Helmer Ackerman inks 5-year deal with Par TV
'Seinfeld,' 'Becker' director pacts for $12-15 mil
The deal is a long and lucrative one for a TV comedy director. Other than James Burrows, few TV comedy directors command such hefty paychecks. Ackerman's deal calls for him to continue directing pilots and episodes of Par's comedy series, and it also allows him to develop, create and executive produce his own shows.
Par's pact still allows Ackerman the freedom to direct some comedy pilots for other studios.
Ackerman spent the past four years directing 92 episodes of "Seinfeld," which earned him several Emmy Award nominations and two Directors Guild Awards.
He most recently directed and produced the pilot episode of the upcoming CBS comedy "Becker" with Ted Danson, and he'll stay on to direct the rest of the 13-episode order. Also for Par, he directed the pilot and four episodes of the NBC comedy "Lateline," and he has helmed eight episodes of "Frasier," 17 episodes of "Cheers" and 45 segs of "Wings."
Ackerman, who began his career as an Emmy-winning editor of "WKRP in Cincinnati," is in demand for helming comedy pilots, including the upcoming midseason series "It's Like You Know" for ABC.
The deal was announced by Garry Hart, prexy of Par Network TV. It was brokered by Ackerman's agents at the Kaplan-Stahler-Gumer Agency and his attorney Jim Jackaway.
