Hardly anyone knows television like Ted Harbert.

He was born into the business, the son of a television executive who helped develop "The Tonight Show." It provided his first real job after he graduated from Boston University as a broadcasting major, and it has nurtured him ever since. He has worked for ABC, NBC and now E!. He was married to another television programmer and is currently living with Chelsea Handler, one of his network's star attractions.

In one biography, Harbert says he began aware of TV ratings at about age nine, adding: "Two years later, I learned there were jobs at networks that picked shows and decided where they went on the schedule. From that moment, I wanted one of those jobs."

As it turned out, he had a lot more than one. After working with Howard Stern on radio while still an undergrad, he was hired as a feature film coordinator at ABC. After a decade of dues paying, he was named a vice president in 1989 and president in charge of prime-time programming in 1993 -- his 11-year-old dream.

Known as an innovator, Harbert developed specials and some of the first reality shows for ABC while also giving America "The Wonder Years," "thirtysomething," "Roseanne," and "NYPD Blue."

Yet riding the tiger that is network TV also had its downside for Harbert, who was clawed on several occasions. One was when his network didn't pick up "3rd Rock From the Sun" after developing it, leaving the show to become a hit for NBC. He was also blamed for the cancellation of "My So-Called Life," a show that had Clare Danes, Jared Leto and a cult following, as well as placing it in a time slot opposite "Friends."

Harbert's star finally descended when Disney bought ABC and made Jamie Tarses the prime time president. That sent Harbert out the door to Dream Works, then to NBC Studios, which hired him in 1999. There, he worked with Saturday Night Live and Jay Leno, but was best-known for developing Will & Grace and Crossing Jordan.

Always able to smell a new trend, Harbert abandoned network television for cable in 2004, becoming chief executive offier at E!, a network best known as a tabloid for the small screen. Upon accepting the position, he said he was looking forward to the flexibility the new job offered.

Of course, with every television position comes pressure.

"Viewers expect us to have full and unfettered access to the Hollywood community," Harbert said. "If we don't [have access), I have to make sure we do, and I believe I have the relationships to get us there."

As for current girlfriend Chelsea Handler, she is a good example of how TV fans never forget.

"He  (Harbert) won my heart," she said, "back when he brought in 'My So-Called Life.'