David Connell (television producer)
Encyclopedia
David Connell was the original executive producer for Sesame Street
, and Children's Television Workshop's vice-president in charge of production. Connell, who had been a producer for the CBS
children's program Captain Kangaroo
, played a key role in establishing the basic format of the "street" skits. He was also the principal creative behind The Man from Alphabet, a series of live action skits starring Gary Owens
which failed in child tests and were never aired on Sesame Street.
His credits include:
Connell was also executive producer and writer for The Electric Company
, which he helped create in 1971, and for Square One TV
in the late 1980s. He won five Emmy Awards and received an additional 20 nominations. He also served as executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning special, based on the C.S. Lewis book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which was broadcast on CBS in 1979.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, and Children's Television Workshop's vice-president in charge of production. Connell, who had been a producer for the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
children's program Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
, played a key role in establishing the basic format of the "street" skits. He was also the principal creative behind The Man from Alphabet, a series of live action skits starring Gary Owens
Gary Owens
Gary Owens is an American disc jockey and voice actor. His polished baritone speaking voice generally offers deadpan recitations of total nonsense, which he frequently demonstrated as the announcer on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Owens is equally proficient in straight or silly assignments and is...
which failed in child tests and were never aired on Sesame Street.
His credits include:
- 1969-1973: Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
-- Executive Producer - 1974: Out to LunchOut to LunchOut to Lunch may refer to:*Out to Lunch!, a 1964 album by Eric Dolphy*Out to Lunch , a 1974 ABC special*Out to Lunch , a radio show in Baltimore, Maryland...
-- Executive Producer - 1975: The Jean Marsh Cartoon Special with GroverGroverGrover is a Muppet character on the popular television show Sesame Street. Self-described as lovable, cute and furry, he is a monster who almost never uses contractions when speaking or singing....
-- Producer - 1987: Sesame Street LiveSesame Street LiveSesame Street Live is the live touring show based on the children's television show Sesame Street.Produced by Minneapolis-based VEE Corporation, the show opened on September 17, 1980, with a production of Sesame Street Live "Missing Bird Mystery" playing at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota...
Big Bird and the ABC's -- Co-writer
Connell was also executive producer and writer for The Electric Company
The Electric Company
The Electric Company is an educational American children's television series that was produced by the Children's Television Workshop for PBS in the United States. PBS broadcast 780 episodes over the course of its six seasons from October 25, 1971 to April 15, 1977...
, which he helped create in 1971, and for Square One TV
Square One (TV series)
Square One Television is an American children's television program produced by the Children's Television Workshop to teach mathematics and abstract mathematical concepts to young viewers....
in the late 1980s. He won five Emmy Awards and received an additional 20 nominations. He also served as executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning special, based on the C.S. Lewis book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which was broadcast on CBS in 1979.
External links
- Current: David Connell's talents grew with his gifts to kids, an obituary by Joan Ganz Cooney
- New York Times biographical obituary