Behind the Scenes : 1970s Sitcom Writer / Producers

Here's a collection of interviews that will take you back to the creation of some seminal 1970s sitcoms, arguably the finest period for the genre. These are writer/producers that threw off the old 'I Dream of Jeannie / Gidget' mindset to forge half-hour comedies that stand the test of time.

Carl Reiner was a comedy guy for Sid Caesar before creating The Dick Van Dyke Show. He discusses the producer's job, working with other writers and also touches on his process for writing and re-writing.



James L. Brooks talks about writing for the groundbreaking drama-comedy Room 222, one of the first TV series to feature a predominantly black and brown cast. Brooks went on to create and/or co-create The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bob Newhart Show, Taxi, The Simpsons - should I go on?!? Not to mention his movies, Terms of Endearment, Soap, Broadcast News - should I go on?!?



Allan Burns was partnered with Brooks in 1969 for a good period of time at CBS where they were responsible for some of the funniest sitcom episodes of all time for MTM.



Garry Marshall had his first writer / producer success with The Odd Couple in the late 1960s, first of the post Dick Van Dyke, adult oriented comedies to come. Then he begat Happy Days, LaVerne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy. He begins with stories about breaking into television out of the nightclubs in the late-1950s in New York.



He's had one of the most erratic but storied careers in TV and movies. Buck Henry is considered best of the best with scripts for The Graduate, directing Heaven Can Wait, and co-creating the hit series Get Smart. He started out in the trenches of weekly TV, writing for Gary Moore's variety show, one of the most clever musical comedies in TV history.



 Classic TV at TVparty!