About
"They say there's a formula for jokes. The main element of comedy is surprise. If you know the formula, it's not going to be a surprise after a while. So I disagree with that."
In his three-hour interview, writer Everett Greenbaum (1919-1999) talks about being the only family in town with a television set during his childhood. He recalls his experiences in college and in the Navy, and recounts his time as a writer in the dying days of radio and the very early days of live television. He speaks of his association with the comedy program Mr. Peepers, his relationship with star Wally Cox, and his thirty-year writing partnership with Jim Fritzell. Greenbaum talks about his time on The George Gobel Show and his rocky relationship with George Gobel. He discusses writing for The Andy Griffith Show and his relationship with stars Don Knotts and Andy Griffith. He details writing for other programs such as The Odd Couple, Love American Style, and The Real McCoys. He describes writing for M*A*S*H and drawing upon real-life military experience to write scripts. He concludes by discussing the then-current state of television, giving advice to writers, and expressing how he'd like to be remembered. Henry Colman conducted the interview on October 3, 1997 in Encino, CA.
Highlights
Everett Greenbaum on Wally Cox and Marlon Brando
Everett Greenbaum on the creation of "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Everett Greenbaum on writing feature films for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts
Everett Greenbaum on coming up with story ideas for M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on attending MIT; on his time in the Navy; on early jobs in television
On his first writing job; on how he came to write for Mr. Peepers; on his writing partner Jim Fritzell
Chapter 2
On writing for Mr. Peepers; on Wally Cox as "Mr. Peepers" in Mr. Peepers
On writing for The George Gobel Show; on working for George Gobel; on working for producer Hal Kanter
Chapter 3
On leaving The George Gobel Show; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on writing for How To Marry a Millionaire and The Real McCoys
On writing for The Andy Griffith Show; on creating the character "Gomer Pyle" on T he Andy Griffith Show; on real life ideas used for the show
Chapter 4
On working with the cast of The Andy Griffith Show; on writing feature films; on how he came to write for M*A*S*H; on writing for The Odd Couple; on writing for Love, American Style
On writing for M*A*S*H; on story ideas for M*A*S*H
Chapter 5
On the characters of M*A*S*H; on how M*A*S*H changed over the years; on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H; on the finale of the show
On the death of his writing partner Jim Fritzell; on the sitcom formula; on the then-current state of television; on how he'd like to be remembered
Chapter 6
On people he's worked with though out the years; on his writing partner Jim Fritzell; on his wife
On B-Roll photos from his career: with Wally Cox circa 1953; the writing staff of The George Gobel Show; a party at Hal Kanter's home with Ed Wynn and his mother; on the Universal lot with Andy Griffith and Don Knotts; with Andy Griffith and Bob Sweeney; on the set of Reluctant Astronaut with Don Knotts; with Jim Fritzell; with Gertrude Berg; with Alan Alda and Mike Farell; of his wife Dean Ward; of a program of an art exhibit featuring his works
Shows
Andy Griffith Show, The
Everett Greenbaum on writing for The Andy Griffith Show
Everett Greenbaum on the creation of "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Everett Greenbaum on the cast of The Andy Griffith Show
George Gobel Show, The
Everett Greenbaum on how he came to write for The George Gobel Show
Everett Greenbaum on writing for The George Gobel Show
Everett Greenbaum on the format of The George Gobel Show
Everett Greenbaum on getting fired from The George Gobel Show
How to Marry a Millionaire
Everett Greenbaum on writing for How To Marry a Millionaire
Love, American Style
Everett Greenbaum on writing Love, American Style
M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on how he came to write for M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on writing for M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on favorite M*A*S*H memories
Everett Greenbaum on coming up with story ideas for M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on the cast of M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on McLean Stevenson leaving M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on the characters of M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on how writing for M*A*S*H was different from other sitcoms
Everett Greenbaum on the changes in M*A*S*H over the years
Everett Greenbaum on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on the M*A*S*H finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen"
M*A*S*H: "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"
Everett Greenbaum on the M*A*S*H finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen"
Mister Peepers
Everett Greenbaum on how he came to write for Mr. Peepers
Everett Greenbaum on the format of Mr. Peepers
Everett Greenbaum on writing for Mr. Peepers
Everett Greenbaum on the process of writing Mr. Peepers
Odd Couple, The (1970-75)
Everett Greenbaum on writing one The Odd Couple episode (where he had a falling-out with Tony Randall)
Real McCoys, The
Everett Greenbaum on writing for The Real McCoys
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Everett Greenbaum on the creation of "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Everett Greenbaum on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on the characters of M*A*S*H
Hollywood Blacklist
Everett Greenbaum on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Everett Greenbaum on the Hollywood Blacklist
Memorable Moments on Television
Everett Greenbaum on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Pop Culture
Everett Greenbaum on the creation of "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Everett Greenbaum on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on the characters of M*A*S*H
We Cried
Everett Greenbaum on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Professions
Writers
Everett Greenbaum on the formula for a hit sitcom
Genres
Comedy Series
Everett Greenbaum on writing for Mr. Peepers
Everett Greenbaum on writing for Mr. Peepers
Everett Greenbaum on writing for The Andy Griffith Show
Everett Greenbaum on writing for M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on writing for M*A*S*H
People
Eve Arden
Everett Greenbaum on Eve Arden
Marlon Brando
Everett Greenbaum on Wally Cox and Marlon Brando
Fred Coe
Everett Greenbaum on Fred Coe writing for Mr. Peepers
Wally Cox
Everett Greenbaum on Wally Cox as "Mr. Peepers" in Mr. Peepers
Everett Greenbaum on Wally Cox and Marlon Brando
Jim Fritzell
Everett Greenbaum on working with his writing partner Jim Fritzell
Everett Greenbaum on the death of his writing partner Jim Fritzell
Everett Greenbaum on his writing partner Jim Fritzell
George Gobel
Everett Greenbaum on writing for George Gobel on The George Gobel Show
Andy Griffith
Everett Greenbaum on writing feature films for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts
Hal Kanter
Everett Greenbaum on working for producer Hal Kanter
Don Knotts
Everett Greenbaum on writing feature films for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts
Jim Nabors
Everett Greenbaum on the creation of "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Tony Randall
Everett Greenbaum on writing one The Odd Couple episode (where he had a falling-out with Tony Randall)
McLean Stevenson
Everett Greenbaum on McLean Stevenson leaving M*A*S*H
Everett Greenbaum on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H