Gail Berman
Encyclopedia
Gail Berman is the former president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Company
and the former president of Viacom
's Paramount Pictures
.
She graduated from the University of Maryland
in 1978. With a college friend, Susan Rose,she co-produced the Broadway
productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
(1982), Almost an Eagle (1982), Hurlyburly
(1984), Blood Knot (1985), and The Nerd (1987).
Berman later moved into television production, becoming executive producer on such Fox
shows as Malcolm in the Middle
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
. In 2001 she was named President of the Fox TV Network
. As such, she helped bring such shows as 24
, House
, and American Idol
to the airwaves.
In 2003, she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.
She remained at Fox until May 2005, at which time she accepted the position of president of Paramount Pictures
from newly appointed Chairman & CEO Brad Grey
. It would be a short-lived tenure, with rumors of her demise circulating within the film industry shortly after she was hired.
Returning to television, she partnered with Lloyd Braun
(himself a former television network executive) to form BermanBraun and in March 2007 they signed a three year, first look deal
with NBC Universal Television
to develop television programming. In July 2007, BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with Pepsi to create original online programming for which Pepsi would have a first look to sponsor. In December 2007, BermanBraun partnered with producer Thom Beers to exclusively schedule a two hour block of unscripted "docudrama" programming for NBC.
Berman is married to sitcom writer Bill Masters and they have two children.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
and the former president of Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
's Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
She graduated from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1978. With a college friend, Susan Rose,she co-produced the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...
(1982), Almost an Eagle (1982), Hurlyburly
Hurlyburly
Hurlyburly is a dark comedy play by David Rabe, first staged in 1984.-Plot:More than three hours long, Hurlyburly focuses on the intersecting lives of several low- to mid-level Hollywood players in the 1980s. Fueled by massive amounts of drugs, they attempt to find some meaning in their isolated,...
(1984), Blood Knot (1985), and The Nerd (1987).
Berman later moved into television production, becoming executive producer on such Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
shows as Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
. In 2001 she was named President of the Fox TV Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. As such, she helped bring such shows as 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
, House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, and American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
to the airwaves.
In 2003, she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.
She remained at Fox until May 2005, at which time she accepted the position of president of Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
from newly appointed Chairman & CEO Brad Grey
Brad Grey
Brad Alan Grey is the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a position he has held since 2005. Under Grey’s leadership, Paramount has finished No.2 in market share in 2008, 2009 and 2010 despite releasing significantly fewer films than its competitors.Since arriving at Paramount in 2005,...
. It would be a short-lived tenure, with rumors of her demise circulating within the film industry shortly after she was hired.
Returning to television, she partnered with Lloyd Braun
Lloyd Braun (media executive)
Lloyd Braun is a television and Internet media executive who currently runs the entertainment firm BermanBraun.-Early life and career:Braun earned his B.A. from Vassar College in 1980, and his law degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1983...
(himself a former television network executive) to form BermanBraun and in March 2007 they signed a three year, first look deal
First look deal
A first look deal is an arrangement, usually in the film industry, where either a company or in some cases an individual enters into a commercial agreement with a studio under which they must allow the studio the right of first refusal in relation to developing and/or producing a project the...
with NBC Universal Television
NBC Universal Television
NBCUniversal Television Group is an American and global television production/distribution company and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal.The company is composed of six divisions: Universal Television , NBC Universal Television Stations, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, NBCUniversal...
to develop television programming. In July 2007, BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with Pepsi to create original online programming for which Pepsi would have a first look to sponsor. In December 2007, BermanBraun partnered with producer Thom Beers to exclusively schedule a two hour block of unscripted "docudrama" programming for NBC.
Berman is married to sitcom writer Bill Masters and they have two children.
External links
- Los Angeles Times story on Berman's departure
- Forbes article detailing Berman's deal with NBC