About
"Being hired for 'The Carol Burnett Show' was exciting because they were not hiring women to do variety shows in those days. They didn't want a woman in the writers' room because they thought that a woman would inhibit them. Then here was Carol, willing to give us the job."
In her three-hour-plus interview, Gail Parent discusses becoming the only female writer for a variety show when she joined the staff of The Carol Burnett Show in 1967. She talks about her long stint on the show, working with Carol Burnett and writing for series regulars Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, and Vicki Lawrence. She describes writing for various comedy series and specials, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Tim Conway Show, and also speaks of penning her successful novel, Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York. Parent recounts co-creating Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and writing for the classic comedy series The Golden Girls. She outlines working for Tracey Ullman on two shows, Tracey Takes On... and State of the Union, and talks of writing for Ullman's unique talents. Parent concludes with career highlights and regrets, and offers advice to aspiring writers. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on July 16, 2013 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Gail Parent on being the only female writer on a variety show when she was hired on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on coming up with ideas for sketches for The Carol Burnett Show and the notion of a "department"
Gail Parent on co-creating Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Gail Parent on writing for Rue McClanahan as "Blanche Devereaux" on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on writing for Tracey Takes On...
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on television she watched growing up; on meeting her writing partner Kenny Soames
On being hired to write for The Carol Burnett Show; on being the only female writer on a variety show in the mid-1960s; on the tone of the humor on The Carol Burnett Show
On her first days as a writer on The Carol Burnett Show; on the format of The Carol Burnett Show; on the writing process for the show
On what made her a good television writer; on working with her writing partner Kenny Soames on The Carol Burnett Show; on coming up with ideas for sketches for The Carol Burnett Show
Chapter 2
On writing for Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show; on the sketches and cast of The Carol Burnett Show
On writing for Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show; on winning an Emmy for and the legacy of The Carol Burnett Show; on writing the special The Many Sides of Don Rickles
On writing The Tim Conway Show; on writing The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on writing the novel "Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York" and the specials From Hollywood with Love and Annie and the Hoods
On appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on writing for The Smothers Brothers Show; on co-creating Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Chapter 3
On writing Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; on writing the series Three Girls Three; on writing the feature "The Main Event" for Barbra Streisand
On writing the series Finder of Lost Loves; on writing Amazing Stories with her son; on joining the writing staff of The Golden Girls
On writing for the four females leads on The Golden Girls; on pushing the boundaries on The Golden Girls; on her favorite Golden Girls moments
On being nominated for Emmys for The Golden Girls; on the end of legacy of The Golden Girls; on writing for Tracey Takes On...
Chapter 4
On writing various characters for Tracey Takes On...; on the production and legacy of Tracey Takes On...
On then-current projects; on what being a writer means to her; on how television has changed for women since she started
On advice to aspiring television writers; on career achievements and regrets; on her legacy in the television business
Shows
Amazing Stories
Gail Parent on writing Amazing Stories with her son
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Gail Parent on being the only female writer on a variety show when she was hired on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on the tone of the humor on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on her first days on the job on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on the theme song and format of The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on the popularity of The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on the writing process of The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on what made her a good television writer
Gail Parent on Carol Burnett wanting to stick to the script on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on working with her writing partner Kenny Soams on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on coming up with ideas for sketches for The Carol Burnett Show and the notion of a "department"
Gail Parent on writing for Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on writing the recurring sketch "Carol and Sis" on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on the movie spoofs of The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on writing sketches for the guest stars of The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on writing for Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on writing for Vicki Lawrence on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on writing for Lyle Waggoner on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on writing for Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on winning an Emmy for writing The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on the legacy of The Carol Burnett Show
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78): "Went with the Wind!" Sketch
Gail Parent on meeting with Carol Burnett and Joe Hamilton and being hired to write for The Carol Burnett Show
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Gail Parent on winning an Emmy for writing The Carol Burnett Show
Golden Girls, The
Gail Parent on joining the writing staff of The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on her evolving role on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on writing for Beatrice Arthur as "Dorothy Zbornak" on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on writing for Betty White as "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on writing for Rue McClanahan as "Blanche Devereaux" on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on writing for Estelle Getty as "Sophia Petrillo" on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on writing a balance between the four leads on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on pushing the boundaries on The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on her favorite Golden Girls moments
Gail Parent on being nominated for Emmys for The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on the end and legacy of The Golden Girls
Many Sides of Don Rickles, The
Gail Parent on writing for The Many Sides of Don Rickles
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Gail Parent on co-creating Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Gail Parent on writing Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
Gail Parent on writing an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Smothers Brothers Show, The
Gail Parent on writing for The Smothers Brothers Show
Tim Conway Show, The
Gail Parent on writing for The Tim Conway Show
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Gail Parent on appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tracey Takes On ...
Gail Parent on writing for Tracey Takes On...
Gail Parent on the premise of Tracey Takes On...
Gail Parent on writing various characters for Tracey Takes On...
Gail Parent on the production of Tracey Takes On...
Gail Parent on writing for Tracey Ullman's various characters on Tracey Takes On... and the writing process for the show
Gail Parent on the legacy of Tracey Takes On...
Topics
Advice
Gail Parent on advice to aspiring television writers
Emmy Awards
Gail Parent on winning an Emmy for writing The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on being nominated for Emmys for The Golden Girls
Historic Events and Social Change
Gail Parent on being the only female writer on a variety show when she was hired on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on how the business has changed for women since she started
Representation on Television
Gail Parent on being the only female writer on a variety show when she was hired on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on how the business has changed for women since she started
Television Industry
Gail Parent on advice to aspiring television writers
Women
Gail Parent on being the only female writer on a variety show when she was hired on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on how the business has changed for women since she started
Professions
Writers
Gail Parent on what made her a good television writer
Gail Parent on advice to aspiring television writers
Genres
Comedy Series
Gail Parent on co-creating Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (Part 1)
Gail Parent on co-creating Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Gail Parent on writing for The Golden Girls
Gail Parent on writing for Tracey Takes On...
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Gail Parent on writing for The Carol Burnett Show (Part 1)
Gail Parent on writing for The Carol Burnett Show (Part 2)
People
Beatrice Arthur
Gail Parent on writing for "Beatrice Arthur" as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls
Carol Burnett
Gail Parent on meeting with Carol Burnett and Joe Hamilton and being hired to write for The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on Carol Burnett wanting to stick to the script on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on her first days on the job on The Carol Burnett Show
Gail Parent on coming up with ideas for sketches for The Carol Burnett Show and the notion of a "department"
Gail Parent on working on the Carol Burnett specials
Johnny Carson
Gail Parent on appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tim Conway
Gail Parent on writing for Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show
Estelle Getty
Gail Parent on writing for Estelle Getty as "Sophia Petrillo" on The Golden Girls
Mitchell Hurwitz
Gail Parent on joining the writing staff of The Golden Girls
Harvey Korman
Gail Parent on writing for Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
Vicki Lawrence
Gail Parent on writing for Vicki Lawrence on The Carol Burnett Show
Rue McClanahan
Gail Parent on writing for Rue McClanahan as "Blanche Devereaux" on The Golden Girls
Steven Spielberg
Gail Parent on writing Amazing Stories with her son
Barbra Streisand
Gail Parent on writing the feature film "The Main Event"
Tracey Ullman
Gail Parent on writing for Tracey Ullman's various characters on Tracey Takes On... and the writing process for the show
Lyle Waggoner
Gail Parent on writing for Lyle Waggoner on The Carol Burnett Show
Betty White
Gail Parent on writing for Betty White as "Rose Nylund" on The Golden Girls