Brillstein Entertainment Partners

Brillstein Entertainment Partners (formerly known as Brillstein/Grey Entertainment and Brillstein/Grey Communications) is a talent management firm and television production company formed by the 1986 addition of Brad Grey to The Brillstein Company, founded by Bernie Brillstein in 1969.

Brillstein Entertainment Partners
IndustryTalent and Literary Agencies
PredecessorThe Brillstein Company (1969–1992)
Founded1986 (1986)
FoundersBernie Brillstein
Brad Grey
HeadquartersBeverly Hills, California, U.S.
Key people
  • Jon Liebman
  • Marc Gurvitz
  • Cynthia Pett
Members200 clients
Websitebepmedia.com

On September 18, 2023, it was announced that a company owned by Casey Wasserman acquired BEP.[1]

The Brillstein Company

Bernie Brillstein formed The Brillstein Company in 1969, where he continued to manage stars and develop television programming, a career he began in the fabled mailroom of the William Morris Agency. He produced such popular television hits as Hee Haw, The Muppet Show,[2] and Saturday Night Live.[3]

Brillstein managed Saturday Night Live cast members Gilda Radner, John Belushi, and Lorne Michaels, as well as Jim Henson (of The Muppets fame) and Paul Fusco (voice and operator of ALF). Productions for television included ALF: The Animated Series and Normal Life.

In 1986, Lorimar-Telepictures bought out The Brillstein Company, whereas they would have to transform it into an independently operated and management unit of the studio.[4]

The company became Brillstein Entertainment Partners when Brad Grey left the company to become the head of Paramount Pictures. It is now headed by Jonathan Liebman, Marc Gurvitz, and Cynthia Pett.

Film productions

Brillstein-Grey Entertainment

In 1984, Brillstein met Brad Grey at a television convention in San Francisco. In 1986,[5] the two formed a production company, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, which packaged programming and managed talent.

In 1994, Brillstein-Grey had reached a deal with Capital Cities/ABC to start Brillstein-Grey Communications.[6]

Film productions

Television productions

Miscellaneous

The new management company Eric Murphy joins in HBO's Entourage is based on Brillstein Entertainment, as well as the character Murray Berenson based on the company's founder Bernie Brillstein.

Brillstein sold his shares in the company to Universal Pictures in 1996, giving Grey, his one time protégé, full rein over operations. In 1999, Universal sold Brillstein's shares to Grey, and the company's television unit was subsequently rechristened Brad Grey Television as a result. Also, Brad Grey Television struck a deal with Columbia TriStar Television to produce and distribute TV shows.[7] Grey sold his interest in the company in 2005[3] due to his succeeding Sherry Lansing as Chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures, which created a conflict of interest. Briefly, it became Basic Entertainment,[8] before reverting to its original name in 2000.[9]

Several shows by the company now have ancillary rights owned by NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. Some of these shows are distributed by Sony Pictures Television in North America.

References
  1. "Wasserman Completes Acquisition of Brillstein Entertainment Partners". Variety. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  2. Rose, Frank (1995). The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business. New York: Harper. pp. 261, 415.
  3. "Brillstein-Grey Entertainment". Hoover's. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  4. Bierbaum, Tom (1986-05-14). "Brillstein Becoming A Lorimar Division". Variety. p. 4.
  5. "Bernie Brillstein Biography" (PDF). Wma.com. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  6. Lowry, Brian (1994-02-03). "ABC inks prod'n duo". Variety. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  7. Hontz, Jenny (1999-05-11). "BGTV ups Reilly and Traugott". Variety. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  8. "Inside Moves". Variety. 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  9. Schneider, Michael (2000-08-16). "Grey finds Basic plain, changes it". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
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