A EMMY AW RDS

38th Annual Daytime Entertainment CREATIVE ARTS EMMY ® AWARDS
24
Behind-the-Scenes
with Harry Friedman
A Conversation with the
Executive Producer
By Elizabeth Jensen
Harry Friedman, the executive producer of “Wheel of
Fortune” and “Jeopardy!,” since 1999, has more than
5,500 episodes of the two shows under his belt and seven
Emmy Awards. The Omaha native came to Hollywood
in 1971 without a job, but after the patter he wrote for a
nightclub singer drew attention, he landed a freelance
position writing for “Hollywood Squares,” earning $5 for
each question. His game show career was launched. He
says he now has “one of the last great jobs in broadcast
television.” He talked with Elizabeth Jensen about his
stewardship of the shows.
Did you come to Hollywood wanting to work
on game shows?
I didn’t really come specifically to work on game shows
although when I was living in the Midwest I had been a huge
fan of “Hollywood Squares” and I thought, “I could do that.”
continued on page 26
“ What’s great about
both shows is that they’re
family friendly, and
appointment television.”
– Harry Friedman,
Executive Producer,
Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy!