John Agoglia, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJohn Agoglia
Date of Birth: 24-Sep-1937
Date of Death: 14-Mar-2014
Profession: manager
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Libra 
About John Agoglia
- John Joseph Agoglia (September 24, 1937 – March 14, 2014) was an American television executive noted for his work at NBC from 1980 to 1998, including a tenure as President of NBC Enterprises.
- He was considered one of the network's top negotiators, often heading complicated negotiations between NBC and producers, actors and television studios.
- Agoglia was instrumental in the decision to replace Johnny Carson, the departing host of The Tonight Show, with Jay Leno in 1992.Agoglia was born in Brooklyn, New York.
- His career began at Barclays Bank, before switching to the television industry.
- He worked as an executive at CBS for sixteen years before joining rival NBC in 1980.
- Agoglia moved to southern California permanently when he took the position at NBC.Agoglia worked directly under a string of well-known Presidents of NBC Entertainment and other executives, including Brandon Tartikoff, Warren Littlefield and Don Ohlmeyer.
- He earned a reputation as one of the network's toughest dealmakers.
- Agoglia led the often drawn-out negotiations with outside television studios and on-air talent.
- For example, Agoglia hammered out a deal with Paramount Studios for the renewal of Cheers.
- He also negotiated the agreement to retain three cast members of Seinfeld - Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards - when each actor was demanding one million dollars per episode at the peak of the show's popularity.Agoglia played a significant role in the decision by NBC to name Jay Leno as the host of The Tonight Show over David Letterman in 1992.
- The move sparked controversy, as Letterman jumped to CBS after Leno's appointment.
- Agoglia's role in choosing Leno as Johnny Carson's successor was noted in the 1994 book, The Late Shift, by New York Times journalist, Bill Carter.
- An HBO film adaptation of the book, The Late Shift, aired in 1996.
- Agoglia was portrayed by actor Reni Santoni in the film.Agoglia led a multi-network 1993 boycott of the Emmy Awards, following a decision by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to air the awards exclusively on ABC.
- The Emmys had previously broadcast on the television networks on a rotating basis.
- Agoglia denounced the exclusivity agreement between ABC and the Emmys as "bizarre at best" and retaliated by boycott all Academy events, including the Primetime Emmy Awards.
- The Academy and the Emmys, under pressure from Agoglia's boycott, eventually relented and cancelled the deal with ABC.
- The Emmys returned to the previous agreement, in which the award show was broadcast on each of the four broadcast networks on a rotating basic each year.
- Agoglia rejoined the executive committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1994 after the deal with ABC was ended.On June 17, 1997, Agoglia announced his decision to retire from NBC.
- He left NBC in 1998 after eighteen years with the network.During his retirement Agoglia launched a Media Consulting firm; served as President of the Board of LAX Airport Commission; Served on board of directors of KCET Los Angeles; and was board chairman of the Los Angeles Universal Preschool Program. John Agoglia died on March 14, 2014, at the age of 76 following a three-year illness with cancer.
- He was survived by his sons, Anthony and John Steven, three grandchildren, and his brother, Thomas Agoglia.
- His wife, Joanne Agoglia, died in 2010.
Read more at Wikipedia