MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: THE JOHN H. MITCHELL SEMINAR: BERNIE BRILLSTEIN {LONG VERSION}
Summary
Second in this series of annual lectures honoring John H. Mitchell, who was president of Columbia Pictures Television and executive vice president of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., where he oversaw the production of 150 series as well as fifty specials and movies-of-the-week. Mitchell was also president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the founder of the Television Academy Hall of Fame. This seminar features a discussion with Bernie Brillstein, who -- in his roles as agent, producer, and co-founder (with partner Brad Grey) of Brillstein-Grey Communications -- has been an influential force in television for three decades, with credits including "Saturday Night Live," "The Muppet Show," and "The Larry Sanders Show." First, Museum president Robert M. Batscha speaks about John H. Mitchell and introduces Mitchell's widow, Pat, and previous John H. Mitchell Seminar subject Fred Silverman, who are both in the seminar audience.
Los Angeles Museum vice president and director Steven A. Bell then introduces a highlight reel comprised of the opening credit sequences from the following programs, each packaged or produced by Brillstein: "Hee Haw," "Saturday Night Live," The Muppet Show," "Fraggle Rock," "Not Necessarily the News," "Dennis Miller Live," "The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour," "Buffalo Bill," "It's Garry Shandling's Show," "ALF," "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd," "The Larry Sanders Show," "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher," "Just Shoot Me!" "Mr. Show with Bob and David," "NewsRadio," and "The Fourth Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame 1986." Bell then moderates a discussion with Brillstein, who covers the following topics, among others: his uncle Jack Pearl, who was radio's "Baron Munchhausen"; his job in the William Morris Agency mailroom, which led to his later career in show business; an anecdote about a stand-up comedian illustrating the often fatuous nature of show business advice; his Machiavellian progression from mailroom clerk to agent; his strategy as a young agent to sign writers, producers, and directors, rather than performers; his client Lorne Michaels's proposal for "Saturday Night Live," an early coup for Brillstein; the sustaining success reaped from representing puppeteer Jim Henson; his representation of the original cast of "Saturday Night Live"; his self-confessed "idiocy" when embracing his first success; the acute intelligence and business acumen of Jim Henson; the unusual point of view of the shows he has produced; his bizarre sense of humor, as evidenced by his love of "Mr. Show," a cutting-edge sketch comedy program; the inherent insecurity in show business careers; the high intelligence and warped nature of stand-up comedians; his partnership with Brad Grey, which led to the revolutionary "The Larry Sanders Show"; his admiration for the creativity and hands-off style of HBO executive Michael Fuchs; the differences between producing movies and television; the satisfaction he derived from producing the feature film "Dangerous Liaisons"; the encroachment of big business into show business; the identity crisis currently facing the major television networks; and his strategy of managing agents and managers of up-and-coming actors. Brillstein then takes questions from the seminar audience, discussing the following topics, among others: the difficulties currently facing writers in television; the structure of his management company; the necessity of honesty in the management business; his belief that television comedy is at a low point, while television drama is at a high point; his work with Russell Simmons and Stan Latham, which focuses on projects aimed at African-Americans; the differences between an agent and a manager; the status of female writers and producers in the industry; and whether he plans to write a book.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: December 10, 1997 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:21:30
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:51643
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Host
- Steven A. Bell … Moderator
- Bernie Brillstein … Guest
- Michael Fuchs
- Brad Grey
- Jim Henson
- Stan Latham
- Lorne Michaels
- John H. Mitchell
- Mitchell, Pat (Mrs. John H. Mitchell)
- Jack Pearl
- Fred Silverman
- Russell Simmons