78. Good Times

Rich Cronin
Title: President/CEO, GSN
Age: 52
Years in Industry: 32 (I worked at an NBC station while in college at Notre Dame)
Years Left in Industry: “4 dog years (28 human).”

Doug Herzog
Title: President, MTV Networks Entertainment Group
Age: 47
Years in Industry: 25

Ty Lam
Title: President, Buzztime Entertainment
Age: 44
Years in Industry: “I don’t feel like an ‘insider’ yet. We need to make money first.”
Years Left in Industry: “At least until ITV games are in the majority of digital households!”

Why Them? Games and laughter, baby! Rich Cronin has driven GSN’s ratings to new heights while adding cool new interactive features. Doug Herzog, whose Comedy Central keeps churning out hits, has in recent months taken on additional oversight of Spike and TV Land (His influence appears on the upswing). Meanwhile, Ty Lam’s Buzztime has nabbed carriage with Comcast, Time Warner and BlueRidge. Could 2007 finally be the year of ITV gaming? All in all, these guys bring us good times. Thanks! - MG, AM

Rich Cronin

Defining career moment: “Launching the TV Land network onstage at Paramount while Mr. Whipple danced with Mrs. Butterworth.”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “Ted Turner –he was cable before cable was cool.”
Person (other than my current boss) who I’d most like to work for: The Pope
Favorite TV show not on your network: “The Daily Show”
The world would be a better place if: Bono was President

Doug Herzog

I knew the cable industry was for me when: “MTV Launched.”
Defining career moment: “Hanging out with Willie Nelson on the bus.”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “Tom Freston 79 million reasons.”
Favorite restaurant: In ‘n' Out
Favorite city: New York City
Favorite line from a movie or TV show: “Respect My Authori-Tay” - Cartman, “South Park”
Three things I would take with me to a deserted island: “My Wife/My Kids/My iPod.”
Favorite song: “Tangled Up In Blue” – Bob Dylan
Favorite movie: “The Godfather”
Favorite sports team: Yankees
Favorite piece of tech: iPod
Least favorite piece of tech: GPS
The world would be a better place if: “George Bush and Alex Rodriguez moved on.”

Ty Lam

What is your favorite word? “Guinness (usually followed by ‘please’).”
What is your least favorite word? “Any words that are useless fillers of silence.”
What turns you on? “The sharing of our Truths, regardless...”
What turns you off? “The projecting of beliefs and ideals on others.”
What sound do you love? “Native American and African singing and drumming.”
What sound do you hate? “Degrading words.”
What profession other than yours would like to attempt? “Story-teller and motivational speaker for young people.”
What profession would you not like to participate in? “Anything repetitive.”
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “Nothing said…just a big smile.”

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