TV Veteran Brings Good News to CMT

By Crystal Caviness

What brought John Hamlin, a veteran producer for CBS News' award-winning show, "60 Minutes," to Nashville was dinner.

After hearing that Hamlin had some programming ideas, Bob Kusbit, Head of Development at Country Music Television (CMT), invited him to talk it over at a restaurant meeting.

As he listened, Kusbit became more intrigued - not so much with the shows but with the man pitching them. "I thought, 'This would be a guy I'd love to have full-time at CMT,'" he recalled.

Not long after that, Hamlin was onboard at the cable music network, as Senior VP of Production and Development.

After "long conversations over the next few weeks," according to Kusbit, the two-time Emmy Award winner stepped away from his position with one of television's most respected news shows, moved with his family from their Florida waterfront home and went to work at his Nashville office by late July 2007.

A background in hard news may seem incongruous in the world of music television, but a closer look at his prospectus of more than 25 years of television experience reveals areas of synchronicity. While working for 15 years at "60 Minutes," Hamlin produced segments on some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson and U2.

"John has a deep-rooted interest in music and Country Music," Kusbit explained. "He's had great success in getting artists to do things in new and inventive ways. He has great connections with artists and labels. His connections and interest in music made us go after him and want him for the channel."

But it wasn't only Hamlin's music-related work that made him a fit for CMT. "We're always looking for new ways to do television shows that appeal to the CMT audience," Kusbit said. "With John's skill as a television producer, he can find creative ideas and then oversee and execute them correctly.

"And because of his background with '60 Minutes,' his integrity is top notch," he added. "It just brings a high level of person to the channel. He's incredibly driven and enthusiastic, and I hope that energy will add to the lifeblood that's already at CMT."

In Hamlin's view, CMT programming breaks down to three parts: music programming, including "CMT Crossroads," its "Giants" franchise and the network's signature annual event, the "CMT Music Awards;" non-scripted and non-music programming that includes such hit series as "Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team," "Hogan Knows Best," "Trick My Truck" and "Trick My Trucker;" and a third category that, in Hamlin's words, "marries both of these genres by putting Country artists into compelling reality-driven concepts."

As examples, he points to three new CMT series. The first is "Gone Country," hosted by John Rich of Big & Rich, who gives seven established performers from different realms of the entertainment and music industries a chance to break out as the next Country superstar. The second is "Can You Duet," a music competition series from the producers of "American Idol," designed to find the best Country Music duo in America. Finally, there's "Invitation Only," which Hamlin described as "a cross between 'Storytellers' and 'Inside the Actors Studio.'"

"Invitation Only" debuted on CMT last fall with Keith Urban; the next installment launched in March with Alan Jackson. "It's a music-driven show," Hamlin observed. "And we're letting artists shape the show to fit their particular vision, while providing the audience with an up-close and personal look at their favorite artists."

In every concept he's addressing for CMT, Hamlin applies the most important lesson learned through his news and sports background. "Whether you're showing a football game or a reality show, television is storytelling," he explained. "I asked one producer about how he sees one idea we're developing that involves talent from Music Row. He said, 'Well, we'll be following so-and-so around.' And I said, 'Stop right there. Don't just follow a celebrity. Tell me what they're going through. Tell me a story!'"

Hamlin and another recent addition at CMT, Jay Frank, Senior VP of Music Strategy, work together to communicate the network's goals to the music community. "CMT is trying to embrace artists, record companies and managers in a collaborative way that we can all work together and do things that are good for all of us," Hamlin said. "Music Row is in the business of selling records and tickets. The more records and tickets they sell, the better for us. If we make the right choices, it only helps the business of CMT.

"But," he added, "we want to be careful. We'll never underestimate the intelligence of the CMT audience or any other audience. You don't want to package stuff so that it looks like an infomercial or a strictly promotional piece, because people are more sophisticated than that."

And what about that pitch that first brought Hamlin to the table with Kusbit?

"They've already made it onto our development slate," Hamlin confirmed.

Stay tuned.

On the Web: www.cmt.com