Jamie Tarses, one of the most dynamic television executives of her time, who helped build NBC’s must-see TV programming and became the first woman to lead a Big Three programming division, died on Monday after complications from a cardiac event last fall. according to the Tarses family. She was 56 years old.
Tarses was born in the industry as the daughter of famous producer and comedy writer Jay Tarses. As a network executive, she made a big impact on NBC in the early 1990s, developing “Friends” and “Mad About You”. She made headlines when she moved to ABC Entertainment as president during a turbulent era for the network and the then new parent company, Disney.
At 32, Tarses was the first woman to head a network entertainment division – and one of the youngest executives to lead a Big Three – in her role as president of ABC Entertainment from 1996 to 1999. During her tenure, she oversaw series including “Sports Night” by Aaron Sorkin, “The Practice” by David E. Kelley, “Dharma & Greg” and “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place”.
Born Sara James Tarses in Pittsburgh in 1964, graduated from Williams College began her entertainment career in 1985 as an assistant on “Saturday Night Live”, before becoming casting director at Lorimar and joining NBC in 1987 after being hired by then NBC. President of entertainment, Brandon Tartikoff. Tarses was instrumental in the development of some of the network’s best-known successes. Your star went up accordingly.
“A few hours after meeting her, I felt that I had known her for years,” said longtime friend and collaborator Gabrielle Allan-Greenberg in a statement shared by the Tarses family. “Jamie was always there when you needed her and valued your friendships more than anyone I know. She was brilliant, fast, curious and read everything she could. Her mind worked at an incredible rate and she loved to challenge it. There was no puzzle, mystery or riddle that she couldn’t solve, which made her a brilliant editor, storyteller and producer. She loved getting people together and they loved being around her. Unbelievably loyal and champion of creativity, she loved to laugh and made everyone feel like the funniest person in the room. “
During her time at ABC, The Wall Street Journal wrote: “At a time when all major networks were losing young viewers, Ms. Tarses seemed to speak the language of that coveted audience. She had what is known in TV programming jargon as ‘taste’, or the ability to recognize ideas, writers and hot stars. ”But her prominent position and status as an executive pioneer also meant that she was subjected to a great deal of scrutiny and coverage that would certainly have a very different tone today than in 1996 and 1997.
“Jamie was a pioneer in the true sense of the word. She broke stereotypes and ideas about what an executive could achieve and paved the way for others, at a cost to herself. She was a mentor and friend, and many of us owe her a lot, ”said 20th Television President Karey Burke in a statement. “As an executive and producer, she was a champion of storytellers, having been created by one of the greatest names of all time. Your talent and contribution to our community will be missed. “
After ABC, Tarses had a productive career as a producer, producing “My Boys”, “Happy Endings” and “Marry Me”. Most recently, she produced “The Wilds” from Amazon and “The Mysterious Benedict Society” from Disney Plus, the last premiere this year.
She leaves her partner Paddy Aubrey and their two children, Wyatt and Sloane, as well as their parents, Rachel and Jay, brothers Mallory and Matt, sister-in-law Katie Tarses, three nieces and nephew. His father Jay Tarses is best known as the creator of “The days and nights of Molly Dodd” and “Buffalo Bill”.
“Despite all her talent and success in entertainment, Jamie was more proud and more passionate about her two children,” said her brother Matt Tarses, a writer with whom she often collaborated. “She was never happier than when she was with Wyatt and Sloane.”
Tarses has spent years volunteering at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and has been involved in charitable organizations, including Step Up, Save the Children and Young Storytellers. Her family is asking for donations to be made to Young Storytellers.
“Jamie had such a true love for films, television, theater, books and ideas that they transcended his work and inspired him absolutely,” said friend and collaborator Betsy Thomas. “She was the biggest fan.”