Brian Frons
Encyclopedia
Brian Frons ˈfrɒnz is an American television executive, and president of ABC Daytime
.
and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the State University of New York at Fredonia
.
from 1979 to 1983. He left CBS in 1983 to join NBC Daytime
, where he stayed during the rest of the 1980s as vice president. In 1986, he cancelled Search for Tomorrow
which was at the time the longest running soap opera in television. He also gained media attention in 1989 when he made a guest appearance in an episode of Santa Barbara
, playing the role of God
in a dream of character Mason Capwell (Lane Davies
).
During his time at NBC, Frons also introduced Generations, the first and only soap opera to feature an African-American family. He cited :"I just didn't see the point of another soap about the same types of people. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that a lot of shows on in prime time several years ago did not deal with older people. So Brandon (Tartikoff, NBC Entertainment chief) gave us 'Golden Girls.' Well, the same thing goes for daytime now. You don't see many black characters. And blacks certainly watch daytime TV. So this decision wasn't exactly a brainer. It was just about time."
Frons joined ABC Daytime in August 2002. In May 2006, the head of Disney-ABC Television Group
, Anne Sweeney
, named Frons the president of the newly-created Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group
. In his capacity as president of ABC Daytime
, Frons was responsible for the development, marketing, production and promotion of all ABC Daytime properties, which have included, All My Children
, The Chew
, General Hospital
, One Life to Live
, Port Charles
, and The View. In his new position, Frons took on the additional duties of overseeing SOAPnet
and ABC Productions. Frons was also instrumental to the launch of The Soap Opera Digest Awards
.
The View, which now consistently ranks among the top programs in daytime television, experienced its most-watched season ever between 2008 and 2009. During the 2010 season, the show’s telecast with President Barack Obama
delivered its largest audience on record with 6.6 million viewers.
On April 14, 2011, Frons announced the cancellation of ABC soaps All My Children and One Life to Live. All My Children ended its run on the network on September 23, 2011, while One Life to Live is scheduled to close on January, 2012. The production staff, cast, and crew on both dramas were told less than 20 minutes before the announcement was released nationwide to the press. While Frons made the announcement to the All My Children cast and crew in Los Angeles
, the New York
-based One Life to Live was tuned in through a video link.
In response to the cancellation of both All My Children and One Life to Live, Frons has been the subject of widespread criticism. He has been labeled as the most hated man among soap opera fans, with online petitions being made for his firing from ABC Daytime. Actress Susan Lucci
stated in her book, All My Life, that she was misled to believe that the rumors of the cancellation were untrue.
In December 2009, Frons told the cast and crew that in order to save All My Children, it was vital that the show relocate to Los Angeles from New York, with all players taking pay cuts. At this time, several families chose to move to the west coast, in an effort of solidarity. Everyone who was asked, uprooted their lives and made sacrifices that they were told was necessary to save the show. Many left friends and family and sold or rented their east coast homes in a downward market, resulting in great economic loss.
Just before the announcement of the cancellations, Dominick Nuzzi, senior vice president of production for ABC Daytime, congratulated the cast, crew, and production staff of All My Children for doing so well financially, stating that the show's production costs were down 25 percent from the previous year and "things [were] going great". In addition to the statement from Nuzzi, the show was given a budget to support upcoming storylines and Lorraine Broderick
was given a new multi-year contract as head writer of All My Children.
In various interviews, Frons has stated that the cancellations were a year in the making. In place of the long-running soap operas, ABC Daytime has green-lighted two new talk shows, The Chew
and The Revolution
. In expressing his rationale for the cancellations, he stated, "I wanted to do shows that were unusual for daytime. What's happening now is people are looking for information to make their lives better, they're obsessed about what they eat and they’re obsessed with weight." Lucci blames both Frons and former head writer, Chuck Pratt
for the demise of All My Children, stating "Brian Frons has what, for me, is that fatal combination of ignorance and arrogance."
In 2010, it was announced that the SOAPnet
television network will no longer operate after 2012. The network will be replaced by Disney Junior
, a pre-school children's network. On July 6, 2011, Frons agreed to sell the rights of All My Children and One Life to Live to third party production company, Prospect Park
, which intends to create new episodes of the soaps on Internet television
's The Online Network.
soap Santa Barbara
, and they reside in Encino, California. He is the cousin of Marc Frons
, chief technology officer of The New York Times
.
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
.
Educational background
Frons holds a Master of Science degree in Communications from Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the State University of New York at Fredonia
State University of New York at Fredonia
The State University of New York at Fredonia is a four-year liberal arts college located in Fredonia, New York, United States; it is a constituent college of the State University of New York...
.
Television career
Brian Frons first worked at CBS DaytimeCBS Daytime
CBS Daytime is a television programming block on CBS. It's the branding for the CBS Television Network's late morning and early afternoon programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows, and talk shows...
from 1979 to 1983. He left CBS in 1983 to join NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime is the schedule for the NBC television network's daytime television programming which consists of morning news program Today and soap opera Days of our Lives...
, where he stayed during the rest of the 1980s as vice president. In 1986, he cancelled Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
which was at the time the longest running soap opera in television. He also gained media attention in 1989 when he made a guest appearance in an episode of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
, playing the role of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in a dream of character Mason Capwell (Lane Davies
Lane Davies
-Personal life:Davies was born in Dalton, Georgia, the son of Emily and Bill Davies. He has three brothers. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with cum laude honors for his degree in speech and theater. Currently, he resides in Georgia with his family...
).
During his time at NBC, Frons also introduced Generations, the first and only soap opera to feature an African-American family. He cited :"I just didn't see the point of another soap about the same types of people. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that a lot of shows on in prime time several years ago did not deal with older people. So Brandon (Tartikoff, NBC Entertainment chief) gave us 'Golden Girls.' Well, the same thing goes for daytime now. You don't see many black characters. And blacks certainly watch daytime TV. So this decision wasn't exactly a brainer. It was just about time."
Frons joined ABC Daytime in August 2002. In May 2006, the head of Disney-ABC Television Group
Disney-ABC Television Group
Disney-ABC Television Group manages all of The Walt Disney Company's worldwide entertainment and news television properties...
, Anne Sweeney
Anne Sweeney
Anne Marie Sweeney is the Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks and President of Disney-ABC Television Group.-Life and career:...
, named Frons the president of the newly-created Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
. In his capacity as president of ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
, Frons was responsible for the development, marketing, production and promotion of all ABC Daytime properties, which have included, All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
, The Chew
The Chew
The Chew is an American talk show/cooking show that airs in the United States on ABC as part of the network's weekday daytime lineup, centering on food-related and lifestyle topics. The program also airs in Canada on the stations of the Citytv television system.It premiered on September 26, 2011 ...
, General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
, Port Charles
Port Charles
Port Charles was a daytime soap opera which aired on ABC from June 2, 1997 to October 3, 2003. It is a spin-off of the serial General Hospital, which has been running since 1963 and takes place in the fictional city of Port Charles, New York...
, and The View. In his new position, Frons took on the additional duties of overseeing SOAPnet
SOAPnet
SOAPnet is an American cable television channel that broadcasts current and past soap operas and primetime dramas, along with some original programming. The channel launched on January 20, 2000, and is owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
and ABC Productions. Frons was also instrumental to the launch of The Soap Opera Digest Awards
Soap Opera Digest Awards
The Soap Opera Digest Awards were an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest. The awards were founded in 1984 to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award; those awards shows had run since 1977. The Soap Opera Digest Awards are meant to promote excellence in the soap opera...
.
The View, which now consistently ranks among the top programs in daytime television, experienced its most-watched season ever between 2008 and 2009. During the 2010 season, the show’s telecast with President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
delivered its largest audience on record with 6.6 million viewers.
Ratings declines and cancellations
Frons has also presided over turbulent times and massive ratings declines. His tenure has seen the cancellation of three of the ABC's soap operas.On April 14, 2011, Frons announced the cancellation of ABC soaps All My Children and One Life to Live. All My Children ended its run on the network on September 23, 2011, while One Life to Live is scheduled to close on January, 2012. The production staff, cast, and crew on both dramas were told less than 20 minutes before the announcement was released nationwide to the press. While Frons made the announcement to the All My Children cast and crew in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based One Life to Live was tuned in through a video link.
In response to the cancellation of both All My Children and One Life to Live, Frons has been the subject of widespread criticism. He has been labeled as the most hated man among soap opera fans, with online petitions being made for his firing from ABC Daytime. Actress Susan Lucci
Susan Lucci
Susan Victoria Lucci is an American actress and entrepreneur, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the daytime drama All My Children. The character is considered an icon, and Lucci has been called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with New York Times and Los Angeles Times citing her as the...
stated in her book, All My Life, that she was misled to believe that the rumors of the cancellation were untrue.
In December 2009, Frons told the cast and crew that in order to save All My Children, it was vital that the show relocate to Los Angeles from New York, with all players taking pay cuts. At this time, several families chose to move to the west coast, in an effort of solidarity. Everyone who was asked, uprooted their lives and made sacrifices that they were told was necessary to save the show. Many left friends and family and sold or rented their east coast homes in a downward market, resulting in great economic loss.
Just before the announcement of the cancellations, Dominick Nuzzi, senior vice president of production for ABC Daytime, congratulated the cast, crew, and production staff of All My Children for doing so well financially, stating that the show's production costs were down 25 percent from the previous year and "things [were] going great". In addition to the statement from Nuzzi, the show was given a budget to support upcoming storylines and Lorraine Broderick
Lorraine Broderick
Lorraine Broderick is an American television soap opera writer who got her start on All My Children as a protégée of the show's creator, Agnes Nixon.-Bio:...
was given a new multi-year contract as head writer of All My Children.
In various interviews, Frons has stated that the cancellations were a year in the making. In place of the long-running soap operas, ABC Daytime has green-lighted two new talk shows, The Chew
The Chew
The Chew is an American talk show/cooking show that airs in the United States on ABC as part of the network's weekday daytime lineup, centering on food-related and lifestyle topics. The program also airs in Canada on the stations of the Citytv television system.It premiered on September 26, 2011 ...
and The Revolution
The Revolution (TV series)
The Revolution is an upcoming ABC health and lifestyle talk show with some reality television components, as J. D. Roth, co-creator of NBC's The Biggest Loser is involved in the program....
. In expressing his rationale for the cancellations, he stated, "I wanted to do shows that were unusual for daytime. What's happening now is people are looking for information to make their lives better, they're obsessed about what they eat and they’re obsessed with weight." Lucci blames both Frons and former head writer, Chuck Pratt
Chuck Pratt
Charles Marshall Pratt was an American rock climber from California, best known for big wall climbing first ascents in Yosemite Valley...
for the demise of All My Children, stating "Brian Frons has what, for me, is that fatal combination of ignorance and arrogance."
In 2010, it was announced that the SOAPnet
SOAPnet
SOAPnet is an American cable television channel that broadcasts current and past soap operas and primetime dramas, along with some original programming. The channel launched on January 20, 2000, and is owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
television network will no longer operate after 2012. The network will be replaced by Disney Junior
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is a current program block on Disney Channel and an upcoming American basic cable and satellite television network intended to replace SOAPnet in February 2012. It began airing on February 14, 2011, replacing Playhouse Disney....
, a pre-school children's network. On July 6, 2011, Frons agreed to sell the rights of All My Children and One Life to Live to third party production company, Prospect Park
Prospect Park (production company)
Prospect Park is a Los Angeles entertainment production company, founded in 2008 by Richard H. Frank, a former Disney Studios executive, and Jeff Kwatinetz, former CEO of the talent agency The Firm, Inc...
, which intends to create new episodes of the soaps on Internet television
Internet television
Internet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
's The Online Network.
Broadcasting career
- Senior vice president (London-based SBS Broadcasting, S.A.)
- President, Creative Affairs (New World Entertainment)
- Vice president, Creative Affairs, NBC Productions
- Vice president of NBC EntertainmentNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
- Director, Daytime Programming, CBS EntertainmentCBS DaytimeCBS Daytime is a television programming block on CBS. It's the branding for the CBS Television Network's late morning and early afternoon programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows, and talk shows...
- Creative ConsultantCreative consultantCreative consultant is a credit that has - particularly in the past - been given to screenwriters who have “doctored” a movie screenplay. It is often given by producers in lieu of official credit. Those given this credit in the television field work closely with an Executive Producer, Head...
of AMC and OLTL (2004–present) - Story Consultant of GH (2004–present)
- Head Writer (with Julie Hanan Carruthers)Head writerA head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
of AMC (mid-January 2008 to January 30, 2008)
Personal life
Frons is married to Jeanine Guarneri-Frons, a former director on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
soap Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
, and they reside in Encino, California. He is the cousin of Marc Frons
Marc Frons
Marc Frons is the Chief Technology Officer of The New York Times since July 2006. Since 2007, he has overseen technology and product development at NYTimes.com while continuing to be involved in broader digital strategy initiatives at the company. Before he joined The Times, Mr...
, chief technology officer of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.