"Whatever sex, violence, colorful language and other racy behaviors TV audiences glimpsed on ABC between 1960 and 1990, they have Alfred R. Schneider, the former head of "standards and practices," to thank or to blame. In The Gatekeeper, he discusses firsts like The Day After, All in the Family, The Twilight Zone and That Certain Summer, an early '70s show on which a man tells his son that he's gay. Alternately businesslike and juicy, Schneider's revelations are the nuts and bolts of a powerful if thankless task."—Publishers Weekly
Description
From 1960 to 1990, Alfred R. Schneider served as head of standards and practices, or “chief censors,” for the ABC television network. From his unique vantage point, Schneider managed issues of taste and morality that determined what millions of U.S. viewers watched. During his tenure the nation’s attitudes changed drastically, as did the content shown on American airwaves. Controversies arose about TV’s influence on children, its portrayal of violence, and its introduction of once taboo subjects.
About the Author
Alfred R. Schneider was vice president of policy and standards for the American Broadcasting Company, setting widely-adopted guidelines for television network standards for nearly three decades.
March 2001
