About
"It's not called show art; it's called show business. We do the best we can do, for the budget we have, and within the parameters that we've established when we go forward and decide to do a show."
In his nearly three-and-a-half-hour interview, Richard Frank discusses his early years working in advertising. He talks about his stint in local Los Angeles television, at both KTLA and KCOP, and speaks of developing the Operation Prime Time consortium, which brought programming (including the made-for-television films Sadat and A Woman Called Golda) to local independent stations around the country. He recounts his transition to Paramount Television, where he oversaw the creation of Entertainment Tonight, and attempted to launch the ill-fated Paramount Television Service. He discusses at length his time as president of the Paramount Television Group, where he oversaw the production of Happy Days and developed Cheers, and outlines his transition over to Disney Television, where along with Michael Eisner, he developed such hits as The Golden Girls and Empty Nest. Frank talks about the importance of executives adjusting to the new media landscape, and comments on his then-current work at his production company, Prospect Park. Jim McKairnes conducted the interview on June 29, 2012 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Richard Frank on developing The Disney Channel
Richard Frank on his friendship with Barry Diller
Richard Frank on creating Entertainment Tonight
Richard Frank on developing Ellen, and "Ellen" coming out
Richard Frank on advice to aspiring executives
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on television he watched growing up; on getting into advertising and working at KTLA
On working at KCOP and Operation Prime Time; on the Paramount Television Service
On creating Solid Gold; on creating Entertainment Tonight
On being President of the Paramount Television Group; on working with Michael Eisner and Barry Diller
Chapter 2
On his friendship with Barry Diller; on his philosophy as a television executive; on dealing with Standards and Practices
On overseeing production of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley; on overseeing production of Taxi
On developing Family Ties; on developing Cheers and dealing with cast departures
On dealing with backstage problems and the press; on his transition from Paramount to Disney; on developing Home Improvement
Chapter 3
On building Disney Television; on developing The Golden Girls; on developing Ellen and "Ellen" coming out
On developing Empty Nest and Blossom; on developing Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and Siskel & Ebert; on the arrival of new media
On his exit from Disney; on his involvement with E! Entertainment Television; on his involvement with Integrated Entertainment Partners
On his production company Prospect Park; on producing Royal Pains and Wilfred; on his time as President of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Chapter 4
On the effect of the internet on network and cable programming; on the Archive of American Television
On his management style; on his winery; on his achievements and regrets and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Blossom
Richard Frank on developing Empty Nest and Blossom
Cheers
Richard Frank on keeping Cheers and Family Ties on the air after low-rated first years
Richard Frank on developing Cheers
Richard Frank on Shelley Long's departure from Cheers
Ellen
Richard Frank on developing Ellen, and "Ellen" coming out
Empty Nest
Richard Frank on developing Empty Nest and Blossom
Family Ties
Richard Frank on keeping Cheers and Family Ties on the air after low-rated first years
Richard Frank on developing Family Ties
Golden Girls, The
Richard Frank on developing The Golden Girls
Happy Days
Richard Frank on overseeing production of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley
Richard Frank on the legacy of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley
Home Improvement
Richard Frank on dealing with backstage gossip and controversy
Richard Frank on developing Home Improvement
Laverne & Shirley
Richard Frank on overseeing production of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley
Richard Frank on the troubled last year of Laverne and Shirley and selling it into syndication
Richard Frank on the legacy of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Richard Frank on developing Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Mad Men
Richard Frank on getting into advertising
Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Richard Frank on developing Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Solid Gold
Richard Frank on creating Solid Gold
Taxi
Richard Frank on on overseeing production of Taxi
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Richard Frank on the ever-changing landscape of television and dealing with Standards and Practices
Emmy Awards
Richard Frank on his time as the president of the Television Academy
LGBTQIA+
Richard Frank on developing Ellen, and "Ellen" coming out
Media Consolidation
Richard Frank on seeing the future of new media and vertical integration
Network Creation
Richard Frank on the failed Paramount Television Service
Representation on Television
Richard Frank on developing Ellen, and "Ellen" coming out
Technological Innovation
Richard Frank on seeing the future of new media and vertical integration
Richard Frank on the effect of the internet on programming now and in the future
Television Industry
Richard Frank on the failed Paramount Television Service
Richard Frank on the ever-changing landscape of television and dealing with Standards and Practices
Richard Frank on seeing the future of new media and vertical integration
Richard Frank on the effect of the internet on programming now and in the future
Professions
Executives
Richard Frank on working with Michael Eisner on the Paramount Television Group and learning how to work with writers
Richard Frank on his philosophy as a television executive
Richard Frank on dealing with backstage gossip and controversy
Richard Frank on his management style and the qualities he looks for in his team
Richard Frank on advice to aspiring executives
Television Executive
Richard Frank on working with Michael Eisner on the Paramount Television Group and learning how to work with writers
Richard Frank on his philosophy as a television executive
Richard Frank on dealing with backstage gossip and controversy
Richard Frank on his management style and the qualities he looks for in his team
Richard Frank on advice to aspiring executives
Genres
Comedy Series
Richard Frank on overseeing production of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley
Richard Frank on overseeing production of Taxi
Richard Frank on developing Family Ties
Richard Frank on developing Cheers
Richard Frank on developing The Golden Girls
Richard Frank on developing Ellen
Service Shows
Richard Frank on developing Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Talk Shows
Richard Frank on developing Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
People
Tim Allen
Richard Frank on developing Home Improvement
James L. Brooks
Richard Frank on overseeing production of Taxi
Ellen DeGeneres
Richard Frank on developing Ellen, and "Ellen" coming out
Barry Diller
Richard Frank on working with Barry Diller
Richard Frank on making the transition from Paramount to Disney
Michael Eisner
Richard Frank on the failed Paramount Television Service
Richard Frank on working with Michael Eisner on the Paramount Television Group and learning how to work with writers
Richard Frank on making the transition from Paramount to Disney
Richard Frank on resigning from Disney due to discord
Michael J. Fox
Richard Frank on developing Family Ties
Kathie Lee Gifford
Richard Frank on developing Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Gary David Goldberg
Richard Frank on developing Family Ties
Susan Harris
Richard Frank on building Disney Television's programming slate
Mary Hart
Richard Frank on hiring Mary Hart for Entertainment Tonight
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Richard Frank on the failed Paramount Television Service
Richard Frank on making the transition from Paramount to Disney
Richard Frank on resigning from Disney due to discord
Shelley Long
Richard Frank on Shelley Long's departure from Cheers
Garry Marshall
Richard Frank on overseeing production of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley
Regis Philbin
Richard Frank on developing Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Tony Thomas
Richard Frank on building Disney Television's programming slate
Dionne Warwick
Richard Frank on creating Solid Gold
Betty White
Richard Frank on developing The Golden Girls
Henry Winkler
Richard Frank on overseeing production of Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley