Ted Cordes, Longtime Broadcast Standards Executive at NBC, Dies at 87

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Ted Cordes, who served as NBC’s West Coast head of broadcast standards for 35 years, guiding Johnny Carson, Tom Snyder, and others on what was appropriate to air, has passed away at the age of 87.

On Sunday evening, William J. Derby announced that Cordes had passed away at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.

William J. Derby reported that Cordes lost his life on Sunday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA, as a result of Alzheimer’s disease complications.

Lastly:

It was announced by William J. Derby that Cordes sadly passed away last Sunday at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to difficulties arising from Alzheimer’s disease.

In 1963, Cordes began his career with NBC in Burbank’s guest relations department, specifically handling fan mail for the show ‘Bonanza’. He concluded his professional journey at the end of 2013, having managed shows like ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’ and others as the vice president of broadcast standards on the West Coast.

During live broadcasts, Cordes was responsible for managing a 10-second delay to ensure that any potentially offensive content wouldn’t be seen by the audience.

In a country where individuals value their own freedom of speech greatly, a censor is often viewed as more than just an adversary to expression; they’re perceived as a threat to enjoyment. One might imagine the censor as gloomy, strict, and unyielding, wielding a large pair of scissors and adhering rigidly to a forbidden list of things. However, this is not the case with Cordes. He is amiable, youthful, and takes pride in his adaptability. Instead of seeing himself as an obstacle, he considers himself more of a helper. This was the perspective presented by Robert Lloyd in a 2004 article for the Los Angeles Times about the executive.

Cordes expressed to Lloyd, ‘There’s no one who values free speech more than me.’ He strives to collaborate with producers by saying, ‘Share your message, and I’ll do my best to help you express it.’ Our goal isn’t to block communication, but rather to facilitate it. We are no longer acting as guardians for the public; in the past, we may have done so. We used to consider what was best for everyone. But now, we aim to mirror society.’

As a broadcaster at heart, I understand the importance of our role. We’re not limited or confined; we embrace the title that encompasses the vastness of this incredible nation – we’re not narrowcasters. This land is filled with a myriad of tastes and preferences, and it seems our audience prefers a balanced approach rather than the extremes.

During his conversation with Lloyd, Cordes reminisced about a discussion he had with Carson concerning a “Carnac the Magnificent” segment they had on The Tonight Show.

In this setup, Ed McMahon would provide the answer, and Johnny would figure out the question. The solution to this riddle was ‘Bitch, horny, and ass.’ Johnny then asked, ‘What three words can they utter on Saturday Night Live that are off-limits on The Tonight Show?’ I had to admit, he was correct, those words aren’t allowed on The Tonight Show.

I approached the producer, Fred de Cordova, and told him, ‘There seems to be a matter of concern.’ Instead of delving into it, he replied, ‘I’m afraid I can’t address it. If there’s an issue with this, you need to bring it up with Johnny Carson himself.’

We visited Johnny Carson’s office and I began explaining the reasons why it wouldn’t work for him, discussing affiliates, sales, and more. However, it was clear he wasn’t convinced – his gaze seemed to cloud over. So I interrupted myself and added, “Moreover, let me tell you that it isn’t actually amusing. It might seem funny to us because we’re in the industry, but a man in Arkansas wouldn’t find it funny.

“He didn’t even take a beat; he turned to Fred de Cordova and said, ‘He’s right, take it out.’

In that realm, I picked up an invaluable piece of wisdom – through gut feeling: You converse about such matters at the artist’s stratum, not mine. Mine is the domain of regulations. But who desires regulations? You need a purpose. That’s the key.

Theodore Cordes was born in Santa Monica on the 30th of November, 1937. His father, Winston, was an architect known for his designs; among them are the distinctive Streamline Moderne gold bands found on the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, located on Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Originally, this building served as a department store owned by The May Company.

Following graduation from Santa Monica High School, Cordes completed his undergraduate studies in English with a supplementary focus on cinema and television at USC. Subsequently, he pursued and achieved a Master’s degree in English at UCLA.

Based in Korea from 1961 to 1963, he worked for the U.S. Army. Upon returning home, he was employed by NBC as a page. Following his promotion to network film coordinator, he left in 1966 to work at the advertising agency Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample. However, he rejoined NBC in 1972, where he began his extended career in broadcast standards.

cordes frequently expressed a strong preference for the project he enjoyed most, which was “The Tomorrow Show,” hosted by Snyder between 1973 and 1981.

Ted joined us at the start of each day, as stated by Joel Tator, the initial executive producer and director. He was consistently polite, understanding, and patient despite working on shows set in nudist communities, prisons, and a challenging journey across the Far East. Ted always encouraged our unconventional ideas. I will deeply miss his friendly demeanor and professional attitude.

One instance among many was the Tennessee State Penitentiary, where a two-day filming in 1974 culminated with Snyder speaking to James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr., within his cell. “There was just enough space for Tom, Ray, two camera operators, a guard, a production manager, and Ted,” Tator reminisced.

In 1974, Snyder proposed a job offer to Cordes as a producer for the show, but he turned it down, stating that whereas each television series eventually ends, his role as a network executive had potential for longevity.

In the very same studio that Snyder recorded “The Tomorrow Show,” Cordes also played a crucial role in determining content for the “Tonight Show,” which was filmed earlier in the day (Cordes worked with Carson’s program from 1977-1992). According to Howard Papush, a talent coordinator from the 1970s, he frequently sought Cordes’ advice.

He mentioned that many regular visitors of his show were comedy performers. These guests would often need to share their acts with him before they appeared on the program. On occasion, he would worry about certain topics or suitability, and he’d consult Ted for advice. Ted was the ultimate decision-maker, and he always proved to be both sensible and wise.

If something in a joke or performance seemed offensive to him, Ted requested the comedian to revise or remove it. In case it wasn’t altered, he understood that the content would need to be cut from the show after recording but before airing that evening – which would result in additional expenses for the network.

During the two-year duration of Gene Roddenberry’s animated Star Trek series (1973-75), which was created by Filmation Studios, Cordes would watch every completed episode on a Moviola in a studio located in Reseda.

As Cordes watched the first-season special “Once Upon a Planet” (a follow-up to the original series’ live-action episode “Shore Leave”), he noticed Dr. McCoy, voiced by DeForest Kelley, relieving himself by urinating on the grass with his back turned to the camera.

Cordes exclaimed, ‘You can’t do that!’ Everyone in the room erupted into laughter. They admitted later they had included that as a test, and it wasn’t broadcast. However, Cordes remained uneasy until he watched the show air on NBC the next Saturday morning.

In 1991, Cordes moved up to the position of Vice President for Broadcast Standards on the West Coast. When he retired, Ken Samuel took over this role.

Besides his spouse, he also leaves behind his sister Dorothy and her sons, Scott and William.

Among those closest to Cordes at NBC were senior broadcast standards executives like Lynn Dowling, who worked under his leadership. Notably, her father, Jerry Stanley, served as the vice president of broadcast standards at the network from 1974 to 1981 and held a supervisory role over Cordes.

Dowling stated that Ted’s mentorship at NBC was authentic and beneficial for him, and he noticed that Ted’s kindness and support were not just limited to him but extended to everyone in their department. As our professional bond grew into a deep personal friendship involving both of our spouses, I was lucky enough to share numerous enjoyable moments with him over the subsequent decades.

Reflecting on our years in broadcast standards, there’s a heartwarming moment that stands out. It was when Ted had to let someone go during a round of department reductions. Before summoning the individual, he shut the door and visibly emotionalized before me. Over the course of half my life, Ted and I were more than colleagues; we were friends. My affection for him remains undiminished.

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2025-07-08 21:55