Alan Landsburg Productions

Alan Landsburg Productions, commonly abbreviated as ALP, was an American independent television production company founded by television producer Alan Landsburg in 1971. The company became associated with a broad range of commercially oriented television, combining documentary and exploratory programming with made-for-television films, scripted series, miniseries, game shows, and programming for younger audiences. Its best-known factual properties included In Search of..., That's Incredible!, and Those Amazing Animals, while its television-film work included Bill, the Mickey Rooney drama that won an Emmy, and the made-for-television films Adam and Adam: His Song Continues. ALP also developed scripted entertainment. Its credits included the sitcoms Gimme a Break! and Kate & Allie, as well as Highcliffe Manor, Baby Makes Five, and the miniseries Kennedy. The company made a limited number of theatrical films, with Jaws 3-D, released in 1983, being its most prominent cinema production. This mixture of nonfiction, television movies, and network entertainment reflected the commercial opportunities available to independent producers during the expansion of American network television in the 1970s and 1980s. The company was acquired by Reeves Communications Corp. in 1978. Alan Landsburg remained connected with the business for several years, but left in 1984 to establish The Landsburg Company in partnership with Cox Enterprises. Following his departure, ALP was renamed the Reeves Entertainment Group and subsequently operated as Reeves Entertainment. The rebranded company continued to develop television programming and entered additional production partnerships, including a 1987 first-look arrangement with independent producer Blue Andre. Projects associated with that relationship included The Warriors, sold to CBS as a two-hour television movie, and The Secret of Sherwood Forest. Reeves was purchased by Thames Television in 1990 for a reported $89 million. After Thames lost its ITV franchise in 1991 and was later acquired by Pearson plc, control of Reeves-related assets was transferred to MCEG Sterling Administrations as part of the transaction arrangements. A proposed transaction involving New World Entertainment did not close, but an agreement with NBC allowed production of Homicide: Life on the Street to continue. Reeves Entertainment's later credits included I Married Dora, The Home Show, Doctor Doctor, Wild & Crazy Kids, What Would You Do?, The Tomorrow People, and the first season of Homicide: Life on the Street. The original Alan Landsburg Productions identity therefore evolved into a successor television-production operation rather than continuing as an independent brand under its original name. Most of the associated catalogue is now controlled by Fremantle through its acquisition of Thames in 2000, although United States distribution and other rights vary by title. The company is best understood historically as a predecessor to Reeves Entertainment and as part of the corporate lineage behind a substantial group of American television programs.

Alan Landsburg Productions was founded in the United States in 1971 by television producer Alan Landsburg. It operated as an independent production company during a period when American networks increasingly commissioned outside producers for documentaries, television movies, entertainment series, and situation comedies. The company developed a varied catalogue rather than concentrating on a single genre. Its factual programming included In Search of..., which examined unexplained phenomena, historical subjects, science, and other exploratory topics, as well as That's Incredible! and Those Amazing Animals. These programs helped establish the company's association with accessible, curiosity-driven nonfiction television. ALP also produced television movies, including Bill, a drama starring Mickey Rooney that received an Emmy, and Adam, followed by Adam: His Song Continues. Other productions included the miniseries Kennedy and the game-show projects The Krypton Factor and The Pop 'N Rocker Game. The company expanded into scripted network entertainment with programs such as Highcliffe Manor, Baby Makes Five, Gimme a Break!, and Kate & Allie. It also made a small number of theatrical films, most notably Jaws 3-D in 1983. The combination of factual programming, television movies, sitcoms, and theatrical work illustrates the breadth of the company's production strategy. Reeves Communications Corp. acquired ALP in 1978. Alan Landsburg subsequently left the organization in 1984 and formed The Landsburg Company with Cox Enterprises. After his departure, the company was renamed the Reeves Entertainment Group and later used the shorter Reeves Entertainment name. David Auberbach, described as a friend of Landsburg, served as a vice president and received a new deal at the studio. Barris Industries held a minority stake in Reeves, reportedly 5.27 percent, with backing from Burt Sugarman. During its Reeves period, the company continued producing network television. A 1987 exclusive first-look agreement with independent producer Blue Andre was intended to generate new projects, including The Warriors and The Secret of Sherwood Forest, both developed for CBS television presentation. Later Reeves credits included I Married Dora, The Home Show, Doctor Doctor, Jackpot!, Wild & Crazy Kids, What Would You Do?, The Tomorrow People, and Homicide: Life on the Street. Reeves was involved with the first season of Homicide, and an eventual agreement with NBC helped preserve the show's production after a proposed New World Entertainment transaction failed. Thames Television purchased Reeves in 1990 for a reported $89 million. Thames subsequently lost its ITV franchise in 1991 and was acquired by Pearson plc. As part of the arrangements connected with that transaction, MCEG Sterling Administrations was given control of Reeves assets. Most of the catalogue later became associated with Fremantle after Fremantle acquired Thames in 2000. Rights and distribution arrangements differ among individual programs, and the original ALP identity is no longer an active standalone production company. Its historical importance rests on the catalogue it created and on the corporate succession that carried many of its productions into Reeves Entertainment and later library ownership.

1. 2000Catalogue enters Fremantle's wider library

   Fremantle acquired Thames, bringing most of the associated historical catalogue into its corporate library.

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2. 1990Purchased by Thames Television

   Thames Television acquired Reeves for a reported $89 million.

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3. 1984Rebranded as Reeves Entertainment Group

   After Alan Landsburg's departure, the company adopted the Reeves Entertainment Group name.

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4. 1983Jaws 3-D released

   The company produced the theatrical film Jaws 3-D, its most prominent cinema release.

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5. 1981Bill receives Emmy recognition

   The television film Bill, starring Mickey Rooney, became an Emmy-winning production associated with the company.

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6. 1978Acquired by Reeves Communications

   Reeves Communications Corp. acquired Alan Landsburg Productions.

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7. 1976In Search of... enters the company's catalogue

   The exploratory nonfiction series In Search of... became one of the company's best-known productions.

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8. 1971Company founded

   Alan Landsburg founded the independent American television production company.

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An independent American television producer focused on accessible nonfiction, exploratory documentaries, television movies, network sitcoms, game shows, and occasional theatrical films.

• In Search of...Documentary television series1976

  An exploratory nonfiction series dealing with unexplained phenomena, history, science, and other subjects presented through an investigative and popular-education format. Running from 1976 to 1982, it became the production most closely identified with Alan Landsburg Productions and exemplified the company's ability to package unusual or complex topics for a broad television audience.

• That's Incredible!Factual entertainment series1980

  A television series built around extraordinary events, demonstrations, human-interest stories, and unusual achievements. Its accessible, spectacle-oriented approach complemented the company's documentary work while broadening its presence in mainstream network entertainment.

• Those Amazing AnimalsFactual television series1980

  A factual entertainment program focused on remarkable animal behavior and stories. It formed part of the company's early-1980s nonfiction output and extended its interest in educational subjects presented in a popular, network-friendly format.

• BillTelevision film1981

  A television drama starring Mickey Rooney. The film was a major television-film success for the company and received an Emmy, demonstrating ALP's ability to produce acclaimed dramatic projects in addition to documentary programming.

• Gimme a Break!Situation comedy1981

  A network sitcom that became one of the company's prominent scripted television properties. The series began under Alan Landsburg Productions and continued under the Reeves Entertainment identity, illustrating the continuity between the original company and its successor operation.

• Kate & AllieSituation comedy1984

  A television sitcom about two women sharing a household and raising their families. It was developed during the transition from Alan Landsburg Productions to Reeves Entertainment and became one of the company's better-known scripted network series.

• Jaws 3-DTheatrical film1983

  A theatrical motion picture produced by the company in 1983. It represented one of ALP's limited excursions beyond television and was the most prominent feature-film title associated with its production history.

• Homicide: Life on the StreetCrime drama television series1993

  A critically regarded crime drama associated with Reeves Entertainment's later period. Reeves was involved with the first season, and an agreement with NBC helped keep production moving after a proposed transaction involving New World Entertainment failed.

• 1993NBC arrangement supports Homicide productionStrategy

  A potential deal involving New World Entertainment failed at the last moment while Reeves was associated with the critically regarded Homicide: Life on the Street.

  What changed. An agreement was reached with NBC that enabled continued production of the series.

  Aftermath. Reeves remained involved with the program's first season despite the failed New World transaction.

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• 1990Thames Television acquisitionM&A

  Reeves Entertainment was operating as a substantial independent television production business.

  What changed. Thames Television purchased Reeves for a reported $89 million.

  Aftermath. The acquisition placed the Reeves and former ALP businesses within Thames' corporate structure; later ownership changes transferred control of related assets to other entities.

  Acquisition price. $89 million (1990)

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• 1987Blue Andre first-look partnershipStrategy

  Reeves sought additional projects through relationships with independent producers.

  What changed. The company signed an exclusive first-look agreement with producer Blue Andre to develop projects including The Warriors and The Secret of Sherwood Forest.

  Aftermath. The projects were developed for CBS as television productions, expanding Reeves' external development pipeline.

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• 1984Founder departs and production company is rebrandedStrategy

  Alan Landsburg left the company to establish The Landsburg Company in partnership with Cox Enterprises.

  What changed. The company was renamed the Reeves Entertainment Group and continued under the Reeves identity.

  Aftermath. The rebranding marked the end of Alan Landsburg Productions as the company's operating name while preserving a continuing production business and catalogue.

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• 2000Fremantle becomes associated with most of the catalogue

  Fremantle acquired Thames, placing most of the historical Reeves and Alan Landsburg Productions catalogue within the wider Fremantle library, subject to title-specific rights arrangements.

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• 1991Reeves-related assets transferred after Thames ownership changes

  Following Thames Television's loss of its ITV franchise and subsequent acquisition by Pearson, MCEG Sterling Administrations received control of Reeves-related assets under the transaction arrangements.

  M&A
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• 1990Thames Television purchases Reeves

  Thames Television purchased Reeves for a reported $89 million, expanding the corporate ownership chain surrounding the former ALP catalogue.

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• 1987Reeves enters first-look partnership with Blue Andre

  Reeves Entertainment signed an exclusive first-look arrangement with independent producer Blue Andre to develop television projects for potential network sale.

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• 1984Alan Landsburg leaves and company adopts Reeves name

  Alan Landsburg departed to form The Landsburg Company with Cox Enterprises, and the former ALP was renamed the Reeves Entertainment Group.

  Leadership change
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• 1978Reeves Communications acquires Alan Landsburg Productions

  Reeves Communications Corp. acquired the production company, beginning its transition into the Reeves corporate structure.

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• 1971Alan Landsburg Productions founded

  Alan Landsburg established the independent television production company that later became known for documentary, television-film, and scripted programming.

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1. Alan Landsburg Productions