'Crew Call' Premiere Looks at Production Designer Greg Grande

How often does anyone get the chance to venture into the worlds of busy television industry magic-makers like production designer Greg Grande?

At least once a month on TelevisionAcademy.com, actually, with the launch of its new short-form web series Crew Call.

The monthly program premieres today, with a look at four-time Emmy Award nominee Grande.

His work is seen by millions everyday on current series like Cougar Town and Switched at Birth, on which he is production designer. Additionally, Grande served as set decorator on such syndicated comedies as Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and also Friends (alongside revered production designer and former Television Academy CEO John Shaffner).

Crew Call takes viewers beyond the big studio gates and velvet ropes, and onto the sets, inside the writers rooms, into bustling makeup trailers and more storied haunts — introducing us to compelling personalities, masterful craftspeople like Grande.

Watch Video — Crew Call Episode 1: Production Designer Greg Grande 

He vividly describes elements of his childhood that inspired him not only to seek a life in production design, but also to change its course.

"I feel like in some small way that I changed the direction of the way sitcoms were decorated," Grande shares in the premiere episode. "Back in the day, it was very barebones. I kind of brought in a whole different layer, level of decorating."

While one does not want set decor to stand out too obviously, he adds, "the visuals on a show, the architecture of the set are another character."

Watch Crew Call: Greg Grande exclusively on the TelevisionAcademy.com Video and Television Academy YouTube channels.