Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the start of production of the new comedy series, “Whoopi,” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens.  Academy Award winning actress and New Yorker Whoopi Goldberg, who stars in and is executive producer of the new show, insisted production take place in New York City. “Whoopi” employs approximately 250 New Yorkers and production is expected to spend over $13 million in the City this season on cast and crew salaries, hotels, meals, facility supports, construction materials, props, wardrobe and other costs.  Joining the Mayor and Whoopi on set for the announcement were Kaufman Astoria Studios President George Kaufman and Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB) Commissioner Katherine Oliver.

“New York City’s television entertainment industry is a $1 billion a year enterprise, and I want to personally thank Whoopi for insisting her sitcom be filmed in New York City and for being such a tremendous supporter of local entertainment production,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We are grateful to Whoopi, the show’s executive producers and NBC for choosing New York City as its home.  You’re helping send the powerful message that, when it comes to film and television production, there’s no substitute for New York City.”

“Aside from the fact that I live in New York and prefer to work here, this is a New York story about a small New York hotel, run by a New Yorker,” said Whoopi Goldberg. “No place else in the world photographs like New York.”

While 118 television shows currently shoot in the City, “Whoopi” is the first new sitcom to begin shooting in New York City since “Spin City” ended in 2000, will air on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. on NBC this fall.  In the series, Goldberg plays ex-diva Mavis Rae, whose spectacular hit song “Don’t Hide Love” transformed her into a one-hit wonder.  Her character ultimately parlays her finances into purchasing the fictional Lamont Hotel in Manhattan.  The show, which will be filmed in front of a live studio audience, is produced by Carsey-Werner-Mandabach, which also produced the hit shows “The Cosby Show” and “Cosby” at Kaufman Astoria Studios for many years.  Kaufman Astoria Studios is the oldest studio in New York City, featuring six stages and 65,000 square feet of stage space.  They are home to “Sesame Street,” WFAN and Lifetime Studios, and have one of the finest recording facilities in the City.

Born and raised in New York City, Whoopi made her motion picture debut in Steven Spielberg’s film version of Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple,” for which she earned an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award. Her performance in “Ghost” earned her the Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. Whoopi has also appeared in such films as “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Sister Act,” “Made in America,” “Corrina, Corrina,” “The Lion King,” and Ghosts of Mississippi to name a few. On television, Whoopi appeared for five seasons on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and hosted her own syndicated late-night talk show, “The Whoopi Goldberg Show.” She also executive produced and appeared in the center square of the Emmy Award-winning “Hollywood Squares” and executive produces the new Lifetime drama “Strong Medicine.” In addition to the Oscar, a Grammy and two Golden Globe Awards, Whoopi has been honored with multiple NAACP Image Awards, numerous People’s Choice Awards (including a special tribute in 1998) and an unprecedented five Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards as “Favorite Movie Actress,” as well as various awards and honors for her many humanitarian efforts.

“Television production in New York represents the lion’s share of entertainment spending in the City, and we are thrilled that ‘Whoopi’ has come our way,” said MOFTB Commissioner Katherine Oliver. ”There is no location in the world with a more enthusiastic studio audience than New York City, and Kaufman Astoria Studios has a rich history of supporting local episodic television.” 

Television production is a huge part of the City’s entertainment industry; direct expenditures on television production contribute over $1 billion annually to the local economy.  In addition to “Whoopi,” more shows are on the way including Kelly Ripa’s new ABC sitcom “Hope & Faith,” in which she plays a former soap actress who moves in with her sister, played by Faith Ford.  In addition, Commissioner Katherine Oliver, working closely with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission and HBO Executive Vice President of Original Programming Sheila Nevins, secured the return of “Taxicab Confessions” to New York City for an encore performance this spring.  And David Chase, the creator of “The Sopranos,” recently finalized a deal in mid-June with HBO to produce a sixth season of the hit show.
 
Over the past year, MOFTB has been streamlining its customer service initiatives. For the first time since the office’s inception in 1966, permits for film and television production are now available online, saving hours of production time by cutting down the number of visits required to the office. MOFTB has also eliminated all required visits for still photography permits through the online permit, saving administrative and travel time.  The office also launched an electronic newsletter in June 2003 and will soon be unveiling their newly designed website, featuring production news, resources and a new theater section.

MOFTB has also energized its marketing efforts by producing the short film “Beyond the Skyline,” designed to promote the City as a location for entertainment production.  Featuring some of New York’s popular talent, including Whoopi Goldberg, Harvey Keitel, Jerry Orbach, John Turturro and Kristin Davis, the film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in May.  It is currently featured as part of the Loews “Movies In Motion” tour and will appear in taxicabs throughout the month of August 2003, reaching over 20,000 local and international riders.