Obituaries - March 10, 2000

Rick Jacobson; Television Executive

Rick Jacobson, 48, television executive who developed the Magic Johnson talk show. Raised in Chicago, Jacobson graduated from the University of Illinois and began his career with Orion Pictures, where he oversaw sales efforts for its off-network products. He moved to Buena Vista Television in the same role, and then went to Viacom as president of domestic markets responsible for sales and distribution of the company’s motion picture library as well as off-network syndication. He later became president and chief executive officer of Tribune Entertainment and remained there until 1995, when he joined Twentieth Television as president and chief operating officer of its syndication division. Jacobson was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1996 for his career-long efforts on behalf of the industry. In 1998, Jacobson and Twentieth Television created “The Magic Hour” with Johnson the basketball star as a talk show host. Although the show was short-lived, Jacobson, long viewed as a syndication wizard, was given high marks for his work in developing new first-run shows for Fox. He also masterminded the daytime show “Forgive or Forget,” which was renewed for a second year. That show, he said, had an element of suspense that audiences seemed to like. He said the Johnson show taught him that “you can’t always buy your way to success with big-name talents.” On Sunday in Tarzana of cancer.