Diplomatic Productions

Background

Diplomatic was an American media company formed by British television producer and executive producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Michael Davies on December 12, 2000 with ABC and The Walt Disney Company. Davies was the senior vice president for Buena Vista Productions in 1992 until he moved to ABC as executive vice president on February 12, 1998. He originally worked for PBS, Dick Clark Productions, and Merv Griffin Enterprises. On May 12, 2005, Davies teamed up with former LivePlanet CEO, Chris Moore and entertainment marketer Tera Hanks by forming "Embassy Row" and Diplomatic was folded into ER. Davies' programs produced under Diplomatic were produced under Embassy Row.

(2000-2005)

Nickname: "The Blue Sapphire Bar"

Logo: On a white background, we see a sapphire blue bar flying in from right to left. We see the name "DIPLOMATIC" spelling itself in digital artifacts that fly from the middle to the left of the bar in white. On the right of the word is a white arrow pointing right with two dots on the end of the arrow. There is also half of a green-lined globe inside the blue bar and a huge outlined green-lined globe behind it. Below it is a thick sea green line that draws itself in from the left to the right and later arches its way up as the blue bar shrinks its way inward from the right.

FX/SFX: The bar flying, and the letters digitally spelling.

Music/Sounds: The sound of an airplane flying followed by a four-note theme.

Availability: Extinct. It was last seen periodically on 2 Minute Drill on ESPN Classic. Was also seen on the remaining short-lived series: Smush on USA, Studio 7 on The WB, and Pepsi's Play for a Billion on The WB and ABC. However, all latter titles no longer air.