Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner

Marcy Carsey was interviewed together with partner Tom Werner for two-and-a-half hours in Los Angeles, CA. Carsey and Werner talked about their early years and their television influences. Ms. Carsey discussed her first job as an NBC tour guide and how it led to working on the Tonight Show, an ad agency, and other production companies. In 1974, Carsey moved to ABC where she worked in comedy programming and development. It was there that Carsey met Tom Werner, who after working in documentaries, had joined ABC’s planning and development department. In 1980, Carsey left ABC and started her own company. A year later, Werner joined her. The two developed a number of shows before creating their major 1984 hit, The Cosby Show.  From there, Carsey/Werner produced a number of hit series including A Different World, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, Cybilland Third Rock from the Sun.The two executives also spoke about their longtime partner Caryn Mandabach as well as the challenges facing independent production companies today.  The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on March 10, 2003.