Jamie Tarses She served as president of ABC Entertainment from 1996-99 after helping develop hits like 'Friends,' 'Mad About You' and 'Frasier' at NBC. Jamie Tarses, the producer and groundbreaking TV executive who as president of ABC Entertainment from 1996-99 became the first woman to serve as head a network entertainment division, died Monday. She was 56. Tarses died in Los Angeles of complications from a cardiac event suffered last fall, according to her family. Survivors include her father, Jay Tarses, an Emmy winner who created such innovative TV shows as Buffalo Bill and The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, and her brother, Matt Tarses, who has produced series including