Tag Archives: Brandon Tartikoff

Are You Not Entertained?

Posted on by

HBO’s 24/7. I hear it is compelling television and I plan to watch it somehow this weekend. I am sure it is fantastic, great and well-produced.

Thank you for the notes and emails regarding the show.

I am glad we have participated. It is great theater for the fans and it is a great way to promote our game. We have that as a responsibility to the NHL: Build the game.

I am glad it is a four part series. Hopefully we can win some games and gain some momentum and our team’s joy instead of frustration can be shown across the screens.

I am reminded of the late great Brandon Tartikoff, former President of NBC and a close friend of mine, when he said, “Ted – remember that television drama only focuses on three acts. Act 1 – Young kid comes out of nowhere, shocks the experts and wins. A happy story. Act 2 – Young kid as winner has a very public and humiliating fall. Humility and lessons learned. Act 3 – Redemption and comeback. America loves a comeback.”

He really said that to me. I only hope he was right! One of the many reasons I loved Brandon Tartikoff as a friend. Go Caps!

The Three Great Acts of the American Drama in Real Time

Posted on by

Many of my friends and business associates have heard me discuss the concept of the “Three Great Acts of the American Drama” as taught to me by Brandon Tartikoff. Brandon was a friend and mentor. He was head of NBC and was truly a unique mind and had an original take on consumer tastes. He passed away a few years ago and he is missed.

Continue reading →

Brandon Tartikoff

Posted on by

I went to the new NBC website and had to think about my dearly departed friend, Brandon Tartikoff. It is hard to believe that Brandon passed away 11 years ago.

Brandon was a man of honor, good humor, style, grace and compassion. He was creative, silly and full of life and energy. He was the best network TV programmer ever. I miss him.

I have to wonder what he would think of a lineup for NBC that included Celebrity Circus; The Baby Borrowers; Nashville Star; American Gladiators; and America’s Got Talent as the key primetime deliverables of the network. “Must See TV”? I think NOT.