About
"I remember once at Saturday Night Live having spent the night in my office. There was a heavy snowfall overnight, and I looked out the window onto 5th Avenue and I saw that the entire street was covered with pristine fresh snow. I just felt very joyful and I thought the eight-year-old me always wanted to stay in the city— when you would be going to FAO Schwarz and the Museum of Natural History— and I was always like, 'someday I'm not going to leave.' I thought if someone had said to that eight-year-old, 'well, yes you will do this, you will have this moment,' I would have been just thrilled."
Anne Beatts (1947-2021) says of getting her break in comedy writing: "I always say very freely when people ask, 'how did you get into comedy?' I say 'the same way that Catherine the Great got into politics.' It wasn't like some Machiavellian scheme on my part, it was just that I was attracted to people who were doing things that I wanted to do." Anne Beatts was among the original writers of Saturday Night Live and created and executive-produced the influential comedy series Square Pegs.
In her two-hour interview, Beatts talks about working on the National Lampoon magazine with then-boyfriend Michael O'Donoghue. She describes how the two of them were hired by producer Lorne Michaels for Saturday Night (Live). For Saturday Night Live, she looks back on working with the original cast members, and describes sketches she wrote, several of which were problematic for the network's Standards & Practices. She recounts how she left Saturday Night Live and came to create and pitch Square Pegs to CBS.
On Square Pegs, she describes the casting of the leads and gives insight into serving as the series' executive producer, including hiring an all-female writing staff. On being one of television's first female showrunners, she admits that she was treated "with some degree of disbelief and disrespect. I don't think it was easy."
She comments on her difficulty in producing the first season of A Different World, and her satisfying experience as executive producer/writer of The Stephanie Miller Show. Additionally, she relates how she came to write an episode of Murphy Brown and serve as one of the writers for the reunion special Saturday Night Live 25. Jim McKairnes conducted the interview on May 7, 2009 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Anne Beatts on how she got into comedy writing
Anne Beatts on hiring an all-female writing staff for Square Pegs (with "token" male Andy Borowitz)
Anne Beatts on a favorite career moment for her, while working on Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on her complex relationship with original Saturday Night Live cast member John Belushi (who was a friend but also wanted to see the female staff writers fired)
Anne Beatts on her writing sensibilities
Anne Beatts on the difficulties she had on A Different World, and the series concept change
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early years and reading at an early age; on her parents; on how TV wasn't a significant part of her formative years; on her interests in high school and college (McGill University in Canada); on her early writing jobs, writing brochures and ad copy; on an experience she had writing a Jell-O commercial identical to the one already airing (since she was not a TV watcher); briefly, on other jobs including writing TV commercials in England
On working on the National Lampoon and gaining acceptance (despite being an outsider as a woman and a neophyte); on her relationship with Michael O'Donoghue; on how she and O'Donoghue quit the "National Lampoon Hour" resulting in a lean year financially; on publishing a book; on her initial disinterest in writing for TV, having been offered a job with O'Donoghue from producer Lorne Michaels (who eventually convinced her) for Saturday Night (Live)
On her "combative" interview with Lorne Michaels, in which she resisted the idea of being hired for Saturday Night Live; on the development of Saturday Night (Live) by Lorne Michaels and NBC executive Dick Ebersol's role in it; on how she and Michael O'Donoghue worked to get John Belushi in the original cast of SNL; on how she and Michael O'Donoghue wanted Bill Murray and Mimi Kennedy for the initial cast on Saturday Night Live
On a typical workweek of Saturday Night Live, during her tenure in the 1970s-early 80s; on original Saturday Night Live cast member Chevy Chase's talent; on her complex relationship with original Saturday Night Live cast member John Belushi (who was a friend, but who also wanted to see the female staff writers fired); on original (and sole African-American) Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris and how he was used on the show; on original Saturday Night Live cast member Gilda Radner and her stage presence; on original Saturday Night Live cast member Laraine Newman and her comedic talent; on Bill Murray's addition to the Saturday Night Live cast and the breakout "Nerds' sketch
Chapter 2
On Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels; on the popularity of Saturday Night Live in the early years, that was made clear during the show's New Orleans remote; on Standards and Practices' concerns on Saturday Night Live
On creating and pitching Square Pegs, departing Saturday Night Live; on using her producing experience on Saturday Night Live to her advantage on Square Pegs; on where Square Pegs was shot; on the casting of Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker on Square Pegs (and how the two needed to be dressed down to play their parts); on Square Pegs actor Merritt Butrick and his portrayal of "Johnny Slash"
On hiring an all-female writing staff for Square Pegs (with "token" male Andy Borowitz); on Square Pegs actor John Femia and his portrayal of "Marshall Blechtman"; on the classification of Square Pegs by the network; on favorite episodes of Square Pegs, including one done to appease the network's request to appeal to a male audience; on the legacy of Square Pegs, and how revolutionary the use of music was for TV of the day
On a Broadway show; on the difficulties she had as a producer of A Different World, and the series concept change; on casting and working with Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy on A Different World; on writing an episode of Murphy Brown; on the pilots The Julie Brown Show and The Belles of Bleeker Street
On her experience as executive producer/writer of The Stephanie Miller Show; on the TV special Saturday Night Live 25, and a joke she wrote for Chevy Chase; on watching Saturday Night Live in later years; on her writing sensibilities
Chapter 3
On how women writers are not yet accepted in late-night TV; on her acceptance as a female show runner
On a favorite career moment while a writer on Saturday Night Live; on advice to aspiring writers
Shows
Belles of Bleeker Street, The
Anne Beatts on the pilots The Julie Brown Show and The Belles of Bleeker Street
Different World, A
Anne Beatts on the difficulties she had on A Different World, and the series concept change
Anne Beatts on casting and working with Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy on A Different World
Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The
Anne Beatts on pitching Square Pegs, using The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis as a reference point with then-CBS executive Dwayne Hickman (who played Dobie Gillis) in the meeting
Murphy Brown
Anne Beatts on writing an episode of Murphy Brown
Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on her first impressions of Saturday Night Live writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Michael O'Donoghue's initial "cold feet" at the prospect of working in TV
Anne Beatts on her initial disinterest in writing for TV, having been offered a job (with O'Donoghue) from producer Lorne Michaels (who eventually convinced her) for Saturday Night (Live)
Anne Beatts on her "combative" interview with Lorne Michaels, in which she resisted the idea of being hired for Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on the development of Saturday Night (Live) by Lorne Michaels and NBC executive Dick Ebersol's role in it
Anne Beatts on how she and Michael O'Donoghue worked to get John Belushi (who'd done the "National Lampoon Radio Hour") in the original cast of Saturday Night Live, despite producer Lorne Michael's reservations
Anne Beatts on how she and Michael O'Donoghue wanted Bill Murray and Mimi Kennedy for the initial cast on Saturday Night Live— but those slots went to Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin
Anne Beatts on a typical workweek on Saturday Night Live during her tenure in the 1970s to early 80s
Anne Beatts on the female writers that worked on Saturday Night Live during her tenure from the 1970s to early 80s
Anne Beatts on original Saturday Night Live cast member Chevy Chase's talent
Anne Beatts on her complex relationship with original Saturday Night Live cast member John Belushi (who was a friend but also wanted to see the female staff writers fired)
Anne Beatts on original (and sole African-American) Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris and how he was used on the show
Anne Beatts on original Saturday Night Live cast member Gilda Radner and her stage presence
Writer Anne Beatts on original Saturday Night Live cast member Laraine Newman and her comedic talent
Anne Beatts on Bill Murray's addition to the Saturday Night Live cast, the breakout "Nerds sketch," and how she feels he was thanking her for the sketch when he guest-starred later on Square Pegs
Anne Beatts on the difficulty in getting praise from Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels
Anne Beatts on the popularity of Saturday Night Live in the early years, that was made clear during the show's New Orleans remote
Anne Beatts on Saturday Night Live guest host Lily Tomlin (and John Belushi's refusal to perform in one particular sketch)
Anne Beatts on a Saturday Night Live sketch about Patty Hearst (with guest host Lily Tomlin) that was objected to by Standards and Practices
Anne Beatts on Standards and Practices' concerns over slang expressions on Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on two Saturday Night Live sketches that had Standards and Practices issues— a Jesus sketch and a "Nerds" Christmas pageant sketch
Anne Beatts on using her producing experience on Saturday Night Live to her advantage on Square Pegs
Anne Beatts on the special Saturday Night Live 25, and a joke she wrote for Chevy Chase
Anne Beatts on watching Saturday Night Live in later years
Anne Beatts on her writing sensibilities
Anne Beatts on a favorite career moment for her, while working on Saturday Night Live
Square Pegs
Anne Beatts on Bill Murray's addition to the Saturday Night Live cast, the breakout "Nerds sketch," and how she feels he was thanking her for the sketch when he guest-starred later on Square Pegs
Anne Beatts on creating and pitching Square Pegs, departing Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on using her producing experience on Saturday Night Live to her advantage on Square Pegs
Anne Beatts on not seeing eye to eye with Embassy Television executive Michael Grade on Square Pegs
Anne Beatts on where Square Pegs was shot
Anne Beatts on how John Belushi's death postponed the shooting of the Square Pegs pilot
Anne Beatts on the casting of Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker on Square Pegs (and how the two needed to be dressed down to play the parts)
Anne Beatts on Square Pegs actress Tracy Nelson and her portrayal of "Jennifer DiNuccio"
Anne Beatts on Square Pegs actor Merritt Butrick and his portrayal of "Johnny Slash"
Anne Beatts on hiring an all-female writing staff for Square Pegs (with "token" male Andy Borowitz)
Anne Beatts on Square Pegs actor John Femia and his portrayal of "Marshall Blechtman"
Anne Beatts on the classification of Square Pegs by the network
Anne Beatts on favorite episodes of Square Pegs, including one done to appease the network's request to appeal to a male audience
Anne Beatts on how she found out that Square Pegs was cancelled
Anne Beatts on the legacy of Square Pegs, and how revolutionary the use of music was for TV of the day
Anne Beatts on her writing sensibilities
Stephanie Miller Show, The
Anne Beatts on her experience as executive producer/writer of The Stephanie Miller Show
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Anne Beatts on a Saturday Night Live sketch about Patty Hearst (with guest host Lily Tomlin) that was objected to by Standards and Practices
Anne Beatts on two Saturday Night Live sketches that had Standards and Practices issues— a Jesus sketch and a "Nerds" Christmas pageant sketch
Anne Beatts on Standards and Practices' concerns over slang expressions on Saturday Night Live
Historic Events and Social Change
Anne Beatts on original (and sole African-American) Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris and how he was used on the show
Anne Beatts on hiring an all-female writing staff for Square Pegs (with "token" male Andy Borowitz)
Anne Beatts on late-night television as an area that still hasn't fully accepted female writers
Representation on Television
Anne Beatts on original (and sole African-American) Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris and how he was used on the show
Anne Beatts on hiring an all-female writing staff for Square Pegs (with "token" male Andy Borowitz)
Anne Beatts on late-night television as an area that still hasn't fully accepted female writers
Television Industry
Anne Beatts on Standards and Practices' concerns on Saturday Night Live
Underrepresented Voices
Anne Beatts on original (and sole African-American) Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris and how he was used on the show
Women
Anne Beatts on hiring an all-female writing staff for Square Pegs (with "token" male Andy Borowitz)
Anne Beatts on late-night television as an area that still hasn't fully accepted female writers
Professions
Music Professionals
Anne Beatts on the legacy of Square Pegs, and how revolutionary the use of music was for TV of the day
Writers
Anne Beatts on how she got into comedy writing
Anne Beatts on her writing sensibilities and how comedy writing has changed over the years
Genres
Comedy Series
Anne Beatts on her time as a writer on Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on the popularity of Saturday Night Live and issues with Standards & Practices on the show
Anne Beatts on creating and pitching Square Pegs
Anne Beatts on producing A Different World for a year
Anne Beatts on writing an episode of Murphy Brown
Anne Beatts on the pilots The Julie Brown Show and The Belles of Bleeker Street
Anne Beatts on her experience as executive producer/writer of The Stephanie Miller Show
Late Night
Anne Beatts on her time as a writer on Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on the popularity of Saturday Night Live and issues with Standards & Practices on the show
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Anne Beatts on her time as a writer on Saturday Night Live
Anne Beatts on the popularity of Saturday Night Live and issues with Standards & Practices on the show
People
Dan Aykroyd
Anne Beatts on how she and Michael O'Donoghue wanted Bill Murray and Mimi Kennedy for the initial cast on Saturday Night Live— but those slots went to Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin
John Belushi
Anne Beatts on how she and Michael O'Donoghue worked to get John Belushi (who'd done the "National Lampoon Radio Hour") in the original cast of Saturday Night Live, despite producer Lorne Michael's reservations
Anne Beatts on her complex relationship with original Saturday Night Live cast member John Belushi (who was a friend but also wanted to see the female staff writers fired)
Anne Beatts on Saturday Night Live guest host Lily Tomlin (and John Belushi's refusal to perform in one particular sketch)
Anne Beatts on how John Belushi's death postponed the shooting of the Square Pegs pilot
Lisa Bonet
Anne Beatts on the difficulties she had on A Different World
Andy Borowitz
Anne Beatts on hiring an all-female writing staff for Square Pegs (with "token" male Andy Borowitz)
Chevy Chase
Anne Beatts on original Saturday Night Live cast member Chevy Chase's talent
Bill Cosby
Anne Beatts on the difficulties she had on A Different World, and the series concept change
Jane Curtin
Anne Beatts on how she and Michael O'Donoghue wanted Bill Murray and Mimi Kennedy for the initial cast on Saturday Night Live— but those slots went to Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin
Dick Ebersol
Anne Beatts on the development of Saturday Night (Live) by Lorne Michaels and NBC executive Dick Ebersol's role in it
John Femia
Anne Beatts on Square Pegs actor John Femia and his portrayal of "Marshall Blechtman"
Michael Grade
Anne Beatts on not seeing eye to eye with Embassy Television executive Michael Grade on Square Pegs
Jasmine Guy
Anne Beatts on casting and working with Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy on A Different World
Kadeem Hardison
Producer Anne Beatts on casting and working with Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy on A Different World
Dwayne Hickman
Anne Beatts on pitching Square Pegs, using The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis as a reference point with then-CBS executive Dwayne Hickman (who played Dobie Gillis) in the meeting
Andy Kaufman
Anne Beatts on her "combative" interview with producer Lorne Michaels, in which she resisted the idea of being hired for Saturday Night Live (and her first impressions of Andy Kaufman)
Mimi Kennedy
Anne Beatts on how she and Michael O'Donoghue wanted Bill Murray and Mimi Kennedy for the initial cast on Saturday Night Live— but those slots went to Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin
Amy Linker
Anne Beatts on the casting of Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker on Square Pegs (and how the two needed to be dressed down to play the parts)
Lorne Michaels
Anne Beatts on the development of Saturday Night (Live) by Lorne Michaels and NBC executive Dick Ebersol's role in it
Anne Beatts on the difficulty in getting praise from Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels
Marilyn Suzanne Miller
Anne Beatts on her first impressions of Saturday Night Live writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Michael O'Donoghue's initial "cold feet" at the prospect of working in TV
Garrett Morris
Anne Beatts on original (and sole African-American) Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris and how he was featured on the show
Bill Murray
Anne Beatts on how she and Michael O'Donoghue wanted Bill Murray and Mimi Kennedy for the initial cast on Saturday Night Live— but those slots went to Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin
Tracy Nelson
Anne Beatts on Square Pegs actress Tracy Nelson and her portrayal of "Jennifer DiNuccio"
Laraine Newman
Writer Anne Beatts on original Saturday Night Live cast member Laraine Newman and her comedic talent
Michael O'Donoghue
Anne Beatts on her first impressions of Saturday Night Live writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Michael O'Donoghue's initial "cold feet" at the prospect of working in TV
Sarah Jessica Parker
Anne Beatts on the casting of Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker on Square Pegs (and how the two needed to be dressed down to play the parts)
Gilda Radner
Anne Beatts on original Saturday Night Live cast member Gilda Radner and her stage presence
Lily Tomlin
Anne Beatts on Saturday Night Live guest host Lily Tomlin (and John Belushi's refusal to perform in one particular sketch)
Anne Beatts on a Saturday Night Live sketch about Patty Hearst (with guest host Lily Tomlin) that was objected to by Standards and Practices