Walt Baker
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Walt Baker was a programming executive and producer who worked in television for more than 60 years, but was best known for suing a highly critical television review on the grounds of libel.
Baker got his start in television at local news channels WSUN-TV, WFLA-TV, WTVH-TV and KCHU-TV. Starting in 1967, he worked at Los Angeles station KHJ, now known as KCAL, resigning as vice president of programming in 1989. In 1983 he produced a sex education documentary that received a negative review that Baker claimed defamed him and his work. Baker lost the case, but over multiple appeals the lawsuit made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and was ultimately refused a final revival.
Baker’s work in television included production of the series Movie Macabre, starring the gothic and campy Cassandra Peterson as Elvira, the host and commentator of grade-B horror movies. He also served as the vice president of Celtic Vision in Dublin, Ireland, and was the director of programming at KBCI-TV in Boise, Idaho, where he was the host of Eye on Idaho. He also executive produced the popular Your Choice for the Oscars, which forecast winners of the Academy Awards competition.
Walt Baker was a programming executive and producer who worked in television for more than 60 years, but was best known for suing a highly critical television review on the grounds of libel.
Baker got his start in television at local news channels WSUN-TV, WFLA-TV, WTVH-TV and KCHU-TV. Starting in 1967, he worked at Los Angeles station KHJ, now known as KCAL, resigning as vice president of programming in 1989. In 1983 he produced a sex education documentary that received a negative review that Baker claimed defamed him and his work. Baker lost the case, but over multiple appeals the lawsuit made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and was ultimately refused a final revival.
Baker’s work in television included production of the series Movie Macabre, starring the gothic and campy Cassandra Peterson as Elvira, the host and commentator of grade-B horror movies. He also served as the vice president of Celtic Vision in Dublin, Ireland, and was the director of programming at KBCI-TV in Boise, Idaho, where he was the host of Eye on Idaho. He also executive produced the popular Your Choice for the Oscars, which forecast winners of the Academy Awards competition.
Baker died April 7, 2015, in Boise, Idaho. He was 84.
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