Haidee Granger
Encyclopedia
Haidee S. Granger is an English
and American
TV producer, writer, executive and media consultant.
and raised both there and in London
, Granger studied art and worked for a time as an animation artist. Granger opened and ran Granada TV's American operations. Later, as VP of Time-Life Films, she was responsible for all co-productions with the BBC
. One of Granger's projects with Time-Life
and the BBC
was the historical aviation documentary Reaching for the Skies
, which she produced in 1987. It aired on the BBC the following year, and was subsequently re-packaged for American cable network TNT
for broadcast in 1989. The version that aired on TNT featured narration by Robert Vaughn
, which substituted the English-accented voiceover heard on the BBC version.
when she became a network executive at ABC
. She was asked to replace vacating Executive Producer
Fran Sears on the network's lowest rated daytime serial
, Loving
. The first Loving episode under Granger's watch aired on Tuesday, May 26, 1992.
After a falling out between Granger and the Head Writer
left from the Sears era, Addie Walsh
, Loving went several months without a replacement Head Writer
. This had an adverse effect on stories which were starting to show new promise for Loving. It was Granger who acted as head writer during that time. Paul Anthony Stewart
, who played Casey Bowman from just before Granger's arrival in 1992 until 1995, cited that "Loving has great potential, and the cast really works hard. But we were without a head writer for so long that we suffered from a lack of follow-through with some storylines. Haidee [Granger] has worked hard to develop the characters and make them more interesting. And she is really receptive to suggestions, which makes it easier for the actors to embrace the characters. She is absolutely committed to the success of the show."
In the fall of 1992, Granger brought back writer Millee Taggart
(who had previously acted as head writer from 1988 to 1991), to pair up with Robert Guza, Jr.
as the new head writing team. In October 1993, after 17 months of turbulency at Loving, Granger was fired from the position because the show hardly rose from its last position in the daytime ratings. She was replaced by JoAnn Emmerich, ABC's Vice President of Daytime Programming.
, Granger produced a series on sports for the international market and a number of programs for the home video market. Prior to entering real estate
, she ran her own boutique media and production company with clients in the Fortune 500
. Granger helped negotiate the ITT
purchase of WBIS
from the city of New York and was chosen to help launch and run the station.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
TV producer, writer, executive and media consultant.
Early life and career
Born in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and raised both there and in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Granger studied art and worked for a time as an animation artist. Granger opened and ran Granada TV's American operations. Later, as VP of Time-Life Films, she was responsible for all co-productions with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. One of Granger's projects with Time-Life
Time-Life
Time–Life is a creator and direct marketer of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales....
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
was the historical aviation documentary Reaching for the Skies
Reaching for the Skies
Reaching for the Skies was an aviation documentary TV series made by the BBC Pebble Mill in association with CBS Fox. The first episode was transmitted in the UK on 12 September 1988 and in the US in 1989....
, which she produced in 1987. It aired on the BBC the following year, and was subsequently re-packaged for American cable network TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
for broadcast in 1989. The version that aired on TNT featured narration by Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
, which substituted the English-accented voiceover heard on the BBC version.
ABC's Loving
In the early 1990s, Granger relocated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when she became a network executive at ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. She was asked to replace vacating Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Fran Sears on the network's lowest rated daytime serial
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
, Loving
Loving (TV series)
Caden Grant Carlton loves Mika Ayako Ryan more.Loving is an American television soap opera which aired on ABC's daytime lineup from June 26, 1983 to November 10, 1995 for 3,169 episodes...
. The first Loving episode under Granger's watch aired on Tuesday, May 26, 1992.
After a falling out between Granger and the Head Writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
left from the Sears era, Addie Walsh
Addie Walsh
-Positions held:All My Children*Associate Head Writer: April 2000 - April 2002; July 2003 - January 14, 2008 ; March 19, 2008 – PresentAs the World Turns*Co-Head Writer: 1997*Associate Head Writer: 1995 - 1999...
, Loving went several months without a replacement Head Writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
. This had an adverse effect on stories which were starting to show new promise for Loving. It was Granger who acted as head writer during that time. Paul Anthony Stewart
Paul Anthony Stewart
Paul Anthony Stewart is an American actor.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in nearby Wayne, Pennsylvania. Stewart first came into prominence as Casey Bowman, a man with a troubled father, on the soap opera Loving...
, who played Casey Bowman from just before Granger's arrival in 1992 until 1995, cited that "Loving has great potential, and the cast really works hard. But we were without a head writer for so long that we suffered from a lack of follow-through with some storylines. Haidee [Granger] has worked hard to develop the characters and make them more interesting. And she is really receptive to suggestions, which makes it easier for the actors to embrace the characters. She is absolutely committed to the success of the show."
In the fall of 1992, Granger brought back writer Millee Taggart
Millee Taggart
Millee Taggart is an American actress, best known for her long-running role as Janet Bergman Collins on Search for Tomorrow. She portrayed the character from 1971 to 1982...
(who had previously acted as head writer from 1988 to 1991), to pair up with Robert Guza, Jr.
Robert Guza, Jr.
Robert Guza Jr. is an American television writer and producer, and formally held the position as Head Writer on the long running ABC Daytime soap opera General Hospital. He was fired by Brian Frons.-Personal life:...
as the new head writing team. In October 1993, after 17 months of turbulency at Loving, Granger was fired from the position because the show hardly rose from its last position in the daytime ratings. She was replaced by JoAnn Emmerich, ABC's Vice President of Daytime Programming.
Later ventures
At CBSCBS
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...
, Granger produced a series on sports for the international market and a number of programs for the home video market. Prior to entering real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, she ran her own boutique media and production company with clients in the Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
. Granger helped negotiate the ITT
ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a global diversified manufacturing company based in the United States. ITT participates in global markets including water and fluids management, defense and security, and motion and flow control...
purchase of WBIS
WPXN-TV
WPXN-TV, which broadcasts on channel 31 in New York City, is the flagship station of the Ion Television network, formerly known as Pax TV and i.-Municipal ownership:...
from the city of New York and was chosen to help launch and run the station.