Remembering Theodore F. “Ted” Cordes: Longtime NBC Broadcast Standards Chief and Beloved Mentor

Theodore F. “Ted” Cordes, a respected figure in television, spent over 30 years at NBC, including serving as VP of Broadcast Standards, West Coast, before passing away at age 87 on July 6 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. His husband, William J. Derby, confirmed his death at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Cordes’ influential career at NBC spanned iconic shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tomorrow Show, L.A. Law, Law & Order, and the Saturday morning animated Star Trek series. Starting as an NBC page in Burbank in the early 1960s—initially handling fan mail for Bonanza—he rose steadily to lead broadcast standards on the West Coast before retiring in 2014.

Before his NBC tenure, Cordes served in the U.S. Army in Korea (1961-63) and briefly worked at advertising agency Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample. Returning to NBC in 1972, he became a key figure in broadcast standards and content oversight, navigating sensitive and boundary-pushing programming.

Cordes fondly recalled his time working with Tom Snyder on The Tomorrow Show, which included challenging assignments like filming in Vietnam in 1974 and conducting a rare prison interview with Martin Luther King’s assassin, James Earl Ray. Executive producer Joel Tator praised Cordes for his fairness, patience, and support for “out-of-the-box” projects.

A memorable moment from his career involved a conversation with Johnny Carson about censoring certain words from a comedy gag. Cordes explained the network’s position, which Carson ultimately accepted, demonstrating Cordes’ blend of professionalism and understanding of creative limits.

Colleagues remember Cordes as a compassionate mentor and friend. Lynn Dowling, a former NBC colleague, shared a poignant story about his emotional response while handling difficult personnel decisions, highlighting his humanity behind the professional role.

Cordes is survived by his husband William J. Derby, sister Dorothy Harmala, and nephews Scott and William Harmala. His legacy remains in his profound influence on broadcast television standards and the respect he earned throughout his long career.