About
"Writing is difficult. And it is, for me, very difficult. The only reason I'm in it and would ever think of doing it again, would be I enjoy making people laugh. If I didn't write comedy I'd find it dreary as hell, just terrible."
In the half-hour solo portion of his interview, Bob Weiskopf (1914-2001) talks about his early childhood. He then explains how he got his start in the entertainment industry. He discusses radio shows and performers with which he was associated in his early career, including The Rudy Vallee Show and The Fred Allen Show. Weiskopf also details his work writing for Perry Como and Johnny Carson, and writing for Danny Thomas on Make Room for Daddy.
In the three-hour joint portion of their interview, Bob Weiskopf and Bob Schiller (1918-2017) talk about their work together. They remember how they formed their partnership, and recall their years as staff writers on I Love Lucy and The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. They talk of their collaborations with Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis, and Bob Carroll, as well as with the stars of I Love Lucy. They look back on the writing process for the show, and on the events that took place behind the scenes each week. They outline their work on The Lucy Show, The Red Skelton Show, The Carol Burnett Show, and The Flip Wilson Show. Schiller and Weiskopf then detail their collaboration with producer Norman Lear on Maude, and comment on the balance that was often required of them as writer/producers to find humor in dramatic situations. They chronicle their work on other Lear shows including All in the Family, Archie Bunker's Place, Sanford and Son, and Checking In. Finally, they discuss their then-most-recent work on various television projects and pilots and speak of being honored with the Writers Guild of America's Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Achievement in 1988. Karen Herman conducted the interviews on April 4, 2000 in Santa Monica, CA.
Highlights
Bob Weiskopf on briefly writing for Make Room For Daddy for Danny Thomas
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Lucille Ball's working style on I Love Lucy and how she showed appreciation for the show's writers
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their style of writing for I Love Lucy - "backwards plotting"
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing the All in the Family episode "Edith's 50th Birthday" (in which there's an attempted rape on "Edith")
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early childhood, family, and his early interests; on attending the University of Chicago for two years
On his first writing job with Eddie Cantor
On The Rudy Vallee Show (radio); on meeting Jess Oppenheimer
On writing for The Fred Allen Show (formerly Town Hall Tonight) on radio
On being drafted in the Army during World War II; on the failure of the television version of The Fred Allen Show
On the first time he saw television; on writing for Perry Como and for Johnny Carson
On briefly writing for Make Room For Daddy for Danny Thomas and meeting writing partner Bob Schiller
Chapter 2
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH BOB SCHILLER: on how they became writing partners
On writing for Make Room for Daddy, That's My Boy, My Favorite Husband, and The Bob Cummings Show
On writing for It's Always Jan with Janis Paige
On how they came to write for I Love Lucy in its fourth season, the most popular show on TV at the time; on head writers Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
On working with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley
On the I Love Lucy writing process
Chapter 3
On the writing process on I Love Lucy and a typical workweek
On the rehearsal process and lack of ad-libbing on I Love Lucy
On the below-the-line crew on I Love Lucy; on I Love Lucy' s guest stars
On some of the storylines on I Love Lucy
On classic episodes they wrote on I Love Lucy, including the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode
Chapter 4
On the last half-hour episode of I Love Lucy; on their favorite episodes of the show
On the "classic" title given to I Love Lucy and how much they got paid; on Desilu studios and the transition to the hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
On the personal relationship between Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball; on how the departure of Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh Davis affected them
On the final episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, "Lucy Meets the Mustache" with Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams
On writing the pilot for The Ann Sothern Show, writing for Pete and Gladys, and for You're Only Young Twice
On The Lucy Show
Chapter 5
On their favorite episodes of The Lucy Show; on leaving the show
On writing for The Red Skelton Show; on Red's reputation among writers
On writing for Phyllis Diller, Carol Burnett, and Flip Wilson
On writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
Chapter 6
On the writing process for and memorable episodes of Maude
On writing the pilot for All's Fair
On writing for All in the Family; on the transition from All in the Family to Archie Bunker's Place
Chapter 7
On Archie Bunker's Place and comparisons to another bar-themed show, Duffy's Tavern; on Carroll O'Connor's influence on Archie Bunker's Place
On writing for Archie Bunker's Place; on their play "So Long, Stanley" getting produced; on writing the pilot of But Mother!
On shows they wrote for in the 1980s: Side by Side, He's the Mayo r, and The Boys; on winning the WGA's Paddy Chayefsky Award for Television Achievement
On deciding to retire; on their recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Chapter 8
On writing for television versus writing for radio; on their successful writing partnership
On advice to aspiring writers and producers; on how they'd like to be remembered and their career highlights; on their favorite stories about each other
B-roll photos from their days working at I Love Lucy, The Red Skelton Show, and Maude
Shows
All in the Family
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for All in the Family
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on specific episodes they wrote for All in the Family: "Cousin Liz", and "Edith's 50th Birthday" (in which there's an attempted rape on "Edith")
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Edith's Crisis of Faith", and "The Stivics Go West" episodes of All in the Family
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how All in the Family holds up over the years
All's Fair
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing the pilot for All's Fair
Ann Sothern Show, The
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing the pilot for The Ann Sothern Show
Archie Bunker's Place
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the transition from All in the Family to Archie Bunker's Place and the death of "Edith Bunker"
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Archie Bunker's Place and comparisons to another bar-themed show, Duffy's Tavern
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Carroll O'Connor's influence on Archie Bunker's Place; on the writing process on the show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Archie Bunker's Place
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
Checking In
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing an episode of Checking In
Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy
Bob Weiskopf on briefly writing for Make Room For Daddy for Danny Thomas
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing as a team for Make Room for Daddy
Duffy's Tavern
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Archie Bunker's Place and comparisons to another bar-themed show, Duffy's Tavern
Flip Wilson Show, The
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Flip Wilson Show
Fred Allen Show, The
Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Fred Allen Show (formerly Town Hall Tonight) on radio, before it transitioned to TV
Bob Weiskopf on leaving The Fred Allen Show (radio) and its unsuccessful transition into television
Good Guys, The
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing and producing for The Good Guys
I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how they came to write for I Love Lucy in its fourth season
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on becoming replacement writers on I Love Lucy - the most popular show on TV at the time
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their style of writing for I Love Lucy - "backwards plotting"
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on working with Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their I Love Lucy scripts, Lucille Ball's performances, and working with Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on I Love Lucy and why Jess Oppenheimer left the show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the I Love Lucy writing process
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the rehearsal process on I Love Lucy and how little rewriting there was on the show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on below-the-line crew on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on working with CBS and sponsors on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on staff members on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on guest stars on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on some of the storylines on I Love Lucy - aging "Little Ricky" and moving the "Rircardos" to the country
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on classic episodes they wrote on I Love Lucy, including "Lucy's Italian Movie" with the famous stomping of the grapes scene
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on classic episodes they wrote on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the final episode of I Love Lucy and their favorite episodes
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "classic" title given to I Love Lucy, and how much they got paid
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a photo of the writing staff of I Love Lucy
It's Always Jan
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for It's Always Jan with Janis Paige
Lucy Show, The
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Lucy Show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their favorite episodes of The Lucy Show
Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their favorite episodes of the The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour; on how Danny Thomas did his best work when angry
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the transition to the hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how the departure of Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh Davis from The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour affected them
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
Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the characters and the actors who portrayed them on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writers on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on Maude and Norman Lear's involvement with the writing
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on being on set during the tapings of Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on topics for scripts on Maude and the two-part abortion episode
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Norman Lear's contributions to storylines on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on network interference on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Maude and the Psychiatrist" episode of Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Bea Arthur and other cast members not always sticking to scripts on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on racial issues on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "The Face Lift" and other episodes of Maude; on why they left the show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Maude and the Psychiatrist" and "Florida's Problem" episodes of Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on photos from their days working on Maude
My Favorite Husband
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for My Favorite Husband
Pete and Gladys
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Pete and Gladys
Red Skelton Show, The
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Red Skelton Show; on Red's reputation among writers
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on memorable characters and pantomimes on The Red Skelton Show
That's My Boy!
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for That's My Boy!
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on network interference on Maude
Characters & Catchphrases
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the characters on Maude
Classic TV Series Episodes
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
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
Comedy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
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
Hollywood Blacklist
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Memorable Moments on Television
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
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
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude
Pop Culture
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the characters on Maude
Representation on Television
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on racial issues on Maude
Television Industry
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on flack for portraying a divorced woman (Vivian Vance's character) on The Lucy Show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on network interference on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist
Underrepresented Voices
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on racial issues on Maude
War
Bob Weiskopf on his service in World War II while working for The Fred Allen Show
Bob Weiskopf on his wife almost going to an internment camp during World War II
We Considered
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude
We Laughed
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the "Lucy Does the Tango" episode of I Love Lucy
World War II
Bob Weiskopf on his service in World War II while working for The Fred Allen Show
Bob Weiskopf on his wife almost going to an internment camp during World War II
Professions
Producers
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on advice to aspiring producers
Writers
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on plotting scenes backwards on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on I Love Lucy and a typical workweek
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing Lucille Ball's physical comedy into the scripts of I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on Maude and Norman Lear's involvement with the writing
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on winning the WGA's Paddy Chayefsky Award for Television Achievement
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their writing style and discipline, on why they've had a successful writing partnership
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on advice to aspiring comedy writers
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on why their writing has held up over the years
Genres
Comedy Series
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how they came to write for I Love Lucy in its fourth season; on the writing process and working with the cast
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on I Love Lucy and memorable episodes they wrote
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the hour-long Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Lucy Show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Red Skelton Show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process for and memorable episodes of Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for All in the Family; on the transition from All in the Family to Archie Bunker's Place
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Archie Bunker's Place
People
Edie Adams
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
Fred Allen
Bob Weiskopf on working for Fred Allen
Bob Weiskopf on what he learned from working for Fred Allen
Desi Arnaz
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Lucille Ball's working style on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on working with Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Desi Arnaz's management style on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Desi Arnaz's management style
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Desi Arnaz's business acumen
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's personal lives affected production on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Desi Arnaz helping to resolve a writer's strike
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a power play by Desi Arnaz
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a picture with Desi Arnaz
Beatrice Arthur
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on working with Bea Arthur on Maude
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Bea Arthur and other cast members not always sticking to scripts on Maude
William Asher
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the longest laugh on I Love Lucy and how director William Asher didn't think the premise would work
Lucille Ball
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on meeting and working with Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their I Love Lucy scripts and Lucille Ball's performances
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Lucille Ball's working style on I Love Lucy and how she showed appreciation for the show's writers
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing Lucille Ball's physical comedy into the scripts of I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's personal lives affected production on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance's relationship
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Lucille Ball's legacy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a picture with Lucille Ball
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a picture of Lucille Ball
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a picture of Lucille Ball
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a picture of Lucille Ball and Milton Berle with Bob Schiller
Milton Berle
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a picture of Lucille Ball and Milton Berle with Bob Schiller
Gary Burghoff
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing a pilot for Gary Burghoff
Eddie Cantor
Bob Weiskopf on working with Eddie Cantor
Bob Carroll, Jr.
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how they came to write for I Love Lucy in its fourth season
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how the departure of Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh Davis from The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour affected them
Johnny Carson
Bob Weiskopf on writing for Johnny Carson's local show
Perry Como
Bob Weiskopf on writing for Perry Como
Phyllis Diller
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Phyllis Diller
William Frawley
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Vivian Vance and William Frawley on I Love Lucy
Susan Harris
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude
Ernie Kovacs
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
Norman Lear
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on Maude and Norman Lear's involvement with the writing
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude; on Norman Lear's contributions to storylines
Lorne Michaels
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Lorne Michaels first writing job in the U.S. - for Phyllis Diller
Gary Morton
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the involvement of Lucille Ball's then-current husband, Gary Morton, on The Lucy Show
Carroll O'Connor
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the transition from All in the Family to Archie Bunker's Place and the death of "Edith Bunker"
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Carroll O'Connor's influence on Archie Bunker's Place
Jess Oppenheimer
Bob Weiskopf on meeting and working with Jess Oppenheimer on The Rudy Vallee Show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on I Love Lucy and Jess Oppenheimer leaving the show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Jess Oppenheimer wanting them to write for I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the I Love Lucy writing process and the management style of Jess Oppenheimer as a producer
Madelyn Pugh Davis
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how they came to write for I Love Lucy in its fourth season
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. - writers on I Love Lucy - and their contributions to the show
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how the departure of Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh Davis from The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour affected them
Esther Rolle
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Esther Rolle's roll on Maude and why she left the show
Martha Scott
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing the pilot for You're Only Young Twice
Red Skelton
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for The Red Skelton Show; on Red's reputation among writers
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on a picture of Red Skelton with Bob Schiller
Ann Sothern
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing a TV show for Ann Sothern
Jean Stapleton
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on working with Jean Stapleton on All in the Family
Ben Stein
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on hiring Ben Stein as an adviser for All's Fair
Keith Thibodeaux
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on aging "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy
Danny Thomas
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on their favorite episodes of the The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour; on how Danny Thomas did his best work when angry
Vivian Vance
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Vivian Vance and William Frawley on I Love Lucy
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance's relationship
Orson Welles
Bob Weiskopf on writing an episode of the radio version of The Fred Allen Show, with guest Orson Welles
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on how Orson Welles blew a Shakespeare line on I Love Lucy
Flip Wilson
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on Flip Wilson