George Balzer

Writer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his nearly two-hour interview, George Balzer (1915-2006) recalls his start in comedy writing, first for Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall radio program, and then on the radio show Burns and Allen where he first teamed up with writer Sam Perrin. He talks about the duo next working on The Jack Benny Program radio show, and later transitioning with Benny to his CBS television program of the same name. Balzer discusses the writing process on The Jack Benny Program, and talks about some of the more memorable skits and comedy bits. Lastly, he outlines writing for Lucille Ball's sitcom Here's Lucy, as well as The Red Skelton Show and The Don Knotts Show. B-roll consists of photos from his Jack Benny years (and featured stars Barbara Stanwyck, President Truman, and the Benny writers), as well as a photo with Sam Perrin and another with Bob Hope and President Nixon. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on January 25, 2001 in Van Nuys, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"It was not a big deal to make the move to television because for years on radio, we always had a picture in mind as we wrote our scripts. The problem was they were still trying to go on with jokes that didn't quite work on television."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
George Balzer on his first meeting with Jack Benny
04:26
George Balzer on career highlights and how he'd like to be remembered 
02:00
George Balzer on the first time he saw television
02:40
George Balzer on the Jack Benny and Fred Allen feud
02:38
George Balzer on working with Jack Benny Program ensemble player Mel Blanc
07:02
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his early interest in comedy; on early radio shows he listened to and getting in to writing for radio
On writing for the radio version of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and meeting his writing partner Sam Perrin; on writing for the "Tommy Riggs and Betty Lou" radio show; on his first meeting with Jack Benny

Chapter 2

On joining the radio version of The Jack Benny Program as a writer; on a typical work week on The Jack Benny Program; on Jack Benny's relationship and rapport with his writers
On Jack Benny's wife, Mary Livingstone on The Jack Benny Program; on working with Eddie Anderson on The Jack Benny Program; on working with Frank Nelson on The Jack Benny Program
On working with Jack Benny Program ensemble player Mel Blanc

Chapter 3

On Dennis Day on The Jack Benny Program; on Phil Harris on The Jack Benny Program; on Jack Benny Program guest stars Ronald Coleman and Benita Coleman and coming up with bits for Jack Benny
On Jack Benny's character traits on The Jack Benny Program including Jack being cheap; on the first time he saw television and Jack Benny making the transition to television
On doing Jack Benny's classic radio bits on television on The Jack Benny Program; on some favorite Jack Benny Program episodes and guest stars

Chapter 4

On working on the Jack Benny Specials; on being nominated for Emmy Awards and winning; on the legacy of Jack Benny; on working on Here's Lucy, The Red Skelton Show, and The Don Knotts Show
On career highlights and how he'd like to be remembered; on various people he worked with in his career; on working with Fred De Cordova and Johnny Carson; on the Jack Benny and Fred Allen feud
On b-roll pictures from his career- with writing partner Sam Perrin; with Barbara Stanwyck; with Jack Benny and Harry S. Truman; with Bob Hope and Richard Nixon; with Tennessee Ernie Ford; with Jack Benny and Ralph Levy; the Jack Benny Program writers' room
Shows

Don Knotts Show, The

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George Balzer on writing for The Don Knotts Show
00:42

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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George Balzer on being nominated for Emmys and winning an Emmy
01:40

George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The

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George Balzer on writing for the radio version of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and meeting his writing partner Sam Perrin
06:22

Here's Lucy

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George Balzer on working on Here's Lucy
01:43

Jack Benny Program, The

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George Balzer on his first meeting with Jack Benny
04:26
George Balzer on joining the radio version of The Jack Benny Program as a writer
03:16
George Balzer on a typical work week on The Jack Benny Program
04:12
George Balzer on Jack Benny's relationship and rapport with his writers on The Jack Benny Program
04:11
George Balzer on Jack Benny's wife Mary Livingstone on The Jack Benny Program
04:33
George Balzer on working with Eddie Anderson on The Jack Benny Program
03:09
George Balzer on working with Frank Nelson on The Jack Benny Program
01:33
George Balzer on working with Jack Benny Program ensemble player Mel Blanc
07:02
George Balzer on Dennis Day on The Jack Benny Program
02:47
George Balzer on Phil Harris on The Jack Benny Program
01:35
George Balzer on Jack Benny Program guest stars Ronald Coleman and Benita Coleman and coming up with bits for Jack Benny
07:08
George Balzer on Jack Benny's character traits on The Jack Benny Program including Jack being cheap
04:47
George Balzer on Jack Benny making the transition to television with The Jack Benny Program
03:24
George Balzer on doing Jack Benny's classic radio bits on television on The Jack Benny Program
02:55
George Balzer on some favorite Jack Benny Program episodes and guest stars
02:48

Jack Benny Program, The: "Christmas Shopping"

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George Balzer on working with Jack Benny Program ensemble player Mel Blanc
07:02

Jack Benny Specials

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George Balzer on working on the Jack Benny Specials
01:18

Red Skelton Show, The

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George Balzer on writing for The Red Skelton Show
02:39
Topics

Emmy Awards

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George Balzer on being nominated for Emmys and winning an Emmy
01:40

Pivotal Career Moments

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George Balzer on his first meeting with Jack Benny
04:26

Pop Culture

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George Balzer on Jack Benny's character traits on The Jack Benny Program including Jack being cheap
04:47
Genres

Comedy Series

View Genre
George Balzer on writing for the radio version of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and meeting his writing partner Sam Perrin
06:22
George Balzer on writing for The Jack Benny Program (Part 1)
04:26
George Balzer on writing for The Jack Benny Program (Part 2)
28:01
George Balzer on writing for The Jack Benny Program (Part 3)
28:19
George Balzer on working on Here's Lucy
01:43
George Balzer on writing for The Red Skelton Show
02:39
George Balzer on writing for The Don Knotts Show
00:42

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
George Balzer on working on the Jack Benny Specials
01:18
George Balzer on writing for The Red Skelton Show
02:39
George Balzer on writing for The Don Knotts Show
00:42
People

Fred Allen

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George Balzer on the Jack Benny and Fred Allen feud
02:38

Eddie Anderson

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George Balzer on working with Eddie Anderson on The Jack Benny Program
03:11

Lucille Ball

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George Balzer on working on Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball
01:43

Jack Benny

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George Balzer on his first meeting with Jack Benny
04:26
George Balzer on joining the radio version of The Jack Benny Program as a writer
03:15
George Balzer on a typical work week on The Jack Benny Program
04:12
George Balzer on Jack Benny's relationship and rapport with his writers on The Jack Benny Program
04:11
George Balzer on Jack Benny Program guest stars Ronald Coleman and Benita Coleman and coming up with bits for Jack Benny
07:08
George Balzer on Jack Benny's character traits on The Jack Benny Program including Jack being cheap
04:47
George Balzer on Jack Benny making the transition to television with The Jack Benny Program
03:25
George Balzer on working on the Jack Benny Specials
01:18
George Balzer on the legacy of Jack Benny
00:40
George Balzer on the Jack Benny and Fred Allen feud
02:38

Mel Blanc

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George Balzer on working with Jack Benny Program ensemble player Mel Blanc
07:02

George Burns

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George Balzer on writing for the radio version of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and meeting his writing partner Sam Perrin
06:22

Johnny Carson

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George Balzer on Fred De Cordova and Johnny Carson
02:06

Ronald Colman

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George Balzer on Jack Benny Program guest stars Ronald Coleman and Benita Coleman and coming up with bits for Jack Benny
07:08

Fred de Cordova

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George Balzer on Fred De Cordova and Johnny Carson
02:06

Dennis Day

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George Balzer on Dennis Day on The Jack Benny Program
02:48

Phil Harris

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George Balzer on Phil Harris on The Jack Benny Program
01:35

Don Knotts

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George Balzer on writing for The Don Knotts Show
00:42

Mary Livingstone

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George Balzer on Jack Benny's wife Mary Livingstone on The Jack Benny Program
04:33

Frank Nelson

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George Balzer on working with Frank Nelson on The Jack Benny Program
01:33

Sam Perrin

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George Balzer on writing for the radio version of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and meeting his writing partner Sam Perrin
06:22
George Balzer on his writing partner Sam Perrin
01:22

Red Skelton

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George Balzer on writing for The Red Skelton Show
02:39

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