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TriStar Television

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TriStar Television, Inc.
FormerlyTri-Star Television (1986–88)
Company typeDivision
IndustryTelevision production
FoundedMarch 1986; 38 years ago (1986-03) (original)
October 1991; 33 years ago (1991-10) (first relaunch)
May 28, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-05-28) (second relaunch)
DefunctJanuary 4, 1988; 36 years ago (1988-01-04) (original)
June 1999; 25 years ago (1999-06) (first relaunch)
May 31, 2024; 4 months ago (2024-05-31) (second relaunch)
FateFolded into Columbia Pictures Television (original)
Merged with Columbia Pictures Television to form Columbia TriStar Television (first relaunch)
Folded into Sony Pictures Television (second relaunch)
Headquarters10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California, United States
Area served
Worldwide
ParentTriStar Pictures (original)
Sony Pictures Entertainment (first relaunch, 1991–94)
Columbia TriStar Television (first relaunch, 1994–99)
Sony Pictures Television (second relaunch)

TriStar Television, Inc. (first spelled Tri-Star, and abbreviated as TT) was an American television production studio that was a division of Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. TriStar Television was launched in March 1986 by TriStar Pictures, and remained a joint-venture between Columbia Pictures, CBS, and HBO until it was acquired by Sony, the parent of both Columbia and TriStar. After a purchase by Sony Pictures Entertainment, both companies Columbia Pictures Television and TriStar Television merged and formed Columbia TriStar Television on February 21, 1994. The television studio was relaunched twice, most recently as a specialty label for Sony Pictures Television. The entity was originally a sister company of Columbia Pictures Television, which was shut down in 2001. Sony shut down the division again in May 2024.

History

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It was formed when Tri-Star Pictures joined forces with Stephen J. Cannell Productions and Witt/Thomas Productions and created a television distribution company called TeleVentures. Scott Siegler was immediately hired as president of the studio. As the Tri-Star Television studio rolled around, the company inked overall deals with various personnel, like Ron Samuels, Richard Leder, Michael Jacobs, Larry Tucker, Donald P. Bellisario, Jim Green and Larry Epstein to help develop projects for the studio and decided that they would be involved in various television movies.[1]

By December 1987, Coca-Cola owned 80% Columbia Pictures Entertainment until January 1988, when it was reduced down to 49% and Tri-Star Television was then merged with Columbia/Embassy Television into the reorganized Columbia Pictures Television (CPT), although TeleVentures was retained to handle sales of the existing Tri-Star programs that were inherited under contract to CPT, which would continue as a separate sales and distribution company from the CPT unit.[2] Scott remained president of the studio until he left in 1993.[3] Columbia Pictures Entertainment was sold in November 1989 to Sony of Japan.

In the late of 1988, Witt/Thomas Productions withdrew from the TeleVentures venture, ceding it to Walt Disney Television, and sold its shares to Cannell.[4] On July 11, 1990, both Tri-Star and Cannell dissolved the TeleVentures joint venture and Tri-Star sold its shares to Stephen J. Cannell Productions and TeleVentures became Cannell Distribution Co. Most of the series and the Tri-Star film packages that were distributed by TeleVentures were taken over by Columbia Pictures Television Distribution.[5]

Revival and merger with Columbia Pictures Television

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CPT would continue on under Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), but TriStar Television was reestablished in October 1991 after CPT acquired some of the library of New World Television.[6] Jon Feltheimer, who was president of New World Television became the new president of TriStar Television.[6] On March 15, 1993, star Larry Hagman had signed a deal with the studio to develop projects for the 1993-94 TV season.[7] On February 21, 1994, TriStar Television merged with Columbia Pictures Television and formed Columbia TriStar Television (CTT).[8][9] In 1997, most new shows, and some existing TriStar shows like Early Edition, shifted from TriStar Television to CTT, and also in January 1997, changed monikers from Sony Television Entertainment to Columbia TriStar Television Group.[10]

When TriStar Television's productions were folded into Columbia TriStar Television in 1999, Early Edition (a joint production with CBS) retained the TriStar copyright until 2000. The final season of Malcolm & Eddie was later produced by CTT and TriStar Television operated in-name-only. On October 25, 2001, Columbia TriStar Television and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution merged to become Columbia TriStar Domestic Television. On September 16, 2002, SPE retired the Columbia and TriStar names from television, renaming CTDT as Sony Pictures Television.[11]

Second revival

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On May 28, 2015, TriStar Television was re-launched as a boutique production label for Sony Pictures Television. Until her death in March 2018, the revived studio was run by Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs after being in-name-only for 15 years.[12] The first new series was Good Girls Revolt and was piloted for Amazon Prime Video on November 5, 2015.[12]

Closure

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On May 31, 2024, Sony announced it was shutting down its TriStar Television boutique label and was folded into its drama department. The move was announced after the departures of Nicole Norwood and Jennifer Turner. Newer projects in development were taken over by Sony Pictures Television.[13]

Filmography

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Title Years Network Notes
Downtown 1986–1987 CBS Co-production with Ron Samuels Productions
Take Five 1987 Co-production with Imagine Television and Empire City Presentations
Nothing in Common NBC Co-production with Rastar Television
Based on the 1986 film of the same name by Tri-Star Pictures
Werewolf 1987–1988 Fox Produced by Columbia Pictures Television in 1988
My Two Dads 1987–1990 NBC Co-production with Michael Jacobs Productions
Produced by Columbia Pictures Television from 1988 to 1990
Buck James 1987–1988 ABC Co-production with Robert E. Fuisz-William F. Storke Productions
Produced by Columbia Pictures Television in 1988
Get a Life 1991–1992 Fox Co-production with Elliottland Productions and Mirkinvision
Produced by New World Television from 1990 to 1991
The Adventures of Mark & Brian NBC Co-production with Don Mischer Productions, Frontier Pictures and New World Television
Charlie Hoover 1991 Fox Co-production with Ian Gurvitz Productions and Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
The Fifth Corner 1992 NBC Co-production with Jon Herzfield Productions and Adelson-Baumgarten Productions
The Boys of Twilight CBS Co-production with Echo Cove Productions
Forever Knight 1992–1996 Co-production with Glen Warren Entertainment, Paragon Media Corporation and Tele München
The Edge 1992–1993 Fox Co-production with Mirkinvision[14]
Mad About You 1992–1999 NBC Co-production with In Front Productions and Nuance Productions
Produced by Sony Pictures Television in 2019
Tribeca 1993 Fox Co-production with Montana Beach Productions and TriBeCa Productions
Good Advice 1993–1994 CBS Co-production with In Front Productions and Itzbinso Long Productions
The Nanny 1993–1999 Co-production with Sternin & Fraser Ink Inc. and Highschool Sweethearts (1995–1999)
The Mighty Jungle 1994 The Family Channel Co-production with Le Sabre, Goodman/Rosen Productions and Alliance Communications
TV Nation 1994–1995 NBC (season 1)
Fox (season 2)
BBC2		 Co-production with Dog Eat Dog Films and BBC
Women of the House 1995 CBS (episodes 1–8)
Lifetime (episodes 9–13)		 Co-production with Bloodworth-Thomason Mozark Productions and Perseverance Inc.
Dee-Dee Mechanicals 1995–2000 CBS (1995–1997)
Cartoon Network (1997–2000)		 Co-production with CBS Productions
Produced by Columbia TriStar Television from 1999 to 2000
Simon 1995–1996 The WB Co-production with In Front Productions
Ned and Stacey 1995–1997 Fox Co-production with Hanley Productions
Can't Hurry Love 1995–1996 CBS Co-production with The Producers Entertainment Group Ltd., Axelrod-Widdoes Productions and CBS Productions
Hudson Street ABC Co-production with Katie Face Productions
Dead By Sunset 1995 NBC Co-production with Craig Anderson Productions
Miniseries
Matt Waters 1996 CBS Co-production with Christmas Tree Entertainment and James D. Pariott Productions
Malcolm & Eddie 1996–1999 UPN Co-production with Jeff Franklin Productions
Produced by Columbia TriStar Television from 1999 to 2000
Moloney 1996–1997 CBS Co-production with Predawn Productions and CBS Productions
Love and Marriage 1996 Fox Co-production with Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions
Early Edition 1996–1997 CBS Co-production with Three Characters Productions (seasons 1 and 2), Angelica Films (seasons 1 and 2) and CBS Productions
Produced by Columbia TriStar Television from 1997 to 2000
Life... and Stuff 1997 Co-production with Sommers-Teitelbaum-David and Perrgood Productions
Good Girls Revolt 2015–2016 Amazon Prime Video Co-production with Lynda Obst Productions, Annabelita Films, Farm Kid and Amazon Studios
Shut Eye 2016–2017 Hulu Co-production with Peg + Les and Gran Via Productions
The Last Tycoon Amazon Prime Video Co-production with Kippster Entertainment, City Entertainment, Brady American Productions, Home Run Productions, Inc. and Amazon Studios
On Becoming a God in Central Florida 2019 Showtime Co-production with Smoke House Pictures, Pali Eyes Pictures and Showtime Networks
The Afterparty 2022–2023 Apple TV+ Co-production with Lord Miller Productions and Sony Pictures Television Studios
Lucky Hank 2023 AMC Co-production with Afternoon Nap Productions, Ponyboy Productions, Gran Via Productions, Le Foole Inc. and AMC Studios

References

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  1. ^ Kaufman, Dave (1986-06-04). "Tri-Star Delves Into TV Prods; Now Making Deals Around Town". Variety. p. 43.
  2. ^ "Coke's EBS & Tri-Star Merge TV Biz, Forming Col Pictures TV". Variety. 1987-10-21. pp. 512, 528.
  3. ^ "Coca -Cola Entertainment and Tri-Star to merge TV units" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1987-10-19. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  4. ^ "Action-Packed Expansion" (PDF). Channels of Communication. 1990-04-09. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  5. ^ "IN BRIEF". Broadcasting. 1990-07-16. p. 110.
  6. ^ a b "CPT TO ACQUIRE NEW WORLD PROPERTIES". Broadcasting. 1991-10-14. p. 27.
  7. ^ "TriStar gives J.R. a shot" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1993-03-15. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  8. ^ Feltheimer heads new Columbia TriStar TV Broadcasting via Ebsco Host Connection, Retrieved on December 18, 2012
  9. ^ "Feltheimer heads new Columbia TriStar TV". Broadcasting. 1994-02-21. p. 20.
  10. ^ Cox, Dan (1997-01-30). "SONY STREAMLINING". Variety. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  11. ^ Sony Pictures Entertainment Renames Television Operations; Domestic and International Divisions Take Sony Name, prnewswire.com
  12. ^ a b Sony Eyes Relaunching TriStar Television Banner Run By Suzanne Patmore Gibbs Nellie Andreeva deadline.com, Retrieved on May 28, 2015
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 31, 2024). "TriStar Television Label Shut Down By Sony, Jennifer Turner & Nicole Norwood to Depart". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
  14. ^ Lippman, John (1992-10-19). "Television: The Fox network is in the position of having offended its top program supplier". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
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