Comedy


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tabs

About

Interviewees discuss classic episodes of TV comedies.

Highlights
Doris Singleton on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy
01:26
Jay Sandrich on the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
02:15
Marla Gibbs on creating the memorable sequence from the classic The Jeffersons episode "Mr. Piano Man," which had her crawling under the piano in a crowded party to try to answer the front door before "George Jefferson"
01:40
Ron Howard on the Happy Days episode "My Favorite Orkan" (which introduced "Mork") and Robin Williams' talent
03:44
Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
00:28
Who talked about this topic

Andy Ackerman

View Interview
Andy Ackerman on working with Alex Trebek for the Jeopardy! episode of Cheers, "What is... Cliff Clavin?"
00:51
Andy Ackerman on the Cheers finale, "One for the Road"
00:49
Andy Ackerman on the Seinfeld finale penned by Larry David
08:30

Jason Alexander

View Interview
Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines
02:46

Edward Asner

View Interview
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
04:23
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show  episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"
06:36

Thomas Azzari

View Interview
Thomas Azzari on designing the bedroom set for the final Newhart episode
01:49
Thomas Azzari on set designing for the Seinfeld  episode "The Finale"
01:52

Paul Bogart

View Interview
Paul Bogart on directing the All in the Family episode "Edith's 50th Birthday" (airdate: October 16, 1977), where Edith is almost raped by an intruder
03:24
Paul Bogart on directing the All in the Family episode "The Draft Dodger" (airdate: December 25, 1976)
02:39

Peter Bonerz

View Interview
Peter Bonerz on ordering a rigged up iron to create a special effect on The Bob Newhart Show episode "A Love Story"
01:01
Peter Bonerz on the Ross/Rachel kiss from the Friends season two episode, "The One Where Ross Finds Out"
01:17
Peter Bonerz on the Murphy Brown episode, "Uh, Oh, Part 2," and the criticism of Murphy's single motherhood by then U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle
08:48

Kevin Bright

View Interview
Kevin Bright on the finale of Friends
06:51

Harvey Bullock

View Interview
Harvey Bullock on writing The  Andy Griffith Show  episode "Opie the Birdman" starring Andy Griffith and Ron Howard
05:12

Sid Caesar

View Interview
Sid Caesar on how Your Show of Show's parody of From Here to Eternity ("From Here to Obscurity") became the source of a lawsuit
01:17

Diahann Carroll

View Interview
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
01:38
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
01:38

Betty White with Emerson College

View Interview
Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show  episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
04:22
Betty White on The Mary Tyler Moore Show  finale 
03:00

Rose Marie with Emerson College

View Interview
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard (she discusses the classic episode "It May Look Like a Walnut")
03:14

Tim Conway

View Interview
Tim Conway on hosting the notoriously short-lived show (it was canceled during its premiere) Turn-On
02:34

Hal Cooper

View Interview
Hal Cooper on Maude's funniest moment
03:47

Bill Dana

View Interview
Bill Dana on how he came to write the classic All in the Family episode "Sammy's Visit," and how he and producer Norman Lear invented the show's premise
02:32
Bill Dana on guest star Sammy Davis, Jr. calling him from the set of the All in the Family episode "Sammy's Visit" to compliment him on the script
00:50

Greg Daniels

View Interview
Greg Daniels on writing The Simpsons episode "Homer and Apu"
05:00
Greg Daniels on writing The Simpsons episode "Lisa's Wedding"
03:09
Greg Daniels on his favorite episodes and moments of The Office
01:12

Ann B. Davis

View Interview
Ann B. Davis on working with Don Knotts on The Bob Cummings Show, aka Love That Bob
01:18

Madelyn Pugh Davis

View Interview
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy Does a Commercial" (Vitameatavegamin)
00:39
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on writing the I Love Lucy episode "Job Switching" (candy factory)
01:03
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy's Italian Movie" (grape stomping)
00:52
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on the I Love Lucy episode "L.A. at Last" (nose catches fire)
01:33
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy Does a Commercial" (Vitameatavegamin)
00:39
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on writing the I Love Lucy episode "Job Switching" (candy factory)
01:03
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy's Italian Movie" (grape stomping)
00:52
Bob Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Pugh Davis on the I Love Lucy episode "L.A. at Last" (nose catches fire)
01:33

Sam Denoff

View Interview
Sam Denoff on the "That's My Boy" episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
01:35

Dick Ebersol

View Interview
Dick Ebersol on Richard Pryor's word association skit when hosting Saturday Night Live
00:43

Gerald Perry Finnerman

View Interview
Gerald Perry Finnerman on Orson Welles appearing in the Moonlighting episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"
03:33
Gerald Perry Finnerman on filming the black and white Moonlighting episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"
08:03
Gerald Perry Finnerman on filming the black and white Moonlighting episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"
08:03

Larry Gelbart

View Interview
Larry Gelbart on making the transition from radio to television with The Red Buttons Show
02:57
Larry Gelbart on the episode "Abyssinia, Henry" where one of the main characters dies -- which they kept a secret from cast and crew; on the response to the episode -- "M*A*S*H was not all happy endings"
09:58

Marla Gibbs

View Interview
Marla Gibbs on creating the memorable sequence from the classic The Jeffersons episode "Mr. Piano Man," which had her crawling under the piano in a crowded party to try to answer the front door before "George Jefferson"
01:40
Marla Gibbs on memorable episodes of The Jeffersons that featured her character, "Florence," and on Billy Dee Williams appearing on the show
02:43

Sherman Hemsley

View Interview
Sherman Hemsley on his first entrance as "George Jefferson" on All in the Family
02:04
Sherman Hemsley on some of his favorite episodes of The Jeffersons
01:28

James Hong

View Interview
James Hong on his approach to the role of the maitre d' on the classic Seinfeld episode "The Chinese Restaurant"
04:21

Ron Howard

View Interview
Ron Howard on using the death of a pet in real life to reach the emotions needed in The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman"
01:56
Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show episode "The Pickle Story"
01:18
Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show episode "Mr. McBeevee"
01:50
Ron Howard on the "Howdy Doody" episode of Happy Days
00:58
Ron Howard on playing a drunk scene in the Happy Days episode "Richie's Cup Runneth Over"
00:48
Ron Howard on the Happy Days episode "Hollywood" which ushered in the TV term "jump the shark"
02:08
Ron Howard on the Happy Days episode "Richie Almost Dies" and Henry Winkler's contribution
01:01
Ron Howard on the Happy Days episode "My Favorite Orkan" (which introduced "Mork") and Robin Williams' talent
03:44

Felicity Huffman

View Interview
Felicity Huffman on the episode of Sports Night where her character, "Dana Whitaker" kissed Peter Krause's character, "Casey McCall"
00:50

Al Jean

View Interview
Al Jean on The Simpsons episode "There's Something About Marrying"
01:55
Al Jean on The Simpsons episode "Blame it on Lisa"
00:43
Al Jean on The Simpsons episode "A Streetcar Named Marge"
01:11

Geri Jewell

View Interview
Geri Jewell on having to perform a dance number on the first The Facts of Life episode on which she appeared ("Cousin Geri")
03:26

Barry Kemp

View Interview
Barry Kemp on the Newhart series finale
02:28

Sheldon Leonard

View Interview
Sheldon Leonard on the classic Dick Van Dyke Show episode "That's My Boy?"
02:13

Gavin MacLeod

View Interview
Gavin MacLeod on "The Last Show," the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
02:08

Will Mackenzie

View Interview
Will Mackenzie on directing the Family Ties episode "A, My Name is Alex", featuring Michael J. Fox
07:49
Will Mackenzie on directing the Moonlighting episode "Atomic Shakespeare"
01:56

Garry Marshall

View Interview
Garry Marshall on The Odd Couple episode "The Odd Monks" (airdate: October 13, 1972)
01:36
Garry Marshall on The Odd Couple episode "Password" (airdate: December 1, 1972)
00:44
Garry Marshall on the Happy Days episode "Richie Almost Dies" (airdate: January 31, 1978) (Fonzie cries)
01:28
Garry Marsahall on the Happy Days episode "Hard Cover" (airdate: September 27, 1977) (Fonzie gets a library card)
01:11

Beth McCarthy-Miller

View Interview
Beth McCarthy-Miller on directing the final episode of 30 Rock
03:37

Burt Metcalfe

View Interview
Producer Burt Metcalfe on the most effective line in M*A*S*H: "The Interview"
03:01
Burt Metcalfe on the M*A*S*H  finale "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"
09:54
Burt Metcalfe on the next-to-last M*A*S*H  episode "As Time Goes By"
04:17

Mary Tyler Moore

View Interview
Mary Tyler Moore on initially disliking The Dick Van Dyke Show episode "Never Bathe on Saturday" (airdate: March 31, 1965), when Laura's toe is stuck in a faucet
02:03
Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust" (airdate: October 25, 1975)
02:18

Carroll O'Connor

View Interview
Carroll O'Connor on his contribution to the All in the Family episode "Two's a Crowd," and the ad-libbing by he and co-star Rob Reiner
02:43
Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family episodes: "Edith's Problem" (Edith enters menopause), "Gloria Has a Belly Full" (Gloria has a miscarriage), "Edith's Crisis of Faith" (Edith shuns her faith when friend Beverly LaSalle is killed), "Sammy's Visit (Sammy Davis, Jr. appears as himself), and "Archie's Brief Encounter" (Archie has an affair)
03:33
Carroll O'Connor on his acting with Danielle Brisebois in the Archie Bunker's Place episode "Archie Alone," that reveals Edith Bunker's death
01:29

Don Ohlmeyer

View Interview
Executive Don Ohlmeyer on the final episode of Seinfeld
02:32
Executive Don Ohlmeyer on the final episode of Cheers
01:52

Bill Persky

View Interview
Bill Persky on how he and partner San Denoff came to write for The Dick Van Dyke Show, on on writing the classic episode "That's My Boy??" with Sheldon Leonard
05:05
Bill Persky on writing with Sam Denoff the Emmy winning The Dick Van Dyke Show episode "Coast to Coast Big Mouth"
03:28

Suzanne Pleshette

View Interview
Suzanne Pleshette on her cameo on the series finale of Newhart
03:41

Tom Poston

View Interview
Tom Poston on the final episode of Newhart
01:12

Joyce Randolph

View Interview
Joyce Randolph on the "TV or not TV" episode of The Honeymooners
00:49
Joyce Randolph on the "The Sleepwalker" episode of The Honeymooners
00:26
Joyce Randolph on the "Better Living Through TV" episode and other episodes of The Honeymooners
01:14
Joyce Randolph on her favorite episodes of The Honeymooners
00:55

Phylicia Rashad

View Interview
Phylicia Rashad on favorite moments/ guest stars from The Cosby Show episodes
01:06
Phylicia Rashad on fan favorite episodes from The Cosby Show
00:55
Phylicia Rashad on the final moments of taping of The Cosby Show
00:44

Gene Reynolds

View Interview
Gene Reynolds on the M*A*S*H episode "Sometimes You Hear The Bullet"
04:00
Producer Gene Reynolds on the classic M*A*S*H episode "The Interview"
04:39

John Rich

View Interview
John Rich on Sammy Davis Jr.'s suggestion, as a guest on The Tonight Show, that he would make a funny guest star on All in the Family (leading to his appearance on the classic episode "Sammy's Visit")
01:04
John Rich on the audience's reaction to the kiss in the All in the Family episode "Sammy's Visit"
00:42
John Rich on memorable episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show
05:04
John Rich on Procter & Gamble and CBS having issues with the "That's My Boy?" episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
03:51

Doris Roberts

View Interview
Doris Roberts on the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "The Wallpaper" where "Marie" and "Frank" crash a car into "Ray's" living room
01:17

Jay Sandrich

View Interview
Jay Sandrich on the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy Does the Tango" (1957) in which Lucy dances and crushes the eggs she's trying to hide from Ricky
01:22
Jay Sandrich on the classic episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show which introduced Betty White as "Sue Anne Nivens"
01:04
Jay Sandrich on the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
02:15
Jay Sandrich on the challenges faced by the writers and cast for the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
03:18
Jay Sandrich on a scene in Soap which deals with sexual tension, written from a woman's perspective
01:15
Jay Sandrich on The Cosby Show episode "Denise's Friend," and directing an episode that didn't start out as being funny and finding the humor
04:49

Bob Schiller

View Interview
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
02:00
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the final episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, "Lucy Meets the Mustache" with Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams
01:08

George Schlatter

View Interview
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
01:53

Garry Shandling

View Interview
Garry Shandling on the finale of The Larry Sanders Show
03:08

George Shapiro

View Interview
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman reading "The Great Gatsby" on Saturday Night Live
01:19

Doris Singleton

View Interview
Doris Singleton on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy
01:26
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Baby Pictures" episode
03:44
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy "Lucy Tells the Truth" episode
02:15
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode "The Dancing Star" with Van Johnson 
02:09
Doris Singleton on the I Love Lucy episode, "Lucy and Superman"
02:31
Doris Singleton on the "Edith Has Jury Duty" episode of All in the Family
01:54

Yeardley Smith

View Interview
Yeardley Smith on Michael Jackson guest starring on The Simpsons
02:15
Yeardley Smith on Dustin Hoffman guest starring on The Simpsons on the episode "Lisa's Substitute"
02:14

Suzanne Somers

View Interview
Suzanne Somers on working with John Ritter in the classic Three's Company episode "Handcuffed"
01:23

Jean Stapleton

View Interview
Jean Stapleton on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Christmas Story," which dealt with breast cancer
01:01

Johnny Stearns

View Interview
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about
03:12

Mary Kay Stearns

View Interview
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on how Mary Kay and Johnny (one of TV's earliest sitcoms) came about
03:12

Jeremy Stevens

View Interview
Jeremy Stevens on memorable episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
05:55

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

View Interview
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show  episodes
08:12

Bob Weiskopf

View Interview
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
02:00
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the final episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, "Lucy Meets the Mustache" with Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams
01:08

Dawn Wells

View Interview
Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
00:28
Dawn Wells on her favorite episodes of Gilligan's Island
02:37
Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island
01:13

Tucker Wiard

View Interview
Tucker Wiard on the famous Carol Burnett Show sketch "Went With the Wind"
02:11

Henry Winkler

View Interview
Henry Winkler on satirizing his iconic character "Fonzie" on Arrested Development ; and jumping the shark.. twice
00:28

Bud Yorkin

View Interview
Bud Yorkin on the All in the Family episode "Sammy's Visit"
01:15

All Topics