To consider all that Brandon Tartikoff accomplished as president of NBC Entertainment, it's important to realize how bad NBC was in 1981, when, at 31, Tartikoff took over. But in a few short years, after hits like Cheers, Hill Street Blues, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Golden Girls and St. Elsewhere, NBC was not only on top of the ratings but did so with the creation of programs that were to this day among the best in TV history.
Tartikoff passed away in 1997, at the age of 48, from Hodgkin's disease, which he had fought-unknown to all but a few close friends-since he was just out of college. The Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards began in 2004, and have become an honor that program executives and creators treasure.
Those who knew Tartikoff appreciated his sense of humor and his respect for the creative process. He made the television industry better, as this year's four winners have. Jeff Gaspin, Irwin Gotlieb, David E. Kelley and Judge Judy Sheindlin will be feted at NATPE on Jan. 25.
Jeff Gaspin: The Nice Guy Who Finished First
Irwin Gotlieb: Mr. Madison Avenue Is Happiest When All Sides Win
David E. Kelly: Words That Launched a Legacy
Judge Judy Sheindlin: Her Appeal Is Undeniable
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