Linda Mancuso, Programmer At Abc Family, Dies
By Cynthia Littleton
Tuesday, December 9 2003
Tuesday, December 9 2003
Published on AllBusiness.com
Linda Mancuso, head of programming at ABC Family Channel and a longtime NBC executive who helped launch the teen comedy genre with "Saved by the Bell," died Sunday of cancer at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. She was 44.
Mancuso had spent the past year as senior vp, overseeing all programming at ABC Family Channel. Before joining ABC Family late last year, Mancuso spent more than 20 years at NBC in a variety of programming posts. She was part of the team that developed "ER" and served as the current programming executive on the hit medical drama in its first two seasons.
Mancuso had a very successful run in the 1990s as the partner of NBC-based producer Peter Engel. The duo developed the slew of live-action teen comedies that became a staple of NBC's Saturday morning lineup. In addition to "Saved by the Bell," which spawned two spinoff series, the Peter Engel Prods. banner was home to "Hang Time," "Malibu, CA," "USA High" and "City Guys," among other shows.
Even as her condition worsened in recent months, Mancuso remained dedicated to her work on the team tasked with overhauling the channel. She was attending programming meetings as late as last week in a wheelchair, friends and colleagues said.
"She was the most warm, loving, caring, kind and generous person I've ever known," said Touchstone TV president Stephen McPherson, a close friend of Mancuso's. "She was nourished by other people's success, and that's rare in a business where so many people thrive on other people's adversity."
Mancuso was particularly proud of her track record as head of Engel Prods. and of the many actors, writers and directors who got their starts on their shows, McPherson added.
In her short tenure at ABC Family, Mancuso spearheaded the development of two unscripted series that have recently premiered to positive critical reviews, "Switched!" and "Knock First."
"She really set a very high bar, not just as an executive but as a person," said Anne Sweeney, president of ABC Cable Networks Group and Disney Channel Worldwide. "She expected people to rise to the occasion in their work but also to be generous to one another."
Mancuso is survived by a sister, Laura; two brothers, Rob and Rick; and four nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass will be offered Saturday in Chicago; a Los Angeles memorial service is being planned for Jan. 14. The family requests that donations be made to the Linda Mancuso Memorial Fund at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Mancuso had spent the past year as senior vp, overseeing all programming at ABC Family Channel. Before joining ABC Family late last year, Mancuso spent more than 20 years at NBC in a variety of programming posts. She was part of the team that developed "ER" and served as the current programming executive on the hit medical drama in its first two seasons.
Mancuso had a very successful run in the 1990s as the partner of NBC-based producer Peter Engel. The duo developed the slew of live-action teen comedies that became a staple of NBC's Saturday morning lineup. In addition to "Saved by the Bell," which spawned two spinoff series, the Peter Engel Prods. banner was home to "Hang Time," "Malibu, CA," "USA High" and "City Guys," among other shows.
Even as her condition worsened in recent months, Mancuso remained dedicated to her work on the team tasked with overhauling the channel. She was attending programming meetings as late as last week in a wheelchair, friends and colleagues said.
"She was the most warm, loving, caring, kind and generous person I've ever known," said Touchstone TV president Stephen McPherson, a close friend of Mancuso's. "She was nourished by other people's success, and that's rare in a business where so many people thrive on other people's adversity."
Mancuso was particularly proud of her track record as head of Engel Prods. and of the many actors, writers and directors who got their starts on their shows, McPherson added.
In her short tenure at ABC Family, Mancuso spearheaded the development of two unscripted series that have recently premiered to positive critical reviews, "Switched!" and "Knock First."
"She really set a very high bar, not just as an executive but as a person," said Anne Sweeney, president of ABC Cable Networks Group and Disney Channel Worldwide. "She expected people to rise to the occasion in their work but also to be generous to one another."
Mancuso is survived by a sister, Laura; two brothers, Rob and Rick; and four nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass will be offered Saturday in Chicago; a Los Angeles memorial service is being planned for Jan. 14. The family requests that donations be made to the Linda Mancuso Memorial Fund at Good Samaritan Hospital.
