Steve Binder

Creator/Producer/Director


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his two-hour interview, Steve Binder talks about his early work at Los Angeles' KABC, and directing The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show in the early 1960s. He discusses at length writing and directing his breakthrough rock documentary, The T.A.M.I. Show, which showcased such stars as The Supremes, The Rolling Stones, and James Brown. He also discusses many other programs he worked on including Hullabaloo, The Danny Kaye Show, Gilligan's Island, Diana Ross in Central Park, and Lucy in London, a CBS special starring Lucille Ball. He talks at length about producing and directing NBC's Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special, which relaunched Elvis Presley's career and set the bar for music specials. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview in a joint venture with ULCA for the Living Television Collection on March 4, 2004 in North Hollywood, CA.

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

"Good things happen when you stand up for things."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Steve Binder on his greatest achievements
01:37
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:46
Steve Binder on The T.A.M.I. Show
04:50
Steve Binder on producing and directing Jane Fonda's Complete Workout direct-to-video tapes
01:56
Steve Binder on his advice to aspiring directors
00:51
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early years and influences
On first seeing TV, his military service, and his work as a radio announcer and film narrator
On working at the Blue Danube Network in Austria as a radio announcer
On transitioning to television at ABC in the mailroom and then as Operations Director (OD) at KABC in Los Angeles
On getting his first directing job Hank Weaver, Chucko the Clown, Soupy Sales
On directing The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Chapter 2

On The T.A.M.I. Show and other theatrical film shows
Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo
On directing episodes of Gilligan's Island and working with Lucille Ball in Lucy in London
On producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)

Chapter 3

On producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2)
On co-producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
On working on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
On producing the variety show featuring mimes Shields and Yarnell
On producing and directing The Barry Manilow Special (1977)
On directing four Primetime Emmy Awards telecasts

Chapter 4

On producing the Emmy Awards telecast from 1984 to 1987
On producing Pee-Wee's Playhouse
On producing Jane Fonda's Complete Workout videos and The Chevy Chase Show
On directing Diana Ross in Central Park (1985) and VH1's Divas 2000
On how television has changed since he began in the business; on his producing and directing style; on some of the people he's worked with; how he would like to be remembered
Shows

Barry Manilow Specials

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special
04:42

Chevy Chase Show, The

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing the short-lived The Chevy Chase Show
01:50

Diana Ross: Live in Central Park

View Show Page
Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park during a rainstorm
00:35
Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park
04:02

Don Kirshner's Rock Concert

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
02:36

Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special aka Singer Presents Elvis

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:51

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing the Primetime Emmy Awards for four years (1983-1987)
02:20
Steve Binder on producing the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
01:22

Gilligan's Island

View Show Page
Steve Binder on directing "Don't Bug The Mosquitoes" (1965) episode of Gilligan's Island
04:40

Hullabaloo

View Show Page
Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo
03:34

Jazz Scene USA

View Show Page
Steve Binder on directing the syndicated show Jazz Scene U.S.A.
01:30

Lucy in London

View Show Page
Steve Binder on directing Lucy in London
05:56

Pee-Wee's Playhouse

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing Pee-Wee's Playhouse
05:50

Petula

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing Petula and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:48
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2)
04:54

Shields & Yarnell

View Show Page
Steve Binder on producing Shields & Yarnell
02:29

Soupy Sales Show, The

View Show Page
Steve Binder on directing The Soupy Sales Show  in L.A. before it went to network
02:06

Steve Allen Westinghouse Show, The

View Show Page
Steve Binder on directing the Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
07:47

VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross

View Show Page
Steve Binder on directing VH1's Divas 2000
02:10
Topics

Memorable Moments on Television

View Topic
Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park (1985)
04:02

Pop Culture

View Topic
Steve Binder on producing The T.A.M.I. Show
06:07
Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo
03:34
Steve Binder on producing and directing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49

Representation on Television

View Topic
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:49
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2)
04:54

Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)

View Topic
Steve Binder on producing The T.A.M.I. Show
06:07
Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo
03:34
Steve Binder on producing and directing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49

Underrepresented Voices

View Topic
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:49
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2)
04:54
Professions

Directors

View Profession
Steve Binder on his early directing style on the Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
03:34
Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49
Steve Binder on his advice to aspiring directors
00:51
Genres

Late Night

View Genre
Steve Binder on watching early late night host Jerry Lester
00:51

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo
03:34
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:49
Steve Binder on producing and directing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49
Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special
09:49
Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park (1985)
04:02
People

Barry Manilow

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special
04:42

Bob Banner

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on Bob Banner (briefly)
00:09

Bob Finkel

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49

Burt Lancaster

View Person Page
Steve Binder on The T.A.M.I. Show
04:50

Chevy Chase

View Person Page
Steve Binder on producing the short-lived The Chevy Chase Show
01:50

Danny Kaye

View Person Page
Steve Binder on Danny Kaye (briefly)
00:05

Diana Ross

View Person Page
Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park
04:02
Steve Binder on directing VH1's Divas 2000
02:10

Dwight Hemion

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion
02:44

Elvis Presley

View Person Page
Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49

Gary Smith

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion
02:44

Harry Belafonte

View Person Page
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:49
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2)
04:54

Jack Paar

View Person Page
Steve Binder on Jack Paar
00:15

Jane Fonda

View Person Page
Steve Binder on producing and directing Jane Fonda's Complete Workout direct-to-video tapes
01:56

Jerry Lester

View Person Page
Steve Binder on watching early late night host Jerry Lester
00:51

Jerry Lewis

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on directing the Steve Allen Westinghouse Show where Jerry Lewis was a guest
03:11

Lucille Ball

View Person Page
Steve Binder on directing Lucy in London
05:56

Mac Davis

View Person Page
Steve Binder on Mac Davis (briefly)
00:14

Michael Jackson

View Person Page
Steve Binder on Michael Jackson (briefly)
00:14

Nat King Cole

View Person Page
Steve Binder on The T.A.M.I. Show
04:50

Olivia Newton-John

View Person Page
Steve Binder on Olivia Newton-John (briefly)
00:11

Paul Reubens

View Person Page
Steve Binder on producing Pee-Wee's Playhouse
05:50

Petula Clark

View Person Page
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:49
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 2)
04:54

Sid Krofft

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on Sid and Marty Krofft
00:20

Soupy Sales

View Interview Page
Steve Binder on Soupy Sales (briefly)
00:10

Tina Louise

View Person Page
Steve Binder on directing "Don't Bug The Mosquitoes" (1965) episode of Gilligan's Island
04:40

Tom Parker

View Person Page
Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49

All Interviews

S