About
"I love creative people. I have a great respect for them. I love movies, television, music, theater, and I love all the arts. To actually be part of their world is very exciting. I love meeting them and I have found over the long course of my career that most of them are pretty nice people."
In her three-hour interview, Danette Herman talks about her early life and her first television job working with Dick Clark on the classic music series Where the Action Is. She describes meeting and working with her mentor, Marty Pasetta, on several variety and awards show telecasts, and explains how she got into the field of talent coordination. She recounts her involvement with the Kennedy Center Honors, outlines the process of finding talent to participate, and describes working with talent on the show. Herman recalls several variety shows and music specials on which she worked, including The Johnny Cash Show, The Glenn Campbell Goodtime Hour, Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii and Frank Sinatra's Old Blue Eyes is Back. She speaks extensively about her involvement with the Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, and Grammys telecasts, and talks of the special challenges of being a coordinating producer/co-producer for those shows. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on March 27, 2014 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Danette Herman on The Sopranos reunion at the Emmy Awards
Danette Herman on what sets the Kennedy Center Honors apart and getting talent for the show
Danette Herman on being the Executive in charge of talent for three Olympic games
Danette Herman on being the executive in charge of talent for Bill Clinton's inaugural gala
Danette Herman on the "In Memoriam" segment at the Academy Awards
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her first television job on the series Where the Action Is with Dick Clark
On meeting and working with Marty Pasetta; on assistant producing the Grammys, Academy Awards, and Emmy Awards telecasts
On learning she wanted to work with talent; on working with managers, publicists and agents; on her approach to working with talent
On being the executive in charge of talent for The Kennedy Center Honors; on getting talent for The Kennedy Center Honors; on her favorite talent pairings
Chapter 2
On the performers of the Kennedy Center Honors; on being executive in charge of talent for various special events; on being the executive in charge of talent for the Olympics
On how methods of communication have changed since she started; on getting Muhammad Ali for the 1996 Olympics; on doing talent coordination for The Johnny Cash Show
On dealing with talent and publicists; on the Stand Up To Cancer charity broadcast; on her favorite shows to do
On the differences between various awards shows; on the importance of awards shows; on various producers with whom she has worked
Chapter 3
On working with various producers; on Christopher Reeve at the Academy Awards; on working with Gilbert Cates
On her long history with the Academy Awards; on what makes the Academy Awards unique; on her team
On the difficulties of handling talent at the Academy Awards; on the aura of the Academy Awards; on Academy Awards rehearsal
On the day of the Academy Awards; on social media and the Academy Awards; on her favorite awards show hosts
On her longevity; on advice to aspiring talent executives; on her legacy in television
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows
Danette Herman on producing the Grammys, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards telecasts
Danette Herman on dealing with talent for awards shows and how the process has changed
Danette Herman on the ideal host for the Academy Awards
Danette Herman on Christopher Reeve at the Academy Awards
Danette Herman on her forty-year history with the Academy Awards
Danette Herman on what makes the Academy Awards unique and selecting performers
Danette Herman on the difficulties of handling talent for the Academy Awards
Danette Herman on the aura of the Academy Awards
Danette Herman on the "In Memoriam" segment at the Academy Awards
Danette Herman on the day of the Academy Awards
Danette Herman on her favorite Academy Awards show hosts
Danette Herman on the "pizza selfie" on the Academy Awards
Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows
Danette Herman on talent coordinating for Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Danette Herman on producing the Grammys, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards telecasts
Danette Herman on The Sopranos reunion at the Emmy Awards
Frank Sinatra Specials
Danette Herman on talent coordinating for the Frank Sinatra special Old Blue Eyes is Back
Grammys, The
Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows
Danette Herman on producing the Grammys, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards telecasts
Kennedy Center Honors
Danette Herman on being the executive in charge of talent for Kennedy Center Honors
Danette Herman on what sets the Kennedy Center Honors apart and getting talent for the show
Danette Herman on the performers on the Kennedy Center Honors
Olympics
Danette Herman on being the Executive in charge of talent for three Olympic games
Danette Herman on getting Muhammad Ali for the Atlanta Olympics
Sopranos, The
Danette Herman on The Sopranos reunion at the Emmy Awards
Topics
Advice
Danette Herman on advice to aspiring talent executives
Bill Clinton
Danette Herman on being the executive in charge of talent for Bill Clinton's inaugural
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows
Danette Herman on working with Gilbert Cates
Emmy Awards
Danette Herman on The Sopranos reunion at the Emmy Awards
First Big Break
Danette Herman on her first television job on the Dick Clark series Where the Action Is
New Media
Danette Herman on the Academy Awards and social media
Pivotal Career Moments
Danette Herman on her first television job on the Dick Clark series Where the Action Is
Danette Herman on working with Gilbert Cates
Television and the Presidency
Danette Herman on being the executive in charge of talent for several inaugural galas
Danette Herman on being the executive in charge of talent for Bill Clinton's inaugural
Television Industry
Danette Herman on the Academy Awards and social media
Danette Herman on advice to aspiring talent executives
Professions
Producers
Danette Herman on advice to aspiring talent executives
Talent Coordinator
Danette Herman on working with managers, publicists and agents as an executive in charge of talent
Danette Herman on her approach to working with talent
Danette Herman on dealing with talent for awards shows and how the process has changed
Danette Herman on how communication has changed throughout the years in her job as talent coordinator
Danette Herman on advice to aspiring talent executives
Talent Professionals
Danette Herman on working with managers, publicists and agents as an executive in charge of talent
Danette Herman on her approach to working with talent
Danette Herman on dealing with talent for awards shows and how the process has changed
Danette Herman on how communication has changed throughout the years in her job as talent coordinator
Danette Herman on advice to aspiring talent executives
Genres
Awards Shows
Danette Herman on assistant producing the Grammys, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards telecasts
Danette Herman on coordinating talent for the Kennedy Center Honors
Danette Herman on talent coordinating for the Academy Awards (Part 2)
Sports
Danette Herman on talent coordinating for three Olympics
People
Muhammad Ali
Danette Herman on being the executive in charge of talent for three Olympics
Johnny Carson
Danette Herman on her favorite awards show hosts
Johnny Cash
Danette Herman on talent coordination for The Johnny Cash Show
Gilbert Cates
Danette Herman on working with Gilbert Cates
Dick Clark
Danette Herman on her first television job on the Dick Clark series Where the Action Is
Bill Clinton
Danette Herman on being the executive in charge of talent for Bill Clinton's inaugural gala
Billy Crystal
Danette Herman on her favorite awards show hosts
James Gandolfini
Danette Herman on The Sopranos reunion at the Emmy Awards
Marty Pasetta
Danette Herman on meeting Marty Pasetta
Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows
Danette Herman on shooting "bits and pieces" for shows for Marty Pasetta
Danette Herman on various assignments she would get from Marty Pasetta
Elvis Presley
Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows
Christopher Reeve
Danette Herman on Christopher Reeve at the Academy Awards
Frank Sinatra
Danette Herman on talent coordinating for the Frank Sinatra special Old Blue Eyes is Back
Andy Williams
Danette Herman on working with Andy Williams