Fox Television Ent. Group chairman Sandy Grushow announced on Jan. 5, 2004 he had resigned his post effective immediately to launch a Twentieth Century Fox-based production company called Phase Two. His contract was set to expire in summer 2004.
“This was a very complicated decision for me to make,” Grushow said in a statement. “I’ve accomplished more than I ever thought possible as a buyer and seller of TV shows, but as I contemplated my future over the holidays, I concluded that it was in my best interest to exercise the ‘production’ option negotiated as part of my current contract rather than entering into another long-term executive agreement with the company.
“I’ve spent almost my entire career at Fox – from helping to launch a network that no one thought would ever succeed, to leading the television studio to industry prominence, to leading the network to a record three consecutive second-place season finishes, including two historic sweeps victories. Needless to say, it’s been an extraordinary two decades. Through the years, I’ve been privileged to have Peter Chernin’s support and friendship and one of the nicest aspects of my deal is that we can continue this uniquely successful relationship in my new role as a Fox producer.”
Chernin, chairman/ceo of the Fox Group, said, “Sandy has been a close and valued colleague for almost 20 years and he will be missed. His contributions to the evolution of Fox are too numerous to list – but I can say that Sandy’s determination and savvy leadership over these past years have helped make the network and studio what they are today.I think he probably has had as long a tenure at the top of the fast-changing television industry as anyone in the business, and as much as I would have liked to continue to work shoulder to shoulder with Sandy as an executive, I certainly respect his decision and am looking forward to continuing our successful association.”
Grushow will not be replaced at Fox. Gail Berman, Fox Ent. President, and Twentieth Century Fox Television co-presidents Gary Newman and Dana Walden will report to Chernin.
Chairman of the Fox Television Ent. Group since November 1999, Grushow had overseen both the entertainment operations of Fox Broadcasting and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
Grushow first joined FOX in 1988 as svp of advertising and promotion, helping to create and launch the new network’s national brand identity as well as the
hit programs THE SIMPSONS, IN LIVING COLOR and BEVERLY HILLS 90210. He moved up to evp and later president of the Fox Entertainment Group, where he was responsible for taking the network from five to seven nights a week as well as such hit shows as X-FILES, MELROSE PLACE and PARTY OF FIVE.
When Grushow took the network reigns in 1999, FOX was ranked number three in the 18-49 demographic. Since that time, FOX has surged to new heights with three consecutive second place season finishes and hit programs like MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, 24, AMERICAN IDOL, OC, BERNIE MAC, JOE MILLIONAIRE, SIMPLE LIFE and the critically acclaimed ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.
As president of the studio from 1997–99, Grushow was responsible for overseeing such hit series as THE PRACTICE and DHARMA AND GREG on ABC; JUDGING AMY ON CBS; ALLY MCBEAL, KING OF THE HILL, THE SIMPSONS, FAMILY GUY and THE X-FILES on FOX; and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL and ROSWELL on the WB.
Grushow began his career as an intern at Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. in 1983, rising to vp of creative advertising. In that role, he developed advertising campaigns for some of the studio’s most successful films, including BROADCAST NEWS, BIG and DIE HARD.
