Seymour Berns (May 30, 1919 – May 16, 1982) was an American television producer, director and executive. He worked in American network television from the early postwar years through the 1980s, with credits including The Jack Benny Program, The Red Skelton Show, The Red Skelton Hour, and the Canadian sitcom The Trouble with Tracy. Berns received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including directing nominations for The Jack Benny Show and The Red Skelton Show.
Early life and education Berns was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 30, 1919. He moved to California in 1935 and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1942.
Career Berns began his broadcasting career at CBS, where he worked as an usher before moving into production and directing. A 1950 profile in the Radio and Television Directors Guild Yearbook listed early credits including Hollywood Barn Dance, Melodies America Loves, House Party with Art Linkletter, Double or Nothing, Tricks and Treats, Hollywood Opportunity, Hollywood House, Dead Letter Office, and Premium Quiz. A 1982 death notice in Broadcasting similarly described Berns as having begun his career as a radio director on such programs as House Party, Double or Nothing, Hollywood Barn Dance, and Free for All during the 1940s and 1950s.
By the late 1950s, Berns was working as a director and producer on The Jack Benny Program. The Paley Center for Media lists Berns as director of the 1959 episode “Airport Sketch” and as producer and director of the 1959 episode “Jack Paar Show”. He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1959 for Best Direction of a Single Program of a Comedy Series for The Jack Benny Show.
Berns was also associated with The Red Skelton Show and The Red Skelton Hour. The Television Academy lists him as an Emmy nominee for The Red Skelton Show in 1962 and for The Red Skelton Hour in 1963 and 1966. His 1982 death notice described him as producer and director of The Red Skelton Show and The Jack Benny Show during the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1969, Broadcasting reported that Berns had spent most of his career as a producer-director for CBS and was responsible for the television output of National General Television Productions. While at National General, Berns produced and directed The Trouble with Tracy, a Canadian sitcom made for CTV. The History of Canadian Broadcasting states that the series was originally piloted as The Married Youngs and was renamed by Berns after his daughter Tracy. Library and Archives Canada identifies Berns as director and producer of the series, which was produced by National General Television Productions and CTV.
Berns later worked as a television executive. According to his death notice, he was production vice president of Columbia Pictures Television before joining PolyGram Television in 1980. At the time of his death, he was vice president of production and development at PolyGram Television.
Berns was also active in television-industry organizations. A Purdue University archival record identifies him as president of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1969.
Personal life and death Berns was married to Ann Berns. They had a daughter, Tracy, for whom The Trouble with Tracy was named.
Berns died of cancer on May 16, 1982, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
Awards and nominations The Television Academy lists Berns as receiving five Primetime Emmy Award nominations:
Year Award Work Result 1959 Best Direction of a Single Program of a Comedy Series The Jack Benny ShowNominated1962Outstanding Directorial Achievement in ComedyThe Red Skelton ShowNominated1963Outstanding Directorial Achievement in ComedyThe Red Skelton HourNominated1966Outstanding Variety SeriesThe Red Skelton Hour (Berns was producer)Nominated1970Outstanding Directing for a Comedy SeriesThe Second Bill Cosby SpecialNominated
Selected credits
The Jack Benny Program – director; producer/director The Red Skelton Show / The Red Skelton Hour – director; producer The Trouble with Tracy – director and producer
References
External links
Seymour Berns at the Television Academy Seymour Berns at Television Academy Interviews