THE CENTIDAY FRIDAY FIVE: ROBERT SHARENOW
Just pick the hits.
This week we’re honored by the presence of Robert Sharenow. Robert is an award-winning media executive, television producer, and writer. He currently serves as President of Programming for A+E Global Media, overseeing all creative for their brands, including A&E, History Channel, and Lifetime. Under his leadership, his teams have won multiple Emmys, Peabody Awards, and received an Academy Award and several Oscar nominations. Prior to becoming an executive, his television writing and producing credits include This Week in History, Michael Moore’s TV Nation, and Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego. He has written several award-winning novels, including The Berlin Boxing Club, winner of the Sydney Taylor Award.
1. What’s the biggest creative challenge you face as a television executive?
Having started on the production side as a writer and producer, it’s always challenging to manage the clash of business reality in a creative context. I remember when I first became an executive how shocked I was that everyone focused so much on ratings and revenue, with far less regard for the all of the creative effort that went into making something. Luckily, I work for one of the only media companies run by a former producer (as were his two predecessors), so there is an appreciation for how the sausage is made. But ultimately, financial considerations drive all companies and media is no exception. I guess that’s why they call it ‘show business’ and not ‘show art.’
2. What’s the most rewarding or fulfilling experience you’ve had in the business?
For three glorious years, I was head writer and then senior producer on a series called This Week in History, which was a 60 Minutes-style magazine show for the History Channel. As a former graduate student and history buff, I loved the subject matter and the endless variety of stories And I also got to collaborate with an amazing group of smart and creative people, some of whom became good friends. I said to my wife then and now, they wouldn’t have had to pay me to do that job. But I’m glad they did.
3. Do you have a philosophy or set of principles that guides you as an executive?
Always appreciate and respect your audience and push for excellence no matter the genre or price point. Some executives bring an elitist view to the content they make or look down on the audience. I believe an executive’s job is to bring out the best and most exciting creative version of whatever they are overseeing, be it Masterpiece Theater or professional wrestling.
4. What’s your dream show that never got made, or hasn’t yet been made?
Until recently I would’ve said a massive documentary on WWII as nothing of scale had been done since The World at War with Laurence Olivier in 1973. We just launched WWII with Tom Hanks, a 20-hour documentary series, which has been years in the making. In general, I’m fairly critical of our work, but the team did an incredible job with this one. A dream fulfilled with scary timeliness.
5. What was your most awkward celebrity encounter?
I was friendly with the brother of a celebrity. We dined one night and the next day, I randomly bumped into his sister on a set, having never met her. When I cheerfully introduced myself and mentioned the happy coincidence of having just dined with her brother, she started screaming at me about what an asshole he was, strongly implying that any friend of his must be one too. And this was in front of a set full of people.
Bonus question: What should we have asked you, and what’s the answer?
“What’s the strangest question you’ve been asked by a business person about TV?”
How come you don’t just pick the hit shows? Some version of that question has been asked of me on several occasions.