‘Saturday Night’ Fever : Bernie Brillstein, Brad Grey Strike Gold in Ties to Popular TV Show

Ever since “Wayne’s World” became one of the year’s surprise movie hits, grossing more than $175 million worldwide, characters from NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” have been in hot demand in Hollywood.

“The Coneheads,” based on the monotone, beer-guzzling space aliens who became TV cult favorites more than a decade ago, begins production in January. “Hans and Franz Go to Hollywood in Search of Arnold” (as in Schwarzenegger) is also on tap, not to mention the inevitable “Wayne’s World 2.”

That’s excellent news for Bernie Brillstein and Brad Grey, the manager/producers who helped launch all three projects. With clients such as “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels and “Wayne’s World” stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, the two are riding high on a wave of youth culture comedies.

Sony Pictures Entertainment, a division of Japan’s Sony Corp., elevated them to the upper ranks of producers last year when it signed Brillstein/Grey to a $20-million movie and TV distribution deal. The agreement, one of the industry’s richest, guarantees studio financing of their TV shows for four years, with Brillstein/Grey retaining ownership of the programs. Sony also has first-look rights on their film projects.

Peter Guber, chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, calls the duo a “unique resource.” Said Guber: “They’ve proved they can manage both talent and productions. And that’s hard to do.”

Brillstein/Grey operates off the Sony lot in a Sunset Strip office with 26 employees. The small management-production company expects to gross $10 million this year, not counting revenue from syndicated shows such as “Alf.”

In addition to producing “The Larry Sanders Show” and “Def Comedy Jam” for HBO, they have four shows on deck next season: “Smoldering Lust” on NBC, a comedy featuring rap group Kid ‘N Play for ABC, and Bronson Pinchot and Carol Burnett projects at CBS.

The one major blemish on their record this year was the failure of “The Dennis Miller Show,” pulled after seven months in late night syndication because of low ratings.

But the two are quick to point out that they had no upfront financial investment in the show, which starred another of their clients, Dennis Miller.

As manager/producers, Brillstein and Grey often base their movie and TV projects around people they represent. Sometimes the clients suggest the ideas.

Garry Shandling, for instance, stars in Brillstein/Grey’s “Larry Sanders Show.” Shandling suggested the show to Grey, who sold it to HBO within a day. The highly regarded show has just been picked up for another 22 weeks over its initial 13-week commitment.

“We’re like a studio now,” Grey said. “Except there’s almost no overhead.” Added Brillstein: “Since there are no rules for this kind of company, we make the rules.”

After more than seven years of working together, the partners often finish one another’s sentences. Yet they still make up an odd couple by most standards.

Brillstein, 61, is a freewheeling, schmooze-intensive product of old Hollywood. Grey, 34, is more focused and reserved. During lunch at Le Dome, Brillstein fairly lunges out of his seat to greet passers-by. Grey, who is said to call most of the business shots, tends to nod politely.

Both partners are naturally attuned to the hip, irreverent comedy that appeals to baby boomers and their offspring, according to Lorne Michaels. They still scour comedy clubs for new acts, and they’ve shown a knack for packaging clients in film and TV projects.

“They really understand comedians,” Michaels says simply. “They speak the same language.”

Brillstein/Grey have profited royally from their ties to “Saturday Night.” In addition to Miller, Michaels, Carvey and Myers, their clients include such past and current stars as Jon Lovitz, Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider.

Brillstein once worked on the show. He also was executive producer of related projects, including the two “Ghostbusters” movies and “The Blues Brothers.” Before that, Brillstein helped launch television’s “Hee Haw” and worked extensively with “Muppets” creator Jim Henson. He also served as chief executive of Lorimar Film Entertainment.

Grey joined Brillstein in 1985, after working as a concert promoter and producing cable TV programs featuring comedians such as Miller and Shandling. He has since helped build the talent roster from 22 to 90, to include actors such as Brad Pitt and Nicolas Cage.

Brillstein and Grey are philosophical about the failure of “The Dennis Miller Show.” Grey says their biggest error was failing to secure enough markets for the syndicated show. He denies that Miller was a victim of the intense competition for top-drawer guests with Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall.

“I don’t care to blame the competition. That’s not the issue,” Grey says. “In today’s television environment, you just don’t have much time to find an audience.”

Brillstein and Grey have higher hopes for upcoming TV and movie projects. They are also exploring business opportunities in sports management, the music world and Broadway. Brillstein uses MCA, the entertainment conglomerate that started as a talent agency, as his own lofty model.