4 receive Tartikoff award at NATPE
Hammer, Friedman, Zuiker, Cannell honored
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All of them were chosen by NATPE organizers as exemplifying the spirit and the philosophy of the legendary NBC exec, each in their own way.
They are USA Network topper Bonnie Hammer, from the NBC fold, as well as King World's Harry Friedman, the producer behind "Wheel" and "Jeopardy," "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker, and "crime king" series creator and producer Stephen Cannell.
Expressing the view of all the recipients, Friedman said that Tartikoff's passion and leadership had inspired him in his career. Hammer added that Tartikoff set the bar higher than any other exec in TV.
Zuiker said that he would have loved to have had just one conversation with Tartikoff. He also thanked Nina Tassler for championing the CSI project at CBS.
In fact, Zuiker credited the women in his life, from his wife and grandmother -- both present for the ceremony -- as well as the female showrunners on the franchise largely for his success.
Tartikoff"s widow Lily said that her husband. -- who died ten years ago -- always looked forward to NATPE and would have known what to say at such an event.
She said the current honorees are instantly part of what Tartikoff would view as "The A Team," a reference to one of the programmer's biggest successes.
About Cannell, she said that he and Tartikoff had "way too much fun" doing what they did together, creating shows -- but that the others too, who didn't personally know her husband -- had the kind of creativity that he relished and always tried to seek out for NBC.
Cannell regaled the attendees with a story about the original pitch for the A Team.
It came from the NBC exec. Tartikoff simply called him in and threw out ideas for a series -- something that mixed elements from movies like the Dirty Dozen, Mad Max, Mr. T in the Rocky movie, and a wacky character from Hill Street Blues. In other words, he wanted a "sideways show."
"Brandon pitched me the attitude of the show," Cannell recalled. " It also turned around my company," he added.
"Brandon was a friend when I really needed it," Cannell said.
Some 500 participants attended the cocktail reception and award ceremony.
Variety was one of the co-sponsors of the Legacy Awards, which are now in their fourth year.
