About
"They've got their own demands, the networks. And they've got their own schedules. But we would rather get it right and not screw it up, because you've got only one chance with the audience."
In the half-hour solo portion of his interview, Tom Werner speaks of working first in documentaries, then joining ABC's planning and development department. He recalls the shows he helped develop on ABC, including Mork & Mindy. Werner speaks about discovering Tom Hanks and fighting for Hanks to appear in Bosom Buddies, and leaving ABC to join Marcy Carsey at her own production company.
In the one-and-a-half-hour joint portion of their interview, Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner talk about developing a number of shows before creating their major 1984 hit, The Cosby Show. They speak of producing hit series A Different World, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, Cybill, and 3rd Rock from the Sun. Carsey and Warner also speak about their longtime partner Caryn Mandabach and the challenges facing independent production companies. Karen Herman conducted the interviews on March 10, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Tom Werner on developing a show for Robin Williams, which became Mork & Mindy
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on casting "Theo" on The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on The Cosby Show's long tapings
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on wanting the comedienne Roseanne for their new sitcom when developing Roseanne
Tom Werner on helping to get Three's Company made
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on making documentaries during and after college
On his first job at ABC as a junior research assistant; on working in the ABC entertainment division and methodologies used in research
On studying British shows and helping to get Three's Company made; on working with Fred Silverman
On moving to Los Angeles and becoming Manager of ABC Comedy Development; on shows he helped develop, including Mork & Mindy
On Marcy Carsey leaving ABC; on discovering Tom Hanks
Chapter 2
On fighting for Tom Hanks to appear in Bosom Buddies; on leaving ABC to join Marcy Carsey as an independent producer
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH MARCY CARSEY AND TOM WERNER: on the Carsey Company and not making a studio deal early on; on their business partnership and getting Oh Madeline on the air
On developing their first big hit, The Cosby Show; on the difficulty of selling the show; on the program's success once it aired
On casting The Cosby Show; on their day-to-day duties as Executive Producers of The Cosby Show
Chapter 3
On the end of The Cosby Show; on working with Bill Cosby; on the Cosby spin-off A Different World
On developing Roseanne; on casting the show, how fame changed Roseanne, and the end of the show
On having several hit shows on the air at the same time; on negotiations with networks for a joint venture
On developing and executive producing Grace Under Fire and Cybill
Chapter 4
On the structure of their company and their division of duties; on their partnership and their strengths
On what makes a successful producer; on what they look for in a writer; on the importance of syndication
On producing and casting 3rd Rock From the Sun
On producing That '70s Show
On their favorite stories about each other
On producing Grounded For Life; on Caryn Mandabach
Shows
3rd Rock From the Sun
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on producing 3rd Rock From the Sun
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on casting 3rd Rock From the Sun
Bosom Buddies
Tom Werner on the show Bosom Buddies starring Tom Hanks
Cosby Show, The
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing their first big hit, The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on when they realized that The Cosby Show would be a hit (the Monopoly scene in the pilot)
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the difficulty of selling The Cosby Show; on pitching the show and hiding from NBC executives
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the success of The Cosby Show once it aired
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on casting The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on their day-to-day duties as Executive Producers of The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the end of The Cosby Show run; on working with Bill Cosby
Cybill
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing and executive producing Cybill
Different World, A
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the Cosby spin-off A Different World and the awareness the program brought to black colleges
Grace Under Fire
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing and executive producing Grace Under Fire
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Tom Werner on methodologies used in research and ways to manipulate it (and how it was manipulated to keep Kolchak: The Night Stalker on the air)
Mork & Mindy
Tom Werner on developing a show for Robin Williams, which became Mork & Mindy
Oh Madeline
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on getting Oh Madeline on the air
Roseanne
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing and casting Roseanne
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on how Roseanne evolved throughout the run of the show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the end of Roseanne
That '70s Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on producing 3rd Rock From the Sun
Three's Company
Tom Werner on helping to get Three's Company made
Topics
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Tom Werner on lessons learned from Michael Eisner about development
Fame and Celebrity
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on problems with Roseanne on the set of Roseanne and how fame changed her
Historic Events and Social Change
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the Cosby spin-off A Different World and the awareness the program brought to black colleges
Memorable Moments on Television
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on when they realized that The Cosby Show would be a hit (the Monopoly scene in the pilot)
Representation on Television
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the Cosby spin-off A Different World and the awareness the program brought to black colleges
Television Industry
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on problems with Roseanne on the set of Roseanne and how fame changed her
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on negotiations with networks for a joint venture upon the end of the fin-syn rules
Underrepresented Voices
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the Cosby spin-off A Different World and the awareness the program brought to black colleges
We Laughed
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on when they realized that The Cosby Show would be a hit (the Monopoly scene in the pilot)
Professions
Producers
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on their day-to-day duties as Executive Producers of The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on what makes a successful producer
Genres
Comedy Series
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing and casting their first big hit, The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing and casting Roseanne
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the end of The Cosby Show and the Cosby spin-off A Different World
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on producing and casting 3rd Rock From the Sun
People
Christine Baranski
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on working with Christine Baranski on Cybill
Lisa Bonet
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on casting Lisa Bonet on The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey
Tom Werner on interviewing with Marcy Carsey to work in ABC comedy development and his working relationship with Marcy Carsey
Tom Werner on Marcy Carsey leaving ABC
Tom Werner on leaving ABC to join Marcy Carsey as an independent producer
Tom Werner on his favorite story about Marcy Carsey
Bill Cosby
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing their first big hit, The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on Bill Cosby's conditions for agreeing to do The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on The Cosby Show's long tapings
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on telling Bill Cosby The Cosby Show was the number one show on television
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on their day-to-day duties as Executive Producers of The Cosby Show
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the end of The Cosby Show run; on working with Bill Cosby
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on what makes a successful producer
Jane Curtin
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on casting Jane Curtin on 3rd Rock From the Sun
Pam Dawber
Tom Werner on developing a show for Robin Williams, which became Mork & Mindy
Michael Eisner
Tom Werner on lessons learned from Michael Eisner about development
John Goodman
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on the importance of John Goodman on Roseanne
Tom Hanks
Tom Werner on discovering Tom Hanks
John Lithgow
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on casting John Lithgow on 3rd Rock From the Sun
Chuck Lorre
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on Chuck Lorre as head writer of Cybill
Garry Marshall
Tom Werner on developing a show for Robin Williams, which became Mork & Mindy
Frederick S. Pierce
Tom Werner on methodologies used in research and ways to manipulate it
Phylicia Rashad
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on The Cosby Show's long tapings
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on casting Phylicia Rashad on The Cosby Show
Roseanne
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on wanting the comedienne Roseanne for their new sitcom when developing Roseanne
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on Roseanne's input in developing Roseanne and problems with her on set
Jay Sandrich
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on The Cosby Show's long tapings
Cybill Shepherd
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on developing and executive producing Cybill
Fred Silverman
Tom Werner on helping to get Three's Company made
Tom Werner on working with Fred Silverman and other talented ABC Executives
Brandon Tartikoff
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on working with Brandon Tartikoff at NBC and selling The Cosby Show
Tom Werner
Marcy Carsey on her favorite story about Tom Werner
Robin Williams
Tom Werner on developing a show for Robin Williams, which became Mork & Mindy