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)





[07/01/25 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Glass Heart" Main Trailer and Title Song Revealed
This summer, Netflix presents a harmonious blend of emotion and music.

[07/01/25 - 02:48 PM]
FX's "The Bear" Renewed for Season Five
Christopher Storer's Emmy-award winning hit will return in 2026.

[07/01/25 - 02:25 PM]
Emmy Winner Michael Imperioli Set to Star Opposite Patrick Dempsey in New FOX Drama Series "Memory of a Killer," from Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment
The new drama series is scheduled to premiere midseason on FOX.

[07/01/25 - 02:21 PM]
Video: Preview - "Unwrapping Christmas" Movies - A Four Part Movie Event
The Hallmark+ films will make their linear premieres starting this Saturday at 8:00/7:00c on Hallmark Channel.

[07/01/25 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Week of June 23: "Squid Game" Season 3 Takes Over with Record-Breaking Global Debut at No. 1
"The Waterfront" was a Top 10 hit once more as the No. 1 series on the English TV list (11.6 million views).

[07/01/25 - 12:00 PM]
Video: "Neuromancer" - In Production - Apple TV+
Welcome to the Chatsubo, cowboy.

[07/01/25 - 10:31 AM]
Netflix Renews "Tires" for Season 3
"Tires" will return with an all-new season next year.

[07/01/25 - 10:26 AM]
ESPN Formula 1 Viewership Notes After Austrian Grand Prix
ESPN's live telecast on Sunday, June 29, averaged 1.1 million viewers, a two percent gain over last year's race and the largest audience ever for the event on U.S. television.

[07/01/25 - 10:01 AM]
Neil Patrick Harris to Host "What's in the Box" - A Bold New Game Show Coming to Netflix
The series promises edge of your seat excitement as contestants take on a massive guessing game where every decision could lead to life-changing rewards.

[07/01/25 - 09:34 AM]
FX and Disney+ Latin America's "Necaxa" New Docuseries from the Producers of "Welcome to Wrexham" Premieres Thursday, August 7
"Necaxa" will premiere two episodes each Thursday for the first three weeks followed by one episode each Thursday until the season finale on Thursday, September 18.

[07/01/25 - 09:19 AM]
Apple TV+ Lands New Series Inspired by Jennette McCurdy's "I'm Glad My Mom Died"
Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe Award winner Jennifer Aniston is set to star and executive produce.

[07/01/25 - 09:16 AM]
ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" Featuring the Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers Averaged 2 Million Viewers - Up 66% from Last Year's Comparable Game
The audience peaked with 2,304,000 viewers in the 9:15 p.m. ET quarter hour.

[07/01/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Leanne" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When her husband leaves her for another woman, a resilient Southern mom starts over with the support of her loving, but unfiltered family.

[07/01/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Marvel Animation's "Eyes of Wakanda" - Official Sneak Peek - Disney+
Wakanda's secrets span centuries.

[07/01/25 - 09:01 AM]
The CW Network Announces New Drama Series "Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent" to Premiere Wednesday, September 24
The series' 2024 launch in Canada was the #1 primetime premiere on Citytv and was the #1 primetime debut for a drama that season.