David William Tebet was an American theater publicist, network executive and, early in his career, a press agent for Your Show of Shows starring Sid Caesar.
11 Facts About David Tebet
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David Tebet was responsible for the recruitment of Johnny Carson to The Tonight Show in 1962 and keeping him with the network for 30 years.
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In 1950, David Tebet got his first major job handling publicity for NBC's new variety program Your Show of Shows which starred comedians Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
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David Tebet helped handle talent for the show's producer, Max Liebman.
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David Tebet was responsible for recruiting Johnny Carson to fill Jack Paar's position as host of The Tonight Show.
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David Tebet scheduled a series of guest hosts on the program until Carson took over hosting duties in October 1962.
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David Tebet was said to be the inspiration for Felix Unger, the fastidious divorce in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple.
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David Tebet was writer Paddy Chayefsky's model for Max Schumacher, the level-headed television executive played by William Holden in the movie Network.
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David Tebet was a lifetime member of the board of governors of the New York Friars Club alongside Frank and Barbara Sinatra.
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David Tebet is portrayed by Willem Dafoe in the 2024 film Saturday Night.
11.
David Tebet died on June 7,2005, due to complications of a recent stroke.