David Holman
David Holman | |
---|---|
Born | |
Education | Pan American College, Edinburg, TX; University of Texas, Austin |
Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin (1962–1964)[1] |
Occupation | Freelance screenwriter & essays |
Years active | 1962-2000 |
Known for | Television producer and executive |
Awards | TV EMMY AWARD; Outstanding Young Man of America, 1970; Award of Merit, Director of "Paths of Progress" TV series, KTBC-TV, Austin, TX |
David Holman is a former television producer and executive who worked in New York and Los Angeles.
History
Holman began his career in 1962 at KTBC-TV, Austin, TX, while attending the University of Texas, Austin, TX, where he was studying Radio & TV Broadcasting. First as a Floor-crew member at KTBC-TV and worked his way up to being an award-winning TV director. In 1964 while still at KTBC-TV he produced, directed, choreographed & danced in a "music video" before music videos had even been known or become popular. That short B&W 16mm film got Holman this first job in New York City that same year as an Associate Producer of national TV & Radio commercials with Norman, Craig & Kummel Advertising, one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. Within 3 months Holman was made a producer and produced over 100 TV & Radio commercials, a few of which became "classic" including Ajax Laundry Detergent's "White Knight" and Hertz Rent-A-Car's "The Flying Man". After 3 years, ABC Sports hired Holman to be a Unit Manager for Wide World of Sports covering sporting events in the U.S. and England including NBA basketball, NCAA football, Track & Field, Swimming & Diving, and PGA Golf tournaments, including the British Open in Blackpool, England. After 3 years Holman was promoted by ABC to be the first Production Administrator assigned to a multiple of TV series and specials including The Dick Cavett Show, the Tony Awards, the Grammy Awards and the EMMY Awards. While in this ABC position in 1973 Holman met Jim Henson.[2] ABC was producing a Muppet TV Special called A Muppet Valentine Special with actress Mia Farrow as the only human guest star.[2] (Miss Piggy had not been "born" yet, nor was Kermit the Frog the host) When ABC ordered a second TV special, The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence for a possible Muppet TV series in prime-time, Henson hired Holman away from ABC to be his associate producer for that second pilot.[4][5] After the two Specials aired it was surprising to Henson and Holman to learn that the network "passed" on hiring the Muppets to be in prime-time.[2] The two other networks at the time – NBC and CBS – also "passed".[2] The Muppet Show was picked up as a syndicated TV series by several affiliates instead,[2][6] and later became a hit in syndication.[2] "By the second season, the series was breaking syndication records and broadcasting in more than 100 countries. And it won several EMMY Awards."[2] Holman worked as the production manager over-seeing Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, the first year of NBC's Saturday Night Live.[7] During these 6 years (1974-1979) Holman also produced 3 seasons of "Big Bird's (of "Sesame Street") Live Symphony Concerts" all of the U.S. & Canada. Also while at the Muppets Holman conceived the Parker Bros. "The Muppet Show Board Game" for Henson, and assisted in the operation of the Mirinda Craver.
Holman continued his career in
During his semi-retirement Holman met author Joyce Spizer and together they co-wrote (with another first-time writer) their first screenplay. Holman and Spizer (now Joyce Foy) have written a second screenplay and formed Hollywood East Productions,[8] in 2005 to write and produce independent films. Holman also co-wrote a TV Special bout the career of country legend Patsy Cline with singer Cali McCord in Las Cruces, NM. Holman currently lives with his life-partner Tom Young and their Westie "Mactavish" in Surprise, AZ, and Holman continues to do creative writing and has been speaking to numerous film & TV students in Texas, California, Illinois & New Mexico.
Holman also was named an Outstanding Young Man of America in 1970 by the U.S. Jacees, and given an Award of Merit by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, for directing Paths of Progress TV series at KTBC-TV, Austin, Texas, in 1963. He served in the
Holman remains an active member of the Producers Guild of America, the Academy of TV Arts & Sciences, a founding member of the Palm Springs Chapter of Women In Film, a Guest Lecturer for colleges & universities in the U.S., and is a Life Member of the University of Texas Ex-Students' Association. Holman is listed in Who's Who in Entertainment 1990–Present and in Who's Who in California 1983–2006.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The Alcade, Nov-Dec 1988, Vol. 77, No. 2, pp.35, ISSN 1535-993X.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i David Holman, "Start the Music! Light the Lights!"
- ^ a b c The Alcalde, September 2000, pp. 72, Vol. 89, No. 1, ISSN 1535-993X.
- ISSN 1535-993X.
- ^ listing show credits includes "Associate Producer: David Holman Original Airdate: March 19, 1975 on ABC; DVD Release: Buena Vista Home Video, 2005.
- ^ "The Muppets Are G-Rated", The Times-News 15 March 1975; articles notes Holman as Associate producer of series.
- ^ The Alcalde, May-June 1985, pp. 54–57, Vol. 73, No. 5, ISSN 1535-993X.
- ^ Joyce Fox biography