When Rob’s credit card was declined this week, he hopped on the phone with card security, and then — thanks to the sober reality check — decided he didn’t really need to buy that expensive toy. And thus, the benefit of “a service that interrupts you while you're in the process of buying something expensive and unnecessary.” On a set, that’s known as the line producer. And today, Rob pays tribute to one of the best, Steve Grossman, a 35-year industry veteran (Newhart, Hope & Gloria, George and Leo, Love & Money, Lateline) who was the secret weapon for sitcom success — and to whom the industry recently bid farewell.
That was really lovely. Line Producing can be a very polarizing job, and yet I've never heard anyone express an unkind thought about Steve Grossman. His legacy is greater than the dozens of great television shows he Produced, but the many coworkers whose careers he promoted, and who were influenced by his kindness and professionalism. My condolences to his friends and family.
line producers are the unacknowledged (by the general viewing public) heroes of the production world. They are your hand holders, your slave drivers, your geniuses who make things happen when they told you they couldn’t —because they actually lied to you a little and saved a bit of extra money in the budget because they thought you would need it for just this thing… I’m sorry I never worked with him. I’ll bet he was the best. Condolences to his family and all who knew him:
Beautiful tribute.
In Final Draft for Mac, type Character A's speech, then Character B's speech. Place your cursor at the end of the Character Name slug for Character A, then hit Command-D, and you get Dual Dialogue.
I was a DGA trainee with Steve back on "Bob" in 1994. I learned a lot from him. Rob, truly appreciate your ode to him, and to line producers. We appreciate being seen. And Steve appreciates being remembered.
What a wonderful tribute to Steve Grossman. I had a call from him several months ago, basically a "good bye call" as he knew his time was limited. I was greatly moved by his generosity to include me as friend he wanted speak to one more time. Steve was more than a brilliant line producer. His kindness was part of his legacy.