Sam Haskell
Title: Executive Vice President, Worldwide Head of Television, William Morris Agency
Born: Amory, Miss., 1955
Education: Bachelor’s degree in theater, radio and television, University of Mississippi
Most Admired People: Mother and wife
Hobbies: Collecting first editions, reading about British history
Career Turning Points: Becoming the packager of programs in 1986
Personal: Married, two children
By FRANK SWERTLOW
Staff Reporter
As head of worldwide television for the William Morris Agency, Sam Haskell is one of the most powerful people in TV. Along with managing more than five dozen agents in his division, he represents Bill Cosby, George Clooney, Martin Short, Lily Tomlin, Kathie Lee Gifford and Dolly Parton.
Haskell, also a member of the agency’s board, oversees some two dozen prime-time TV packages. Among them are “Cosby,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “King of Queens” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” the surprise summer game show hit on ABC.
Haskell’s career at William Morris started in the mailroom in 1978. He was promoted to agent two years later. In 1990, at the age of 35, he became the agency’s youngest senior vice president, and four years later was named head of William Morris’ West Coast TV division.
Earlier this month, Haskell was named head of the agency’s worldwide TV operations.
Question: What exactly do you do?
Answer: I am the quintessential father, brother, son, nephew and liaison in the building. It is my job to make sure that the 60 to 70 agents reporting to me are doing their jobs for their clients and fulfilling their responsibilities to the company. I also have 45 of my own clients. I have to be peacemaker, facilitator and problem-solver in the television arena. Most of my time is spent selling our clients, putting projects together, maintaining our projects on the air, and making sure everybody is paid and happy in their associations. I also have to be there for our clients who are not working and have to have their careers repositioned.
Q: What’s the fun of the job?
A: Seeing a productive relationship develop that you have structured and nurtured. Sitting in the audience and seeing your client win an award. What I preach is something Mr. Kipling wrote in the poem, “If,” which my mother made me memorize when I was 9 years old. It’s the line, “If you can face triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same.” Don’t get too high or too low. Both are going to be dealt to you every day.
Q: How has the changing economics of network television affected talent agencies?
A: I don’t think it has affected us at all. Everybody still needs to buy talent. We are having another record year at William Morris. There are going to continue to be questions about the salary that is paid to stars, but it all comes down to supply and demand. You will have to pay to get it, and when you are in control of the talent, you are going to have that kind of power.
Q: In-house production at the networks has become a big issue. Has that affected your business?
A: It has affected the business in terms of independent producers who used to go in and sell their shows. I think that area of the business has become much more difficult to succeed. But it has not affected my business.
Q: Why has William Morris always been strong in the TV arena?
A: We have always recognized what an incredible business it can be. We always nurtured and realized that not only does the TV business produce future feature stars, but also prominent feature people can cross back and make a lot of money in television. We have been pioneers in packaging because we have realized what the potential is.
Q: Even so, features are where all the glamour is in Hollywood. Why did you choose television?
A: The immediacy. I like to see things happen quickly. TV has always been fascinating to me because of the way it makes stars overnight.
Q: What are the biggest changes you have seen in TV in the past five years?
A: Going from four to six networks, and now the opportunities that exist in cable. When you think of the kind of projects HBO and Showtime are doing They are creating new shows, and this creates opportunities for us.
Q: You have young children. What do you let them watch?
A: Nickelodeon. We let them watch Saturday-morning television. My son loves the kids WB. My daughter loves TGIF Friday nights on ABC. She’ll watch with her sleepover guests. I can’t let them watch the others now that 8 p.m. has become just as sexy and controversial as 10 p.m.
Q: You are from Mississippi. What was your impression of Hollywood as a child?
A: It was a land filled with milk and honey. It was where I wanted to be, but was afraid of admitting. I watched every TV show that I could get my parents to let me watch. I was always dreaming of being in this world, and it took a lot for me to pack up and leave everything back home and come here.
Q: Did you have a job when you arrived in Los Angeles?
A: No. I came out here with stars in my eyes and with great expectations and self-confidence. I knew I had something to offer.
Q: How did you get to William Morris?
A: Everybody said the way to get into the business was to start in the mailroom at one of the major talent agencies. The only one I ever heard of was William Morris. Johnny Carson used to make jokes about William Morris. I just called the head of the legal division, the business affairs office, and spent three months trying to convince her secretary to let me meet her boss. Finally, she answered the phone herself and heard my Southern accent and said come down. That was 21 years ago.
Q: What did you learn in the mailroom?
A: I learned how the agency worked and its power structure. I learned my way around town delivering scripts and contracts and checks. I learned the client list and where all the studios were. I learned the only way to make it at a company like this is to be the best coffee maker, the best script reader, the best pencil sharpener and errand runner. I learned that it takes more than just being smart to be successful.
Q: How does coming from the Deep South help you survive in Hollywood?
A: I have a different strength. I am a Christian. I was raised to believe that good things happen to those who work hard. They just don’t happen. I have a very moral sense to the way I approach everything. I spend a great amount of time nurturing relationships and I think that comes from growing up in a small town and a close-knit family. Relationships make everything thing possible.
Q: Hard to be a Christian in Hollywood?
A: Not for me. I have been asked where I find the ability to stay calm in terrible situations. I find it in God. Some people find it in other ways. I don’t have a problem with it because I am a really good businessman and just because you are raised with spirituality doesn’t mean you are going to succumb to pressure or all the external evils around us. What we can do is stand up and say this should be different.
Q: Is there any client you won’t represent?
A: Someone whose moral character I question. Someone I don’t believe in, no matter how hot they are. I am fortunate in my life that I can pick and choose who I want to be in business with.
Q: One of your more unusual clients is Britain’s Prince Edward. What does he want to do in Hollywood?
A: What he does best produce. We have 16 deals at the networks and cable companies through his London-based company. We also have become friends. My wife and I were the only Americans at his wedding in June.
Q: You spend 14 hours a day at work. What is a typical day like?
A: I arrive at the office about 8 a.m. It gives me a few minutes to call New York and take care of my e-mails. I set my breakfasts at the Beverly Wilshire at 8:30 a.m. Finish at 9:30 a.m. and have appointments on the hour, 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. I schedule them on the hour. If they last 15 minutes, I have bought 45 minutes until the next meeting.
Q: How has the arrival of Jim Wiatt as new president of the company changed the atmosphere at William Morris?
A: I am thrilled he is there because not only has he embraced me and what I do for the company, he also wants to be a part of my life and the life of my agents. It is a much stronger presence than what we had before. He grew up in television. He understands television.
Q: What is your advice to the agents who work under you?
A: I told my agents the moment I took over the West Coast division that I want them all to be stars. The only way to go about your job is to operate without fear. The only way to do this is to know that if you screw up, there is nothing that I can’t fix.
