Former William Morris President Jerry Katzman dies aged 89

Jerry Katzman, the former president of the William Morris Agency and a veteran executive in the American television industry, has died at the age of 89. According to Variety, Katzman specialised in 'television packaging', a process involving the assembly of key elements—such as concepts, producers, writers, and actors—to present to networks for production. He played a significant role in the development and success of series including Roseanne, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Cosby Show, and Murphy Brown. Katzman began his career at William Morris in the business affairs department before rising to lead the company's worldwide television division. He was later appointed president and vice-chairman of the agency. Variety reports that Katzman’s work in television packaging was fundamental in shaping modern American television.