Michael Landon's early career took a significant turn when he attended Carnegie Tech, now known as Carnegie-Mellon University, where he majestically pursued a degree in playwriting. It was during this time that he had the privilege of sharing his academic journey with notable classmates such as Barbara Bosson, Michael Tucker, Bruce Weitz, and Charles Haid. The dynamic duo of Landon and Tucker embarked on an extraordinary adventure, driving cross-country to Hollywood in search of full-time employment at Universal Studios, where Landon would eventually spend an impressive 12 years of his career.
Years later, in 1978, Landon made a bold move to MTM Enterprises, where he was granted the creative freedom to develop a show inspired by the critically acclaimed series Fort Apache the Bronx. The culmination of his hard work resulted in the creation of Hill Street Blues, a groundbreaking series that premiered in 1981. However, his tenure at MTM Enterprises was not without its challenges, and he was eventually let go in 1985 due to his struggles in keeping the production costs of Hill Street Blues within budget.
Undeterred by this setback, Landon went on to create two highly successful series for NBC, L.A. Law and Doogie Howser, M.D. In 1987, he secured a lucrative deal with ABC, worth a staggering $15 million, to develop 10 series pilots over the course of 10 years. This remarkable achievement showcased Landon's unwavering dedication to his craft and his ability to bounce back from adversity.
