Making of A Capitol Fourth
PRODUCTION STAFF
On a live show the size of A Capitol Fourth, hundreds and hundreds of professionals and volunteers contribute to the creation and production of a successful event. The biographies below provide a glimpse into the talent and experience of several of the most important players.
Jerry Colbert
In 1981, Executive Producer Jerry Colbert presented the first PBS Fourth of July concert with the National Symphony Orchestra and guest artists performing live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. In 1990, he introduced the National Memorial Day Concert. Since then, both holiday specials have become among the highest-rated performance programs on PBS. In addition to his annual work on these concerts, Colbert has produced Mr.Justice Brennan, Sister Adrian, the Mother Teresa of Scranton, The Regulators: Our Invisible Government and H.R. 6161: An Act of Congress. Colbert was previously deputy director of the Center for Understanding Media in New York.
Walter C. Miller
Producer Walter C. Miller is recognized as America’s leading live director and producer with credits including television’s top awards shows, such as the Grammy Awards, Country Music Awards, The People’s Choice Awards, Tony Awards, American Comedy Awards, The Emmy Awards, Daytime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. In 1999, he won an Emmy for producing the Tony Awards. For Liberty Weekend: Americana Music Concert, Miller received the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Director. He has won additional Emmys for S’Wonderful, S’Marvelous, S’Gershwin, a special with Jack Lemmon and Fred Astaire and Annie, The Women In A Life Of A Man. His live musical concert credits include Concert of the Americas with Frank Sinatra in addition to A Capitol Fourth and the National Memorial Day Concert.
Paul Miller
Paul Miller has been directing television since 1982, with credits that include three seasons each as director of Saturday Night Live and In Living Color. He has received four Emmy nominations, and won an Emmy in 1999 for directing the Tony Awards. He has also been nominated twice for the Directors Guild of America in the Musical/Variety category and won again in 1999 for directing the Tonys. In January of this year, Miller was honored to be asked to direct the ABC News coverage of President Obama’s Inauguration. He has directed the Country Music Awards for the last 11 years and multiple productions of An American Celebration at Ford’s Theatre. On July 4, 1993, Miller teamed professionally with his father, Walter C. Miller, for A Capitol Fourth, and has directed both the National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth. Paul Miller is a partner in RickMill Productions, a Hollywood-based entertainment company that has produced numerous series for Comedy Central, as well as specials for HBO and Showtime.
Jon Macks
Jon Macks has written for Hollywood’s top television programs, including the most prestigious award shows, late night programs and television specials. Since 1992, he has been a staff writer for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Macks has written for the Academy Awards since 1997, including hosts Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock. He was also head writer for the 76th, 80th and 81st Annual Academy Awards. Macks has written on 12 Emmy Awards, four American Latino Media Awards, four Academy of Country Music Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. In 2006, he received a Writers Guild Award nomination for his work on the 59th Annual Tony Awards. He was also creator and consulting producer for the HBO series K Street and is executive producer and writer of the Universal movie Little Leaguers. His television credits include ABC’s 50th Anniversary Special, Hollywood Squares, CBS’s 75th Anniversary Special and The Honeymooner’s 50th Anniversary Special. This is Macks’s fifth time writing for A Capitol Fourth.
