Edgar Scherick

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Edgar Scherick
Born
Edgar J. Scherick

(1924-10-16)October 16, 1924
Los Angeles, California, US
Occupation(s)Film producer, television producer
Spouses
  • Margaret Iwasaki
  • Carol Romann

Edgar J. Scherick (October 16, 1924 – December 2, 2002) was an American television executive and producer of television miniseries, made-for-television films, and theatrical motion pictures.[1]

Life and career

Scherick was born in New York City, the son of Jennie (née Friedman) and Jacob J. Scherick.[2] He was raised in Long Beach, NY and graduated Long Beach High School in 1941.

Widely credited as a pioneer in network sports broadcasting, Scherick created the television program

ABC's Wide World of Sports at his company Sports Programs, Inc. which he started in 1956 with $600.00.[3] In February 1960, Scherick sold Sports Programs to the American Broadcasting Company for $500,000 in ABC stock, where it became ABC Sports, the sports division of the network. With the acquisition, Scherick was appointed head of the ABC Sports division, then Vice President in charge of Network Sales. In June 1963, Scherick became Vice President of Programming for the ABC Television Network, where he created many popular shows including Bewitched, Batman, That Girl, The Hollywood Palace, and Peyton Place
.

After his television career, Edgar Scherick became a film and television producer and executive producer of 75 theatrical films, television movies and mini-series through his company

Palomar Pictures
International and other entities.

In 1983, Scherick had a cameo role as Wilson Crockett, a network television executive, in the Martin Scorsese film, The King of Comedy.

By January 2, 1990, Scherick had gone to work with

Saban Entertainment through its Saban/Scherick Productions division, which was for mostly television movies and mini-series[4] He died of complications from leukemia.[5]

Scherick hired and served as a mentor to many famous television and theatrical producers and industry executives including Roone Arledge, Brian Grazer, Scott Rudin, Michael Barnathan, Robert Lawrence and David Nicksay.[6]

Awards and nominations

Scherick's television body of work includes 6 Emmy nominations and one winning Emmy:

  • 2002: Outstanding Made For Television Movie – Path To War
  • 1990: Outstanding Miniseries – The Kennedys of Massachusetts
  • 1986: Outstanding Miniseries – On Wings of Eagles
  • 1984: Outstanding Children's Program – He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (Winner)
  • 1983: Outstanding Drama Special – Little Gloria...Happy at Last
  • 1977: Outstanding Special – Drama or Comedy – Raid on Entebbe The Big Event

Many of the theatrical releases that Scherick produced or credited as Executive Producer were nominated for an Academy Award:

  • 1968: Best Song (original for the picture) – For Love of Ivy (Quincy Jones, Bob Russell)
  • 1972: Best Actor – Sleuth (Michael Caine)
  • 1972: Best Actor – Sleuth (Laurence Olivier)
  • 1972: Best Director – Sleuth (Joseph L. Mankiewicz)
  • 1972: Best Original Dramatic Score - Sleuth (John Addison)
  • 1972: Best Actor in a Supporting Role - The Heartbreak Kid (Eddie Albert)
  • 1972: Best Actress in a Supporting Role - The Heartbreak Kid (Jeannie Berlin)
  • 1977: Best Screenplay (based on material from another medium) – I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (Gavin Lambert, Lewis John Carlino)
  • 1983: Best Documentary - He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (Emile Ardolino, Producer)
  • 1991: Best Actress in a Leading Role - Rambling Rose (Laura Dern)
  • 1991: Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Rambling Rose (Diane Ladd)

The film "He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'" is unique as it was for 31 years, the only production to win both an Oscar and an Emmy. Scherick won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program as Executive Producer but due to Academy rules, only the credited "Producer" (not Executive Producer) is eligible for a Best Picture Oscar award.

One film that Scherick was credited as Executive Producer, Path to War from 2002' was nominated for the Global Globe Award for Best Television Motion Picture. It was the last film Scherick produced during his lifetime.

In 1997, the Producers Guild of America presented Scherick with their "Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television," recognizing his outstanding body of work and lifetime achievement in this medium.

Scherick also served as chair of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame beginning in 1988.

Select filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

Year Film Credit Notes
1968 For Love of Ivy
The Birthday Party Executive producer
1969 Ring of Bright Water Executive producer
A Touch of Love Executive producer
Take the Money and Run Executive producer Uncredited
1970
Jenny
Homer Executive producer
1972 What Became of Jack and Jill? Executive producer
To Kill a Clown Executive producer
The Darwin Adventure Executive producer
Sleuth Executive producer Remade in 2007
The Heartbreak Kid Remade in 2007
1973 Gordon's War Executive producer
1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Remade in 1998 for television and 2009 as a theatrical film
Law and Disorder Executive producer
1975 The Stepford Wives Remade in 2004
1977 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
1979 Fish Hawk Executive producer
1980 The American Success Company
1982 Shoot the Moon Executive producer
I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can
White Dog Executive producer
1983 He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' Executive producer Film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
1984 Reckless
Mrs. Soffel
1991 Rambling Rose Executive producer Final film as a producer
2004 The Stepford Wives Posthumous credit
As an actor
Year Film Role
1982 The King of Comedy Wilson Crockett
Miscellaneous crew
Year Film Role
1979 Fish Hawk Presenter

Television

Year Title Credit Notes
1953 Major League Baseball on ABC
1970 The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever Executive producer Television film
1972 When Michael Calls Executive producer Television film
1974 Ann in Blue Television film
1975 The Silence Executive producer Television film
1976 Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck Executive producer Television film
Raid on Entebbe Executive producer Television film
1977 A Circle of Children Executive producer Television film
Panic in Echo Park Television film
ABC Weekend Special
1978 Zuma Beach Executive producer Television film
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery Executive producer Television film
1979 An American Christmas Carol Executive producer Television film
1980 Mother and Daughter: The Loving War Executive producer Television film
The Seduction of Miss Leona Executive producer Television film
Revenge of the Stepford Wives Executive producer Television film
1982 Thou Shalt Not Kill Executive producer Television film
Little Gloria... Happy at Last Executive producer
1983 He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' Executive producer Won Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program
1985 Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil Executive producer Television film
Evergreen Executive producer
1986 On Wings of Eagles Executive producer
The High Price of Passion Executive producer Television film
1987 Stranger in My Bed Executive producer Television film
The Stepford Children Executive producer Television film
Hands of a Stranger Executive producer Television film
Uncle Tom's Cabin Executive producer Television film
Home Fires Executive producer Television film
1988 Stranger on My Land Executive producer Television film
Lovers, Partners & Spies Executive producer Television pilot
Unholy Matrimony Executive producer Television film
1990 Anything to Survive Executive producer Television film
The Kennedys of Massachusetts Executive producer
The Secret Life of Ian Fleming Executive producer Television film
The Phantom of the Opera
 Executive producer
The Girl Who Came Between Them Executive producer Television film
The Rock Executive producer
1991 Fever Executive producer Television film
The Rape of Doctor Willis Executive producer Television film
1992 Till Death Us Do Part Executive producer Television film
Scorch Executive producer
Quiet Killer Executive producer Television film
Nightmare in the Daylight Executive producer Television film
Four Eyes and Six Guns Executive producer Television film
1994 Betrayed by Love Executive producer Television film
A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story Executive producer Television film
1995 The Good Old Boys Executive producer Television film
Tyson Executive producer Television film
1996 The Stepford Husbands Executive producer Television film
The Siege at Ruby Ridge Executive producer Television film
We the Jury Executive producer Television film
1998 The Wall Executive producer Television film
2002 Path to War Executive producer Television film
As an actor
Year Title Role Notes
1985 Murder: By Reason of Insanity Howard Norton Television film
1988 A Year in the Life Gottlieb
1995 Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning McLaughlin Television film
It Was Him or Us None Television film
As writer
Year Title
1992 Scorch
Miscellaneous crew
Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Scarlet Pimpernel Production consultant Television film

References

  1. ^ Carter, Bill (December 7, 2002). "Edgar Scherick, 78, Producer For Television and Movies". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Edgar J. Scherick Biography (1924–2002)
  3. ^ "Our Respects to Edgar Jay Scherick. Network TV Salesman Turns Program Chief". Broadcasting. July 8, 1963.
  4. ^ Apodoaca, Patrice (January 2, 1990). "Saban Seeks Older TV Audience : Programs: The founder of Saban Entertainment, which produces children's shows, takes the leap to prime time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Speier, Michael (September 21, 2001). "Career Counselor: Edgar Scherick". Daily Variety. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)

External links

Business positions
Preceded by Vice President, Programs ABC
1963–1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
First
 President of ABC Sports
1956–1964 		Succeeded by
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