To consider all that Brandon Tartikoff accomplished as president of NBC Entertainment, it's important to realize how bad NBC was in 1981, when, at 31, Tartikoff took over. There was no instant turnaround in the Nielsens. But in a few short years, after hits like Cheers, Hill Street Blues, The Cosby Show,Family Ties, Golden Girls and St. Elsewhere, NBC was not only on top of the ratings but on top with programs that were among the best in TV history.

Tartikoff passed away in 1997, at the age of 48, from Hodgkin's disease, which he had fought—unknown to all but a few close friends—since he was just out of college. The Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards began in 2004, and have become an honor that program executives and creators treasure.

Those who knew Tartikoff appreciated his sense of humor and his respect for the creative process. He made TV better, as this year's four winners have. Chuck Lorre, Tyler Perry, Ben Silverman and Anne Sweeney will be feted at NATPE on Jan. 26.

Previous Legacy Award Winners

Chuck Lorre
Lorre—who at one time pursued a career as a guitarist, singer and songwriter—is now best known for having his hand in some of the most successful multi-camera comedies in the history of television. Right now, of course, that includes his duties as the creator/writer/showrunner of CBS sitcoms Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. Full story

Anne Sweeney
Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, has her hands full. She's not only charged with growing the company's market position in tough economic times, but also staying ahead of new-media trends and finding new ways to bring Disney into the lives of the consumer. Full story

Tyler Perry
At 39, Tyler Perry is more than a writer, producer, director or actor. Like one of his early heroes, Oprah Winfrey, he's a brand. Part of Perry's marketing genius was that he created and maintained a loyal following through first a mailing list and then a Website, a practice he maintains today. Full story

Ben Silverman

At the tender age of 38, he's the youngest of the broadcast network chiefs; he shares the chairmanship of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios with 52-year-old Marc Graboff. Tartikoff was just 31 when he became head of NBC Entertainment. Full story