Asaad Kelada

Director
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-hour interview, Asaad Kelada discusses how he began his long and successful career as a TV director. He speaks of serving as an apprentice on the sitcom Rhoda and recalls how the show led to working on other popular comedies such as The Tony Randall Show, Phyllis, and The Hogan Family (aka Valerie). He details his experience working on the hit shows The Facts of Life, Who's the Boss? and Family Ties and outlines the impact these shows had upon him and audiences. Kelada also talks about his contributions to Dharma & Greg, Everybody Loves Raymond, Two and a Half Men and The Office, among others. He then describes his current projects and passions, discusses the craft of directing, and offers advice to aspiring TV directors. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on March 7, 2012 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I'm a director … I'm directing, I'm aiming, I'm guiding. It is my responsibility to make sure that I bring out the best that these people have to offer, or make it possible for them to bring out the best that they can offer." 

People Talking About ...
Asaad Kelada
Highlights
Asaad Kelada on directing special guest star Frank Sinatra, on Who's the Boss?
03:05
Asaad Kelada on James Burrows assistance to him at the beginning of his career
00:48
Asaad Kelada on advice given to him by Jay Sandrich while working on the show Phyllis
07:12
Asaad Kelada on directing Valerie Harper on the shows Rhoda and The Hogan Family
02:21
Asaad Kelada on his process of working with actors
04:30
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on meeting filmmaker Youssef Chahine; on his first movie role in the film Cairo Station
On teaching at Antioch College; on apprenticing on the show Rhoda; on directing his first episode of the show
On the differences between directing for theater versus TV; on working with Valerie Harper and other cast and crew members on Rhoda
On observing the production process of Rhoda; on his experience working on the show Phyllis; on his experience working on The Tony Randall Show

Chapter 2
On his memories working as a director while working on The Tony Randall Show; on the premise of the show; on directing WKRP in Cincinnati and The Last Resort
On directing The Facts of Life; on the addition of "Jo" to the cast; on his creative input on the show; on what a typical production week was like on the show
On working with the cast of The Facts of Life; on his favorite episode of The Facts of Life; on directing the two-hour special, The Facts of Life Goes to Paris
On directing the pilot for Family Ties and working with the cast; on guest directing on the show every year; on the focus of the show

Chapter 3
On his time directing Who's the Boss?; on the premise of the show; on his creative involvement in the show; on the dynamic between characters, "Tony" and "Angela"
On the popularity and appeal of Who's the Boss?; on directing Valerie, Karen's Song, and an episode of Day By Day featuring The Brady Bunch
On directing George, Sister, Sister, and Dharma & Greg; on his work on The Michael Richards Show; on directing two episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
On directing Two and a Half Men; on directing an episode of The Office; on his work on Ruby and the Rockits; on current projects
On his process of working with actors; on how he prepares to direct an episode; on advice to aspiring TV directors; on the highlight of his career
Shows

Day by Day

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Asaad Kelada on directing an episode of Day By Day featuring The Brady Bunch
01:55

Dharma & Greg

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Asaad Kelada on directing Dharma & Greg
04:17

Everybody Loves Raymond

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Asaad Kelada on directing two episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
01:38

Facts of Life, The

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Asaad Kelada on directing The Facts of Life
28:58
Asaad Kelada on working with the cast of The Facts of Life
03:11
Asaad Kelada on his favorite episode of The Facts of Life
02:06

Family Ties

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Asaad Kelada on directing the pilot for Family Ties and future episodes of the show and working with Michael J. Fox
12:24

Hogan Family, The aka Valerie

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Asaad Kelada on directing The Hogan Family (aka Valerie)
02:37

Last Resort, The

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Asaad Kelada on directing The Last Resort
07:00

Office, The

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Asaad Kelada on directing an episode of The Office
02:51

Phyllis

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working on the show Phyllis
05:55

Rhoda

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Asaad Kelada on apprenticing on the show Rhoda
06:08
Asaad Kelada on directing his first episode "Rhoda Goes to Paris" on the show Rhoda
04:43

Sister, Sister

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Asaad Kelada on directing Sister, Sister
01:34

Tony Randall Show, The

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working on The Tony Randall Show
02:18
Asaad Kelada on his memories working as a director while working on The Tony Randall Show
04:24

Two and a Half Men

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Asaad Kelada on directing episodes of Two and a Half Men
04:00

WKRP in Cincinnati

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Asaad Kelada on directing WKRP in Cincinnati
04:43

Who's the Boss?

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Asaad Kelada on his time directing Who's the Boss?
16:28
Topics

Fame and Celebrity

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Asaad Kelada on working with the young cast of The Facts of Life and how they handled fame
01:49

Industry Crossroads

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Asaad Kelada on how "The Dinner Party," an episode of The Office was delayed due to the Writers' Strike
02:51

Industry Strikes

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Asaad Kelada on how "The Dinner Party," an episode of The Office was delayed due to the Writers' Strike
02:51

Pop Culture

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Asaad Kelada on the theme song for Family Ties
00:28

Representation on Television

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Asaad Kelada on challenges breaking into the TV industry
03:57

TV Theme Songs

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Asaad Kelada on the theme song for Family Ties
00:28

Television Industry

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Asaad Kelada on working with the young cast of The Facts of Life and how they handled fame
01:49
Asaad Kelada on how "The Dinner Party," an episode of The Office was delayed due to the Writers' Strike
02:51

Underrepresented Voices

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Asaad Kelada on challenges breaking into the TV industry
03:57
Professions

Directors

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Asaad Kelada on apprenticing on the show Rhoda
06:08
Asaad Kelada on directing his first episode "Rhoda Goes to Paris" on the show Rhoda
04:43
Asaad Kelada on how he prepares to direct an episode
01:00
Asaad Kelada on directing an episode of The Office
02:51
Genres

Comedy Series

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Asaad Kelada on apprenticing on the show Rhoda
06:08
Asaad Kelada on directing his first episode "Rhoda Goes to Paris" on the show Rhoda
04:43
Asaad Kelada on his experience working on the show Phyllis
05:55
Asaad Kelada on his experience working on The Tony Randall Show
02:18
Asaad Kelada on his memories working as a director while working on The Tony Randall Show
04:24
Asaad Kelada on directing WKRP in Cincinnati
04:43
Asaad Kelada on directing The Last Resort
07:00
Asaad Kelada on directing The Facts of Life
28:58
Asaad Kelada on directing the pilot for Family Ties
12:24
Asaad Kelada on his time directing Who's the Boss?
16:28
Asaad Kelada on directing The Hogan Family (aka Valerie)
02:37
Asaad Kelada on directing an episode of Day By Day featuring The Brady Bunch
01:55
Asaad Kelada on directing Sister, Sister
01:34
Asaad Kelada on directing Dharma & Greg
04:17
Asaad Kelada on directing two episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
01:38
Asaad Kelada on directing Karen's Song
03:11
Asaad Kelada on directing George
03:17
Asaad Kelada on directing episodes of Two and a Half Men
04:00
Asaad Kelada on directing an episode of The Office
02:51
People

Allan Burns

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Asaad Kelada on working with the producers on Rhoda
02:59

Alyssa Milano

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working with Katherine Helmond, Alyssa Milano, and Danny Pintauro on Who's the Boss?
03:30

Charlie Sheen

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Asaad Kelada on working with Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men
01:46

Chuck Lorre

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Asaad Kelada on working with Chuck Lorre on Dharma & Greg
04:17
Asaad Kelada on working with Chuck Lorre on Two and a Half Men
04:00

Cloris Leachman

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Asaad Kelada on working with Cloris Leachman on the show Phyllis
03:08
Asaad Kelada on working with Cloris Leachman on Two and a Half Men
01:46

Danny Pintauro

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working with Katherine Helmond, Alyssa Milano, and Danny Pintauro on Who's the Boss?
03:30

Dave Davis

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Asaad Kelada on the support he received from Dave Davis, Valerie Harper and Grant Tinker while working on the show, Rhoda
02:11

Ed. Weinberger

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Asaad Kelada on working with Ed Weinberger on the show Phyllis
00:47

Frank Sinatra

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Asaad Kelada on working with special guest star Frank Sinatra on Who's the Boss?
08:05

Gary David Goldberg

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Asaad Kelada on directing Gary David Goldberg on The Tony Randall Show
04:24
Asaad Kelada on working with Gary David Goldberg on The Last Resort
07:00
Asaad Kelada on working with Gary David Goldberg on the pilot for Family Ties
12:24
Asaad Kelada on working with Gary David Goldberg on an episode of Day By Day
01:55

Geri Jewell

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Asaad Kelada on directing Geri Jewell on The Facts of Life
02:29

Grant Tinker

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Asaad Kelada on the support he received from Dave Davis, Valerie Harper and Grant Tinker while working on the show, Rhoda
02:11

Hugh Wilson

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Asaad Kelada on working with Hugh Wilson on WKRP in Cincinnati and on The Tony Randall Show
09:07

James Burrows

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Asaad Kelada on James Burrows assistance to him at the beginning of his career
00:48

Jay Sandrich

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Asaad Kelada on advice given to him by Jay Sandrich while working on the show Phyllis
07:12

Jenna Elfman

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Asaad Kelada on working with Jenna Elfman on Dharma & Greg
04:17

Judith Light

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working with Judith Light on Who's the Boss?
03:30

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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Asaad Kelada on working with Julia Louis-Dreyfus on an episode of Day By Day
01:55

Julie Kavner

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Asaad Kelada on directing Julie Kavner on the show Rhoda
00:50

Katherine Helmond

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working with Katherine Helmond, Alyssa Milano, and Danny Pintauro on Who's the Boss?
03:30

Meredith Baxter-Birney

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Asaad Kelada on directing Meredith Baxter-Birney on the pilot for Family Ties
01:19

Michael Gross

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Asaad Kelada on working with Michael Gross on the pilot for Family Ties
00:25

Michael J. Fox

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Asaad Kelada on working with Michael J. Fox on the pilot for Family Ties
06:15

Nancy McKeon

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Asaad Kelada on what Nancy Mckeon's character "Jo" brought to The Facts of Life
02:04

Nancy Walker

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Asaad Kelada on directing Nancy Walker on the show Rhoda
00:38

Patty Duke

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Asaad Kelada on working with Patty Duke and Lewis Smith on Karen's Song
03:11

Steve Carell

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Asaad Kelada on working with Steve Carell and the rest of The Office cast
02:51

Susan Sullivan

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Asaad Kelada on how Susan Sullivan was instrumental in his directing episodes of Dharma & Greg
04:17

Teri Hatcher

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Asaad Kelada on working with Teri Hatcher on her first series, Karen's Song
03:11

Tony Danza

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working with Tony Danza on Who's the Boss?
16:28
Asaad Kelada on Tony Danza producing the show George
03:17

Tony Randall

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Asaad Kelada on his experience working on The Tony Randall Show with Tony Randall
02:18
Asaad Kelada on directing Tony Randall on The Tony Randall Show
04:24

Valerie Harper

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Asaad Kelada on the support he received from Dave Davis, Valerie Harper and Grant Tinker while working on the show, Rhoda
02:11
Asaad Kelada on directing Valerie Harper on the shows Rhoda and The Hogan Family
02:21
Asaad Kelada on working with Valerie Harper and Jason Bateman on The Hogan Family
02:37

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