Bernie Brillstein
Personal Manager
About This Interview
Bernie Brillstein (1931-2008) was interviewed for nearly four hours in Beverly Hills, CA. Brillstein talked about his experiences growing up in the entertainment world of New York City, and how he eventually landed a job in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency. He discussed his meeting with WMA client Elvis Presley, and fondly remembered his first meeting with eventual client, puppeteer Jim Henson. He explained his reasons for leaving the agency to become a personal manager, and the work that he did on behalf of his various clients. He described his role in creating the long-running syndicated series Hee Haw, and his efforts at getting The Muppet Show on the air. He also spoke about his representation of writer/producer Lorne Michaels, and his involvement in the early years of Saturday Night Live. Brillstein reminisced about clients including John Belushi and Gilda Radner, and later explained his move into the executive suites at Lorimar. Finally, he talked about his partnership with Brad Grey, and the clients and programs the pair have represented. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on November 14, 2001.
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Highlights
Bernie Brillstein on the original cast and production of
Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 00:02
Bernie Brillstein on Jim Henson's death
Clip begins at: 00:42, Duration: 08m 01s
Manager Bernie Brillstein on Jim Henson; on the creation of Kermit; on selling the
Muppet Show
Clip begins at: 19:27, Duration: 08m 39s- Manager Bernie Brillstein on Jim Henson's contributions to
Sesame Street
Clip begins at: 16:04, Duration: 03m 23s 
Executive producer Bernie Brillstein on being approached by Paul Fusco for
ALFand the pitch to NBC
Clip begins at: 06:09, Duration: 01m 41s- Bernie Brillstein on John Belushi's audition for Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 02:13, Duration: 01m 49s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on growing up in New York City; on college at NYU and getting drafted into World War II
Clip begins at: 0:50 - On meeting with Lou Weiss at William Morris in New York and his first job in the mailroom; on recognizing the talent of Martin and Lewis; on attending shows at comedy and cocktail clubs; on getting a job in the William Morris publicity office
Clip begins at: 12:55 - Part 2
- On getting promoted from the William Morris mailroom in 3 months and publicizing nightclubs; on publicity for Person to Person and "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying;" on the Kalcheim brothers; on getting J. Walter Thompson and BBDO as clients
Clip begins at: 0:36 - On Wally Jordan; on fighting with Nat Lefkowitz - head of the New York Office; on Elvis Presley on Stage Show; on Burr Tillstrom introducing him to Jim Henson; on jumpstarting Jim Henson's career
Clip begins at: 12:47 - Part 3
- On Jim Henson as Muppet Ralph on The Jimmy Dean Show; on leaving William Morris in 1964; on the break up of MCA and Lew Wasserman becoming a producer; on packaging shows and commissions
Clip begins at: 0:25 - On life after William Morris - joining Marty Cumber & Associates as a partner; on Jerry Weintraub, Management Three, and moving to the West Coast; on taking driving lessons
Clip begins at: 10:35 - Part 4
- On quitting his partnership and starting out on his own; on producing The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour
Clip begins at: 0:20 - On the creation and merchandising of Sesame Street; on Kermit and Miss Piggy; on his friendship with Jim Henson; on the creation of The Muppet Show and the Muppets appearance on Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 15:57 - Part 5
- On Jim Henson's illness and death; on meeting Lorne Michaels and putting together what would become Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 0:42 - On the liveness of Saturday Night Live; on the first ensemble cast of Saturday Night Live
Clip begins at: 23:01 - Part 6
- On the original cast and production of Saturday Night Live; on being on set for the first shows; on the Muppets on Saturday Night Live;
Clip begins at: 0:34 - On the creation of The Blues Brothers; on the movie for The Blues Brothers; on censorship on Saturday Night Live; on Lorne Michaels leaving Saturday Night Live in 1980 and then returning
Clip begins at: 13:55 - Part 7
- On producing Buffalo Bill, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, ALF, and It's Garry Shandling's Show; on how HBO changed television
Clip begins at: 0:67 - On the state of television and deal-making in 2002; on the business of show business and the economics of production
Clip begins at: 13:17 - On bringing Brad Grey into the Brillstein Company; on producing shows for Columbia and ABC, forming Brillstein/Grey, and selling his portion of the company
Clip begins at: 22:28 - Part 8
- On coming to a crossroads at age 64 and writing a book; on producing in 2002; on the difference between a manager and an agent; on the controversy of defining the role of manager
Clip begins at: 0:23 - On advice to someone starting out; on the highlight of his career; on how he'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 08:33 - On photos from his career and of people with whom he's worked: Elvis Presley, Sandy Wernick, Dabney Coleman, Tom Patchett, Jay Tarses, Norm Crosby, Jim Henson, John Belushi and more
Clip begins at: 13:56
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I have so much respect for Brillstein simply because he represented Odenkirk who is one of my favorite people
Legend.
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