MTM Enterprises

Last updated
MTM Enterprises, Inc.
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Television and film production
Founded1969;55 years ago (1969)
Founders Mary Tyler Moore
Grant Tinker
DefunctMay 19, 1998;25 years ago (1998-05-19)
FateAcquired by News Corporation; library assets were folded into 20th Century Fox Television
Successor 20th Century Fox Television (Now 20th Television)
Parent TVS Entertainment (Television South plc) (1988–1993)
International Family Entertainment (1993–1997)
News Corporation (1997–1998)
Divisions MTM Television Distribution
MTM International
MTM Home Video
MTM Records

MTM Enterprises (also known as MTM Productions) was an American independent production company established in 1969 by Mary Tyler Moore and her then-husband Grant Tinker to produce The Mary Tyler Moore Show for CBS. The name for the production company was drawn from Mary Tyler Moore's initials. [1]

Contents

With MTM, Mary Tyler Moore would become one of the first women to own a television production company. MTM became very successful, producing a number of successful television programs during the 1970s and 1980s. The Walt Disney Company through its subsidiary, 20th Television owns all of its programs.

History

In 1969, MTM Enterprises was organized by both Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker, [2] [3] [4] and hired James L. Brooks and Allan Burns to create her sitcom. [5]

In 1971, co-founder Grant Tinker was forced to quit 20th Century-Fox Television due to conflicts with how to run MTM, in order to maintain a full-time job at the company. [6]

In 1976, MTM teamed up with Metromedia Producers Corporation to start a variety show, a first for first-run syndication. [7] Earlier that year, the company had hired Bud Rifkin to launch a syndicated division. [8]

In 1977, Ed. Weinberger, James L. Brooks, David Davis, Allan Burns, and Stan Daniels left MTM Enterprises for Paramount Pictures and started the John Charles Walters Company.[ citation needed ]

Tinker oversaw MTM's operation until leaving the company.

In 1981, Tinker become chairman of NBC. Lawyers backing NBC's then-owner RCA convinced Tinker to sell his remaining shares of MTM. Moore and Arthur Price, her business manager and company vice president, bought Tinker's shares; [9] Price subsequently was elevated to president. Tinker later regretted leaving MTM, believing that the company started to decline without him. [10]

Most of MTM's programs aired on CBS. For many years, MTM and CBS co-owned the CBS Studio Center in Studio City California, where a majority of their programs were filmed and videotaped.

In 1986, MTM launched its own syndicated arm MTM Television Distribution, to handle off-net syndication of the MTM shows, and subsequently courted to continue its relations with syndicator Jim Victory to sell off-network rights to MTM's shows like Hill Street Blues and WKRP in Cincinnati , all the way up until the late 1980s as part of a contract settlement. [11] [12] In 1988, MTM was sold to UK broadcaster and independent station for the South and South East of England TVS Entertainment for $320 million. [10] A year afterwards, MTM Television Distribution began producing its own programming for the first-run syndication market. [13]

After TVS lost its franchise to broadcast on the ITV network to Meridian Broadcasting, a number of American companies (and to a lesser extent, Meridian) were interested in acquiring MTM, with Pat Robertson's International Family Entertainment making the first offer. [14] A small number of shareholders, including Julian Tregar, rejected the offer from IFE. In November, TCW Capital made a bid, [15] but withdrew it a few weeks later after reviewing the accounts of TVS. [16] IFE increased its offer to £45.3M, but continued to be opposed by Julian Tregar, who blocked the deal on technical grounds, alleging that the offer was too low. [16] [17] IFE finally increased the offer to appease the remaining shareholders, [18] [19] and on January 23, 1993, their offer of £56.5M was finally accepted. [20] The deal went into effect on February 1, 1993 (the month after Meridian began its first broadcast).

In 1995, Michael Ogiens, formerly running CBS, as well as his production company Ogiens/Kane Company, joined MTM to serve as president of the company in hopes that MTM would be restored to its independent production glory. [21] The following year, Josh Kane, fellow partner of the Ogiens/Kane Company joined MTM as vice president for the East Coast offices. [22] In 1997, MTM hit layoffs at the syndication unit after the cancellation of the show The Cape . [23]

In 1997, International Family Entertainment was sold to News Corporation, and folded into its subsidiary Fox Kids Worldwide, eventually renamed to Fox Family Worldwide (a joint venture between Fox and Saban Entertainment). [24] [25] MTM's library assets however, were transferred over to 20th Television who retained them, even after Fox Family Worldwide was sold to The Walt Disney Company in 2001. [26] Until then, The Pretender and Good News were the last surviving shows to be produced by MTM, as 20th Century Fox Television inherited both shows in 1997 (when News Corporation purchased MTM) and 1998 (when MTM ceased operations) respectively. MTM's library became property of Disney following its acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. Disney holds the rights of most of MTM’s shows.

MTM Enterprises also included a record label, MTM Records  — distributed by Capitol Records  — which was in existence from 1984 to 1988. [27]

Television

MTM series
TitleGenreFirst air dateLast air dateNumber of SeasonsNetworkCo-production company(s)Note(s)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show SitcomSeptember 19, 1970March 19, 19777 CBS
The Bob Newhart Show September 16, 1972April 1, 19786
Rhoda September 9, 1974December 9, 19785First spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Texas Wheelers September 12, 1974July 7, 19751 ABC
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers September 14, 1974December 7, 1974CBS
The Bob Crane Show March 6, 1975June 12, 1975 NBC
Doc August 16, 1975October 30, 19762CBS
Phyllis September 8, 1975March 13, 1977Second spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Three for the Road AdventureSeptember 14, 1975November 30, 19751
The Lorenzo & Henrietta Music ShowMusical-varietySeptember 13, 1976October 11, 1976 Syndicated
The Tony Randall Show SitcomSeptember 23, 1976March 25, 19782ABC (Season 1)
CBS (Season 2)
The Betty White Show September 12, 1977January 2, 19781CBS
Lou Grant Journalism dramaSeptember 20, 1977September 13, 19825Third spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
We've Got Each Other SitcomOctober 1, 1977January 14, 19781
WKRP in Cincinnati September 18, 1978April 21, 19824
Mary VarietySeptember 24, 1978October 8, 19781
The White Shadow Sports dramaNovember 27, 1978March 16, 19813
The Mary Tyler Moore Hour VarietyMarch 4, 1979May 13, 19791
The Last Resort SitcomSeptember 19, 1979March 17, 1980
Paris Police dramaSeptember 29, 1979January 15, 1980
Hill Street Blues January 15, 1981May 12, 19877NBC
Remington Steele Private eye dramaOctober 1, 1982February 17, 19875
Newhart SitcomOctober 25, 1982May 21, 19908CBS
St. Elsewhere Medical dramaOctober 26, 1982May 25, 19886NBC
Bay City Blues Sports dramaOctober 25, 1983November 15, 19831
The Duck Factory SitcomApril 12, 1984July 11, 1984
Mary December 11, 1985April 8, 1986CBS
Fresno ComedyNovember 16, 1986November 20, 1986miniseries
The Popcorn Kid SitcomMarch 23, 1987April 24, 1987
Beverly Hills Buntz November 5, 1987April 22, 1988NBCSpin-off of Hill Street Blues
Eisenhower and Lutz March 14, 1988June 20, 1988CBS
Annie McGuire October 26, 1988December 28, 1988
Tattingers DramedyApril 26, 1989NBC
FM SitcomAugust 17, 1989June 28, 1990
Rescue 911 RealitySeptember 5, 1989August 27, 19968CBSArnold Shapiro ProductionsU.S. distribution only, produced by CBS Entertainment Productions
America's Funniest Home Videos ClipNovember 26, 1989Present32ABCdistribution for pre-2001 episodes only; currently distributed by sister company Disney Entertainment Distribution
City SitcomJanuary 29, 1990June 8, 19901CBSCBS Entertainment Productions [N 1]
Capital News Journalism dramaApril 9, 1990April 30, 1990ABC
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill Legal dramaSeptember 17, 1990May 30, 19922CBS
Evening Shade SitcomSeptember 21, 1990May 23, 19944CBS Entertainment Productions, Bloodworth-Thomason Mozark Productions and Burt Reynolds Productionsdistributed outside of U.S. television by Paramount Global Content Distribution
You Take the Kids December 15, 1990January 12, 19911CBS Entertainment Productions and Paul Haggis Productions [N 1]
The New WKRP in Cincinnati September 14, 1991May 22, 19932Syndicated
Graham Kerr's KitchenCookingSeptember 30, 1992March 19, 19953distribution only
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman WesternJanuary 1, 1993May 16, 19986CBSThe Sullivan CompanyU.S. TV distribution only; produced by CBS Productions
Xuxa EducationalSeptember 13, 1993December 31, 19931SyndicatedLynch Entertainment
Christy DramaApril 3, 1994August 2, 19952CBSThe Rosenzweig Company
Snowy River: The McGregor Saga AdventureSeptember 23, 1994May 24, 19984 The Family Channel aired on Nine Network in Australia
Boogies Diner SitcomSeptember 17, 1994January 1, 19951SyndicatedFranklin/Waterman and King Street Entertainment [N 1]
Family Challenge Game showOctober 2, 1995September 7, 19972The Family ChannelWoody Fraser Enterprises and Maple Palm Productions
Sparks SitcomAugust 26, 1996March 2, 19982 UPN The Weinberger Company
The Cape AdventureSeptember 9, 1996May 19, 19971SyndicatedZaloom-Mayfield Productions
The Pretender Science fictionSeptember 19, 1996May 13, 20004NBCNBC Studiosseason 1 only; distributed outside the U.S. by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios
Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. SitcomSeptember 14, 1996December 14, 19961CBSKipper Productions and Victoria Productions
Shopping Spree Game showSeptember 30, 1996August 14, 19982The Family Channel Jay Wolpert Enterprises
Wait 'Til You Have KidsJanuary 31, 19971
It Takes Two March 10, 1997May 30, 1997Mark Phillips Philms & Telephision
Good News SitcomAugust 25, 1997May 19, 1998UPNThe Weinberger Company
  1. 1 2 3 No longer distributed by 20th Television
MTM specials
TitleGenreOriginal air dateNetworkCo-production company(s)Note(s)
Carlton Your Doorman Animated comedyMay 21, 1980 CBS Pilot for proposed spin-off of Rhoda

CBS connection

MTM programs appeared almost exclusively on CBS until the early 1980s, when Grant Tinker assumed the additional role of president of NBC. Soon, NBC picked up a number of MTM shows. His intention was to leave NBC after 5 years (in 1986) and return to MTM, taking over the reins from interim MTM president Arthur Price. However, Price fired many of the key players in the company's ranks, and by 1986 they had few shows left on the schedules ( Hill Street Blues , St. Elsewhere and Remington Steele were all nearing the ends of their runs, leaving Newhart as the sole entrant on the schedule).

Mimsie the Cat

Mimsie the Cat (1968 - c. June 1988) was a live-action tabby cat seen in the company's logo, in a spoof of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's long-running Leo the Lion mascot. Mimsie was borrowed from a local shelter and then owned by one of the MTM staff (not by Moore and Tinker, who named the cat).

In the standard version of the logo, as first used on The Mary Tyler Moore Show , Mimsie appears in a crouched position, looks up at the camera, and meows once. Mimsie would not meow for the camera crew, so they eventually used footage of her yawning in reverse, with the "meow" added.

By the 1980s, there were many different variants of the logo, with Mimsie often appearing in different costumes, as well as being replaced by other cats, corresponding to the style and theme of the particular programs, including the following:

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References

  1. ↑ "MOORE, MARY TYLER - The Museum of Broadcast Communications". Museum.tv. 1995-11-26. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  2. ↑ "MTM Enterprises. – Records, 1970-1990". Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. wisc.edu. 6 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Mary Tyler Moore". Britannica.com. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Simonson, Robert (January 25, 2017). "Tony and Emmy Winner Mary Tyler Moore Dies at 80" . Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Sims, David (25 January 2017). "Remembering Mary Tyler Moore". The Atlantic.
  6. ↑ "Tinker severs ties with Fox" (PDF). Broadcasting . 1971-01-18. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  7. ↑ "Programming Briefs" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1976-06-14. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  8. ↑ "Closed Circuit" (PDF). Broadcasting . 1976-05-10. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  9. ↑ Schwartz, Tony (July 1, 1981). "Silverman Quits At NBC; Tinker to Succeed Him". The New York Times .
  10. 1 2 Carter, Bill (November 27, 1989). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Tinker Looks Beyond 'USA Today on TV'". The New York Times.
  11. ↑ Dempsey, John (1986-09-17). "Victory No Quitter; Hits Road Again With MTM Syndie Spoils". Variety . p. 47.
  12. ↑ Daniels, Bill (1986-10-22). "MTM Distribution Raises Curtain On Sales Offices". Variety . p. 457.
  13. ↑ "First-run foray" (PDF). Broadcasting . February 13, 1989. p. 73. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "COMPANY NEWS; Pat Robertson Buys Parent Of MTM for $68.5 Million". The New York Times. (September 23, 1992).
  15. ↑ Second potential bidder for TVS. The Times . (London). November 4, 1992.
  16. 1 2 Evangelist may be sole runner for TVS. Martin Waller. The Times. November 26, 1992.
  17. ↑ TVS bid opposed. The Times. December 11, 1992.
  18. ↑ Evangelist to lift TVS offer. The Times. January 9, 1993.
  19. ↑ TVS dissidents try for a better offer. Martin Waller, The Times. (London). Wednesday, 6 January 1993
  20. ↑ Robertson wins TVS. The Times. January 23, 1993.
  21. ↑ "Ogiens promises to make over MTM" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1995-12-04. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  22. ↑ "Fates & Fortunes" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1996-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  23. ↑ Hontz, Jenny (March 14, 1997). "Pinkslips for trio of MTM Worldwide exex". Variety . Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  24. ↑ Peers, Martin; Richmond, Ray; Levin, Gary (June 12, 1997). "Family affair for Fox Kids". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  25. ↑ Hofmeister, Sallie (July 17, 1997). "News Corp. Taps Fox Kids' Exec". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  26. ↑ "NBC To Reboot 'Remington Steele' As Comedy With Ruben Fleischer". Deadline Hollywood . 9 October 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  27. ↑ Kingsbury, Paul (2004). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Sourcebooks, Inc. p. 359. ISBN   978-0-1951-7608-7 . Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  28. ↑ Weingarten, Paul. "The Kitten That Roared". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 2021-02-25.
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