77. Day and Night

Marc Juris
Title: GM, programming and marketing, Court TV
Age: “Still in the key demo.”
Years in Industry: 25
Years left in the industry: “Depends on the 401K.”

Marlene Dann
Title: EVP, Court TV News
Age: “Never say.”
Years in the industry: 20
Years left in the industry: “Another 20.”
Last Year: NR

Why Them? With Court under new management, Court veterans Dann and Juris, who joined in Nov ’04 to infuse the ‘Seriously Entertaining’ net’s primetime with mojo, are among the few execs left from Henry’s halcyon days. While the jury’s out on new boss Steve Koonin’s plans, he’s pleased with the reality and star power-based direction Court’s programming has taken under Juris. And the numbers are great—Court’s set for its best prime and best 18-49. Dann’s bailiwick, daytime trial coverage and news, also is subject to Koonin’s moves, but few doubt her talent, juggling live trials while shuttling anchors to cable news nets and broadcasters when they call for legal experts. - SA

Marc Juris

I knew the cable industry was for me when: “I joined Rainbow and found a bunch of TV loving New Yorkers trapped on Long Island, building great brands out of whatever they could find. It was the original version of ‘Lost’.”
Defining career moment: “Giving William Hung a record contract (brought shameless PR to an entirely new level and proved people will pretty much buy anything).”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “It’s impossible to choose one when this industry has many great people to admire, so I’m breaking the rules (as I’m known to do) and giving you two: Chuck Dolan and Ted Turner—for their bold and boundless courage and vision (and for building companies that would actually hire me!).”
Biggest cable surprise of 2006: “Two words: Tom Freston.”
Top personal achievement in 2006: “Not going up a waist size.”
Person (other than my current boss) who I’d most like to work for: Steve Jobs
In my free time, I like to: “Watch TV (sad, I know, but true).”
Three things I would take with me to a deserted island: “iPod, Mario Lopez, CableFAX Daily” (Right answer, Marc).
I wish cable would: “Get rich in real estate with no money down, develop tighter abs in less than six minutes a day, provide an effortless way to whiten my teeth and help my elderly Chihuahua get up on the bed. (Oh wait, cable already does all this…and more!).”
Favorite piece of tech: “DVR, baby, DVR!”
Least favorite piece of tech: “VCRs (So past its “sell-by date” it’s not even funny)”
The world would be a better place if: “More people watched CourtTV.”

Marlene Dann
I knew the cable industry was for me when: “I had my first job in the start-up cable company, Daytime, as a PA.”
In my free time, I like to: “Travel, read, go the movies, hike.”
Favorite restaurants: “I love diners, especially ones outside of New York.”
Favorite City: Paris
Favorite TV show: “24”
Favorite movie: “Casablanca”

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