Brandon Stoddard ’54 was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in Beverly Hills on March 11, along with entertainers Jay Leno and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and three others. His thoughtful acceptance speech emphasized the values with which he grew up and the need to take risks to make those values manifest.
In her Variety article, correspondent Francesca Bacardi summarized Brandon’s work:
Stoddard Reigned Over Minis’ Glory Days
Having helped create the ABC Novel for Television phenomenon, Brandon Stoddard, who became the network’s president in 1985, harks back to the glory days of the miniseries, when “Roots,” “The Winds of War” and “The Thorn Birds” became the three most watched long-form dramas in TV history. During his tenure, the network was also home to such major hits as “The Wonder Years,” “Full House” and “Roseanne.” Even though Stoddard departed ABC in 1989 because, he said at the time, “It’s just no fun any more,” he remained connected to the medium during a 10-year tenure as a professor at USC’s School for Cinema and Television, where he taught graduate students.
Listen to Brandon’s acceptance speech.
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