About
"When you perform, you get a real, physical adrenaline rush that's quite fabulous. You don't get that when you're writing. You can get into what I call the 'alpha state' which is so involving that you forget about everything else. But it's a very private thing. I suppose if I had to make a choice I'd rather be performing because it's more immediate. It's lonely being a writer. Even when you're in a room full of writers. You know at some point you actually have to sit down and come up with the stuff yourself."
In his three-hour interview, Bruce Vilanch talks about growing up in New Jersey and realizing early on in life that he could make people laugh. He discusses attending Ohio State University and majoring in journalism and theater. He details his long-term professional relationship with Bette Midler, who helped him start his writing career, and speaks of the many people and shows for which he's written over the years: Sonny and Cher, Paul Lynde, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, Donny & Marie, The Star Wars Holiday Special, The Barry Manilow Special, Dolly, the Miss U.S.A. Pageant, Burt Reynolds: Conversations With, A Gala for the President (for Presidents Bush and Clinton), The Sesame Street All Star 25, Comic Relief, and his many appearances on Hollywood Squares. He describes his long tenure as head writer of the Academy Awards and outlines the particulars of writing for a live show, the challenges of remaining topical, and the art of selecting hosts. Vilanch explains the different kinds of writing needed for various awards shows and recounts how he helped set up the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He talks about the difference between writing for variety shows and for awards shows, and describes how he tailors his writing for various show formats. He also speaks about being openly gay and how that has affected his career. Steven Wishnoff conducted the interview on June 22, 2011 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Bruce Vilanch on when he realized he was funny
Bruce Vilanch on working with Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch Hour
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Donny & Marie
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special which featured Beatrice Arthur
Bruce Vilanch on helping Bette Midler with her farewell appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early childhood, family, and education; on television he watched growing up; on when he realized he was funny and on his first professional writing jobs
On writing jokes for Bette Midler's act; on coming to Los Angeles and on early television writing jobs; on appearing in the feature film "Mahogany"
On writing for The Paul Lynde Show; on working with Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch Hour; on working for Sid and Marty Krofft on The Brady Bunch Hour
On writing for Donny & Marie; on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special
Chapter 2
On writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special; on writing for the special Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back in which Dustin Hoffman appeared
On writing for Dolly; on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review; on writing for An Evening with Friends of the Environment, Miss USA, and Burt Reynolds' Conversation With
On writing for the Academy Awards in 1989, produced by Alan Carr, with Snow White and Rob Lowe; on the challenges of writing for the Academy Awards; on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes -- for which they won an Emmy award
On writing for the very first Academy Awards show in 1989; on where he is physically during the Academy Awards telecast; on the various Academy Awards hosts during his time as a writer, and on what the hosts hope to accomplish
Chapter 3
On writing for actors on the Academy Awards; on James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosting the Academy Awards and on writing for the presenters; on his writing process for the Academy Awards show
On how the events of 9/11 affected the Emmy Awards in 2001 and the Academy Awards in 2002; on the challenges of keeping the Academy Awards telecast interesting each year; on becoming head writer for the Academy Awards and on divvying up the writing
On the involvement of the Academy in the Academy Awards telecast and on serving the producers; on staying topical with his writing for the Academy Awards shows; on the difference between writing for the Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards
On helping to create the SAG Awards; on doing charity work; on how things have changed for gay people on television since he started; on helping Bette Midler with her farewell appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
On appearing on Hollywood Squares; on the documentary "Get Bruce"; on appearing on Celebrity Fit Club
On enjoying writing and acting; on his signature T-shirt look; on the fan mail he gets
On writing jokes; on advice to aspiring writers
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the Academy Awards in 1989 produced by Alan Carr with Snow White and Rob Lowe
Bruce Vilanch on the challenges of writing for the Academy Awards
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes -- for which they won an Emmy
Bruce Vilanch on bringing politics and current events into the Academy Awards
Bruce Vilanch on where he is physically during the Academy Awards telecast
Bruce Vilanch on the various Academy Awards hosts during his time as a writer, and on what the hosts hope to accomplish
Bruce Vilanch on his writing process for the Academy Awards show
Bruce Vilanch on the challenges of keeping the Academy Awards telecast interesting each year
Bruce Vilanch on staying topical with his writing for Academy Awards shows
Bruce Vilanch on the difference between writing for the Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards
Bruce Vilanch on writing for actors on the Academy Awards
Bruce Vilanch on James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosting the Academy Awards and on writing for the presenters
Bruce Vilanch on becoming head writer for the Academy Awards and on divvying up the writing
Bruce Vilanch on the involvement of the Academy in the Academy Awards telecast and on serving the producers
Barry Manilow Specials
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Barry Manilow Special, and on Manilow's initial reluctance to be out in front
Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the special Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back in which Dustin Hoffman appeared
Brady Bunch Hour, The
Bruce Vilanch on working with Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch Hour
Bruce Vilanch on "fake Jan" on The Brady Bunch Hour
Bruce Vilanch on working for Sid and Marty Krofft on The Brady Bunch Hour
Burt Reynolds' Conversation With
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Burt Reynolds' Conversation With
Celebrity Fit Club
Bruce Vilanch on appearing on Celebrity Fit Club
Cher
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review
Dolly
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Dolly
Donny & Marie
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Donny & Marie
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes, for which they won an Emmy
Bruce Vilanch on how the events of 9/11 impacted the Emmy Awards in 2001 and the Academy Awards in 2002
Bruce Vilanch on the difference between writing for the Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards
Evening with Friends of the Environment, An
Bruce Vilanch on writing for An Evening with Friends of the Environment
Hollywood Squares, The
Bruce Vilanch on appearing on Hollywood Squares
Miss USA
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Miss USA
Paul Lynde Show, The
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Paul Lynde Show
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Bruce Vilanch on helping to create the Screen Actors Guild Awards
Sesame Street
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Sesame Street specials and the Muppets
Sonny Comedy Review, The
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review
Star Wars Holiday Special, The
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special, executive produced by George Lucas
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special which featured Beatrice Arthur
Bruce Vilanch on public reaction to The Star Wars Holiday Special and on George Lucas' attempt to suppress it after it aired
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Bruce Vilanch on helping Bette Midler with her farewell appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Topics
9/11
Bruce Vilanch on how the events of 9/11 affected the Emmy Awards in 2001 and the Academy Awards in 2002
Emmy Awards
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes -- for which they won an Emmy
Bruce Vilanch on how the events of 9/11 affected the Emmy Awards in 2001 and the Academy Awards in 2002
Bruce Vilanch on the difference between writing for the Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards
Fame and Celebrity
Bruce Vilanch on the fan mail he gets
First Big Break
Bruce Vilanch on his first job, writing for Bette Midler
George H.W. Bush
Bruce Vilanch on writing for A Gala for the President when George H.W. Bush was president, and on writing differently for different kinds of shows
Historic Events and Social Change
Bruce Vilanch on his experiences as an openly gay man in Hollywood and how he approached being open about his identity throughout his career
Bruce Vilanch on how the events of 9/11 affected the Emmy Awards in 2001 and the Academy Awards in 2002
LGBTQIA+
Bruce Vilanch on his experiences as an openly gay man in Hollywood and how he approached being open about his identity throughout his career
Memorable Moments on Television
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes f-- or which they won an Emmy
Pivotal Career Moments
Bruce Vilanch on his first job, writing for Bette Midler
Pop Culture
Bruce Vilanch on the fan mail he gets
Representation on Television
Bruce Vilanch on his experiences as an openly gay man in Hollywood and how he approached being open about his identity throughout his career
Television and the Presidency
Bruce Vilanch on writing for A Gala for the President when George H.W. Bush was president, and on writing differently for different kinds of shows
We Laughed
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes f-- or which they won an Emmy
Professions
Writers
Bruce Vilanch on enjoying writing and acting
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes
Bruce Vilanch on advice to aspiring writers
Genres
Awards Shows
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the Academy Awards
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the Academy Awards
Children's Programming
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Sesame Street specials and the Muppets
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Bruce Vilanch on working with Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch Hour
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Donny & Marie
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Paul Lynde Show
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special which featured Beatrice Arthur and Harvey Korman
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Barry Manilow Special and for Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Dolly
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review
Reality TV
Bruce Vilanch on appearing on Celebrity Fit Club
Talk Shows
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Burt Reynolds' Conversation With
Bruce Vilanch on helping Bette Midler with her farewell appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
People
Beatrice Arthur
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special which featured Beatrice Arthur
Sonny Bono
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review
Johnny Carson
Bruce Vilanch on helping Bette Midler with her farewell appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Cher
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review
Billy Crystal
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes -- for which they won an Emmy
Florence Henderson
Bruce Vilanch on working with Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch Hour
Dustin Hoffman
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the special Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back in which Dustin Hoffman appeared
Marty Krofft
Bruce Vilanch on working for Sid and Marty Krofft on The Brady Bunch Hour
Sid Krofft
Bruce Vilanch on working for Sid and Marty Krofft on The Brady Bunch Hour
Rob Lowe
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the Academy Awards in 1989, produced by Alan Carr, with Snow White and Rob Lowe
George Lucas
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special executive produced by George Lucas
Bruce Vilanch on public reaction to The Star Wars Holiday Special and on George Lucas' attempt to suppress it after it aired
Paul Lynde
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Paul Lynde Show
Barry Manilow
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Barry Manilow Special, and on Manilow's initial reluctance to be out in front
Bette Midler
Bruce Vilanch on his first job, writing for Bette Midler
Bruce Vilanch on his collaborative process working with Bette Midler
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the special Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back in which Dustin Hoffman appeared
Bruce Vilanch on helping Bette Midler with her farewell appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Donny Osmond
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Donny & Marie (Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond)
Marie Osmond
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Donny & Marie (Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond)
Jack Palance
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes -- for which they won an Emmy
Dolly Parton
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Dolly (Dolly Parton)
Burt Reynolds
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Burt Reynolds' Conversation With