Gayle Kolodny, People
PALM SPRINGS -- In his new Palm Springs house, an Emmy Award and a
personal thank-you note from writer/producer Norman Lear are among the
memorabilia from David Holman's successful television career.
Holman, a former Glendale resident, recently retired as vice president
of production operations for Columbia Tristar Television. Although he
felt ready to leave behind the demanding job, he sometimes misses it and
the city he called home for more than 20 years.
"What I miss most about Glendale are the green foothills," he said. "I
spent many years in Glendale and had a number of opportunities to move
and chose not to."
In March, while enjoying his first real vacation in a decade, he
realized he wanted to make a change.
"I was returning to Glendale from England and Scotland on the QEII
[Queen Elizabeth II, a luxury liner]," he remembered. "At age 62, I
realized that time was getting away fast. I wanted less stress in my life
after 15 years with one company."
Altogether, Holman spent 40 years in the entertainment industry.
Originally from Texas, he studied broadcasting and became an
award-winning television director at KTBC-TV in Austin. His next stop was
New York, where he worked his way up in advertising to produce such
classic commercials as Hertz Rent-A-Car's flying man -- "Let Hertz Put
You in the Driver's Seat."
"ABC Sports hired me away from advertising, which I had learned to
love," Holman said, "and I became a unit manager on 'Wide World of
Sports,' doing sporting events all over the country and England."
Promotions at ABC led Holman to work on "The Dick Cavett Show" and
several awards shows, including the Emmy Awards. While with ABC,
Holman met Muppet creator Jim Henson, and they began a working
relationship that lasted for six years.
Among other things, Holman served as associate producer for the pilot
of "The Muppet Show." Although the pilot failed for ABC, Henson sold the
series into syndication.
"That series became the No. 1 syndication hit in the history of
television and a great joy to work on," he said.
Holman still considers Henson one of his inspirations.
"I can proudly say I was there when Miss Piggy was born and then she
eventually ruled the world," he said.
In 1979, Holman relocated to Glendale.
"It was close to Hollywood and I was quickly able to find an
apartment," he said.
Although he moved within the area a number of times, he bought his
dream home -- a 1930 Mediterranean on Valentine Drive -- in Glendale.
Holman eventually worked on such popular Columbia Tristar shows as
"Who's the Boss," "Mad About You" and "The Nanny."
However, it was work he did in logistics for ABC Sports on the 1984
Olympics that earned him an Emmy Award for Individual Achievement. He
views his Emmy as one of his greatest accomplishments.
"That and surviving in entertainment after all these years," he
quipped.
Since moving to Palm Springs, Holman has devoted his time to writing,
reading, exercising and doing consultant work.
"Haven't taken up golf yet," he said, "but just might do that, too."
THE HOLMAN FILE:
BORN: Weslaco, Texas.
AGE: 63.
FAVORITE TV SHOWS: "The West Wing," "Will and Grace," "Frasier," "A&E
Biography."
HOBBIES: Swimming, bicycling, tennis.
ADVICE: "I learned early on in my career not to take no for an answer.
If I wanted to do something or get a particular job, I went for it
regardless of the odds. Listen to your heart, not the negative talk
around you."
