Michael Moye
Show Creator / Writer
About This Interview
In his four hour Archive interview, Michael Moye discusses his early love of reading and writing comic books. He talks of getting involved with theater in college, writing original plays, and winning the American College Theater Festival Play-writing Award sponsored by Norman Lear. Moye describes getting hired on Lear's show, Good Times, and subsequently writing for The Jeffersons, where he met future writing partner Ron Leavitt. He recalls co-creating Silver Spoons with Leavitt (crafted to be "Arthur" without the alcohol), describes casting the show, and touches on co-creating the short-lived series, It's Your Move. Moye comments on writing an episode each of Diff'rent Strokes and Sanford and Son, and speaks of co-creating 227 and working with star Marla Gibbs. Moye then details co-creating the FOX hit Married...With Children, discussing the premise of the show, casting, problems with the fledgling FOX network, and why he ultimately left the show. He gives the back story on the two "lost episodes" of Married...With Children and explains why they never aired. He tells why he ultimately decided to leave the television industry completely, and also discusses his current projects. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview in North Hollywood, CA on August 8, 2012.
Related To This Video
Featured Content
Video: Watch "The Camping Show" - the infamous lost episode of "Married...With Children":
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
Highlights
Michael Moye on the inspiration behind co-creating Married...With Children
Clip begins at: 52:58, Duration: 01m 58s
Michael Moye on casting Ed O'Neill on Married...With Children
Clip begins at: 02:40, Duration: 05m 11s
Michael Moye on "the lost episode" of Married...With Children
Clip begins at: 17:19, Duration: 07m 29s- Michael Moye on NBC wanting to do a TV show based on the movie "Arthur" - Silver Spoons
Clip begins at: 05:01, Duration: 02m 02s 
Michael Moye on beginning to write original plays and winning the American College Theater Festival Play-writing Award sponsored by Norman Lear; on getting an offer to write for Lear's Good Times
Clip begins at: 13:12, Duration: 03m 38s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on reading and writing comic books as a kid; on attending college in North Carolina
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On getting involved with theater and moving to Los Angeles; on beginning to write original plays and winning the American College Theater Festival Play-writing Award sponsored by Norman Lear; on getting an offer to write for Lear's Good Times
Clip begins at: 11:55 - On writing a spec script for and eventually becoming a writer on Good Times; on the not-so-diverse writing staff of Good Times; on humor in the show, what he learned from working on the program, and the legacy of Good Times
Clip begins at: 18:13 - On writing for and the premise of The Jeffersons; on meeting future writing partner Ron Leavitt; on leaving The Jeffersons and favorite episodes of the show
Clip begins at: 44:01 - Part 2
- On a change in the writing process on The Jeffersons
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On co-creating Silver Spoons - a TV show based on the movie "Arthur"; on whether or not he experienced racism in the television industry; on hiring diverse writers
Clip begins at: 03:52 - On his minimal writing for Checking In, a spin-off of The Jeffersons; on writing an episode of Diff'rent Strokes and of Sanford and Son; on some people seeing racism where he does not
Clip begins at: 13:32 - On the premise of Silver Spoons; on selling the pilot and casting the show
Clip begins at: 21:17 - On creating It's Your Move with Ron Leavitt; on the show's cancellation
Clip begins at: 31:07 - On co-creating 227; on working with Marla Gibbs and Jackee Harry
Clip begins at: 43:00 - On co-creating Married...With Children
Clip begins at: 52:58 - Part 3
- On casting Married...With Children; on the pilot, initial testing, network notes, and audience reaction to the program; on Married...With Children being "not The Cosbys"
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On "the Rakolta incident" (so called because a woman named Terry Rakolta complained about content on Married...With Children) and FOX withholding fan mail; on subsequent problems with the network
Clip begins at: 29:22 - On typical production on the show and working with Married...With Children co-creator Ron Leavitt; on story ideas that came from his life; on his favorite episodes of the show - "The Santa episode"
Clip begins at: 43:23 - On Ed O'Neill and Katey Sagal as "Al and Peggy Bundy"
Clip begins at: 55:24 - Part 4
- On the original and re-cast actors to play "Bud and Kelly Bundy" on Married...With Children; on the neighbors of the Bundys and the character "Seven"
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On "the lost episode" ("The Camping Episode") of Married...With Children; on the second "lost episode" and a potential spin-off; on wanting to spin-off the National Organization of Men Against Amazonian Masterhood and leaving Married...With Children
Clip begins at: 17:19 - On retiring from the television business; on the legacy of Married...With Children; on the 2012 status between FOX and Married...With Children
Clip begins at: 39:03 - On not wanting to write for network television; on then-current projects; on advice to aspiring TV writers; on where he sees himself in 10 years
Clip begins at: 47:20
Shows
People
Topics
Genres
Professions
I would still like to know if we have a connection, I tried to cocntact him thru an e-mail @his coral reef i am from chicago I am hoping he will see this add and clarify if he is my uncle My uncles name was michael moye, he had a brother named lawrance moye, I have not been raised by him although I have had phone contact I am looking for closure thats all There are not many moyes that I have heard of until they created facebook..lanettefields@verizon.net
Post new comment