About
“The best thing is when it finally happens. You come up with a great concept or idea or a one liner, and say, ‘Wow, that’s fantastic.’ Just writing something really great, and realizing ‘Hey, this is special.’”
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Arnie Kogen talks about his early life and writing for MAD Magazine starting in 1959. He recalls early gigs writing for the nightclub acts of Jackie Vernon and Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, and later being on the writing staff of Candid Camera. He recounts writing for the Golden Globes, for the hosts of the Academy Awards, and for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He chronicles his stint as a writer on The Carol Burnett Show, detailing working with the cast, and in particular Tim Conway, and writing several well-known and recurring sketches for the series. He speaks of writing on several sitcoms, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and the four years he spent on the writing staff of Newhart. He discusses writing for the 1970s variety shows Donny & Marie and The Jacksons, and Alan Thicke’s ‘80s talk show Thicke of the Night. He concludes by discussing his writing process, discussing what he likes about writing, and giving advice to aspiring television writers. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Writers Guild Foundation on December 12, 2016 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Arnie Kogen on being hired to write for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on the process of writing for the show
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart
Arnie Kogen on his writing process
Arnie Kogen on going to write for The Carol Burnett Show and working with Carol Burnett
Arnie Kogen on writing for "Mad Magazine"
Arnie Kogen on advice to an aspiring writer
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on television he watched growing up, and on his college education where he started to write; on writing for "Mad Magazine" and MADtv
On when he first realized he was funny; on when he started to write for comedians like Jackie Vernon and Jack Paar; on writing for Candid Camera and working for Allen Funt; on being hired to write for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on the process of writing for the show
On writing for The Dean Martin Show; on writing for The Funny Side; on writing for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards
On going to write for The Carol Burnett Show and working with Carol Burnett; on working with Joe Hamilton, the producer of The Carol Burnett Show, and on a typical work week writing for the show; on specific sketches he was involved in writing on The Carol Burnett Show and on writing for Tim Conway
On the cast of The Carol Burnett Show breaking each other up during sketches; on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show; on specific sketches he wrote for The Carol Burnett Show and on the writing process for the show
Chapter 2
On incorporating guest stars into sketches on The Carol Burnett Show; on teaming with Ray Jessel to write for The Carol Burnett Show; on winning Emmys for the show; on the legacy of The Carol Burnett Show; on writing for Love, American Style
On writing for various series, including The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary, The Bob Newhart Show, and Newhart; on coming up with ideas for Newhart; on specific episodes of Newhart
On writing for Donny & Marie and The Jacksons; on the decline of the variety show; on writing for Thicke of the Night
On writing for Empty Nest; on writing for various shows in the '90s including The Sinbad Show and The Gary Owens All-Nonsense News Network; on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye starring Tom Conway, and for All-American Girl
Chapter 3
On what he likes about writing and on writing in groups; on continuing to write for "Mad Magazine" and how he juggles it with his television work; on joining the Writers Guild and on his retirement
On how the television industry has changed since he started and on his then-current television favorites; on his mentors, and on his son, Jay Kogen; on advice to an aspiring writer; on career achievements and regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Arnie Kogen on writing for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards
Ace Crawford, Private Eye
Arnie Kogen on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye and All-American Girl
Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78)
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart
Candid Camera
Arnie Kogen on writing for Candid Camera and working for Allen Funt
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Arnie Kogen on going to write for The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on working with Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on working with Joe Hamilton, the producer of The Carol Burnett Show, and on a typical work week writing for the show
Arnie Kogen on specific sketches he was involved in writing on The Carol Burnett Show, and on writing for Tim Conway
Arnie Kogen on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show breaking each other up during sketches
Arnie Kogen on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on specific sketches he wrote for The Carol Burnett Show and on the writing process for the show
Arnie Kogen on incorporating guest stars into sketches on The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on teaming with Ray Jessel to write for The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on the legacy of The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on winning Emmy Awards for his work on The Carol Burnett Show
Dean Martin Show, The
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Dean Martin Show
Donny & Marie
Arnie Kogen on writing for Donny & Marie
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Arnie Kogen on winning Emmys for his work on The Carol Burnett Show
Empty Nest
Arnie Kogen on writing for Empty Nest
Funny Side, The
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Funny Side
Golden Girls, The
Arnie Kogen on writing for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards
Jacksons, The
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Jacksons, featuring the Jackson family and Michael Jackson
Love, American Style
Arnie Kogen on writing for Love, American Style
MADtv
Arnie Kogen on his involvement with MADtv
New Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Arnie Kogen on writing for The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Mary
Newhart
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart
Arnie Kogen on coming up with ideas for Newhart
Arnie Kogen on writing specific episodes of Newhart
Thicke of the Night
Arnie Kogen on writing for Thicke of the Night, featuring Alan Thicke
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Arnie Kogen on being hired to write for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on the process of writing for the show
Topics
Advice
Arnie Kogen on advice to an aspiring writer
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Arnie Kogen on his mentors, and on his son, Jay Kogen
Pivotal Career Moments
Arnie Kogen on his mentors, and on his son, Jay Kogen
Television Industry
Arnie Kogen on how the television industry has changed since he started and on his then-current television favorites
Arnie Kogen on advice to an aspiring writer
Professions
Writers
Arnie Kogen on his writing process
Arnie Kogen on what he likes about writing, and on writing in groups
Arnie Kogen on continuing to write for "Mad Magazine" and how he juggles it with his television work
Arnie Kogen on joining the Writers Guild and on his retirement
Arnie Kogen on advice to an aspiring writer
Genres
Awards Shows
Arnie Kogen on writing for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards
Comedy Series
Arnie Kogen on writing for Candid Camera
Arnie Kogen on writing for Love, American Style
Arnie Kogen on writing for The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Mary
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart
Arnie Kogen on writing for Empty Nest
Arnie Kogen on writing for various shows in the '90s including The Sinbad Show and The Gary Owens All-Nonsense News Network
Arnie Kogen on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye starring Tim Conway, and for All-American Girl
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Arnie Kogen on his involvement with MADtv
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Dean Martin Show
Arnie Kogen on going to write for The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
Arnie Kogen on writing for Donny & Marie
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Jacksons
Talk Shows
Arnie Kogen on being hired to write for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Arnie Kogen on writing for Thicke of the Night
People
Carol Burnett
Arnie Kogen on working with Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show
Johnny Carson
Arnie Kogen on being hired to write for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tim Conway
Arnie Kogen on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show: Tim Conway
Arnie Kogen on writing for Ace Crawford, Private Eye starring Tim Conway, and for All-American Girl
Allen Funt
Arnie Kogen on writing for Candid Camera and working for Allen Funt
Eydie Gorme
Arnie Kogen on writing material for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, and for other entertainers
Joe Hamilton
Arnie Kogen on working with Joe Hamilton, the producer of The Carol Burnett Show, and on a typical work week writing for the show
Michael Jackson
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Jacksons, featuring the Jackson family and Michael Jackson
Harvey Korman
Arnie Kogen on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show: Harvey Korman
Steve Lawrence
Arnie Kogen on writing material for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, and for other entertainers
Vicki Lawrence
Arnie Kogen on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show: Vicki Lawrence
Dean Martin
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Dean Martin Show
Bob Newhart
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart
Donny Osmond
Arnie Kogen on writing for Donny & Marie starring Donny and Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond
Arnie Kogen on writing for Donny & Marie starring Donny and Marie Osmond
Alan Thicke
Arnie Kogen on writing for Thicke of the Night, featuring Alan Thicke
Lyle Waggoner
Arnie Kogen on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show: Lyle Waggoner