About
"How do I keep from getting panicky? You concentrate on the basics, you concentrate on being as perfect as you can on the lines. You work on your breath control. You keep telling yourself 'stop being a schmuck, stop being a schmuck.' And you concentrate, concentrate, concentrate. Even this will not save you, but you've got to rely on the basics."
In the first part of his four-hour interview, Ed Asner (1929-2021) describes his start as an actor in theater and on live television. He talks about his appearances on the 1960s television series Naked City, Route 66, and The Defenders, his appearance as a regular on the political drama Slattery's People, and his roles in television movies. He discusses the portrayal of his most memorable role, that of "Lou Grant," on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and its dramatic spin-off, Lou Grant. He speaks of other notable television appearances in the miniseries Roots and Rich Man, Poor Man; the telefilms The Life and Assassination of the Kingfish and The Gathering; and the series The Trials of Rosie O'Neill. He also talks of his political activism in the 1980s and his role as the Screen Actors Guild president from 1981-85.
In his 90-minute follow-up interview, Asner discusses his roles on The Outer Limits and The Defenders. He elaborates on his time as "Lou Grant" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, discussing specific episodes in depth. He speaks of guest shots on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and CSI: New York, and his late-career revival brought about by the feature films Elf and Up. Morrie Gelman conducted the first part of the interview on April 7, 1999 in North Hollywood, CA. Karen Herman conducted the second interview on June 2, 2010 at Asner's home in Valley Village, CA.
Highlights
Ed Asner on acting in the miniseries Roots
Ed Asner on "Lou Grant"'s "I hate spunk!" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on how his character of "Lou Grant" changed over the course of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on advice to aspiring actors
Ed Asner on what makes a successful television show
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on listening to news on radio
On growing up Jewish; on attending college
Chapter 2
On acting on radio; on various early jobs
On early acting roles and his stint with the United Auto Workers Union; on his time in the Army; on acting with the Playwrights Theater Club
Chapter 3
On moving to New York; on early acting jobs; on his theater experiences
On appearing in the series Decoy; on acting in Omnibus, Naked City and Route 66; on acting on Broadway
Chapter 4
On moving to Los Angeles; on being a character actor; on acting in the series Slattery's People
On his early politics; on being cast in The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on shooting the pilot for The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Chapter 5
On his character "Lou Grant" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on the set of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on the show's classic episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
On the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on acting in the miniseries Roots; on acting in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man
Chapter 6
On comedy verses drama; on acting in the made-for-television movie The Gathering; on making the transition from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Lou Grant; on casting the show
On the creative team of Lou Grant; on critical and popular reaction to Lou Grant; on the end of Lou Grant and his stint as the head of SAG
Chapter 7
On the cancellation of Lou Grant and his personal politics
On various post-Lou Grant projects; on how situation comedies have changed
Chapter 8
On then-current projects; on slow periods in his career; on what makes a successful show and advice to actors; on career achievements, actors and politics and the then-current state of television
On his mentors and how he'd like to be remembered; on people he's worked with in his career
Chapter 9
On acting on The Outer Limits; on acting on The Defenders; on working with Elvis Presley
On the difference between television acting and movie acting; on various The Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes
On how The Mary Tyler Moore Show actors worked; on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
On the character of "Lou Grant"; on acting in The Closer and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Chapter 10
On acting on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip ; on acting in the made-for-television movie The Christmas Card; on then-current projects
On his celebrity; on advice to aspiring actors; on his legacy
Shows
CSI: NY
Ed Asner on acting on CSI: New York
Defenders, The
Ed Asner on acting on an episode of The Defenders
Gathering, The
Ed Asner on acting in the made-for-television movie The Gathering
Hearts Afire
Ed Asner on various projects he acted in post-Lou Grant
Irwin Shaw's Rich Man, Poor Man
Ed Asner on acting in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man
Lou Grant
Ed Asner on how the series Lou Grant came to be
Ed Asner on the difficulty of making the transition from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Lou Grant
Ed Asner on the subject matter in Lou Grant
Ed Asner on casting Lou Grant
Ed Asner on the Lou Grant creative team
Ed Asner on critical and popular response to Lou Grant
Ed Asner on favorite Lou Grant episodes
Ed Asner on being identified with Lou Grant and his fame
Ed Asner on the cancellation of Lou Grant and his stint as President of the Screen Actor's Guild
Ed Asner on the cancellation of Lou Grant and his politics
Mad About You
Ed Asner on various projects he acted in post-Lou Grant
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
Ed Asner on being cast in The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on the pilot of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on his character "Lou Grant" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on the family atmosphere on the set of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on how his character "Lou Grant" changed over the course of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore episode "Thoroughly Un-millitant Mary"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Lou's Place"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "The Lou and Edie Story"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Once I Had a Secret Love"
Ed Asner on how the actors of The Mary Tyler Moore Show worked
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"
Ed Asner on playing "Lou Grant" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The: "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The: "Lou Dates Mary"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Lou Dates Mary"
Naked City
Ed Asner on acting in Naked City and Route 66
Omnibus
Ed Asner on acting in the Omnibus episode "Capital Punishment"
Outer Limits, The (1963-65)
Ed Asner on acting on an episode of The Outer Limits
Roots
Ed Asner on acting in the miniseries Roots
Roseanne
Ed Asner on various projects he acted in post-Lou Grant
Route 66
Ed Asner on acting in Naked City and Route 66
Slattery's People
Ed Asner on acting in Slattery's People
Sports Night
Ed Asner on how situation comedies have changed
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Ed Asner on acting on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Ed Asner on acting on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio One
Ed Asner on acting in the Studio One episode "The Night America Trembled"
Trials of Rosie O'Neill, The
Ed Asner on various projects he acted in post-Lou Grant
Topics
Anthology Drama
Ed Asner on acting in the Studio One episode "The Night America Trembled"
Characters & Catchphrases
Ed Asner on "Lou Grant"'s "I hate spunk!" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on his character "Lou Grant" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Classic TV Series Episodes
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Comedy
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"
Fame and Celebrity
Ed Asner on his celebrity
Ed Asner on being identified with Lou Grant and his fame
Memorable Moments on Television
Ed Asner on "Lou Grant"'s "I hate spunk!" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"
Pop Culture
Ed Asner on "Lou Grant"'s "I hate spunk!" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on his character "Lou Grant" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"
Television Industry
Ed Asner on his celebrity
Ed Asner on being identified with Lou Grant and his fame
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Ed Asner on acting in the Studio One episode "The Night America Trembled"
We Laughed
Ed Asner on the classic The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"
Professions
Actor
Ed Asner on advice to aspiring actors
Ed Asner on the cancellation of Lou Grant and his stint as President of the Screen Actor's Guild
Ed Asner on his advice to aspiring actors
Ed Asner on actors as citizens
Performers
Ed Asner on advice to aspiring actors
Ed Asner on his advice to aspiring actors
Ed Asner on actors as citizens
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Ed Asner on acting in the Studio One episode "The Night America Trembled"
Comedy Series
Ed Asner on playing "Lou Grant" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on playing "Lou Grant" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on playing "Lou Grant" in The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Drama Series
Ed Asner on acting as Lou Grant in the series Lou Grant
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Ed Asner on acting in the miniseries Roots
Ed Asner on acting in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man
People
Harve Bennett
Ed Asner on acting in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man
James L. Brooks
Ed Asner on the pilot of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - James L. Brooks
Carol Burnett
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Carol Burnett
Allan Burns
Ed Asner on the pilot of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on the Lou Grant creative team
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Allan Burns
LeVar Burton
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - LeVar Burton
Norman Cousins
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Norman Cousins
Richard Crenna
Ed Asner on acting in Slattery's People
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Richard Crenna
Georgia Engel
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Georgia Engel
Sharon Gless
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Sharon Gless
Gary David Goldberg
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Gary David Goldberg
Valerie Harper
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Valerie Harper
Ed Asner on how the actors of The Mary Tyler Moore Show worked
Charlton Heston
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Charlton Heston
Ted Knight
Ed Asner on how the actors of The Mary Tyler Moore Show worked
Cloris Leachman
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Cloris Leachman
Gavin MacLeod
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Gavin MacLeod
E. G. Marshall
Ed Asner on acting on an episode of The Defenders
Mary Tyler Moore
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Mary Tyler Moore
Ed Asner on how the actors of The Mary Tyler Moore Show worked
Robert Reed
Ed Asner on acting on an episode of The Defenders
Gene Reynolds
Ed Asner on the Lou Grant creative team
John Ritter
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - John Ritter
Jay Sandrich
Ed Asner on working with director Jay Sandrich on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
William Shatner
Ed Asner on acting on an episode of The Defenders
Dinah Shore
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Dinah Shore
Linda Bloodworth Thomason
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Linda Bloodworth Thomason
Grant Tinker
Ed Asner on the pilot of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Grant Tinker
Nancy Walker
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Nancy Walker
Betty White
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Betty White
Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Once I Had a Secret Love"
Ethel Winant
Ed Asner on being cast as "Lou Grant" in The Mary Tyler Moore Show
David L. Wolper
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - David Wolper
Robert D. Wood
Ed Asner on people he's worked with in his career - Robert D. Wood