Michael Edelstein

Michael Edelstein has established himself as a multi-faceted creative executive in the television industry by executive-producing award-winning programming, developing top-rated series and establishing an independent production company focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual properties.
As executive producer of the international franchise phenomenon "Desperate Housewives," Edelstein was instrumental in assembling the cast and directing the creative team behind the hit ABC series, garnering an Emmy nomination along with two Golden Globes for Best Comedy Series.
Prior to "Defying Gravity," as part of a multi-year overall production deal between his endeavor, The Edelstein Company, and leading entertainment studio Touchstone Television, Edelstein executive-produced the Elton John/Kim Cattrall half-hour pilot, "Him & Us," for the ABC Television Network. He began his formal relationship with Touchstone Television in 2003 while executive-producing the high-tech Homeland Security drama series, "Threat Matrix." He also executive-produced the pilot for "Hope & Faith."
Edelstein began his career in episodic television working for Les Moonves at CBS Entertainment, where he served as director, Current Programs, supervising a number of series on the network's primetime schedule. Most notably he was responsible for the launch and ongoing creative oversight of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
Before joining CBS, Edelstein was director of Movies and Miniseries for Polygram Television, where he was active in acquiring and developing material to be sold to all major networks. During his tenure with Polygram, he initiated projects from renowned authors such as Gore Vidal, Judith Guest ("Ordinary People") and Pulitzer Prize-winner J. Anthony Lukas. Edelstein also served in similar capacities at Citadel Entertainment and Hearst Entertainment. He began his career as a junior executive at Stephen J. Cannell Productions in its Movies for Television department.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Edelstein graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles magna cum laude and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.
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