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Steve Blauner (The Boss)
biography
 Though "New Monkees"
Executive Producer Steve Blauner earned a degree in science from New York
University, it took a successful career as a talent agent to discover that
he was really more architect than scientist. Early in his career, Blauner
not only discovered a young unknown named Bobby Darin, he precision-built
Darin's career and engineered the singer's unprecedented crossover from
rock n' roll teen idol to jazz/pop artist and respected Academy Award
nominated actor ("Captain Newman, M.D.").
Later, as vice president of
a special project for Screen Gems (now Coca-Cola Telecommunications), he
became the studio force behind "The Monkees," the 1965 NBC-TV series that
not only successfully bridged series television and rock, but produced
both high ratings and record sales in the millions.
"With the original Monkees,
it was like being back in the personal management business," recalls
Blauner of the original series. "I booked the tours and even went on the
road with them." Now, over 20 years later, with partners Bert Schneider
and Bob Rafelson and their Straybert Productions, Inc., Blauner is back to
nurture the special talents of four contemporary rock n' rollers -- Larry,
Dino, Jared and Marty -- and in the process, liven-up television screens
across America with NEW MONKEES' energy, zany humor and youthful charm.
This new half-hour
situation comedy for first-run syndication, produced in association with
Coca-Cola Telecommunications, came about for a simple reason. As the
father of two daughters, ages four and 15, Blauner wanted to give his
children -- and their generation -- their own Monkees. "In watching
television with my kids, it just seemed to me that every show on the air
is taken from the adults point of view," he says. "I decided it was time
to jump in again and design a comedy from the kid's perspective."
Born, raised and educated
in New York City, Blauner served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force
before getting his start in New York in 1958 as an agent with General
Artist Corporation.
Transferring to the
agency's Los Angeles office in 1958, he soon decided to extend his career
into the area of motion picture production by accepting a job with
legendary "King of The Bs" producer, Sam Katzman. Blauner's job was to
develop new ideas for low budget movies, but, unfortunately, the booming
television industry was quickly bringing this specialized area of
filmmaking to an end.
In 1965, he joined his
lifelong friend, Bert Schneider, at Screen Gems. Schneider was the
company's vice president and treasurer and Blauner, vice president in
charge of new projects. Blauner next brought in their future partner, Bob
Rafelson to produce television series.
Rafelson brought with him a
strong desire to develop a hip, contemporary musical series. In 1966, with
Schneider joining Rafelson as partner, "The Monkees" was created. After
screening the pilot episode for the network, NBC-TV programming chief
Mort Werner said: "I don't know what
I've seen, but I think we should put it on the air." From its premiere,
the series, its stars, and the music were a smashing success.
In 1969, Schneider, Rafelson and Blauner
formed B.B.S. Productions, intent on producing theatrical motion pictures.
Their first picture, "Easy Rider," was not only a critical success, it
became a cult classic. This success was followed in 1970 with a film that
catapulted Jack Nicholson into stardom, "Five Easy Pieces," and in 1971,
with "The Last Picture Show." In 1974, they produced "Hearts and Minds,"
which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Film of the year. Of the
many films they produced, Blauner's personal favorite remains "King of
Marvin Gardens," a film that starred Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern and Ellen
Burstyn.
Throughout this period, Blauner
continued to manage Bobby Darin's acting and singing careers until Darin's
untimely death following open heart surgery in 1972.
Following the tragic death of a
nine-month-old daughter in 1975, Blauner decided to retire from the
industry, although he remained available for advice and counseling to his
many friends in the business.
Blauner made a brief return in 1979 as
producer of "Richard Pryor Live in Concert." He had first worked with
Pryor when the comedian appeared as an opening act for Bobby Darin.
Blauner believed that Pryor's concert act, filmed and released
theatrically, could not only establish Pryor as a film star, but win him a
new audience.
The architect in Blauner succeeded once
again.
As executive producer of NEW MONKEES,
his new half-hour first run syndicated series, Blauner is once again back
on TV's cutting edge. "The 'New Monkees' are my sons," says Blauner. "I
now have two daughters and four sons. My family's growing."
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