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Book details
  • Genre:PERFORMING ARTS
  • SubGenre:Theater / General
  • Language:English
  • Pages:432
  • eBook ISBN:9798350968767
  • Hardcover ISBN:9781667879321

The Rockford Files

Epiphanies in Show Business

by Robert Greenblatt

Book Image Not Available Book Image Not Available
Overview
This enlightening book about the television business and the Broadway stage tells the story of the creation of many hits during the last thirty years on platforms as wide-ranging as HBO, HBO Max, NBC, Fox, Showtime, CBS, and more. Be a fly on the wall during the casting of "The X-Files," the creation of "The Sopranos," the birth of "Beverly Hills, 90210," the explosive launch of "The Voice," the magic of "This Is Us," or the debut of television's first new live musical in fifty years, "The Sound of Music Live!," which attracted nearly 20 million viewers. And so much more! Robert Greenblatt, a television executive who began his career in broadcast television at the Fox network in 1989 and rose in the ranks to the chairmanship of NBC, and HBO, pulls back the curtain on the development and launch of countless global hits, including a departure to Broadway for the debut of "9 To 5 The Musical" with composer Dolly Parton. This is a fly-on-the-wall look at the inner workings of the creative process of shows that have delighted audiences the world over for three decades. Greenblatt's childhood and origin in rural Rockford, Illinois, is an inspired part of the journey too, proof that making it in the entertainment business — getting to the "big time" — is possible no matter where you come from. If you're interested in a career in Hollywood, or simply curious about how these successes were made, this is the book for you. "I loved your book. And I'm certainly glad to know you enjoyed the whole [9 to 5 The Musical] experience. The greatest part of it was that we got to know each other. This is a great read, and I was really honored that you spoke so highly of me." — Dolly Parton "Greenblatt's book is an invaluable compendium of anecdotes about his experiences in the TV trenches. He brings the dual perspective of a seasoned industryite who has worked as a top programming buyer for major networks as well as a producer of Emmy-winning series." — Cynthia Li
Description
This enlightening book about the television business and the Broadway stage tells the story of the creation of many hits during the last thirty years on platforms as wide-ranging as HBO, HBO Max, NBC, Fox, Showtime, CBS, and more. Be a fly on the wall during the casting of "The X-Files," the creation of "The Sopranos," the birth of "Beverly Hills, 90210," the explosive launch of "The Voice," the magic of "This Is Us," or the debut of television's first new live musical in fifty years, "The Sound of Music Live!" which attracted nearly 20 million viewers, and so much more! Robert Greenblatt, a television executive who began his career in broadcast television at the Fox network in 1989 and rose in the ranks to the chairmanship of NBC and HBO, pulls back the curtain on the development and launch of countless global hits, including a departure to Broadway for the debut of "9 To 5 The Musical" with composer Dolly Parton. This is a fly-on-the-wall look at the inner workings of the creative process of shows that have delighted audiences the world over for three decades. Greenblatt's childhood and origin in rural Rockford, Illinois, is an inspired part of the journey too, proof that making it in the entertainment business — getting to the "big time" — is possible no matter where you come from. If you're interested in a career in Hollywood, or simply curious about how these successes were made, this is the book for you. Here's what readers are saying: "I loved your book. And I'm certainly glad to know you enjoyed the whole [9 to 5 The Musical] experience. The greatest part of it was that we got to know each other. Just wanted you to know it's a great read, and I was really honored that you spoke so highly of me." — Dolly Parton, composer of 9 to 5 The Musical "Bob has written a breezy, earnest, name-droppy stroll though the past 30 years of television, told via chapters on hits like Six Feet Under (he produced), Weeds (he greenlit), and The Voice (he oversaw), all written from the perspective of a small-town theare geek who ended up running a bunch of TV networks during transformational times. Greenblatt is kinda like the Where's Waldo of the Peak TV era." — Matt Belloni, Puck "Greenblatt's book is an invaluable compendium of anecdotes about his experiences in the TV trenches. He brings the dual perspective of a seasoned industryite who has worked as a top programming buyer for major networks as well as a producer of Emmy-winning series." — Cynthia Littleton, Variety "This should be required reading for every TV course in college and every trainee and intern hoping to break into the business. I love the Rockford network of theatre friends and professionals intersecting throughout your entire career. Loyalty is such a rare trait and you have shown it repeatedly." —Kevin Beggs, Chairman, Lionsgate Television "Your book is so wonderful! Your unique creative journey, unending optimism and fun memory is extraordinary. What a career you've had (so far!)." — Brian Roberts, Chairman, Comcast NBCUniversal "This book is smart, penetrating, honest and, as far as I can tell, remarkably accurate." — Dick Wolf, Producer "The X-Files stories, the Aaron Spelling stories, the 90210 development, those early days at Fox…and also the high school stuff!!! It's all really fascinating, juicy without being bitchy. Definitely among the best books I've read about the TV industry!" — Jess Cagle, The Jess Cagle Show, Sirius Radio "You have had an amazing and productive career; it's rather mind-blowing to read all you have done and achieved and imagined. I was very lucky that our paths crossed." — Michael Hirst, creator of The Tudors and Vikings "Working with you has been a high point of my career, and I was thrilled to learn what being Bob Greenblatt felt like from the inside, during these eventful and triumphant years." — Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age
About the author
Robert Greenblatt is one of television's most prolific executives and producers whose career has spanned broadcast, cable, and streaming. Most recently he served as Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer, overseeing HBO, Turner, and the launch of HBO Max. He championed the development of Julian Fellowes' The Gilded Age, which premiered on HBO in 2022, and serves as executive producer. He was Chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Television from 2011-18, restoring NBC to #1 with acclaimed shows such as The Voice, the Chicago trilogy, This Is Us, The Blacklist, The Good Place, and more. Winner of the Golden Globe and Peabody (Six Feet Under), three Tony Awards (The Inheritance, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Dear Evan Hansen), and two Oliviers (The Inheritance, Dear Evan Hansen), he also brought live musicals to NBC with The Sound of Music Live! (watched by 19 million people), The Wiz Live!, Hairspray Live!, Peter Pan Live!, the Emmy-winning Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!, and Annie Live! this past season in the role of executive producer. Greenblatt was President of Showtime from 2003-2010, engineering significant transformation with hits such as Weeds, Dexter, Shameless, Nurse Jackie, The Tudors, This American Life, among others. He began his career at Fox Broadcasting where he is responsible for indelible shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, The X-Files, Party of Five, Ally McBeal and King of the Hill, plus the pilot for The Sopranos. He's a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and USC's School of Cinema (Peter Stark producing program). He proudly hails from Rockford, Illinois where he was thoroughly entrenched in musical theatre from the age of 14 on. And that's where it all began.