About
"'Laugh-In' was an accident. The first screening of 'Laugh-In' was a disaster, because nobody knew what to expect. 'You and your crazy friends took our money and went out and had a good time, but we can't air this because people won't understand it.' I said, 'Well, you understood it, and the audience is smarter than you are.'"
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, George Schlatter talks about his early interest in television and his short-lived music career. He describes getting his big break producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and producing specials for Victor Borge and Jonathan Winters. He chronicles his year producing The Judy Garland Show for CBS and producing the first five years of the Grammys. He discusses various aspects of producing, including his belief in the importance of "accident" in television. He outlines his years as the producer of the groundbreaking comedy series Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, how he discovered talents Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin, and how the show attracted a broad range of guest stars, including future President Richard M. Nixon. He speaks of producing Real People, a forerunner of reality television, and of producing George W. Bush's inauguration special in 2001. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on March 6, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the catchphrases of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on his early career at MCA
George Schlatter on the importance of "accident" in television
George Schlatter on dealing with failure
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on what attracted him to television; on his early music career and his job at MCA
On producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show; on producing a special for Victor Borge
Chapter 2
On producing a special for Jonathan Winters; on his philosophy of comedy; on producing The Judy Garland Show
On how to cope with failure; on producing The Grammy Awards telecast for 5 years
Chapter 3
On how Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In came to be; on casting Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In; on the creative forces and humor of the show
On his personal politics; on the influence of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In; on the process of producing the show
Chapter 4
On the set and production elements of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In; on the cast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In; on guest stars and the end of the show
On the creation of Real People; on producing Real People; on the cast of the show
Chapter 5
On the importance of "accident"; on the craft of producing
On his Emmy Awards; on his proudest career achievements and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The
George Schlatter on booking and producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Grammys, The
George Schlatter on producing The Grammy Awards
Judy Garland Show, The
George Schlatter on how he came to produce The Judy Garland Show
George Schlatter on producing The Judy Garland Show
Real People
George Schlatter on the end of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and the beginning of Real People
George Schlatter on producing Real People
George Schlatter on the hosts of Real People
George Schlatter on finding and choosing stories for Real People
George Schlatter on some of his favorite stories covered by Real People
George Schlatter on Peter Billingsly on Real People
George Schlatter on the effect of That's Incredible on Real People
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the set and production elements of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the involvement of Dan Rowan and Dick Martin in the production of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the cast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the catchphrases of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the guest stars of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the end of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and the beginning of Real People
George Schlatter on screening Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In for executives
George Schlatter on the creation of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on casting Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the crew of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the cast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the humor and politics of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on public reaction to and the influence of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the process of producing Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
George Schlatter on the catchphrases of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Classic TV Series Episodes
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Comedy
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Memorable Moments on Television
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Pop Culture
George Schlatter on the catchphrases of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Richard M. Nixon
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Television and the Presidency
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
We Laughed
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Professions
Producers
George Schlatter on booking and producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
George Schlatter on the process of producing Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the craft of producing
Genres
Awards Shows
George Schlatter on producing The Grammy Awards
George Schlatter on creating and producing The American Comedy Awards
Comedy Series
George Schlatter on producing Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on producing Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
George Schlatter on booking and producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
George Schlatter on producing The Judy Garland Show
Reality TV
George Schlatter on producing Real People
People
Victor Borge
George Schlatter on producing a special for Victor Borge
Ruth Buzzi
George Schlatter on Ruth Buzzi in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on the cast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Goldie Hawn
George Schlatter on Goldie Hawn in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
George Schlatter on casting Goldie Hawn in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Dick Martin
George Schlatter on the involvement of Dan Rowan and Dick Martin in the production of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Richard M. Nixon
George Schlatter on Richard M. Nixon's appearance on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Sarah Purcell
George Schlatter on the hosts of Real People
Dan Rowan
George Schlatter on the involvement of Dan Rowan and Dick Martin in the production of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Dinah Shore
George Schlatter on booking and producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Lily Tomlin
George Schlatter on Lily Tomlin in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Fred Willard
George Schlatter on Fred Willard on Real People
Flip Wilson
George Schlatter on Flip Wilson in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Jonathan Winters
George Schlatter on producing a special for Jonathan Winters
JoAnne Worley
George Schlatter on various cast members in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In