Steven Bochco was one of the most influential men in the history of TV producers and he’s going to be missed since he was one of the guys that was genuinely tough and also good to his people. The kind of boss that can and will stand up for you is the kind that most people find is the best since they’ll give that person everything they have and more when it comes to the job. Bochco was that kind of guy, and he was also an innovator that wanted to make sure that people got the best show that he could provide while at the same time pushing boundaries that hadn’t been tested before. His pioneering spirit and dedicate to his work was an inspiration to a lot of people in his time and the shows he was responsible for might not have all been hits but they certainly changed the landscape of television. Unfortunately it changed cable TV more than anything but it was still an achievement that he could be proud of since it brought about a different look at how to produce winning shows that people would want to watch.
Bochco was one of the few people in his position that would seek to protect his writers so long as they were doing their job and were doing their very best. That’s kind of a rarity now since writers at times are considered to be those that get walked on in the industry, the idea-generators that are really given no respect unless they decide to make a stink about it. With Bochco they didn’t have to, they could go about their business and do their work without fear of being hassled or messed with when it came to what they delivered. So long as they were capable of doing the job they were taken care of and allowed to work their magic.
Bosses like this don’t come around that often and as a rule they get remembered fondly when that day comes that their story finally ends. Those are the kind of people that one can look back upon with fond memories and an idea that the time spent with them, no matter how much or how little, wasn’t wasted. And if you want an idea of just how tough this guy was he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 and had to have a bone marrow transplant. The pain involved in this kind of procedure is said to vary but if you can imagine having to go through something like this then you should be able to think that it’s not all that pleasant for either the donor or the recipient. Unfortunately Mr. Bochco succumbed to the disease on April 1st after living with it for the past few years. He’ll be remembered fondly among those that worked with him and those that he managed to help with their careers.
Rest in peace sir, and know that you made a big difference to many people.
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