National Press Club to Screen New Ted Turner Documentary

WASHINGTON — The National Press Club will host an exclusive screening of the new Max documentary series “Call Me Ted,” focusing on the maverick media titan Ted Turner on April 4 at 6 p.m.

The six-part series was written and directed by Keith Clarke and produced by Joni Levin, who will join former CNN correspondent Frank Sesno for a panel discussion following the screening.

The event is open only to members of the National Press Club and their guests.

Turner, of course, revolutionized the television industry with his creation of the “superstation” TBS and CNN.

Along the way, he became a champion sailor who won the America’s Cup, and as then-owner of the Atlanta Braves, took home a World Series trophy in 1995.

But as an early biography of the nonconformist entrepreneur declared on its dust jacket, Turner’s road to accomplishment wasn’t as easy as it looked. 

His personal story, beginning with a difficult childhood and the death of a beloved sister, continuing through the saving of his family’s billboard business following the suicide of his father and the launch of his media empire, and on through to disastrous AOL/Time Warner merger was as wild as it was headline grabbing.

Then for his second act, Turner became a groundbreaking environmentalist and philanthropist, and the founder of his own peace program through sports, the Goodwill Games.

“Call Me Ted” captures it all, much of the documentary told in his own words.

Others interviewed during the series include Turner’s ex-wife, Jane Fonda, John Malone, Christiane Amanpour, Alan Horn, and members of the Turner family.

The husband and wife team of Levin and Clarke are the founders of Point Blank Productions, and their work, together and separately has garnered a number of Oscar and Emmy nominations.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue