Alumnus Spotlight: Tim Kaiser ’85

from Westminster Magazine Spring/Summer 2017

Message from the Alumni Director

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Dreaming BIG

By Val Brkich’97

In his 30-plus years as a television producer, Tim Kaiser ’85 has had to manage just about every situation, from dealing with the demands of diva actors like Madonna to negotiating the use of the Titleist golf ball that Kramer hit into the whale’s blow hole on “Seinfeld.”

“There isn’t much I haven’t dealt with,” says Kaiser, who won an Emmy as a producer for “Seinfeld” (1990-98) and again another for his work on “Will & Grace” (2001-06). His main challenge nowadays is that he lives in Pittsburgh and commutes to Los Angeles to work. “A hundred-thousand miles in the sky each season can be a little rough.”

A native of Oakmont, Pa., Kaiser works as co-executive producer for the CBS hit show “2 Broke Girls,” handling every aspect of production, from hiring staff and crew to managing the budget, casting, network, and studio. “As a producer, I’m the manager of the team,” he says. “I come in after the script for the pilot is written, and then it’s up to me to get the concept to the screen.”

For some that might be a lot of pressure. But not for Kaiser, who literally grew up in a television studio. His late father, Lloyd, was president and CEO of WQED Communications from 1971 to 1993, and it was there where the young Kaiser fell in love with the entertainment industry, getting to know such legends as Fred Rogers. “Fred was the kindest man you have ever met,” says Kaiser. “He would bring out all of his puppets and they would talk to me. Plus I was able to use the cameras and be in the control room. I knew early on that this was something I wanted to do.”

When it came time to choose a college, Kaiser wanted a school that could further prepare him for a career in entertainment. “Westminster had a great reputation,” he says, “and I really liked that it wasn’t some huge campus with 100 people in a class. I’m also a big believer in a liberal arts degree and the edge it gives you when you begin your career.”

Kaiser majored in telecommunications, which gave him the opportunity to study television production, as well as marketing and advertising. He also worked as a announcer for Titan Radio, directed basketball games for WWNW TV, played football, and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

After graduating, Kaiser began his career at PBS before heading out to L.A. with his wife, high school sweetheart and Westminster alumna, Kristen Mezmar Kaiser ’86. Within a year, after several gigs as a production assistant, he took a job as a producer for a then little-known show about “nothing.”

“I was actually offered a 10-episode order of a new TV series called ‘Uncle Buck,’” says Kaiser, “which, as it turned out, would have ended quickly. The next day I was offered four episodes of ‘Seinfeld’ for half the money. I met with Jerry and Larry David, and after hearing them tell jokes and describe what kind of show they wanted to make, I decided I was in.”

Kaiser says Westminster gave him the opportunity to be involved early on. “I was participating as a freshman and didn’t have to wait until I was a senior to run cameras, edit, and produce projects,” he says. “My professors, such as Dave Barner, always encouraged me to try new things and to work on my weaknesses. They helped me believe in myself.”

For current students who may be looking to get into the entertainment business, Kaiser recommends getting hands-on experience

Tim Kaiser ’85 on the “Will & Grace” set with Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally and Debra Messing.

early on. “It’s really hard to try from the sidelines,” he says. “Find a mentor in the field who you can learn from and pick their brain.”

When he’s not jet-setting back and forth across the country, Kaiser says he enjoys spending time with his wife and their three boys: Adam and Joshua, both Westminster undergrads; and another son, Michael.

As for what’s next up in his career, Kaiser plans on continuing with “2 Broke Girls” and producing the “Will & Grace” reboot, which is set to run on NBC this fall.

Whenever he thinks back to his time at Westminster, Kaiser says it always brings a smile to his face. “I have so many great memories,” he says. “Westminster always felt like family to me, and I always felt supported in a way that let me dream big.” S

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