MGM Television

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*Editions by
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## MGM Television

### Key People:

Jennifer Salke (Chairwoman)[2]
Kevin Conroy (President, Digital & New Platforms)[3]
Barry Poznick (President, Unscripted & Alternative TV and Orion Television)

## Background

MGM Television was established on June 30, 1956 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer under Loews, Inc. It was initiated to have MGM to distribute 770 of its films, 900 shorts, produce network series, and acquire TV stations after its first program, *The M-G-M Parade*, was canceled by ABC in the spring. *The M-G-M Parade* first used the 1953 version of Jackie at the beginning rather than the end of the program. Most of the pre-1986 library is owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment through Turner Entertainment Co., while MGM Holdings Inc. owns the rest of the library.

## 1st Logo (September 20, 1957-October 2, 1960)

**Nicknames:** "MGM Lion Statue", "MGM Lion", "Late '50s Lion"

**Visuals:** On a grey background, we see a lion statue (a la the Metro-Goldwyn Pictures logo) and the words "AN MGM-TV PRODUCTION" or "AN MGM-TV PRESENTATION". The name of the executive producer may or may not appear below.

**Variants:**

* On *The Islanders*, the "MGM-TV" text zooms in.
* On *Northwest Passage*, the B&W version of the 1953 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo appears at the beginning with a voiceover saying "From the MGM Studios in Hollywood..."

**Technique:** None.

**Audio:** The closing theme of the show.

**Availability:** This only appeared on the three short-lived series *Northwest Passage*, *The Islanders*, and *The Thin Man*.

**Legacy:** None.

## 2nd Logo (September 18, 1960-1973)

Original variant*Cain's Hundred* variantB&W versionColor versionAlternate color versionWidescreen alternate color version*How the Grinch Stole Christmas!* variantMGM Television (1960)MGM Television 1965 logo variant**Nicknames:** "Lion Wallpaper", "Red Lion Wallpaper", "Leo the Lion", "MGM Lion II", "Early '60s Lion"

**Visuals:** We see Leo the Lion from the 1957 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo inside a circle reading "**METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER TELEVISION**". Leo roars once. The background would either be a live-action background or a wallpaper pattern of a front view of a lion.

**Variants:**

* September 18, 1960-1962: Live-action backing was used.
* September 19, 1961-May 15, 1962: Leo is off-center on the early variant.
* 1962-May 16, 1966: The logo is in B&W.
* 1965-1973: The logo is in color and the background is red.
* 1965?-1973?: The background is brown.
* On the color versions of the logo, the footage of Leo is zoomed out, revealing more of his body. His tail is also visible.
* The way Leo roars varies. Earlier variants had Leo roar twice like the movie logo starting in 1960, the standard variant had Leo with only his second roar, while the *How the Grinch Stole Christmas!* variant had Leo with only his third roar.

**Technique:** Live-action footage.

**Audio:**

* September 18, 1960-1961: A dramatic horn fanfare that syncs with Leo roaring.
* 1961-1973: The second third of the 1957 lion roar. On *How the Grinch Stole Christmas!*, the last third of the roar was used.
* The closing theme of the show plays over the logo while Leo is roaring, other shows have it silent with only Leo roaring.

**Availability:** Uncommon.

* The B&W version can be seen on shows, such as *National Velvet*.
* The color version survives on *How the Grinch Stole Christmas!*.

**Legacy:** As with other MGM logos, the lion's roar has frightened some young viewers, and the trumpet vibrations on the 1960-61 fanfare may have a similar effect. But other viewers who grew up seeing this logo at the time, or on repeats of *How the Grinch Stole Christmas!*, may view it fondly. Generally, it's regarded as a memorably distinct variant of the famous MGM lion logo. On the other note, the 1965 version looks more like Leo's head was pasted onto another Lion's body.

## 3rd Logo (The Pogo Special Birthday Special custom variant) (May 18, 1969)

**Nicknames:** "The Cold Cream Jar", "Stylized Lion", "MGM Lion III", "Late '60s Lion"

**Visuals:** On a black background, we see the stylized lion from the 1968 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo on a cylinder. Then, the cylinder rotates to reveal "**M**g**M TELEVISION**" on it.

**Technique:** Stop-motion model work.

**Audio:** Tanner's first roar.

**Availability:** Extinct. It was only seen on *The Pogo Special Birthday Special*.

**Legacy:** None.

## 4th Logo (October 9, 1973-1991)

Original variant1979 "TELEVISION" variant"MGM/UA Entertainment Co." variant1986 "**TELEVISION**" variantMGM Television (1973)MGM Television LogoEilenna Productions-MGM-UA Entertainment Co. Television (1983)MGM Television 1987**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion II", "White Ribboning", "MGM Lion IV", "'50s/'60s/'70s Lion"

**Visuals:** Same as the 1957 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo, but Leo roars once.

**Variants:**

* October 9, 1973-1982: Nothing appears below the logo.
* 1979-1983: "TELEVISION" appears below the logo.
* 1983-1991: "Metro Goldwyn Mayer" is replaced with "MGM/UA Entertainment Co."
* May 10, 1986-April 20, 1987: The text is reverted back to "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer" and "**TELEVISION**" is now in white instead of red and in a different font.

**Technique:** Live-action footage.

**Audio:** The last third of the 1957 lion roar.

**Audio Variant:** On rare occasions, the closing theme of the show without the roaring is heard.

**Availability:** Uncommon.

* The original version can be seen on shows, such as *Shaft: The Series*. It also plasters the 2nd logo on current prints of Horton Hears a Who! (1970).
* The 1979 variant can be seen on shows, such as late '70s-early '80s reruns of *Daktari*.
* The "MGM/UA Entertainment Co." variant was still used on *Kids Incorporated* until 1991.
* The 1986 variant can be seen on shows from 1986-87.

**Legacy:** This logo and its successors are all variations of the well-known theatrical MGM lion logo, which despite occasionally frightening young viewers with its roaring, is overall regarded as one of the all-time classic logos.

## 5th Logo (The Montefuscos custom variant) (September 4-October 23, 1975)

**Nicknames:** "Stylized Lion II", "MGM Lion V", "Late '60s Lion II"

**Visuals:** Just a scrolling in-credit logo featuring the stylized lion from the 1968 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo with "MGM TELEVISION" underneath.

**Technique:** None.

**Audio:** The closing theme of the show, with the audience applauding (most likely canned) as the theme plays.

**Availability:** Extinct. It was seen on the short-lived *The Montefuscos*.

**Legacy:** None.

## 6th Logo (1982-June 15, 1984)

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion III", "Gold Ribboning", "MGM Lion VI", "Early '80s Lion"

**Visuals:** On a black background, we see the color version of the corporate 1982 MGM/UA Entertainment Co. print logo, with "**Television Distribution**" underneath the logo, which is also sandwiched between two lines.

**Variant:** Sometimes, "**FROM**" can be seen above the logo.

**Technique:** None.

**Audio:** A rearranged version of the 1982 United Artists Television logo, followed by the first half of the 1957 lion roar. Otherwise, the closing theme of the show or silent.

**Availability:** Extremely rare. It can be seen on shows, such as *Gilligan's Planet*.

**Legacy:** None.

## 7th Logo (September 29, 1984-2012)

Diamond Jubilee variantTelevision variantMGM/UA Television Productions variantMGM/UA Telecommunications variantMGM/UA variant1991 variantMGM Worldwide Television Group variantMGM/UA Telecommunications Group variant1995 variantMGM Domestic Television Distribution variantMGM Television Entertainment variantMGM International Television Distribution variantWidescreen MGM International Television Distribution variantURL variantMGM Worldwide Television Distribution variantMGM Television Logo ("Diamond Jubilee" - 60th Anniversary) - 1984David Gerber Productions-MGM Television (1986)MGM-UA Television Productions Logo (1987)The Fred Silverman Company-Juanita Bartlett Prods.-MGM Worldwide Television Group (1993) -1(REUPLOAD) MGM Television Entertainment Logo 1997-2004**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion IV", "Gold Ribboning II", "MGM Lion VII", "'80s/'90s Lion", "Anniversary Lion", "60 Years of MGM", "MGM/UA Communications Lion"

**Visuals:** Same as the 1984 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo, but Leo roars once, or sometimes twice, with the name of the MGM Television unit that produced the show underneath the logo.

**Bylines:**

* September 29, 1984-2012: (bylineless)
* 1987-1993: "An MGM/UA Communications company" (in the MGM Display font.)

**Variants:**

* September 29, 1984-1985: The Diamond Jubilee variant is used, but with "TELEVISION" added below "SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT".
* 1986-1987: The word "TELEVISION" appears below the logo. Also, starting with this version, the standard variant is used.
* 1987-1993: The text above the ribbons now reads "MGM/UA Television Productions". At least one episode of *Thirtysomething* has a still shot of the logo.
* April 27, 1987-1993: The text above the ribbons now reads "MGM/UA Telecommunications" with "Distributed by" on top.
* 1991-2009: Nothing is seen underneath the logo.
* 1989-1992: The text above the ribbons now reads "MGM/UA".
* 1993-1996: Either "MGM Worldwide Television Group" or "MGM/UA TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP" appears below the logo. On *In the Heat of the Night*, ""In the Heat of the Night" Property of United Artists" appears below the logo.
* 1996-2005: "MGM Domestic Television Distribution" appears below the logo.
* 1995-2009: Same as the above variant, but the additional text is blacked out, resulting in it essentially being the 1991 variant, but shifted upwards.
* 1997-2004: "MGM Television Entertainment" appears below the logo.
* 1999-2009: "MGM International Television Distribution" appears below the logo.
* 2001-2009: The URL address from the movie logo is seen underneath the logo.
* 2005-2012: "MGM Worldwide Television Distribution" appears below the logo.
* 2002-2003: The logo is superimposed on Fox Box airings of *Stargate Infinity*, due to split-screen credits.
* A B&W version exists.
* Like the 2nd logo, the way Leo roars varies. The 1984-2009 variants have his third roar, while the 1995-2012 variants have his second roar.

**Technique:** Live-action footage, combined with 2D computer animation for the letters on the Diamond Jubilee variant.

**Audio:**

* September 29, 1984-1996: The last third of the 1957 lion roar.
* 1991-1992: The first half of the 1982 lion roar.
* 1991-1999: Either the second half of the 1985 lion roar or the last third of the 1957 lion roar.
* 1996-2012: The first half of the 1995 lion roar.
* A longer version exists on some cable broadcasts. Only appears on the MGM Domestic Television Distribution or 1995 variants.
* A silent version of the MGM Domestic Television Distribution variant appears on *Soul Plane*.
* Original airings used a generic theme and occasionally a voiceover.
* Half of the roar track is used for the warp speed version.
* A shortened version of the 1957 lion roar was used for the still version.
* On *Microcops*, Leo makes a "Whoop, whoop, whoop" sound.
* On an April 2003 UPN airing of *Under Fire* (1983), the MGM Domestic Television Distribution variant plays in warp speed.
* On a DVD release of *Moving Target*, the first half of the 1995 lion roar was used on the MGM/UA Television Productions variant. However, on the Spanish audio track, the second half was used instead.
* Digital prints of the second season of *Dead Like Me* have the 1982 lion roar on the 2001 opening variant. Other prints (such as the DVD release) use the 1995 lion roar instead.

**Availability:** Very common.

* The Diamond Jubilee variant is rare and can be seen on shows, such as *Fame*.
* The "TELEVISION" variant is extinct and can be seen on shows, such as *Kids Incorporated*.
* The MGM/UA variants are extremely rare and can be seen on shows, such as *Moving Target*.
* The MGM Worldwide Television Group variant can be seen on many shows from 1993-96.
* The MGM Television Entertainment variant can be seen on many shows from 1997-2004.
* It can also be seen on television airings of 1997-2008 *Plum Landing* episodes.

**Legacy:** None.

## 8th Logo (2009-2012)

Original MGM Worldwide Television Distribution variantOriginal widescreen MGM Worldwide Television Distribution variantURL variantLater MGM Worldwide Television Distribution variantLater widescreen MGM Worldwide Television Distribution variant

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion V", "Metallic Ribboning", "MGM Lion VIII", "2000s Lion"

**Visuals:** Same as the 2008 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo, except underneath the logo is either "MGM Worldwide Television Distribution", "MGM International Television Distribution", the URL address from the movie logo, or nothing. Leo roars once.

**Variant:** Starting in 2010, the text below the logo now reads "**MGM WORLDWIDE TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION**" or "**DISTRIBUTED BY MGM DISTRIBUTION CO.**".

**Technique:** Live-action footage. Like the movie logo, this was designed by Pacific Title.

**Audio:**

* 2009-2010: The first half of the 2008 lion roar.
* 2009-2012: The first half of the 1995 lion roar.
* On some episodes of *Pink Panther and Pals*, the 1995 roar has a reverb effect.

**Availability:** Uncommon. It first appeared on *First Business*, before apparently reverting back to the previous logo soon after. It can also be seen on television airings of 2009-11 *Plum Landing* episodes.

**Legacy:** None.

## 9th Logo (November 19, 2012-January 26, 2023)

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion VI", "Zooming Ribboning", "Metallic Ribboning", "MGM 2012", "Animated Ribbon", "MGM Lion IX", "2010s Lion"

**Visuals:** Just a shortened version of the 2012 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo starting with Leo roaring and the words "MGM TELEVISION" in the Trajan Pro font are seen underneath. Sometimes, the words below the logo are exempt.

**Variant:** On CNBC airings of *Shark Tank*, the logo is a still picture and is placed inside a box next to the Sony logo. This appears in the split-screen credits (the regular logo combo is seen before the credits on these airings).

**Technique:** A mix of live-action footage and CGI. Like the movie logo, this was animated at Shine.

**Audio:** The first half of the 1995 lion roar.

**Availability:** Common. This logo first appeared on a Paramount Network airing of *Red Dawn* (1984) and last appeared on *Teen Wolf: The Movie*. It can also be seen on television airings of 2012-21 *Plum Landing* episodes.

**Legacy:** None.

## 10th Logo (April 29, 2021- )

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion VII", "Zooming Ribboning II", "Metallic Ribboning III", "MGM 2021", "Animated Ribbon II", "CGI Leo", "MGM Lion X", "2020s Lion"

**Visuals:** Just a shortened version of the 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo starting with Leo appearing with the word "TELEVISION" underneath as well as faster animation. Leo roars once.

**Variants:**

* A scope version exists.
* A print version also exists.

**Technique:** CGI. Like the movie logo, this was animated at Baked Studios.

**Audio:** Same as the previous logo.

**Availability:** Current. It first appeared on *The Big Shot with Bethenny*. It can also be seen on television airings of *Plum Landing* episodes since 2021.

**Legacy:** Like its theatrical counterpart, the CGI Leo could take some time to get used to, even by those who prefer the previous logos. It also should be worth noting that the 2021 logo debuted on TV, four months before the theatrical logo followed suit.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

**Home Entertainment:**
MGM Home Entertainment | MGM/UA Home Video | MGM/CBS Home Video | MGM DVD

**Television:**
**MGM Television**