The Carsey-Werner Company

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The Carsey-Werner Company, LLC
Private
Industry motion pictures, television
Founded 1981[1]
Headquarters Encino, California, USA
Key people
 Marcy Carsey
Tom Werner[2]
Website www.carseywerner.com/

The Carsey-Werner Company (first known as Carsey-Werner Productions, then known as Carsey-Werner-Mandabach Productions, and also known as Carsey-Werner Television) is an independent production company founded in 1981 by former ABC writer/producer duo Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner (now co-owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise and Liverpool FC).[3] Caryn Mandabach was made a partner in the firm in 2001 (she joined in 1984), but left in 2004 to embark on her own production deal.[4]

Carsey-Werner has had its own production and, since 1997, distribution arms. Prior to controlling their own distribution, Viacom Enterprises, and later Paramount Domestic Television, syndicated their programming for them. In 2002 they announced a deal with Paramount Pictures to develop feature films through the studio.[citation needed] The group was also an original partner in Oxygen Media before its sale in 2007 to NBCUniversal, and continues to output library content to that network.

Influential people

In 2004, Carsey and Werner mulled over the prospect of selling the studio, including its profitable catalog of shows, with UBS as their underwriter. Companies, most notably Viacom and Time Warner, expressed interest in buying the firm to exhibit their content on their cable networks.[citation needed] But the deal did not materialize and Carsey-Werner remained independent.[citation needed]

Stuart Glickman: CEO

A key addition to the Carsey-Werner management team was Stuart Glickman, who became chief executive officer in 1987. Originally a trial lawyer, Glickman became involved in the entertainment industry in 1968 when he became Assistant Counsel for American International Pictures. In 1970 he became director of business affairs for CBS Television. Glickman then worked as an entertainment lawyer for 15 years, providing legal and business advice to top companies and talents, including Carsey-Werner. After becoming the CEO, Glickman expanded on the company's production success with a mandate to create a diversified, global entertainment company with multiple revenue streams. He oversaw the creation of a distribution operation, reacquiring Carsey-Werner's library of shows from Paramount/Viacom, then brokered a number of innovative syndication deals. He helped to create Carsey-Werner Moving Pictures, to position the company to produce feature films. According to Variety, Glickman helped turn Carsey-Werner into a "tiny powerhouse."

The fortune of Carsey-Werner's core business, in the meantime, was mixed in 2000. The company's attempt to break into animation, God, the Devil and Bob, was pulled from NBC after only four episodes, unable to compete opposite ABC's hit quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The company did add a major new star, however, when it announced in May that Steve Martin had signed a production deal. Perhaps most important of all to Carsey-Werner's future may have the announcement in June that its CEO of 13 years, Stuart Glickman, would be leaving the company to "explore new business and investment opportunities." The company's fall production plans had just been concluded, with the return to network television of That 70s Show and 3rd Rock From the Sun, plus the addition of a new comedy, Don't Ask. "I wanted to wait for an orderly time when all things were done," Glickman explained to Variety, adding: "I feel like I'm leaving the company in good shape." Glickman also agreed to help in the search for his replacement.

Television productions

Series

Specials

Stephen J. Cannell library

On January 24, 2006, Carsey-Werner acquired the distribution rights to Stephen J. Cannell's library. It was originally owned by 20th Century Fox Television when News Corporation acquired New World Communications in 1997. Cannell then reacquired his library back from Fox on May 4, 1998.[7] The library includes The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, The Greatest American Hero and Silk Stalkings.[8][9]

DVD distribution

In 2004, they announced licensing deals with 20th Century Fox, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Urban Works to distribute several of their TV series to DVD. These were the first releases for the home entertainment market since they allowed a limited edition of The Cosby Show to be distributed by Columbia House.

In 2005/2006, Carsey-Werner was flooded with angry letters from fans of "The Cosby Show" and "Roseanne", complaining about edited episodes. Carsey-Werner Distribution eventually decided that seasons 2 of "The Cosby Show" and "Roseanne" would be released with uncut shows. "Roseanne" was decided after John Goodman and Roseanne Barr appeared on Larry King Live and a fan called in, asking why Season 1's DVDs contained edited episodes. Barr and Goodman did not know about the editing, but Roseanne said she would talk to the producers. It has apparently worked, as there has been no evidence of editing on the Season 2, 3, and 4 sets.

In 2006, they signed a deal with Magna Entertainment to release The Cosby Show and Roseanne on DVD in Australia.

On May 4, 2011, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that they had signed a deal with Carsey-Werner Productions to re-release 3rd Rock from the Sun, Grounded for Life, Roseanne and That '70s Show on DVD in Region 1.[10] At this time, it is unknown if this deal includes the future release of any other CW series.

As of 2011, the following Carsey-Werner series have been released on DVD:

Internet

Several Carsey-Werner shows were made available on Netflix's Watch Instantly beginning in February 2011, including Roseanne, That 70's Show, Cosby Show, & 3rd Rock from the Sun. However, in February 2012, "Roseanne", "Cosby Show" and "3rd Rock from the Sun" were taken off instant streaming.

Remasters

In March 2013, Carsey-Werner announced it was remastering That '70s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Roseanne, Grounded for Life, A Different World and The Cosby Show into 16:9 high-definition.[11]

Films

In November 2006, the company released its first film for Universal Studios, a comedy film called Let's Go to Prison. A second film, The Brothers Solomon was released with Revolution Studios on September 7, 2007. In 2008 a third film, Smother was released.

References

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  7. ↑ Cannell wins back rights to TV series Cynthia Littleton variety.com May 4, 1998, Retrieved on August 30, 2014
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ https://www.millcreekent.com/media/pdf/May%202011%20CarseyWerner%20Press%20Release%20-%20FINAL.pdf
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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