Glen A. Larson

Producer

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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-and-a-half-hour interview, Glen A. Larson (1937-2014) talks about his early years as a member of the popular musical act The Four Preps. He discusses being an NBC page and recalls his transition to television writing and production. He speaks of becoming a story editor and producer on It Takes a Thief, writing for McCloud, and creating Alias Smith and Jones and The Six Million Dollar Man. Larson also talks of creating B.J. and the Bear, Lobo, Battlestar Galactica, Quincy, M.E., Magnum P.I., and Knight Rider. He comments on the importance of theme songs and recalls his work on Manimal and Trauma Center. Lee Goldberg conducted the interview on February 5, 2009 in Woodland Hills, CA.

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

"I'm proudest of the fact that I fell in step with an audience taste-level that I knew how to judge and deliver for consistently. It wasn't a one-shot, it wasn't a lucky this or a that. It's a consistent body of work that has some symmetry to it in terms of why it worked and how it worked."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Glen A. Larson on creating the word "frack" for Battlestar Galactica

01:37

Glen A. Larson on casting William Daniels as "Kitt" on Knight Rider

01:34

Glen A. Larson on producing Manimal

02:03

Glen A. Larson on the importance of television theme songs

03:14

Glen A. Larson on utilizing "predicament humor" in his writing

01:55

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his love for early radio; on being an NBC page; on his early music career

On his early writing career; on becoming story editor and producer on It Takes a Thief

On becoming a writer on the TV show McCloud; on creating Alias Smith and Jones

Chapter 2

On creating Alias Smith and Jones; on creating and subsequently leaving The Six Million Dollar Man; on writing theme songs

On "fixing" television shows; on writing and creating Switch

On creating Quincy, M.E. and getting fired from the show; on becoming a force in the television industry

On creating B.J. and the Bear; on creating the hour-long comedyLobo

Chapter 3

On the genesis, creation and production of Battlestar Galactica

On the language, culture and universe of Battlestar Galactica; on casting Battlestar Galactica

On the writing process for Battlestar Galactica; on the cancellation of Battlestar Galactica; on the SyFy Channel remake of the show

On the longevity of the premise of Battlestar Galactica; on creating and casting Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; on surviving in the television industry

Chapter 4

On creating and developing Magnum, P.I.

On creating Knight Rider and his limited role in the day to day production of the show

On the importance of television theme songs

On the remake and the legacy of Knight Rider; on the unsold pilot Nightside and the failed series Fitz and Bones; on leaving Universal for Fox

On the genesis of and casting The Fall Guy; on producing Manimal; on producing the short-lived series Cover Up, Trauma Center, Half Nelson, and The Highway Man

Chapter 5

On the television series P.S.I. Luv U, One West Waikiki and Night Man; on working with television executives

On his then-current projects; on his achievements and regrets; on advice to aspiring writers and the future of television

Shows

Alias Smith and Jones

Glen A. Larson on creating Alias Smith and Jones

04:09

Glen A. Larson on creating Alias Smith and Jones

04:14

BJ and the Bear

Glen A. Larson on creating B.J. and the Bear

05:34

Battlestar Galactica (1978-80)

Glen A. Larson on the genesis of Battlestar Galactica

07:35

Glen A. Larson on the budget constraints of Battlestar Galactica

01:10

Glen A. Larson on selling Battlestar Galactica to the network

03:56

Glen A. Larson on how he came up the the name Battlestar Galactica

01:12

Glen A. Larson on creating the universe of Battlestar Galactica

04:52

Glen A. Larson on casting Battlestar Galactica

03:59

Glen A. Larson on the look of the Galactica on Battlestar Galactica

01:13

Glen A. Larson on writing the theme song for Battlestar Galactica

00:53

Glen A. Larson on the writing process for Battlestar Galactica

02:15

Glen A. Larson on the reasons for the cancellation of Battlestar Galactica

02:38

Glen A. Larson on his opinion of the SyFy Channel's remake of Battlestar Galactica

04:31

Battlestar Galactica (2004-09)

Glen A. Larson on his opinion of the SyFy Channel's remake of Battlestar Galactica

04:31

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Glen A. Larson on the genesis of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

01:59

Glen A. Larson on casting Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

02:45

Fall Guy, The

Glen A. Larson on the genesis of The Fall Guy

01:47

Glen A. Larson on casting The Fall Guy

04:02

Glen A. Larson on stunts for The Fall Guy

00:07

It Takes a Thief

Glen A. Larson on how he came to be story editor on It Takes a Thief

03:39

Glen A. Larson on his duties as story editor on It Takes a Thief

01:44

Glen A. Larson on how he became a producer of It Takes a Thief

02:05

Glen A. Larson on writing for It Takes a Thief

03:40

Knight Rider

Glen A. Larson on creating the pilot for Knight Rider

04:35

Glen A. Larson on casting William Daniels as "Kitt" on Knight Rider

01:34

Glen A. Larson on his day to day role in the production of Knight Rider

01:44

Glen A. Larson on creating "Kitt" the car on Knight Rider

02:22

Glen A. Larson on casting Knight Rider

02:33

Glen A. Larson on composing the theme to Knight Rider

02:03

Glen A. Larson on NBC's remake of Knight Rider

00:25

Magnum, P. I.

Glen A. Larson on creating Magnum, P.I.

08:56

McCloud

Glen A. Larson on writing for McCloud

07:57

Glen A. Larson on Dennis Weaver as "Sam McCloud" on McCloud

01:49

Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, The

Glen A. Larson on creating the hour-long comedy The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo

02:38

Quincy, M.E.

Glen A. Larson on creating Quincy, M.E.

04:58

Glen A. Larson on conflicts with Jack Klugman on Quincy, M.E.

02:15

Glen A. Larson on the influence of Quincy, M.E.

02:02

Six Million Dollar Man, The

Glen A. Larson on writing the first two 90 minute episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man

07:03

Glen A. Larson on the pilot Cyborg which became The Six Million Dollar Man

02:51

Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

Glen A. Larson on creating "Kitt" the car on Knight Rider

02:22

Pop Culture

Glen A. Larson on the theme songs to BJ and the Bear and Battlestar Galactica

02:07

Glen A. Larson on the theme song for Battlestar Galactica

00:53

Glen A. Larson on creating "Kitt" the car on Knight Rider

02:22

Glen A. Larson on composing the theme to Knight Rider

02:03

Glen A. Larson on composing the theme song to The Fall Guy

00:50

TV Theme Songs

Glen A. Larson on the theme songs to BJ and the Bear and Battlestar Galactica

02:07

Glen A. Larson on the theme song for Battlestar Galactica

00:53

Glen A. Larson on composing the theme to Knight Rider

02:03

Glen A. Larson on composing the theme song to The Fall Guy

00:50

Professions

Producers

View Profession

Glen A. Larson on how he became a producer of It Takes a Thief

02:05

Glen A. Larson on his philosophy of survival in the television industry

06:05

Glen A. Larson on what he expects from television executives as a producer

03:20

Show Creators

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Glen A. Larson on the writing process for Battlestar Galactica

02:15

Writers

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Glen A. Larson on utilizing "predicament humor" in his writing

01:55

Glen A. Larson on his learning process at Universal Television

03:51

Glen A. Larson on mentoring other writers

01:36

Glen A. Larson on the writing process for Battlestar Galactica

02:15

Glen A. Larson on advice to aspiring writers

01:32

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

Glen A. Larson on creating the pilot for Knight Rider

04:35

Glen A. Larson on the genesis and casting of The Fall Guy

05:39

Comedy Series

Glen A. Larson on creating B.J. and the Bear

05:34

Glen A. Larson on creating Lobo

02:38

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Glen A. Larson on writing for McCloud

07:37

Glen A. Larson on creating Magnum, P.I.

08:56

Drama Series

Glen A. Larson on writing for It Takes a Thief

03:29

Glen A. Larson on writing the first two 90 minute episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man

07:03

Glen A. Larson on creating Quincy, M.E.

05:08

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Glen A. Larson on the genesis of Battlestar Galactica

07:35

Glen A. Larson on creating the universe of Battlestar Galactica

04:52

Glen A. Larson on the genesis of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

07:35

Glen A. Larson on casting Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

02:45

People

Dennis Weaver

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Glen A. Larson on Dennis Weaver as "Sam McCloud" on McCloud

01:49

Dick Clark

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Glen A. Larson on trading practical jokes with Dick Clark

01:09

Don Johnson

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Glen A. Larson on why Don Johnson didn't get cast in Battlestar Galactica

00:59

Fred Silverman

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Glen A. Larson on working with CBS executive Fred Silverman

03:23

Jack Klugman

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Glen A. Larson on conflicts with Jack Klugman on Quincy, M.E.

02:15

Lorne Greene

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Glen A. Larson on Lorne Greene as "Commander Adama" on Battlestar Galactica

01:37

William Conrad

View Person Page

Glen A. Larson on using William Conrad for voice over on several of his projects

01:13