Mel Ferber

Mel Ferber (October 2, 1922 – June 19, 2003) was an American television director and producer, who oversaw the live two-hour TV presentation of Wonderful Town and the pilot for 60 Minutes and other shows.

He became a World War II hero when, after landing at Utah Beach, he and four other members of his unit captured 464 German soldiers and used their weapons to rearm a French battalion (earning him the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star).

[1] As a member of CBS, Ferber directed Wonderful Town, the first live two-hour show on TV, in 1958.

The 1972 Democratic National Convention's TV and radio work was produced by Ferber as well.

[1] Ferber also directed and/or produced many television shows, including Studio One, That Was the Week That Was, Walter Cronkite's 21st Century, National Geographic, The Odd Couple, McMillan & Wife, Alias Smith and Jones, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Busting Loose, Archie Bunker's Place, Quincy, M.E., Alice, Diff'rent Strokes and many more.