# Anthony Thomopoulos
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{{Short description|American media executive}}
'''Anthony Denis "Tony" Thomopoulos''' ({{langx|el|Αντώνης Θωμόπουλος}}[{{Cite web|url=https://www.ellines.com/erga-ellinon/28695-korufaios-paragogos-kai-stelechos-tileoptikon-paragogon-stis-hpa/|title=Τόνι Θωμόπουλος - Κορυφαίος παραγωγός και στέλεχος τηλεοπτικών παραγωγών στις ΗΠΑ|website=www.ellines.com|access-date=2019-12-10}}]) is an American film and television executive. Thomopoulos spent 12 years of his career at [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company), progressively taking up such positions as Vice President of Prime Time Programs, President of [ABC Entertainment](/source/ABC_Entertainment), and President of ABC Broadcast Group.
==Biography==
The son of [Greek](/source/Greek_people) immigrants, he grew up in the [Bronx](/source/Bronx) and raised as [Greek Orthodox](/source/Greek_Orthodox). His father owned a restaurant. After a high school aptitude test marked Thomopoulos as a potential diplomat, he applied to [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University)'s [Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service](/source/Edmund_A._Walsh_School_of_Foreign_Service). There, he instead developed an interest in business. After graduating, he worked as a mail clerk at NBC's New York headquarters.{{cn|date=October 2025}}
==Business career==
Thomopoulos was hired by Barry Diller to oversee prime-time programming at ABC. He was noted, among other things, for the tough position he took in dealing with the contract holdout of [Suzanne Somers](/source/Suzanne_Somers) on the ABC show ''[Three's Company](/source/Three's_Company)'',[[Tom Shales](/source/Tom_Shales), [https://web.archive.org/web/20131105214427/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-263644.html "Behind 'Three's Company,' Somers and Smoke"], ''[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)'', May 12, 2003.] and for his timely cancellation of the 1982 ''[Police Squad!](/source/Police_Squad!)'', explaining that the show had been cancelled because, among other reasons, "it required constant viewing, and he didn't think that people can watch a TV series without some distractions".[Barbara Holsapple, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VuEhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9l4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6972%2C221691 "Do Viewers Need Help With 'Police Squad?'], ''[Pittsburgh Press](/source/Pittsburgh_Press)'', July 1, 1982.][{{cite web|author=Steve Weinstein|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-04-ca-2833-story.html|title=Never Ready for Prime Time?: 'Doctor, Doctor' is the latest wild and crazy comedy to find the going tough on network TV|website=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)|date=March 4, 1990}}] In June 1983, he was named president of the broadcast group.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-12-fi-5102-story.html|title=Thomopoulos Resigns as Head of ABC Unit|date=1985-11-12|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-10}}] He resigned as president in 1985[[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1qA_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=T1YMAAAAIBAJ&dq=ferrare%20thomopoulos%20wedding&pg=1730%2C3336957 "Thomopoulos gets new job"], [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) in ''[The Vindicator](/source/The_Vindicator)'', November 22, 1985.][Jack Mathews, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-19-ca-22704-story.html "He Wants to Add New Pages to UA's Illustrious History"], ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'', November 19, 1987.] where he supervised such productions as ''[Betrayed](/source/Betrayed_(1988_film))'', [''Baby Boom''](/source/Baby_Boom_(film)), and ''[The Living Daylights](/source/The_Living_Daylights)''.[Al Delugach, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-27-fi-2669-story.html "Thomopoulos Resigns as UA Chairman"], ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'', September 27, 1988.] In 1989, Thomopoulos formed Thomopoulos Productions, an independent production company of both motion pictures and television programs.
From 1991[[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-01-fi-808-story.html "Anthony D. (Tony) Thomopoulos has been named to the newly..."], ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'', May 1, 1991.] to 1995, he was President of Amblin Television, a division of [Amblin Entertainment](/source/Amblin_Entertainment). He was responsible for the original placement of NBC's TV series ''[ER](/source/ER_(TV_series))'', in addition to several other series on network television. In 1995, Thomopoulos joined International Family Entertainment, Inc. (IFE). His responsibilities included programming operations for [The Family Channel](/source/Television_networks_preceding_ABC_Family). He was named CEO of MTM Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of IFE, and was also responsible for operations of MTM Television and MTM Distribution.[Steve Coe, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160115063801/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16627889.html "Thomopoulos to head MTM Entertainment: leaves Amblin with three series on air, including powerhouse 'ER.'"], ''[Broadcasting & Cable](/source/Broadcasting_%26_Cable)'', March 6, 1995.]
Thomopoulos was chairman and CEO of artist [Thomas Kinkade](/source/Thomas_Kinkade)'s Media Arts Group[[Michael Hiltzik](/source/Michael_Hiltzik), [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-03-fi-goldenstate3-story.html "Future Clouded for 'Painter of Light's' Galleries"], ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'', February 3, 2003.] from June 2001 to January 2004. He subsequently founded [Morning Light Productions](/source/Morning_Light_Productions).[Lauren Beale, [https://www.latimes.com/home/la-xpm-2011-aug-23-la-hm-hotprop-cristina-ferrare-20110823-story.html "Cristina Ferrare, Tony Thomopoulos sell Wilshire Corridor condo"], ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'', August 23, 2011.]
== Personal life ==
Thomopoulos's first marriage ended in 1983 after 22 years, and produced three children. In 1985, he married television host [Cristina Ferrare](/source/Cristina_Ferrare).[[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20090604,00.html "Leaving Her Trials (and De Lorean) Behind, Cristina Ferrare Weds in a Marriage Made in Private"], ''[People](/source/People_(magazine))'', May 6, 1985.] They have two children. As of 2011, they lived in [California](/source/California).