Former congressman Dan Glickman has been selected as the new head of the Motion Picture Association of America, succeeding Jack Valenti, who held the job for the past 38 years.
Glickman, who was secretary of agriculture during the Clinton administration, begins his duties Sept. 1. Valenti will continue in the top job until that date.
Valenti said Glickman, was chosen because during his long career in Congress he showed that he could work with both Democrats and Republicans. Valenti also cited Glickman’s experience on the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees copyright issues. Glickman was said to be the unanimous choice of all seven MPAA member companies, including Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, Disney and MGM. While Glickman has little experience in show business, his son Jonathan Glickman, is president of Spyglass Entertainment. His producing credits include “Rush Hour,” “Shanghai Knights” and “The Recruit.”
Valenti will remain with the MPAA and continue to oversee the movie ratings system, which he devised in 1968.
