George Dessart
Encyclopedia
George Baldwin Dessart (born August 27, 1925) is an American television producer and executive and served as national chairman of the American Cancer Society
from 1996-98.
Dessart began his career in television at WCAU
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and was the producer of What in the World
. His career at CBS
as Vice President of Program Practices ended in 1985.
According to Lloyd Morrisett, George Dessart was one of the first candidates to be considered for the position of executive producer of Sesame Street
:
“The executive producer was, from the creative point of view, obviously key. We put
together a list of candidates and George Dessart was our first candidate and the one we
really went after. We tried to recruit him very strongly. George thought about it, and
finally he told us that he just wasn't right for it. We were really despondent over that
decision. He was exactly right. He probably would have been terrible. He was a fine
producer, but for this job, he was not right for it although we thought he was.”
In Michael Davis’ 2008 book, Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, Dessart is credited with the suggestion to use a commercial format (e.g., “Sesame Street is brought to you by the letter “P” and the number “2”) to “sell” letters and numbers to children.
Dessart’s wife, Nancy Godfrey Dessart died in 1991.
George Dessart is professor emeritus at Brooklyn College
and currently resides in San Francisco, California
. He has two children and two grandchildren.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
from 1996-98.
Dessart began his career in television at WCAU
WCAU
WCAU, channel 10, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WCAU has its studios on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in the...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and was the producer of What in the World
What in the World
"What in the World" is a song by David Bowie released on his 1977 album Low, later making appearances as repertoire in the 1978 world tour as well as other major tours....
. His career at CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
as Vice President of Program Practices ended in 1985.
According to Lloyd Morrisett, George Dessart was one of the first candidates to be considered for the position of executive producer of Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
:
“The executive producer was, from the creative point of view, obviously key. We put
together a list of candidates and George Dessart was our first candidate and the one we
really went after. We tried to recruit him very strongly. George thought about it, and
finally he told us that he just wasn't right for it. We were really despondent over that
decision. He was exactly right. He probably would have been terrible. He was a fine
producer, but for this job, he was not right for it although we thought he was.”
In Michael Davis’ 2008 book, Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, Dessart is credited with the suggestion to use a commercial format (e.g., “Sesame Street is brought to you by the letter “P” and the number “2”) to “sell” letters and numbers to children.
Dessart’s wife, Nancy Godfrey Dessart died in 1991.
George Dessart is professor emeritus at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
and currently resides in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He has two children and two grandchildren.