www.ntnews.com.au Monday, August 23, 2010. NT NEWS. 17

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Ron Howard

Q & A

DARREN DEVLYN talksto Parenthood executiveproducer Ron Howard

Q: You grew up in tele-vision. Where do you thinktelevision is today?

A: I am excited about it.The short, 12 and13-episodes-a-season cableshows have really beengreat for the medium be-cause I think it challengesthe more traditional net-work shows in excitingways. I love the varietythat you find on TV.

Q: What is it about Parent-hood (Howard was behindthe 1989 movie and thesitcom spin-off in 1990) thatkeeps you coming back?

A: Well, we are intenselyproud of the film Parent-hood. We would toy oc-casionally with trying todo a sequel. But we just feltanother two hours (movie)on the subject was not go-ing to be particularly moreinformative. A serieswould allow the charactersto develop. This was toogood a thing not to pursue.

Q: How did (Happy Daysco-stars) Marion Ross andTom Bosley and Andy Grif-fith contribute to yourview of parenthood?

A: Andy was an incrediblysignificant figure in mylife, but I never confusedhim as a father figure. Agreat mentor, definitely.But, you know, when try-ing to figure out whatCheryl (wife) and I shoulddo with our four kids, mythoughts would go to myown father and mother andCheryl’s to hers.

Parenthood, Channel 7,

Tuesday, 9.30pm