Co-founder of MTM Enterprises, a renowned television production company behind iconic shows like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Hill Street Blues", revolutionizing the sitcom and drama genres.
Grant Tinker, the renowned American television executive, is best known for his transformative tenure as chairman and CEO of NBC from 1981 to 1986, during which he led the network to unprecedented ratings success and commissioned some of the most iconic shows in television history.
As a cofounder of MTM Enterprises, a pioneering television production company, Tinker was instrumental in shaping the landscape of American sitcoms and dramas, producing classics such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, and Hill Street Blues.
Born on January 11, 1926, in Stamford, Connecticut, Grant Almerin Tinker was the son of Margaret (née Hessin) and Arthur Almerin Tinker. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces Reserve, after which he graduated from Dartmouth College.
Tinker's television career began at NBC, where he was involved in developing hit shows such as I Spy, Dr. Kildare, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He later joined Universal Television and 20th Century Fox Television, further honing his skills as a television producer and executive.
In 1969, Tinker formed MTM Enterprises with his then-wife, Mary Tyler Moore. The company's first television series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, was created and produced by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns, whom Tinker had hired from Room 222. MTM Enterprises went on to produce a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful shows, cementing Tinker's reputation as a visionary television producer.
After his divorce from Mary Tyler Moore in 1981, Tinker left MTM to become the chairman and CEO of NBC. During his tenure, the network experienced a remarkable turnaround, with shows such as The Cosby Show, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Night Court, and Hill Street Blues dominating the airwaves and propelling NBC to the top of the ratings charts.
Tinker's contributions to television have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including multiple Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of television producers and executives, ensuring that his impact on the industry will be felt for years to come.
Tinker married Mary Tyler Moore in 1962 and had two sons, Mark and John, who are also television producers. After leaving NBC in 1986, Tinker went on to form GTG (Grant Tinker-Gannett) Entertainment, formerly TG Productions. He passed away on November 28, 2016, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, creativity, and ratings success that continues to shape the television industry today.
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