Janet Ashikaga

In her three hour interview for the Archive of American Television, editor Janet Ashikaga discusses her career cutting some of television's most beloved programs.  She begins with tales of editing the cult classic Sledge Hammer! and several The Incredible Hulk TV movies.  Ashikaga then describes her years as the sole editor of Seinfeld.  She comments on her favorite episode, "The Chinese Restaurant," and shares behind the scenes tidbits of "The Big Salad" and "The Subway" episodes, among others.  She talks of her respect for writer and  comedy great Larry David, and for writer Aaron Sorkin -- the creator of two other critically acclaimed shows on which she worked: Sports Night and The West Wing.  Ashikaga also edited Ink, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and the pilot of My Name is Earl.  She describes her preferences for certain methods of editing, what it's like to be a female editor, and details her theory on the musicality of editing.  Dan Wingate conducted the interview on August 25, 2010 in Van Nuys, California.