Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Goldstein.
Bobby, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Bobby Goldstein Productions began as a dream in 1978 when my father tried to get me off my derriere and work. All of my people were dairy farmers, and with all that beautiful long hair, rock music, and weed, I just didn’t see myself milking cows. So while the name was incorporated in 1978, it wasn’t until 1995 that I realized I needed to light it up and do something other than law, which I got into in the 80’s. In ’95 the idea for cheaters hit me. I was in a restaurant one night alone and tipsy, and a fellow walked in that looked like my uncle. But the woman he came in with didn’t look like my aunt. So I chuckled to myself I would get some hush money out of the deal. Turns out that it was only a look alike my uncle, but the idea grew into the idea for TV show that instant. I found a lawyer that would still talk to me and copyrighted the TV project that came to be known as cheaters. Took me two years to figure out how to make a pilot, and once I did, I took a suitcase full of vhs tapes to California. I was so busted then I had to walk past the Beverly Hilton and check into the holiday in. it didn’t make me smarter, but it did make me hungrier for success. I came back to Texas with several contracts for the program’s broadcast. It’s been on the air all over the world ever since- proof that even a broken clock is right two times a day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I never travelled a smooth road, because I’ve always taken the path less traveled. I only get a few moments of smooth from time to time. Shortly after getting cheaters on the airing 1999, big money started happening and then so did 9/11. Advertising stopped. I had committed to deliver a show that cost millions to make, but now it had no revenue basically while the world stood still. I kept on. I had no choice. I needed it to work, not only for my own selfish economic reasons, but I had investors that I didn’t want to let down. It was months before I saw a dime of revenue. My parents helped me quite a bit. Even one main employee made me a deal to live off of his credit cards without pay for 6 months provided I’d pay him back with his interest charges. It was so bad that first 3 years that I had to go sell my books and cd’s to 1/2 price books so I could eat and drink. Even had to drop down from chardonnay to pinot grigio. Even a repo man came to get my car once in front of my small kids, so I took a banana and placed it in a paper bag to make the tow driver think I had a pistol. He drove off quickly without the car, and I kept the gate closed on the grounds of the mansion I sold and rented from a rich neighbor. The entire 1st 4 years was like a game show to see how much disgrace and shame I could endure to hang on to win the prize. Once I made it to 4 years of broadcast and got the reruns running, things were much different. I became my own rich husband.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I make one thing- a TV program called cheaters. This is what all of us at bgpi know how to do. We invented this reality- a reality where unlike most programs called reality, our featured persons are there unknowingly and involuntarily. Our ratings are stellar compared to other programs; we get eyeballs. I have had little turnover because everybody loves being a part of this crazy grass roots, come out of nowhere program. Cheaters is one of the longest running TV programs in the history of TV, and we did it with a twig and one hand behind our backs. I use the words we and our intentionally- the greatest group of colleagues I’ve ever been associated with. The program has always been the troggs of this high falutin’ industry. A work horse of the television industry. And for me, my pettiest feather in the cap is Clark Gable, the grandson of Clark Gable, is the host of the program. That was a coup for me. I just drove by the palace in pebble beach called the gables that was built and owned by the Clark himself. Me and grandson will get there too one day! I hope?
What were you like growing up?
I would be happy to share my medical records with you. I think they call it nuts. . Totally off my rocker. My parents did the best they could for me, but I was related to bob hope. I was no hope. I hear say I was smart as a whip but I spent most of my time making sure I got the whip. Who knows why I was so screwy. Probably an only child for 10 years and a lot of privilege. I grew up on the docks of a dairy with all the just out of prison labor and it made me want to be tough and not a rich kid. Always fighting somebody and getting in trouble. The western movie didn’t help me either. But I was always interested in something that I would master and then quit. Boxing, piano, tennis, aquariums, and then at 16, oh my- the girls. Fuel to the fire. My dad had an eye problem, and he always wore dark glasses. All the kids’ parents wouldn’t let them near me mostly due to all the mafia rumors. But the truth is, I was never anything other than a sheep in wolves’ clothes because I was scared to death of life. After flunking out of college and life, I got it together and went back to school and became a Spartan. Still had the same fears but learned how to master them instead of the fears mastering me.
Pricing:
- Watch it for free. No money out of your pockets!
Contact Info:
- Address: 4516 lovers lane #104
Dallas, Texas. 75225 - Website: www.cheaters.com
- Phone: 2145268833
- Email: goldstein@cheaters.com
Image Credit:
All photos copyright Bobby Goldstein Productions, Inc. 2018
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