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    Don Ohlmeyer, longtime network TV executive, dies at 72

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1792 Views
    This April 14, 1978, file photo shows TV producer Don Ohlmeyer at a mobile TV control center during a golf tournament in Rancho Mirage, Calif. (AP Photo, File)
    INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) --

    Don Ohlmeyer, the "Monday Night Football" producer who came up with the phrase "Must See TV" in leading NBC to the No. 1 prime-time spot, died Sunday. He was 72.

    "It is with heavy hearts we share that Don Ohlmeyer, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, has passed away at age of 72 due to cancer," Ohlmeyer's family said in a statement. "Surrounded by loved ones, he died peacefully at his home in Indian Wells."

    Longtime friend Al Michaels announced Ohlmeyer's death while broadcasting NBC's "Sunday Night Football" game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.

    Ohlmeyer won 16 Emmys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Peabody Awards.

    "Don Ohlmeyer was a towering figure in sports and entertainment who had an indelible impact both on NBC and our industry," NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement. "His legacy will live on not only because he is directly responsible for some of the biggest hits in television – 'Friends,' 'ER' and 'Will & Grace' to name a few – but also because he brought NBC to a new level of classy, sophisticated programming of the highest quality which we all still aspire to achieve today."

    Ohlmeyer became producer of "MNF" in 1972, teaming with director Chet Forte and the on-air crew of Howard Cosell, Don Meredith and Frank Gifford. In 2000 in his second "MNF" stint, Ohlmeyer put comedian Dennis Miller in the booth.

    Ohlmeyer first worked for ABC Sports as a gofer while studying at Notre Dame and became a full-time production assistant in 1967 under Roone Arledge, working on "Wide World of Sports." Along with his "Monday Night Football" work, he directed the network's Olympic coverage and created "The Superstars." Later at NBC Sports, he produced World Series and Super Bowl broadcasts.

    After running his own Ohlmeyer Communications Company, he returned to NBC in 1993 as president of its entertainment division. He came up with "Must See TV" in the 1990s, when NBC's rating soared with such hits as "Seinfeld," ''Friends," ''ER" and "Frasier."

    ESPN, now the home of "MNF" said it planned to acknowledge Ohlmeyer on Monday night. Ohlmeyer Communications once was a part-owner of ESPN, and Ohlmeyer served as an ombudsman for cable network from 2009 to 2011.

    "Don was a legendary television executive who always sought innovative ways to tell stories and captivate audiences," ESPN said in a statement. "His groundbreaking work on ABC's 'Monday Night Football' helped turn that franchise into a prime-time television hit."

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    India’s legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal dies at age 90

    Tuesday, December 24, 2024
    Indian film directors Shyam Benegal, right, is seen during a discussion on Indian Cinema in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A, File)

    Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s, has died after suffering from chronic kidney disease. He was 90.

    His contribution to cinema was recognized as a director, editor and screenwriter. He was also credited with a new genre of filmmaking.

    Benegal passed away on Monday at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital, and his cremation will take place on Tuesday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing his daughter Piya.

    "Benegal had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," Piya said.

    Many paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker on social media platform X.

    Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote that Benegal told stories without pretense. "They were raw and real, about the struggles of ordinary people. His films had craft and conviction."

    "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shyam Benegal, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

    He was a mentor to top Indian actors, including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri who made their mark in Bollywood's popular cinema as well.

    "I have lost my foster father, a man to whom I owe more than I can say," posted Naseeruddin Shah.

    "Shyam Benegal was not just a legend; he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations," said actor Manoj Bajpayee.

    Benegal came into the limelight in the 1970s, with a series of films that challenged mainstream Bollywood. His films Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977)... Read More

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