Nora O'Brien passes away
Apparently, the NBC Vice President of Drama Programming, Nora O'Brien, suddenly passed away, a few days ago. Her obit is copied/pasted within the cut. Besides the obvious reason of showing my respects, I'm also posting it to give you the behind-the-scenes look. Many people, like O'Brien, toil for NBC, and should be commended for it.
While I have my long-standing criticisms of NBC, I direct it on the ones responsible (e.g., Zucker and Immelt). I realize that people like O'Brien just do what they have to. Sometimes, it works (SG-1); sometimes, it doesn't (the Bionic Woman remake). Even though, fans don't care for executives (with good reason), the same executives are just trying to carve their niche, too.
Just something to think about, right? My apologies for the belated ness.
Nora E. O'Brien of Santa Monica, CA and formerly of West Hartford, CT passed away suddenly on April 29 while on the production set of the new NBC series pilot "Parenthood" in Berkeley, California. Born in Hartford, CT, Nora was a veteran NBC Universal executive who currently served as Vice President of Drama Programming for NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
O'Brien was predeceased by her father, Frederick J. O’Brien, M.D., and is survived by her mother, Virginia (Ginny) O’Brien of West Hartford, CT, and her six siblings, their spouses, and 14 nieces and nephews: Michael, his wife Ann, and their children, Michael and Kelly, all of Cheshire, CT; Joan, her husband David Wildfeuer, and their daughter Rachel, all of Berwyn, PA; Timothy, his wife Linda, and their children, Sarah and Kevin, all of Wellesley, MA; Daniel, his wife Andrea, and their daughters Megan, Claire and Erin, all of West Hartford, CT; Erin, her husband Brian Earley, and their children Christina, Meredith, Sean and Brigid, all of Franklin, MA; and Carey, her husband Chris McGlynn, and sons Conor and Brendan, of Oakville, Ontario. O'Brien was also predeceased by her cherished niece Nicole Wildfeuer.
A joint statement issued from Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios; Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios, said:
"Nora O'Brien, a veteran programming executive who has worked at NBC Universal for the last six years (most recently in the network/studio drama department), passed away last night while on the set of NBC's drama pilot "Parenthood" in Berkeley, California. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of our beloved colleague Nora, who was respected and cherished by so many people in the entertainment community. She'll truly be missed by all of us."
O’Brien joined Universal Media Studios in her position in January 2008, after having worked at the SCI FI Channel, where she was Vice President of Original Programming. During her four-year tenure there, she developed episodic and long-form programs, including the critically acclaimed miniseries "The Lost Room," and she was the current programming executive on "Stargate" and "Stargate Atlantis." She also interfaced with SCIFI.com on programming ideas and initiatives.
In her studio position, O'Brien acted as both a development and a current executive for scripted series. Some of her projects included "Kings," "The Philanthropist," and "Parenthood." She also oversaw the drama "Bionic Woman," in addition to other pilot development.
Before the SCI FI Channel, O'Brien worked for five years as Vice President of Television for Trilogy Entertainment Group, overseeing development and current programming.
O'Brien was on the board of directors and was a passionate supporter of an organization called Hollywood HEART (www.hollywoodheart.org ), which raises money in support of camps for children afflicted by the AIDS virus.
O'Brien graduated from Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford, CT, and Boston College with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and communications. She then began her career as an associate producer for Reunion Productions in Boston, where she wrote and produced documentary films. She proceeded to work on both the production and post-production side of several feature films, including "School Ties," "Sliver," "Clear and Present Danger," "Outbreak" and "Starship Troopers."
Calling hours and funeral services are pending and will be held in West Hartford, CT. A memorial service will be held at St. Monica's Catholic Church with a reception to follow at Sonny McClean's in Santa Monica at a future date.
Link: http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-2009430182423-noraobrienobituar.html
While I have my long-standing criticisms of NBC, I direct it on the ones responsible (e.g., Zucker and Immelt). I realize that people like O'Brien just do what they have to. Sometimes, it works (SG-1); sometimes, it doesn't (the Bionic Woman remake). Even though, fans don't care for executives (with good reason), the same executives are just trying to carve their niche, too.
Just something to think about, right? My apologies for the belated ness.
Nora E. O'Brien of Santa Monica, CA and formerly of West Hartford, CT passed away suddenly on April 29 while on the production set of the new NBC series pilot "Parenthood" in Berkeley, California. Born in Hartford, CT, Nora was a veteran NBC Universal executive who currently served as Vice President of Drama Programming for NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
O'Brien was predeceased by her father, Frederick J. O’Brien, M.D., and is survived by her mother, Virginia (Ginny) O’Brien of West Hartford, CT, and her six siblings, their spouses, and 14 nieces and nephews: Michael, his wife Ann, and their children, Michael and Kelly, all of Cheshire, CT; Joan, her husband David Wildfeuer, and their daughter Rachel, all of Berwyn, PA; Timothy, his wife Linda, and their children, Sarah and Kevin, all of Wellesley, MA; Daniel, his wife Andrea, and their daughters Megan, Claire and Erin, all of West Hartford, CT; Erin, her husband Brian Earley, and their children Christina, Meredith, Sean and Brigid, all of Franklin, MA; and Carey, her husband Chris McGlynn, and sons Conor and Brendan, of Oakville, Ontario. O'Brien was also predeceased by her cherished niece Nicole Wildfeuer.
A joint statement issued from Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios; Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios, said:
"Nora O'Brien, a veteran programming executive who has worked at NBC Universal for the last six years (most recently in the network/studio drama department), passed away last night while on the set of NBC's drama pilot "Parenthood" in Berkeley, California. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of our beloved colleague Nora, who was respected and cherished by so many people in the entertainment community. She'll truly be missed by all of us."
O’Brien joined Universal Media Studios in her position in January 2008, after having worked at the SCI FI Channel, where she was Vice President of Original Programming. During her four-year tenure there, she developed episodic and long-form programs, including the critically acclaimed miniseries "The Lost Room," and she was the current programming executive on "Stargate" and "Stargate Atlantis." She also interfaced with SCIFI.com on programming ideas and initiatives.
In her studio position, O'Brien acted as both a development and a current executive for scripted series. Some of her projects included "Kings," "The Philanthropist," and "Parenthood." She also oversaw the drama "Bionic Woman," in addition to other pilot development.
Before the SCI FI Channel, O'Brien worked for five years as Vice President of Television for Trilogy Entertainment Group, overseeing development and current programming.
O'Brien was on the board of directors and was a passionate supporter of an organization called Hollywood HEART (www.hollywoodheart.org ), which raises money in support of camps for children afflicted by the AIDS virus.
O'Brien graduated from Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford, CT, and Boston College with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and communications. She then began her career as an associate producer for Reunion Productions in Boston, where she wrote and produced documentary films. She proceeded to work on both the production and post-production side of several feature films, including "School Ties," "Sliver," "Clear and Present Danger," "Outbreak" and "Starship Troopers."
Calling hours and funeral services are pending and will be held in West Hartford, CT. A memorial service will be held at St. Monica's Catholic Church with a reception to follow at Sonny McClean's in Santa Monica at a future date.
Link: http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-2009430182423-noraobrienobituar.html