Charles Floyd Johnson

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Charles Floyd Johnson discusses his early interest in the entertainment industry and attending Howard University for both undergraduate studies and for law school. He talks of being drafted in the Vietnam War and working at Fort Dix, and later working as a lawyer for the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. He recalls his move to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of acting and details how he got a job in the Universal mailroom (for three days) before getting hired by Business Affairs as a production coordinator to work on Night Gallery, The Rockford Files, and Toma, among other shows. Johnson describes how he became an associate producer and later a producer on The Rockford Files, working closely with Meta Rosenberg, Stephen J. Cannell, David Chase, and James Garner. He talks about his years producing Magnum, P.I., B.L. Stryker, and the final season of Quantum Leap, and recounts what he enjoys about the craft of producing. He discusses his experiences producing JAG and NCIS and executive producing John Lewis: Get in the Way -- the first documentary on Congressman John Lewis. Johnson also shares his thoughts on how the industry has changed since he started in television, his greatest career achievements and regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on March 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA.