Jerry Offsay
Jerry Offsay | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1953 Bronx, New York |
| Alma mater | J.D., Columbia Law School |
| Occupation(s) | Motion picture & television executive, executive producer, and expert witness |
| Known for | President of Programming for Showtime Networks |
| Notable work | The Outer Limits, Soul Food, Queer As Folk, The L Word, Stargate |
| Spouse | Pam Offsay |
| Children | 4 |
Jerry Offsay is an American motion picture & television executive and executive producer. He served as President of Programming for Showtime Networks from 1994-2003.
Early life and education[edit]
Offsay grew up in Parkchester, a neighborhood in the Bronx, New York. His father worked at a small display-design company, where his mother was the company bookkeeper. Offsay was the third of four children. He attended the Bronx High School of Science, State University of New York at Binghamton, and later Columbia Law School, where he earned his J.D. in 1977.[1]
Career[edit]
After graduating from law school, Offsay began his career at the Los Angeles office of Loeb & Loeb. He worked in the firm’s entertainment law practice, finding his specialty in the financing and production of independent films. He was made partner at age 28.[2]
Looking for a change from the law, Offsay joined RKO Pictures as President of Production. At RKO, Offsay served as executive producer on several films including Hamburger Hill and Eight Men Out, and co–produced Narrow Margin. In 1990 Offsay became Executive Vice President at ABC Productions, ABC’s newly launched programming company. During his four years at ABC, Offsay supervised the production of the ABCP's programming, including series, miniseries, and movies such as The Commish, and Dominick Dunne's An Inconvenient Woman, and Neil Simon's Broadway Bound.[3]
In January 1994 Offsay began his new role as President of Programming at Showtime Networks. He saw an opportunity to bring theater-quality movies to premium television—just as HBO was doing, who at the time released new films monthly. Offsay embarked on a journey to put on an original movie every week.[1] During Offsay's tenure, Showtime more than tripled its original programming, producing and/or commissioning over 300 hundred original films and 20 television series. Over 70 movies were nominated for Emmys; one was nominated for an Oscar. Notable television series Offsay put on the air include Stargate, The Outer Limits, Soul Food, Queer As Folk, The L Word, and Penn and Teller’s Bullshit!, all of which ran five seasons or longer.
In 2001 Offsay won the Governors Award from the Television Academy for Showtime's diversity programming. That year he was also honored at the ACLU's annual Bill of Rights Awards for introducing topics and issues to the mainstream through Showtime's programming.[4] In 2002 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jewish Image Awards in Film and Television.[5] That same year the Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up awarded the Premier Award to Offsay for Showtime's commitment to providing access to quality work that might otherwise go unseen.[6] He was awarded the Executive of the Year Award by the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers, and Directors in 2003.[7] During Offsay's tenure at Showtime, the network was awarded six Humanitas Prizes and four Peabody Awards and won eight Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Children's Special category in seven consecutive years.
In 2003 Offsay left Showtime to start Parkchester Pictures, his own production company where he produces films and television. Offsay, drawing on his legal training and career in entertainment, has also served as an expert witness on several industry cases, such as Sobini Films v. Clear Skies Nevada.[8]
Personal life[edit]
Offsay and his wife, Pam, supported the development of Offsay Steinhauser Village, a 15-unit L.A. Family Housing affordable housing complex in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles.[9] For over 20 years they hosted—originally at Offsay's home but soon expanded to Paramount Studios—an annual "Dessert Party" which raised funds for L.A. Family Housing’s Valley Shelter for the Homeless.[10]
Offsay lives and works in Los Angeles. Together he and Pam have four children and two grandchildren.
Award-Winning Programming[edit]
| Year | Title | Award | Involvement |
| 1995 | Outer Limits | CableACE Award for Dramatic Series | Network Programming President |
| 1997 | Hiroshima | Humanitas Award, PBS/Cable — with John Hopkins and Toshiro Ishido | Network Programming President |
| 1998 | Hiroshima | Gemini Award for Best Dramatic TV Movie or Mini-Series | Network Programming President |
| 1998 | The Baby Dance | Peabody Award — with Jane Anderson | Network Programming President |
| 1998 | In His Father's Shoes | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 1999 | Strange Justice | Peabody Award — with Ernest Dickerson | Network Programming President |
| 1999 | The Island on Bird Street | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 2000 | Thanks of a Grateful Nation | Humanitas Award, PBS/Cable — with John Sacret Young | Network Programming President |
| 2000 | Summer's End | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 2001 | Varian's War | Jewish Image Award for Cable Television Film Award[11] | Network Programming President |
| 2001 | Things Behind the Sun | Peabody Award — with Allison Anders | Network Programming President |
| 2001 | Run the Wild Fields | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 2001 | A Storm in Summer | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 2002 | Resurrection Blvd. | ALMA Award for Outstanding Television Series | Network Programming President |
| 2002 | My Louisiana Sky | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 2003 | My Louisiana Sky | Humanitas Award, Children's Live Action — with Anna Sandor | Network Programming President |
| 2003 | Bang Bang You're Dead | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 2003 | Soul Food | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series | Network Programming President |
| 2004 | Soul Food | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series | Network Programming President |
| 2004 | Our America | Humanitas Award, 90 Minutes — with Gordon Rayfield | Network Programming President |
| 2004 | The Incredible Mrs. Ritche | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special | Network Programming President |
| 2005 | Edge of America | Peabody Award — with Tim Daly | Network Programming President |
| 2005 | Crown Heights | Humanitas Award, Children's Live Action — with Toni Ann Johnson and Michael D'Antonio | Network Programming President |
| 2006 | The L Word | GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series | Network Programming President |
| 2007 | Edge of America | Humanitas Award, Children's Live Action — with Willy Holtzman | Network Programming President |
| 2008 | As Seen Through These Eyes | Miami Jewish Film Festival, Winner of Best Documentary | Executive Producer |
| 2008 | As Seen Through These Eyes | Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, Winner of Best Documentary | Executive Producer |
Filmography as Producer / Executive Producer[edit]
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1987 | Hot Pursuit | Executive Producer |
| 1987 | Hamburger Hill | Executive Producer |
| 1988 | Eight Men Out | Executive Producer |
| 1990 | False Identity | Executive Producer |
| 1990 | Women and Men: Stories of Seduction | Executive Producer |
| 1990 | The Shrimp on the Barbie | Executive Producer |
| 1990 | Narrow Margin | Co-Producer |
| 1996 | Diabolique | Executive Producer |
| 2003 | Baadasssss! | Executive Producer |
| 2004 | The Best Thief in the World | Executive Producer |
| 2004 | Speak | Executive Producer |
| 2004 | Bereft | Executive Producer |
| 2005 | Fathers and Sons | Executive Producer |
| 2005 | Sexual Life | Executive Producer |
| 2006 | Keeping Up with the Steins | Executive Consultant |
| 2008 | The Week Reduced | Executive Producer |
| 2008 | As Seen Through These Eyes | Executive Producer |
| 2008 | Commuter Confidential | Executive Producer |
| 2010 | Iris Expanding | Executive Producer |
| 2014 | Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks | Executive Producer |
| 2017 | Shot | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | Recon | Executive Producer |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Schleier, Curt (1998-05-29). "Yiddishkeit, Bronx sensibilities keep Showtime executive sane". J. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ^ "Jerry Offsay". www.cablecenter.org. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ^ Variety Staff (1993-12-21). "Showtime taps Offsay programming prexy". Variety. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ^ "Jerry Offsay - Filmbug". www.filmbug.com. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ "Showtime's Jerry Offsay received the Lifetime Achievement Award from..." Getty Images (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-02-07.
- ^ "Melissa Etheridge and Jerry Offsay to be honored by POWER UP (6364)". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ "The Journal of The Caucus For Television Producers, Writers & Directors" (PDF). The Caucus Journal (Spring 2003): 25. 2003.
- ^ "Sobini Films, Inc. v. Clear Skies Nev., LLC, B267431 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ Rhone, Nedra (2001-02-05). "Ground Broken for Affordable Homes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
- ^ Journal, Jewish (2001-05-31). "The Circuit". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ Tugend, Tom (2001-11-04). "Jewish film and TV honors given". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-07-04.