About
"I call it 'getting out of the corner' because you’re going to get out and you’re going to get knocked down. You have to have the ability to get back up and come out again. I think perseverance is really the single greatest attribute that you can have as a writer. Even when you have the talent, you’re going to get knocked down a lot, no matter how good you are or how good the project is, and you have to be able to get up and get out of the corner again."
In his three-hour interview, Dean Hargrove talks about his early years, and his first television writing job, on the 1961-62 version of The Bob Newhart Show. He recalls working with greats like Bill Dana and Bob Hope, and landing a writing job on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. He discusses writing for The NBC Mystery Movie Wheel, including the series Columbo and McCloud, as well as McCoy, starring Tony Curtis. Hargrove recounts the several series he created and produced with Fred Silverman, including a new series of Perry Mason movies, Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, Diagnosis Murder, and Father Dowling Mysteries. He details creating the shows around and working with Raymond Burr, Tom Bosley, William Conrad, Dick Van Dyke, and Andy Griffith. He speaks of the craft of writing, and his involvement with the Writers Guild of America. Amy Harrington conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Writers Guild Foundation on March 6, 2019 in Brentwood, CA.
Highlights
Dean Hargrove on being nominated for an Emmy Award for The Bob Newhart Show (which aired 1961-62)
Dean Hargrove on learning to write for several different genres, and on writing for The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Dean Hargrove on writing for the NBC Mystery Movie wheel series for Columbo and McCloud
Dean Hargrove on working with Robert Vaughn as "Napoleon Solo" and David McCallum as "Illya Kuryakin" in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Dean Hargrove on working with Fred Silverman producing the Perry Mason movies
Dean Hargrove on advice to aspiring writers and producers
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in movies and television; on writing for Bob Hope
On writing for The Bob Newhart Show (which aired from 1961-62); on being nominated for an Emmy Award for The Bob Newhart Show; on getting into writing feature films
On writing for Bill Dana; on working with producer Roland Kibbee on The Bob Newhart Show; on learning to write for several different genres, and on writing for The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Chapter 2
On the importance of setting the tone on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and on executive producer Norman Felton; on how having multiple show runners impacted The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; on the elements that make a great television character
On the scripts for The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; on the cast of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; on the legacy of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
On writing for It Takes a Thief ; on becoming a producer on The Name of the Game; on writing for the NBC Mystery Movie wheel series for Columbo and McCloud
On working with Peter Falk as "Columbo" on Columbo; on his duties as executive producer of Columbo, and on dividing duties with Roland Kibbee on the show; on how working on McCloud differed from working on Columbo
Chapter 3
On writing and producing McCloud; on writing and producing McCoy starring Tony Curtis; on the feature "The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery"
On executive producing several Perry Mason movies in the 1980s; on getting Raymond Burr to reprise his role of Perry Mason for the series of television movies; on working with Fred Silverman on producing the Perry Mason movies
On the first Perry Mason movie, Perry Mason Returns; on working with Barbara Hale as "Della Street" on the Perry Mason movies; on William Conrad appearing on Jake and the Fatman and Dick Van Dyke on Diagnosis Murder
On the decision to make the Perry Mason revival movies instead of a regular series; on writing legal dramas like Perry Mason; on the end of the Perry Mason movies, and on the death of Raymond Burr
On producing Matlock, starring Andy Griffith, with Fred Silverman; on his team of writers on Matlock; on the popularity of mystery shows like Matlock
On Matlock starting on NBC and switching networks to ABC; on the legacy of Matlock; on Jack and the Fatman spinning off from Matlock
On creating Father Dowling Mysteries starring Tom Bosley; on juggling five different television shows on the air at the same time; on the older demographics of mystery series
On working with Joyce Burditt on Diagnosis Murder; on working with Dick Van Dyke and his son Barry Van Dyke on Diagnosis Murder; on the longevity of Diagnosis Murder
On the work he did for Sony International; on the craft of writing; on the Writers Guild of America
On the value of oral history projects like The Interviews; on advice to aspiring writers and producers; on career achievements and regrets
On producing and directing the documentary "Tap World"; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Bob Newhart Show, The (1961-62)
Dean Hargrove on writing for The Bob Newhart Show
Dean Hargrove on being nominated for an Emmy Award for The Bob Newhart Show
Dean Hargrove on working with producer Roland Kibbee on The Bob Newhart Show
Columbo
Dean Hargrove on writing for the NBC Mystery Movie wheel series for Columbo (for which he won an Emmy Award) and McCloud
Dean Hargrove on working with Peter Falk as "Columbo" on Columbo
Dean Hargrove on his duties as executive producer of Columbo, and on dividing duties with Roland Kibbee on the show
Diagnosis Murder
Dean Hargrove on Dick Van Dyke on Diagnosis Murder
Dean Hargrove on working with Joyce Burditt on Diagnosis Murder
Dean Hargrove on working with Dick Van Dyke and his son Barry Van Dyke on Diagnosis Murder
Dean Hargrove on the longevity of Diagnosis Murder
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Dean Hargrove on being nominated for an Emmy for The Bob Newhart Show (which aired 1961-62)
Dean Hargrove on writing for the NBC Mystery Movie wheel series for Columbo (for which he won an Emmy) and McCloud
Father Dowling Mysteries
Dean Hargrove on creating Father Dowling Mysteries, starring Tom Bosley
It Takes a Thief
Dean Hargrove on writing for It Takes a Thief
Jake and the Fatman
Dean Hargrove on William Conrad on appearing on Jake and the Fatman
Dean Hargrove on Jack and the Fatman spinning off from Matlock
Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
Dean Hargrove on writing for The Man From U.N.C.L.E
Dean Hargrove on the importance of setting the tone on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and on executive producer Norman Felton
Dean Hargrove on how having multiple show runners impacted The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Dean Hargrove on the scripts for The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and on Ian Fleming coming up with the "Napoleon Solo" character
Dean Hargrove on working with Leo G. Carroll as "Alexander Waverly" on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Dean Hargrove on working with Robert Vaughn as "Napoleon Solo" and David McCallum as "Illya Kuryakin" on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Dean Hargrove on the end of The Man From U.N.C.L.E
Dean Hargrove on the legacy of The Man From U.N.C.L.E
Matlock
Dean Hargrove on producing Matlock, starring Andy Griffith, with Fred Silverman
Dean Hargrove on his team of writers on Matlock
Dean Hargrove on the popularity of mystery shows like Matlock
Dean Hargrove on Matlock starting on NBC and switching networks to ABC
Dean Hargrove on the legacy of Matlock
Dean Hargrove on Jack and the Fatman spinning off from Matlock
McCloud
Dean Hargrove on writing for the NBC Mystery Movie wheel series for Columbo (for which he won an Emmy Award) and McCloud
Dean Hargrove on how working on McCloud differed from working on Columbo
Dean Hargrove on writing and producing McCloud
McCoy
Dean Hargrove on writing and producing McCoy, starring Tony Curtis
Dean Hargrove on directing an episode of McCoy and the feature "The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery"
Name of the Game, The
Dean Hargrove on working with this brother Phillip Hargrove on The Name of the Game
Dean Hargrove on becoming a producer on The Name of the Game, and on the duties of a producer
Perry Mason (1957-66)
Dean Hargrove on executive producing several Perry Mason movies in the 1980s
Dean Hargrove on getting Raymond Burr to reprise his role of "Perry Mason" for the series of Perry Mason television movies
Dean Hargrove on working with Fred Silverman producing the Perry Mason movies
Dean Hargrove on the first Perry Mason movie, Perry Mason Returns
Dean Hargrove on working with Barbara Hale as "Della Street" on the Perry Mason movies
Dean Hargrove on the decision to make the Perry Mason revival movies instead of a regular series
Dean Hargrove on writing legal dramas like Perry Mason
Dean Hargrove on the end of the Perry Mason movies, and on the death of Raymond Burr
Topics
Advice
Dean Hargrove on advice to aspiring writers and producers
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Dean Hargrove on mentors in his career
Emmy Awards
Dean Hargrove on being nominated for an Emmy for The Bob Newhart Show (which aired 1961-62)
Dean Hargrove on writing for the NBC Mystery Movie wheel series for Columbo (for which he won an Emmy) and McCloud
Pivotal Career Moments
Dean Hargrove on mentors in his career
Television Industry
Dean Hargrove on how the industry has changed since he started
Dean Hargrove on advice to aspiring writers and producers
Professions
Producers
Dean Hargrove on juggling five different television shows on the air at the same time
Dean Hargrove on the work he did for Sony International
Dean Hargrove on his producing style
Dean Hargrove on advice to aspiring writers and producers
Writers
Dean Hargrove on learning to write for several different genres, and on writing for The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Dean Hargrove on the elements that make a great television character
Dean Hargrove on what he enjoys about writing
Dean Hargrove on his writing process and his routines
Dean Hargrove on advice to aspiring writers and producers
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Dean Hargrove on writing for The Man From U.N.C.L.E
Dean Hargrove on writing for The Man From U.N.C.L.E
Comedy Series
Dean Hargrove on writing for The Bob Newhart Show (which aired 1961-62)
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Dean Hargrove on writing for It Takes a Thief
Dean Hargrove on writing for the NBC Mystery Movie wheel series for Columbo and McCloud
Dean Hargrove on the older demographics of mystery series
Dean Hargrove on writing and producing McCloud
Dean Hargrove on writing and producing McCoy
Dean Hargrove on executive producing several Perry Mason movies
Legal Dramas
Dean Hargrove on executive producing several Perry Mason movies
People
Tom Bosley
Dean Hargrove on creating Father Dowling Mysteries, starring Tom Bosley
Raymond Burr
Dean Hargrove on getting Raymond Burr to reprise his role of "Perry Mason" for the series of Perry Mason television movies
Dean Hargrove on the end of the Perry Mason movies, and on the death of Raymond Burr
Leo G. Carroll
Dean Hargrove on working with Leo G. Carroll as "Alexander Waverly" on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
William Conrad
Dean Hargrove on William Conrad on appearing on Jake and the Fatman
Tony Curtis
Dean Hargrove on writing and producing McCoy, starring Tony Curtis
Bill Dana
Dean Hargrove on writing for Bill Dana
Peter Falk
Dean Hargrove on working with Peter Falk as "Columbo" on Columbo
Norman Felton
Dean Hargrove on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. executive producer Norman Felton
Andy Griffith
Dean Hargrove on producing Matlock, starring Andy Griffith, with Fred Silverman
Bob Hope
Dean Hargrove on writing for Bob Hope
Roland Kibbee
Dean Hargrove on working with producer Roland Kibbee on The Bob Newhart Show (which aired 1961-62)
Dean Hargrove on his duties as executive producer of Columbo, and on dividing duties with Roland Kibbee on the show
David McCallum
Dean Hargrove on working with Robert Vaughn as "Napoleon Solo" and David McCallum as "Illya Kuryakin" in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Bob Newhart
Dean Hargrove on writing for The Bob Newhart Show (which aired 1961-62)
Dean Hargrove on being nominated for an Emmy Award for The Bob Newhart Show (which aired 1961-62)
Fred Silverman
Dean Hargrove on working with Fred Silverman producing the Perry Mason movies
Dean Hargrove on producing Matlock, starring Andy Griffith, with Fred Silverman
Dick Van Dyke
Dean Hargrove on Dick Van Dyke on Diagnosis Murder
Dean Hargrove on working with Dick Van Dyke and his son Barry Van Dyke on Diagnosis Murder
Robert Vaughn
Dean Hargrove on working with Robert Vaughn as "Napoleon Solo" and David McCallum as "Illya Kuryakin" in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.