not believing people would get up early enough to watch Today
Michael Dann on Pat Weaver and the creation of Today, The Home Show, and The Tonight Show
Tonight
Michael Dann on Pat Weaver and the creation of Today, The Home Show, and The Tonight Show
Your Hit Parade
Michael Dann on revamping Your Hit Parade
Your Show of Shows
Michael Dann on early television variety shows
Michael Dann on Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver's Saturday night philosophy of television
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Michael Dann on being ordered by Program Practices to intervene with The Smothers Brothers
Michael Dann on taking The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour off the air
Michael Dann on Herbert Brodkin not being censored on The Defenders
Hollywood Blacklist
Michael Dann on The Hollywood Blacklist
Technological Innovation
Michael Dann on the coming of digital programming and sets
Michael Dann on David Sarnoff's desire to sell color television sets and the importance of shooting variety shows in color
Michael Dann on the cable industry and evolving technology
Michael Dann on the prospect of digital cable
Professions
Executives
Michael Dann on his role as CBS Vice President of New York programs
Michael Dann on his process for scheduling prime time television at CBS
Michael Dann on the high point of his career - working with Pat Weaver
Genres
Drama Series
Michael Dann on getting The Defenders on the air
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Michael Dann on revamping Your Hit Parade
Michael Dann on Milton Berle and Texaco Star Theater
Michael Dann on taking The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour off the air
News and Documentary
Mike Dann on his start in NBC News
People
Jack Albertson
Mike Dann on his start as a comedy writer for Jack Albertson
James T. Aubrey
Michael Dann on his opinion of Jim Aubrey
Michael Dann on CBS' Frank Stanton and William Paley and the firing of Jim Aubrey
Michael Dann on Jim Aubrey not liking The Defenders
Milton Berle
Michael Dann on Milton Berle's humor
Michael Dann on early television variety shows
Michael Dann on Milton Berle and Texaco Star Theater
Michael Dann on Milton Berle and the cancellation of Texaco Star Theater
Herbert Brodkin
Michael Dann on Herbert Brodkin not being censored on The Defenders
Michael Dann on The Defenders' producer Herbert Brodkin
Carol Burnett
Michael Dann on Carol Burnett
Sid Caesar
Michael Dann on Sid Caesar
Joseph Cates
Michael Dann on Joseph Cates
Fred Coe
Michael Dann on Fred Coe's eye for quality programming
Michael Dann on working with Fred Coe on Philco Goodyear Television Playhouse and thoughts on the pioneers of anthology drama - Tony Miner and Martin Manulis
Michael Dann on Fred Coe
Joan Ganz Cooney
Michael Dann on Joan Ganz Cooney
Norman Felton
Michael Dann on producers Norman Felton and Perry Lafferty
Fred Friendly
Michael Dann on Fred Friendly
Peter Gennaro
Michael Dann on Peter Gennaro, choreographer of Your Hit Parade
Jackie Gleason
Michael Dann on Jackie Gleason
Arthur Godfrey
Michael Dann on simulcasting early radio broadcasts for television and Arthur Godfrey's early success on CBS Television
Leonard H. Goldenson
Michael Dann on Leonard Goldenson embracing cable
Norman Jewison
Michael Dann on wanting Norman Jewison to direct Your Hit Parade
Perry Lafferty
Michael Dann on wanting Perry Lafferty to revamp Your Hit Parade
Michael Dann on producers Norman Felton and Perry Lafferty
Sheldon Leonard
Michael Dann on Sheldon Leonard
Max Liebman
Michael Dann on congratulating Max Liebman after every show to keep morale up
Martin Manulis
Michael Dann on working with Fred Coe on Philco Goodyear Television Playhouse and thoughts on the pioneers of anthology drama - Tony Miner and Martin Manulis
Worthington Miner
Michael Dann on working with Fred Coe on Philco Goodyear Television Playhouse and thoughts on the pioneers of anthology drama - Tony Miner and Martin Manulis
Robert Montgomery
Michael Dann on Pat Weaver discovering Robert Montgomery
Elizabeth Montgomery
Michael Dann on how he lost Bewitched
Mary Tyler Moore
Michael Dann on saying that Mary Richards could not be divorced on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mike Nichols
Michael Dann on Mike Nichols
William S. Paley
Michael Dann on CBS founder William S. Paley
Michael Dann on CBS' Frank Stanton and William Paley and the firing of Jim Aubrey
Michael Dann on William S. Paley's knack for television programming and his management style
Michael Dann on David Sarnoff's desire to sell color television sets and the importance of shooting variety shows in color; on William Paley adopting color
Michael Dann on William S. Paley's thoughts on The Defenders
Carl Reiner
Michael Dann on Carl Reiner
David Sarnoff
Michael Dann on David Sarnoff giving him a television set and an allowance to hold television parties
Michael Dann on Pat Weaver's reorganization of NBC and David Sarnoff's vision
Michael Dann on David Sarnoff firing Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Michael Dann on David Sarnoff's desire to sell color television sets and the importance of shooting variety shows in color
Sherwood Schwartz
Michael Dann on Sherwood Schwartz
Irwin Segelstein
Michael Dann on Irwin Segelstein
Fred Silverman
Michael Dann on Fred Silverman's scheduling advice to promote Born Free as a children's show
Michael Dann on Fred Silverman
Gary Smith
Michael Dann on Gary Smith, designer of Your Hit Parade
Dick Smothers
Michael Dann on taking The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour off the air
Tom Smothers
Michael Dann on taking The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour off the air
Michael Dann on Tom Smothers reaction to getting fired and making it political
Frank Stanton
Michael Dann on CBS' Frank Stanton and William Paley and the firing of Jim Aubrey
Brandon Stoddard
Michael Dann on Brandon Stoddard
Ed Sullivan
Michael Dann on early television variety shows
Michael Dann on Ed Sullivan
David Susskind
Michael Dann on David Susskind's
Jessica Tandy
Michael Dann on Jim Aubrey not liking Jessica Tandy as the wife in The Defenders
Brandon Tartikoff
Michael Dann on Brandon Tartikoff
Grant Tinker
Michael Dann on Grant Tinker
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Michael Dann on Pat Weaver's reorganization of NBC and the beginning of participating sponsorship
Michael Dann on working with Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Michael Dann on working with Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Michael Dann on Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver's Saturday night philosophy of television
Michael Dann on the high point of his career - working with Pat Weaver