Smallscreen News

'Ted' has the poop on USA, new Twitter go-to insider

By April MacIntyre Apr 6, 2010, 4:12 GMT

USA announces @TedOnTV to further connect with their audiences.

To fulfill the audience’s appetite for more information -  USA Network fans now have a direct line to the network via Twitter from Ted Linhart, the USA ’s vice president of program research, at “@TedOnTV.” 

Tapping into USA’s social media fanbase (which already includes nine show-related Twitter feeds), Linhart will tweet about all things USA, including current hit show production, developing series and breaking news, with an offbeat sense of humor. 

Ted will dish the poop from USA red carpet events to senior staff meetings, and will reward followers with autographed giveaways, arrange Monsters and Critics' TV editor a date with Paulo Costanzo and give out exclusive show memorabilia.  (We made that middle bit up)

A walking encyclopedia of TV programming information and overall smarts, Linhart will also tweet about the overall television landscape, including his favorite shows, awards show commentary and, naturally, ratings.   

"Being a fan of TV my whole life, I knew how fun it would be for fans to hear the kind of information you can only get from the inside, from someone who attends the meetings and hears what is really going on in the heart of the network," said Linhart.  "With @TedOnTV, my followers will definitely get a unique perspective from a fellow fan in a way that was never available to them before." 

Born and raised in Manhattan, Linhart attended The Dalton School on the Upper East Side, where his classmates included future USA star Mark Feuerstein ("Royal Pains"). Linhart has degrees from Northwestern University for both undergraduate and graduate school, earning an MBA from the university’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. 

After graduation, Linhart worked in the programming department at Chicago's WPWR-TV (UPN affiliate), followed by jobs at several entertainment-related internet companies.  In 2004, he returned to TV in the research department at VH1, joining USA in 2005 as senior director in program research before being promoted to vice president in 2008.  

Passionate about TV content and ratings for as long as he can remember, Linhart began memorizing TV schedules and grids when his peers were focusing on sports stats and scores. He was an avid fan of Variety at age ten; at thirteen, his hero was Brandon Tartikoff, a clear indication of the path he would follow professionally.  Linhart collects TV memorabilia and among the many items in his cherished collection are Desi Arnaz's autobiography inscribed to Desi's mother, a pristine copy of the first issue of TV Guide and a ticket to attend NBC's first official television broadcast when President Roosevelt opened the 1939 World's Fair.

Linhart lives in Brooklyn with his wife Rachel and his two cats, Sonny and Cher.