or


[01/10/05 - 12:00 AM]
ABC's Stephen Mcpherson to Receive Dga Diversity Award

[via press release from ABC]

ABC'S STEPHEN MCPHERSON TO RECEIVE DGA DIVERSITY AWARD

Award Honors Mcpherson's Outstanding Commitment to and Leadership In the Hiring of Women and Ethnic Minorities in DGA Categories

DGA President Michael Apted announced today that ABC Primetime Entertainment president Stephen McPherson will be the recipient of the Directors Guild of America's 2005 Diversity Award at the 57th Annual DGA Awards dinner on January 29. The Diversity Award honors McPherson's outstanding commitment to and leadership in the hiring of women and ethnic minorities in DGA categories. It has been bestowed only three times in DGA history: in 1997 to Bruce Paltrow, John Wells and Christopher Chulack; in 1999 to Steven Bochco; and in 2000 to HBO.

"In an industry where commitment to diversity often amounts to little more than lip service, Steve McPherson has taken action and produced substantive results," said Apted. "He is an exception to the rule, a true pioneer, and one whose successful efforts-we hope-will serve as a beacon for his colleagues to follow."

Last March, McPherson spearheaded the ground-breaking ABC/Touchstone Television Directing Assignment Initiative Program with the support and collaboration of the DGA. The purpose of the initiative is to provide women and minorities with specific and real directing opportunities on ABC-produced primetime episodics. McPherson personally oversaw the organization of the initiative, which engages at least 10 women and minority directors from the already existing ABC/Touchstone Seasoned Directors Program for one or more assignments on a drama or comedy airing on ABC. In its inaugural year, the unprecedented initiative included 20 episodes from first-year and returning ABC/Touchstone series. Designed to continue to encourage producing entities to increase diversity beyond their existing directors, the program has no cap on the financial commitment for directing assignments in the future.

McPherson also created the ABC/Touchstone DGA Partnership for Seasoned Directors in 2002, working closely with the DGA to create opportunities for experienced women and minority directors. Its three-phase plan includes interviews with ABC production executives, follow-up meetings with executive producers and directors, and shadow assignments on ABC series.

"While I'm truly honored by the DGA's acknowledgment," said McPherson, "I have to be honest. I believe this work is a responsibility for anyone in a position of authority in our business, especially when there is still so much left to be done. But I'm glad our efforts have brought some attention to this situation, and I have high hopes for our industry in the future."

McPherson was named president of ABC Primetime Entertainment in April 2004, with oversight of all development, current programming, marketing and scheduling for the Primetime division of the ABC Television Network. He is credited with developing the hit CBS drama franchise "CSI" and a number of critically-acclaimed series, including "Felicity," "Once and Again" and "Sports Night," and oversaw the development of the new shows like "Rodney," "Kevin Hill," "life as we know it" and the mega-hits "Lost "and "Desperate Housewives."

Prior to his appointment as president of ABC Primetime Entertainment, McPherson was president of Touchstone Television, where he was responsible for all day-to-day operations of the studio, including the development and production of the division's network primetime series, specials and films, a position he'd held since June 2001. He formerly was senior vice president, Creative Affairs of ABC Productions, where he supervised both comedy and drama series, including "My So Called Life," and "The Commish." In addition he served as director, Current Programming for FOX, where he helped launch "Martin" and "The Ben Stiller Show."

Prior to joining Touchstone Television, McPherson was vice president, Primetime Series at NBC, where he oversaw the development and production of such shows as "Just Shoot Me," "NewsRadio" and "The Pretender." He began his industry career as director of development for Witt-Tomas-Harris Productions and is a graduate of Cornell University (1986), where he received a BA in Political Science.

Candidates for the Diversity Award are selected by the DGA's Diversity Committees and Diversity Task Force, both comprised of women and minority DGA members, then approved by the DGA National Board of Directors; McPherson's candidacy was approved by acclamation.

The 57th Annual DGA Awards dinner and ceremony will be held on Saturday evening, January 29, 2005, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.





  [january 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· FELICITY (WB)
· JUST SHOOT ME (NBC)
· KEVIN HILL (UPN)
· LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (ABC)
· LOST (ABC)
· ONCE & AGAIN (ABC)
· PRETENDER, THE (NBC)
· RODNEY (ABC)
· SPORTS NIGHT (ABC)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.