Herb Lazarus Dies: Longtime Carsey-Werner Television Distribution Exec & International TV Distribution Hall of Famer Was 88
deadline.comHerb Lazarus, who spent the past 27 years as international TV president for Carsey-Werner Television Distribution during his nearly 70-year career and is in the International TV Distribution Hall of Fame, died Tuesday.
He was 88. The Lippin Group announced the news but did not give other details. At Carsey-Werner, Lazarus put into place massive global deals for its comedies including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, That ‘70s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, A Different World, Cybill, Grace Under Fire and Grounded for Life — – many of which remain in place today. “He saw the lighter side of our business and always said that we were lucky it didn’t involve decisions of life and death,” said Alexandra Taylor, Carsey-Werner’s London-based EVP international.
She recalled one incident at MIPCOM in which a Belgian buyer apologetically notified them at the last minute that he couldn’t make a planned lunch. “Herb’s reaction was to ask the buyer to put out his hand.
Both the buyer and I wondered what on Earth was about to happen. Herb produced his wallet and started putting euro notes in the buyer’s hand, saying, ‘This is the money we’re saving by not taking you out — please take it.’” His lengthy career also spanned three incarnations of Silverbach-Lazarus, a partnership with close friend and one-time boss Alan Silverbach.
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