Peter Engel

Peter Engel (born c. 1936[1]) is an American television producer who is best known for his teenage sitcoms which appeared on TNBC, a former Saturday morning block on NBC which featured all teenage-oriented programs for educational purposes. His most well known work was the teenage sitcom Saved by the Bell which inspired the birth of the TNBC block for his other shows such as California Dreams, Hang Time and City Guys in the 1990s.[2]

Life and career

Engel's foray into teenage sitcoms began in 1986 when he was approached by then-NBC programming executive Brandon Tartikoff about producing shows for the 10–14 age demographic. At first, Engel was not interested and felt that Tartikoff should "find someone else". He later changed his mind after a conversation with his wife reminded him of how he had always talked about doing shows that his own children could grow up on.[3]

For a period, he also served as the dean of the School of Communication and the Arts at Pat Robertson's Regent University. Engel had nearly a 20-year relationship with the Christian Broadcasting Network before joining the staff at Regent. After a visit in 2002, he was impressed with the new communications center, which includes two theaters, a state-of-the-art animation lab, editing suites, and TV and film studios. In 2003, Peter sensed that the Lord was telling him to take the job as the new dean.[4]

After producing teen-focused series for NBC, Engel transitioned to producing reality television series.[5] A reality television project that Engel executive produced is the NBC reality series Last Comic Standing. He has been announced as executive producer and creator of the E! Network reality show Chasing The Saturdays, starring British popstars The Saturdays.

Engel was raised Jewish, and has converted to Christianity.[6]

Engel released a memoir titled I Was Saved by the Bell: Stories of Life, Love, and Dreams That Do Come True.[7]

Production filmography

Associated production companies

References

  1. ↑ Engel, Peter (2016). I Was Saved by the Bell. Top Hat Words. p. 1. ISBN 0997943114. It was 1989, and the future of Saved by the Bell hung in the balance. Fifty-three years old, and executive producer of the show...
  2. 1 2 3 Greg Braxton (November 27, 1992). "'Bell' Hearing the Sounds of Success : Television: With a TV movie, foreign broadcasts, syndicated reruns and a plethora of merchandise, 'Saved by the Bell' intends to be noticed.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
  3. ↑ 2002 Zap2it.com interview with Peter Engel
  4. ↑ The 700 Club - Peter Engel: Hollywood Producer Turned Regent Dean
  5. ↑ Melissa Grego (September 23, 2002). "Engel’s slate is broadened". Variety. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
  6. ↑ http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/peter_engel_082404.aspx
  7. ↑ Reana Ashley http://www.reanaashley.com/2016/11/legendary-executive-producer-peter.html
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Engel reups, grows up". Variety. September 23, 1997. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
  9. 1 2 Michael Schneider (June 27, 2001). "Peacock picks pair for TNBC". Variety. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
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