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)





[11/26/24 - 03:01 PM]
Video: New Games, New Stakes - "Squid Game" Season 2 Main Trailer and Key Art "Round and Round" Unveiled
With its premiere just around the corner on December 26, the trailer delivers an electrifying glimpse into the deadly games and gripping character dynamics that await fans worldwide.

[11/26/24 - 02:34 PM]
Video: Paramount+ with Showtime Debuts Official Trailer for Showtime's "Dexter: Original Sin"
The series premieres Friday, December 13 on streaming and on demand for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan, before making its on-air US debut on Sunday, December 15 at 10pm ET/PT.

[11/26/24 - 01:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 vs. CBS' "After Midnight" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers"
"Nightline" posted double-digit gains week to week across the board, hitting a 6-week high in overall viewers and 7-week highs in both key Adult demos.

[11/26/24 - 12:03 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Nov. 18: "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Man on the Inside" Take the Top Spots
Season 2 of the animated series "Arcane" laid siege to #2 (6.4M views), while Season 1 took #5 with 2.2M views.

[11/26/24 - 11:44 AM]
TNT Sports to Debut "Evolve and Flex" with Lance Fresh Friday, Dec. 6, on truTV and Max
The show is hosted by sports-lifestyle expert Lance Fresh and features candid conversations with guests to discuss how life's events have contributed to their sense of style.

[11/26/24 - 11:19 AM]
MGM+ Announces 2025 Premiere Date for "NFL Icons" Season Four
In the upcoming fourth season, the docuseries will feature Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Montana, DeMarcus Ware, Kurt Warner and Gale Sayers.

[11/26/24 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "Rogue Heroes" (MGM+ 2025 Series) Season 2 Tease
"Rogue Heroes" is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

[11/26/24 - 10:09 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Official Trailer for Second Season of Hit Australian Drama, "Darby and Joan"
The new season debuts with a two-episode premiere, exclusively on Acorn TV, on December 30, followed by weekly episodes through January 27.

[11/26/24 - 10:01 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Fourth Season of Hit True-Crime Series "Wild Crime," Streaming Dec. 5 Only on Hulu
"Wild Crime: Eleven Skulls" delves into the haunting 2012 disappearance of Samantha Koenig, an 18-year-old Anchorage barista last seen leaving her place of work with an unknown man on a dark winter night.

[11/26/24 - 08:32 AM]
Bravo Greenlights "Vanderpump Rules" Season 12 with a New Group of SUR-vers
In addition, "Vanderpump Rules" will celebrate the past decade of heartbreaks, friendship rifts and scandals with a retrospective special highlighting the past 11 seasons.

[11/26/24 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Reveal Teaser, First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "Henry Danger The Movie"
"Henry Danger The Movie" will be available to stream in the U.S. on Paramount+ Friday, January 17, and premiere on Nickelodeon that same day at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Makayla is a teenage girl who has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal until her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter's potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla's inner world.

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Announces Ian Bonhote & Peter Ettedgui's Award-Winning "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," Debuting December 7 on HBO and Max
The critically acclaimed film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and recently won six Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

[11/26/24 - 08:00 AM]
HGTV Greenlights Gutsy Las Vegas Renovation Series "Sin City Rehab" (wt) Starring Indomitable Designer Alison Victoria
The eight-episode series will document Alison, best known for her Emmy-nominated series "Windy City Rehab," taking the biggest gamble of her career as she expands her successful design business out West.

[11/26/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Manny" Season 2 - Release Date Announcement - Netflix
A busy executive hires a cowboy to care for her kids in a moment of panic. Little does she know he'll challenge her views of gender roles - and of love.