From Variety.com
AARON SPELLING DIES AT 83
Aaron Spelling, one of television's most prolific and commercially successful independent producers, died Friday at his mansion in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke on June 18.
He was 83.
With an uncanny knack for programming for younger audiences, Spelling was responsible for some of the most successful TV series of all time, including "The Mod Squad," "Starsky and Hutch," "Charlie's Angels," "The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," "Dynasty" and "Beverly Hills, 90210."
Like Fred Silverman, the executive he worked closely with at ABC, Spelling was revered by some for his natural ability to predict what the country wanted to see and criticized by others for appealing to the lowest common denominator. Like it or not, Spelling's primetime fantasies helped shape television programming for more than four decades.
Spelling's other hit series included "Melrose Place," "Burke's Law," "T.J. Hooker," "Matt Houston," "Hart to Hart" and "Hotel." He kept his hand in 21st-century TV with series including "7th Heaven" and "Summerland."
I can honestly say I've seen episodes from every one of Spelling's series. I was a huge fan of The Mod Squad when I was a kid and I grew up with his work. His energy, drive and innovation will be missed.
3 comments:
My earliest exposure to the world of Aaron Spelling came in the late 70s with Love Boat and Fantasy Island. I absolutely loved both shows and never missed an episode.
Lately, I've been dismayed by all the turmoil in the Spelling household, with Tori's scandalous divorce/remarriage, and her TV series which spoofs her family and ultimately alienated her parents. Fathers Day was the first time Tori had spoken to her dad since last Fall. She and her mother are still not speaking to each other.
What an awful way to reunite.
KJC (who thinks T's new Canadian hubby lucked out with the upcoming inheritance)
Like everyone I knew he was prolific but when I read this on a news site, I went to good old IMDB and looked him up.
Bloody Hell, prolific? Did this guy ever sleep? I had respect for the man before, but it went up even further seeing the sheer number of projects he was involved in.
cheers
Dave
If ever there was a producer with the Midas touch, Spelling was it. Like his shows or not, people watched them. In droves. And age certainly didn't dim his sensibilities. He was on top of his game till the very end.
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