About
An old-timer said to me, "I'm going to give you some advice. You're the director. They're going to ask you a lot of questions. They're gonna ask you what color jacket you want, the red one or the blue one? Never tell them you don't know because you'll scare the hell out of them. Always make a decision. Pick a color and do it." And then we're shooting and someone said to me, "Where do you want A camera?" and I yelled, "Red jacket!"
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Howard Storm talks about his comic teaming with Lou Gostel in his early career, and outlines the various venues they worked. He talks about his single appearances in variety series of the 1950s and '60s, including such series as The Merv Griffin Show (where he appeared with his then-retired vaudevillian father). He acknowledges his tenure at Desilu Studios and gives his impressions of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. He looks back on his association with Woody Allen, assisting him on his earliest feature films. He relates how he came to break into directing, due to his success directing the play Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone and the artistic atmosphere at MTM Productions. He speaks about his first directorial credit on Rhoda and his continued association with Valerie Harper on her subsequent series. He speaks in great detail about his extensive work on the popular sitcom Mork & Mindy, commenting on the series stars, the production workweek, and favorite episodes. Among the other series he discusses, of the many he served on as guest director, were: Laverne & Shirley, Taxi, Too Close for Comfort, Best of the West, Amanda's, Brothers, The Redd Foxx Show, Full House, Good Grief!, Head of the Class, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Kenan & Kel. He also speaks about several series for which he contributed as a writer, including All in the Family and Happy Days. Finally, he talks about his participation in "Yarmy's Army," a monthly meeting of legendary comics, named for the group's late friend Dick Yarmy. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on August 20, 2008 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Howard Storm on how Robin Williams came to be cast on Mork & Mindy and how he directed him
Howard Storm on becoming the director on Rhoda
Howard Storm on standing in as a director for Woody Allen on his films
Howard Storm on how he'd like to be remembered and the then-future
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on working on Woody Allen's features film "Take the Money and Run" and "Bananas"; on his earliest experiences watching television
On meeting his comedy partner Lou Alexander; on developing his comedy act with Lou Alexander; on developing a solo comedy act after his partner was drafted
on his first appearance on television on The Merv Griffin Show; on becoming a "Desilu Player" at Desilu Studios working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz; on standing in as a director for Woody Allen on his films
on deciding to become a television director; on becoming the director on Rhoda; on the invaluable advice he recieved about directing television while he was working on Rhoda; on directing several MTM series including Doc starring Bernard Hughes
on the difference between shooting on film or tape; on the detail of a production workweek on Laverne & Shirley created by Garry Marshall; on the cast of Laverne & Shirley being close and on his favorite episodes
Howard Storm on directing Fernwood 2-Nite with Fred Willard and Martin Mull
Chapter 2
On directing Mork & Mindy; on how Robin Williams came to be cast on Mork & Mindy and how he directed him; on the premise of Mork & Mindy
On how Robin Williams dealt with stardom on Mork & Mindy; on directing Jonathan Winters on Mork and Mindy with Robin Williams; on Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Mork & Mindy
On his directing style; on directing Beatrice Arthur in Amanda's; on the disadvantages of stepping into a show like Taxi that's been in the hands of multiple directors; on working with Andy Kauffman on Taxi
On directing Angie starring Donna Pescow and Robert Hays; on Garry Marshall, and on working on his shows; on directing Too Close for Comfort, Gimme a Break!, and The Redd Foxx Show
On directing She's the Sheriff with Suzanne Sommers; on directing Full House with Bob Saget; on directing Everybody Loves Raymond and Daddy Dearest
Chapter 3
On Kenan & Kel; on City with Valerie Harper
On writing for television with partner Paul Lichtman; on writing for All in the Family
On Yarmy's Army a group of comedians that originally consisted of Louis Nye, Tom Poston, Howie Morris, Bill Dana,
On advice to aspiring directors; career highlights
Shows
All in the Family
Howard Storm on writing for All in the Family with his partner Paul Lichtman
Howard Storm on the challenge of writing in "Archie Bunker's" voice on All in the Family
Amanda's
Howard Storm on directing Beatrice Arthur in Amanda's
Angie
Howard Storm on directing Angie starring Donna Pescow and Robert Hays
Brothers
Howard Storm on directing Brothers
City
Howard Storm on show he was disappointed that got cancelled early on like City
Doc
Howard Storm on directing several MTM series including Doc starring Bernard Hughes
Everybody Loves Raymond
Howard Storm on directing Everybody Loves Raymond and Daddy Dearest
Fernwood 2 Night
Howard Storm on directing Fernwood 2-Nite with Fred Willard and Martin Mull
Full House
Howard Storm on directing Full House with Bob Saget
Gimme A Break!
Howard Storm on directing Gimme a Break! with Nell Carter
Hogan Family, The aka Valerie
Howard Storm on directing Valerie Harper in Valerie
Kenan & Kel
Howard Storm on writing for Kenan and Kel
Laverne & Shirley
Howard Storm on the detail of a production workweek on Laverne & Shirley created by Garry Marshall
Howard Storm on the cast of Laverne & Shirley being close and on his favorite episodes
Merv Griffin Show, The
Howard Storm on his first appearance on television on The Merv Griffin Show
Mork & Mindy
Howard Storm on how Robin Williams came to be cast on Mork & Mindy and how he directed him
Howard Storm on how essential Pam Dawber as "Mindy" was on Mork & Mindy
Howard Storm on the premise of Mork & Mindy
Howard Storm on directing Jonathan Winters on Mork and Mindy with Robin Williams
Howard Storm on directing Mork & Mindy
Howard Storm on how Robin Williams dealt with stardom on Mork & Mindy
Howard Storm on Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Mork & Mindy
Howard Storm on the writers of Mork & Mindy
Redd Foxx Show, The
Howard Storm on the difficulties of directing The Redd Foxx Show, and on working with Redd Foxx
Rhoda
Howard Storm on becoming the director on Rhoda
Howard Storm on the invaluable advice he recieved about directing television while he was working on Rhoda
Howard Storm on Valerie Harper's New York accent in Rhoda
She's the Sheriff
Howard Storm on directing She's the Sheriff with Suzanne Sommers
Taxi
Howard Storm on the disadvantages of stepping into a show like Taxi that's been in the hands of multiple directors
Howard Storm on working with Andy Kauffman on Taxi
Too Close for Comfort
Howard Storm on directing Too Close for Comfort starring Ted Knight
Topics
Advice
Howard Storm on the invaluable advice he recieved about directing television while he was working on Rhoda
Howard Storm on advice to an aspiring director
Technological Innovation
Howard Storm on the difference between shooting on film or tape
Television Industry
Howard Storm on the invaluable advice he recieved about directing television while he was working on Rhoda
Howard Storm on advice to an aspiring director
Professions
Directors
Howard Storm on deciding to become a television director
Howard Storm on how he came to be the director on Rhoda; and invaluable advice he received
Howard Storm on his directing style
Howard Storm on directing comedy
Howard Storm on advice to aspiring directors
Howard Storm on being sure to thank everyone you work with as a director
Writers
Howard Storm on the challenges of writing for an established character like All in the Family's Archie Bunker
Genres
Comedy Series
Howard Storm on directing Mork & Mindy
Howard Storm on directing Beatrice Arthur in Amanda's
Howard Storm on directing Taxi
Howard Storm on directing Angie starring Donna Pescow and Robert Hays
Howard Storm on directing Too Close for Comfort starring Ted Knight
Howard Storm on directing Gimme a Break! with Nell Carter
Howard Storm on the difficulties of directing The Redd Foxx Show, and on working with Redd Foxx
Howard Storm on directing Full House with Bob Saget
People
Woody Allen
Howard Storm on working on Woody Allen's features film "Take the Money and Run" and "Bananas"
Howard Storm on standing in as a director for Woody Allen on his films
Beatrice Arthur
Howard Storm on directing Beatrice Arthur in Amanda's
Nell Carter
Howard Storm on directing Gimme a Break! with Nell Carter
Joan Darling
Howard Storm on realizing when he'd "made it" in Hollywood; he and Joan Darling going through the MGM gates
Pam Dawber
Howard Storm on how essential Pam Dawber as "Mindy" was on Mork & Mindy
Redd Foxx
Howard Storm on the difficulties of directing The Redd Foxx Show, and on working with Redd Foxx
Lou Gostel
Howard Storm on meeting Lou Gostel
Valerie Harper
Howard Storm on directing Valerie Harper in Valerie and Rhoda
Andy Kaufman
Howard Storm on working with Andy Kauffman on Taxi
Ted Knight
Howard Storm on directing Too Close for Comfort starring Ted Knight
Norman Lear
Howard Storm on pitching to Norman Lear for All in the Family with writing partner Paul Lichtman
Paul Lichtman
Howard Storm on writing for tv with partner Paul Lichtman
Garry Marshall
Howard Storm on Garry Marshall, and on working on his shows
Ray Romano
Howard Storm on directing Everybody Loves Raymond starring Ray Romano and Daddy Dearest
Robin Williams
Howard Storm on how Robin Williams came to be cast on Mork & Mindy and how he directed him
Jonathan Winters
Howard Storm on directing Jonathan Winters on Mork and Mindy with Robin Williams