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Ted Harbert

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Ted Harbert
Born
Edward W. Harbert III

(1955-06-15) June 15, 1955 (age 69)
New York, U.S.
Alma materBoston University
Occupation(s)Broadcasting and television executive
Years active1973–present
Spouses
  • Susan Sands
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1987; div. 2006)​
  • Lisa Medrano
    ​
    (m. 2011)​
Children2

Edward W. Harbert III (born June 15, 1955) is an American broadcasting and television executive. He was the Chairman of NBC Broadcasting, and the President and CEO of the Comcast Entertainment Group, and Chairman of ABC Entertainment.[1]

Early life and career

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Born in 1955 in New York, Harbert is the son of Marna and Edward W. Harbert II, a pioneering television, advertising, and publishing executive.[2] One of six children, Harbert grew up immersed in television, and aspired to a career in the industry while still a child. In a 2005 article in Advertising Age, Harbert wrote, “I started poring over the ratings in Nielsen 'Pocket Pieces' when I was 9 years old. Two years later, I learned there were jobs at networks that picked shows and decided where they went on the schedule. From that moment, I wanted one of those jobs.”

Harbert began his broadcasting career while a student at Boston University’s college radio station, WTBU, where he worked alongside his friend, Howard Stern. After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Broadcasting and Film from the Boston University School of Communications, Harbert returned to New York, where he worked at ABC. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1981 and spent 20 years at ABC, rising from a feature film coordinator to president of ABC Entertainment.[3] At ABC, Harbert was closely associated with groundbreaking programs such as The Wonder Years,[4] NYPD Blue,[5] The Practice,[6] and My So Called Life,[7][8] among many others, and, during his tenure, ABC moved to the top in primetime programs in 1995 for the first time in 17 years, and led all the networks in profits for several years.[9]

In 1999, after a two-year post as a producer for DreamWorks TV, Harbert was named president of NBC Studios,[10] overseeing primetime, day time, and late night programs.[11]

In 2004, Harbert was appointed to the position of president, E! Networks.[12] In 2006, he was promoted to the newly created position of president and CEO at the Comcast Entertainment Group, overseeing E!, Style Network, G4, Comcast International Media Group, and Comcast Entertainment Productions.[13] When Harbert extended his contract with Comcast in 2010, it was noted that E!, in particular, had been a "big success" under his auspices, achieving six straight years of record ratings.[14]

Harbert was appointed to his most recent position in 2011, following Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal. He was responsible for NBC Advertising Sales, the NBC Owned Television Stations, Affiliate Relations, Network Research, Domestic Television Distribution, NBCUniversal Digital Entertainment and Special Events. In 2013, it was announced that Harbert would oversee NBC Late Night. During Harbert's tenure, The Tonight Show returned to its birthplace of New York City, a move coinciding with the transition of hosts from Jay Leno to Jimmy Fallon, while Seth Meyers took former Saturday Night Live castmate Fallon's slot on Late Night. Harbert left NBCUniversal in 2016.[15][16]

In pop culture

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Harbert, who appeared as himself in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 1, Episode 9),[17] is frequently referenced on the Howard Stern Show. Additionally, Harbert has been described as a "bold-faced name," due in part to a four-year relationship with comedian Chelsea Handler.[18]

Personal life

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Harbert was linked romantically with Chelsea Handler starting in 2005. They broke up in 2010 according to Handler because the two couldn't separate business and pleasure.[19]

Harbert and Lisa Medrano, a former human resources executive, were married on June 11, 2011.[20] Harbert has two children, Emily and Will, from a previous marriage.

He serves on the boards of Urban Arts Partnership,[21] the Friends of the Saban Free Clinic, City Year LA, Paley Center for Media, Hollywood Radio and Television Society, and the Executive Committee of Boston University's School of Communications.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Ted Harbert, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting". Comcast. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  2. ^ Variety Staff (10 April 2012). "Producer Edward W. Harbert II Dies at 88". April 10, 2012. Variety. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Ted Harbert, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  4. ^ Heisler, Steve (8 August 2012). "How Does The Wonder Years Hold Up?". August 8, 2012. Vulture. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  5. ^ Tucker, Ken. "NYPD Blue Review". October 1, 1993. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  6. ^ "The Practice". IMDB. 4 March 1997. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  7. ^ Jensen, Jeff. "Life As We Knew It". September 10, 2004. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 19, 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  8. ^ Lippman, John (5 August 1990). "ABC's Golden Boys". August 5, 1990. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  9. ^ Carter, Bill (8 January 1997). "The Other Shoe Drops: Executive Quits ABC". January 8, 1997. The New York Times. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  10. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (24 August 1999). "Harbert Takes Reins Of NBC Studios Unit". August 24, 1999. Variety. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Harbert Named To Head NBC Studios". August, 1999. Media Life. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  12. ^ Hoffmeister, Sallie (July 2004). "Comcast Expected to Name E! Chief". July 1, 2004. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Comcast Names Ted Harbert President, CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group". October 13, 2006. Comcast Corporate Press Release. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  14. ^ Adalian, Josef (12 January 2010). "E! Chief Ted Harbert Locks In New Five Year Deal". January 12, 2010. The Wrap. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  15. ^ Masters, Kim (May 2013). "NBC's Ted Harbert Adds Late-Night Oversight (Exclusive)". May 1, 2013. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  16. ^ Guthrie, Marisa; Abramovitch, Seth (September 15, 2016). "NBCUniversal Exec Ted Harbert Exiting Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Curb Your Enthusiasm". IMDb. 15 October 2000. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  18. ^ Everett, Cristina (26 January 2010). "Chelsea Handler Breaks Up With Her Boyfriend -- And Boss -- Ted Harbert". January 26, 2010. New York Daily News. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Chelsea Handler Says She and Ex Ted Harbert Couldn't Separate Business and Pleasure". The Hollywood Reporter. 4 September 2012.
  20. ^ THR Staff (23 August 2011). "Hitched, Hatched, Hired". August 23, 2011. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  21. ^ "About". urbanarts.org. Urban Arts Partnership. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Ted Harbert, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting". Comcast. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
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