Thomas Carter

In his three-hour interview, Thomas Carter talks about his early years and his first roles as an actor on M*A*S*H, Good Times, and What's Happening! He recalls getting cast on the CBS drama The White Shadow as "James 'Hollywood' Wayward" and convincing producer Bruce Paltrow to allow him to direct several episodes. He discusses his move away from acting into full-time directing and talks of directing several episodes of Hill Street Blues. He outlines directing a second pilot for the medical drama St. Elsewhere, and setting the tone of that show. Carter talks about directing the pilot of Miami Vice, and inventing the look and feel of the show, which Brandon Tartikoff had conceived as "MTV cops." He speaks of directing and producing the award-winning series Equal Justice as well as the acclaimed made-for-television movie Don King: Only in America and the miniseries A Year in the Life. He concludes by discussing race and the television industry, mentioning career highlights, and offering advice to aspiring television directors. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on November 18, 2013 in Beverly Hills, CA.