About
"I like when I think something is funny, that the audience proves it to me. The audience is my judge."
In his two-hour interview, Allan Blye (1937-2024) discusses growing up in Canada and getting his start in radio and on the stage as a child. He talks about performing on Fred Rogers’ Canadian precursor to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Misterrogers. He then shares how a phone call from Tom Smothers led to him moving to the United States to work on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. He details his time on Smothers Brothers, including the end of the show and its post-cancellation Emmy win. Blye then shares stories from various specials he worked on, including Petula and Elvis: The ’68 Comeback Special (during which he received a private concert from Elvis). He discusses writing for The Andy Williams Show, as well as voicing the character “Cookie Bear,” and writing/producing the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. He then details his long producing partnership with Bob Einstein, which included creating the show Bizarre and developing Einstein’s “Super Dave Osborne” character, for which they created the series Super Dave, among other iterations. Blye concludes by giving advice for aspiring writers and producers, and sharing his proudest career achievement and how he would like to be remembered. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on April 24, 2019 in Cathedral City, CA.
Highlights
Allan Blye on doing the voice of "Cookie Bear" on The Andy Williams Show
Allan Blye on how he came to be hired as a writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Allan Blye on performing on Misterogers, Fred Rogers' CBC precursor to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, early in his career
Allan Blye on the popularity of Bob Einstein's "Super Dave Osborne" character
Allan Blye on writing and producing the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour with Chris Bearde
Allan Blye on working with Elvis on Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special, and one night during the filming when Elvis showed up at Blye's house and gave him and his neighbors a private concert
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood in Canada and his early influences; on getting his start in entertainment as a child on radio and in theater; on performing on Fred Rogers' CBC show, Misterogers
On how he came to the United States from Canada to write on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on the writing process on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on the Smothers' conflict with Standards & Practices; on The Summer Brothers Smothers Show
On being a producer on the third season of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on controversial guests on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on the end of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and on the show's legacy
On writing for the Petula Clark special Petula; on writing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special; on Elvis showing up at his house and giving him a private concert; on the filming of the special, and on his friendship with Elvis
Chapter 2
On what he enjoys about writing, and on his writing process; on the typical production schedule for variety specials he wrote; on working with Andy Williams; on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
On the musical aspect of the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour; on guest-stars on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour; on the end of the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, and on its legacy
On executive producing That's My Mama; on producing Van Dyke and Company; on working for Redd Foxx; on his producing partnership with Bob Einstein, including the show Bizarre; on Super Dave and the popularity of the "Super Dave Osborne" character
On Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire; on advice to aspiring writers and producers; on his proudest career achievement; on how he would like to be remembered