Littlefield to pen 'Must-See' memoir

Former NBC topper inks deal with Doubleday

By BRIAN LOWRY

Littlefield

Former NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield has inked a deal with Doubleday for a memoir recounting his time at the network and the programs and personalities that went into the "Must-See TV" years.

Littlefield -- who spent nearly 20 years at the Peacock web, heading the entertainment division from 1990 until his departure in 1998 -- was involved with the development of such programs as "Seinfeld," "Frasier," "Mad About You" and "ER." During his tenure the network went from third place to first in a historic turnaround.

Asked about how he'll handle some of the colorful personalities he worked with at NBC (his bosses included Grant Tinker, Fred Silverman, Don Ohlmeyer, Bob Wright and the late Brandon Tartikoff), Littlefield said he hoped the book -- which he's writing with author T.R. Pearson -- would be "an honest, accurate and fun-filled tour of what that experience was like." The untitled book is due out in 2011.

Although he will touch on his early career and other areas -- including latenight -- Littlefield said the focus would be on "Must-See TV" and the factors that went into its success.

As for the timing, Littlefield said he began examining his old papers and documents last year, after marking a decade since leaving NBC.

The book comes as NBC is currently struggling in primetime and with the network potentially about to change hands if owner General Electric finalizes an agreement with Comcast.

Littlefield's predecessor, Tartikoff, wrote his own autobiography, "The Last Great Ride."

Littlefield is currently a producer, and his Littlefield Co. has a first-look pact at ABC Studios.