About
"We get word from the parking lot that the guard had given them a hard time and they were going to leave. I ran to the parking lot and I actually threw myself on the hood of the car and they were kind of shocked. I just said, 'This is something I've been wanting to do all my life and I finally get to work with you guys and we all want you here! Don't let one stupid fucking guard convince you not to do this.' They laughed and came in and so I got to direct the Rolling Stones."
In his nearly four-hour interview, John Moffitt describes his start in television as a production assistant on The Ed Sullivan Show. He details rising through the ranks to become an assistant director on the show during the mid-to-late 1960s and shares his recollections of several memorable guests including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Louis Armstrong, and Bing Crosby. He talks about producing television specials Good Vibrations from Central Park and Tribute to Monty Python, and he discusses directing the comedy-variety series The Richard Pryor Show, the late-night comedy sketch series Fridays (with guest star Andy Kaufman), and the satirical HBO series Not Necessarily the News. In addition, Moffitt recalls the formation of Moffitt/Lee Productions, speaks of directing Comic Relief specials for HBO, and comments on the challenges of producing the Emmys. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 20, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
John Moffitt on a college visit to CBS Studios that changed his life
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on Ed Sullivan not trusting a red light
John Moffitt on a college visit to CBS Studios that changed his life
John Moffitt on advice to an aspiring director
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on building sets for and acting in high school productions; on his comedic influences
On what he wanted to become; on life at Dartmouth; on getting a job in the CBS mailroom
On getting a job in CBS Operations as Night Log Clerk and then running Tel Ops and Slides; on disappointing Bill Paley
Chapter 2
On getting drafted and trying to get into the Army Pictorial; on writing and directing training films; on returning to CBS after the army and assisting Joseph Papp at the New York Shakespeare Festival
On trying to get a production job at CBS; on joining The Ed Sullivan Show as a PA
Chapter 3
On Ed Sullivan selecting acts for The Ed Sullivan Show; on some of his favorite Ed Sullivan Show guests including Louis Armstrong, Barbra Streisand, Bing Crosby
On cameras and production of The Ed Sullivan Show; on the show going to color in 1965
On Bob Dylan not appearing on the show; on the production of the show; on censorship issues with The Rolling Stones; on the Beatles appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
Chapter 4
On The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (cont.)
On working on The Ed Sullivan Show during the time of the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy
On how The Ed Sullivan Show reflected the Civil Rights Movement; on how The Ed Sullivan Show did not reference the Vietnam War
On becoming assistant director on The Ed Sullivan Show after working on a European mobile unit during the summer; on Sullivan director Tim Kiley; on becoming director of the Sullivan Show
On directing music on The Ed Sullivan Show (i.e. Rolling Stones; Dave Clark Five); on The Ed Sullivan Show going off the air as Sullivan got senile
Chapter 5
On life after The Ed Sullivan Show - directing Good Vibrations from Central Park, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, Van Dyke and Company, The Captain and Tennille Show
On producing and directing The Richard Pryor Show
On the formation of Moffitt/Lee Productions
Chapter 6
On creating, casting, producing, and directing Fridays
On the death of business partner and best friend Bill Lee; On producing Not Necessarily the News and HBO's Comic Relief
Chapter 7
On his philosophy of directing stage comedy shows for television and on his own sense of humor
On directing the CableACE Awards
On his long association with the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
On producing the relaunched Hollywood Squares
Chapter 8
On turning down the chance to direct Saturday Night Live at its beginning; on producing the HBO reunion special Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen
On his current projects; on ageism; on his directing style; on loving live television and directing a feature
On advice to an aspiring director - write and perform; on mentors; on how he'd like to be remembered
On B-roll photos: of him directing in the army, with Louis Armstrong, of Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan, of him with Sullivan, of the control room on The Ed Sullivan Show, with the Beatles' drums, of Sullivan with staff,
Chapter 9
On photos from The Ed Sullivan Show, with Frankie and Annette, of The Richard Pryor Show, with friend Bill Lee, of Comic Relief, of Not Necessarily the News, of The Emmys, of Bob Hope and Danny Thomas, of promotional materials for Person to Person, The Late Late Show and CBS
Shows
Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
John Moffitt on Arthur Godfrey doing radio and TV shows from CBS
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
John Moffitt on Arthur Godfrey doing radio and TV shows from CBS
CableACE Awards
John Moffitt on directing the CableACE Awards
Captain & Tennille
John Moffitt on directing The Captain and Tennille Show and their subsequent specials
Captain Kangaroo
John Moffitt on finally getting assigned to be a PA, for Captain Kangaroo, just as he got another opportunity to PA for The Ed Sullivan Show
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
John Moffitt on how Carol Burnett's show was the first CBS set to be colorized
Comic Relief Specials
John Moffitt on producing HBO's Comic Relief Specials
John Moffitt on a photo of Comic Relief
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
John Moffitt on directing Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
John Moffitt on joining The Ed Sullivan Show as a PA
John Moffitt on Ed Sullivan selecting acts for The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on the production specifics and some of the guests who appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on working as assistant director and then director on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on directing music on The Ed Sullivan Show (i.e. Rolling Stones; Dave Clark Five)
John Moffitt on The Ed Sullivan Show going off the air
John Moffitt on photos from The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on photos from The Ed Sullivan Show
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
John Moffitt on Van Dyke and Company winning an Emmy and Bob Einstein's acceptance comment
John Moffitt on directing the 28th Primetime Emmy Awards (the first time Steadicam was used on television)
John Moffitt on being unable to direct the 29th Primetime Emmy Awards (due to a strike, it was the first time the show aired in September)
John Moffitt on producing the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1979 and his subsequent involvement in other Emmy telecasts
John Moffitt on producing the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
John Moffitt on photos from the 28th Annual Emmy Awards
Fridays
John Moffitt on casting Larry David and Michael Richards on Fridays
John Moffitt on the first episodes of Fridays and on Andy Kaufman's notorious surprise fight sketch
John Moffitt on Fridays
John Moffitt on a photo of Fridays
Good Vibrations from Central Park
John Moffitt on directing Good Vibrations from Central Park
Hollywood Squares, The
John Moffitt on producing the relaunched Hollywood Squares
Late Late Show, The
John Moffitt on promotional material for The Late Late Show
Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen
John Moffitt on producing the HBO reunion special Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen
Not Necessarily the News
John Moffitt on Not Necessarily the News
John Moffitt on a photo of the cast of Not Necessarily the News
Person to Person
John Moffitt on promotional material for Person to Person
Playhouse 90
John Moffitt on John Frankenheimer's directing style
Richard Pryor Show, The
John Moffitt on directing The Richard Pryor Show and working with Richard Pryor
John Moffitt on photos from The Richard Pryor Show
John Moffitt on photos from The Richard Pryor Show
Saturday Night Live
John Moffitt on Fridays comparisons to Saturday Night Live
John Moffitt on turning down the chance to direct Saturday Night Live at its beginning
Van Dyke and Company
John Moffitt on directing Van Dyke and Company
Your Show of Shows
John Moffitt on going to see Your Show of Shows, live
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
John Moffitt on censorship of The Rolling Stones on The Ed Sullivan Show
Civil Rights Movement
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show reflected the Civil Rights Movement
Creative Influences and Inspiration
John Moffitt on admiring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin
Emmy Awards
John Moffitt on Van Dyke and Company winning an Emmy and Bob Einstein's acceptance comment
John Moffitt on his long association with the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Historic Events and Social Change
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show did not reference the Vietnam War
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show reflected the Civil Rights Movement
John Moffitt on working on The Ed Sullivan Show during the time of the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy
JFK Assassination and Funeral
John Moffitt on working on The Ed Sullivan Show during the time of the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy
Memorable Moments on Television
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (cont.)
Pivotal Career Moments
John Moffitt on admiring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin
Pop Culture
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on directing music on The Ed Sullivan Show (i.e. Rolling Stones; Dave Clark Five)
John Moffitt on Andy Kaufman's notorious surprise fight sketch on Fridays
Representation on Television
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show reflected the Civil Rights Movement
Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on directing music on The Ed Sullivan Show (i.e. Rolling Stones; Dave Clark Five)
Technological Innovation
John Moffitt on The Ed Sullivan Show going to color in 1965
Television Industry
John Moffitt on censorship of The Rolling Stones on The Ed Sullivan Show
Underrepresented Voices
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show reflected the Civil Rights Movement
Vietnam War
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show did not reference the Vietnam War
War
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show did not reference the Vietnam War
We Celebrated
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (cont.)
Professions
Directors
John Moffitt on writing and directing training films for the army
John Moffitt on becoming assistant director on The Ed Sullivan Show after working on a European mobile unit during the summer; on Sullivan director Tim Kiley; on becoming director of the Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on his philosophy of directing stage comedy shows for television
John Moffitt on his directing style
John Moffitt on advice to an aspiring director
Genres
Awards Shows
John Moffitt on directing the CableACE Awards
Game Shows
John Moffitt on producing the relaunched Hollywood Squares
Late Night
John Moffitt on Fridays
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
John Moffitt on joining The Ed Sullivan Show as a PA
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (cont.)
John Moffitt on directing The Richard Pryor Show
People
Chris Albrecht
John Moffitt on producing HBO's Comic Relief Specials; on Zmuda going to Chris Albrecht to propose Comic Relief Specials
Louis Armstrong
John Moffitt on Louis Armstrong's appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on a picture of him with Louis Armstrong on The Ed Sullivan Show
Frankie Avalon
John Moffitt on a photo with Frankie and Annette
Milton Berle
John Moffitt on a picture of Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan
Bill Bohnert
John Moffitt on Bill Bohnert adjusting to color on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on a photo of Comic Relief
Bernie Brillstein
John Moffitt on the formation of Moffitt/Lee Productions
John Moffitt on turning down the chance to direct Saturday Night Live at its beginning
Sid Caesar
John Moffitt on Sid Caesar's appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
Chevy Chase
John Moffitt on producing the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1989 and his subsequent involvement in other Emmy telecasts
Dick Clark
John Moffitt on Dick Clark being too smooth to be like Ed Sullivan
John Moffitt on working with Dick Clark Productions
John Cleese
John Moffitt on producing the HBO reunion special Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen
John Moffitt on photos from a Month Python reunion
Bing Crosby
John Moffitt on Bing Crosby's appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
Billy Crystal
John Moffitt on producing HBO's Comic Relief Specials
John Moffitt on a photo of Comic Relief
Larry David
John Moffitt on casting Larry David and Michael Richards on Fridays
John Moffitt on a photo of Fridays
Shelley Duvall
John Moffitt on Shelley Duvall's role in starting the CableACE Awards
Bob Dylan
John Moffitt on Bob Dylan not appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
Douglas Edwards
John Moffitt on meeting the people at CBS News
Bob Einstein
John Moffitt on directing variety show Van Dyke and Company
John Frankenheimer
John Moffitt on John Frankenheimer's directing style
Michael Fuchs
John Moffitt on Michael Fuchs giving him the chance to do an HBO pilot for what became HBO's first series, Not Necessarily the News
Annette Funicello
John Moffitt on a photo with Frankie and Annette
Terry Gilliam
John Moffitt on producing the HBO reunion special Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen
John Moffitt on photos from a Month Python reunion
Arthur Godfrey
John Moffitt on Arthur Godfrey doing radio and TV shows from CBS
John Moffitt on trying to meet Arthur Godfrey
Whoopi Goldberg
John Moffitt on producing HBO's Comic Relief Specials
John Moffitt on producing the relaunched Hollywood Squares
Don Hewitt
John Moffitt on meeting the people at CBS News
Bob Hope
John Moffitt on promotional photos of Bob Hope and Danny Thomas
Louis J. Horvitz
John Moffitt on directing Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Spike Jones, Jr.
John Moffitt on producing the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Andy Kaufman
John Moffitt on directing Andy Kaufman weekly on the variety show Van Dyke and Company
John Moffitt on Andy Kaufman's notorious surprise fight sketch on Fridays
John Moffitt on Andy Kauffman wanting to fake his own death
John F. Kennedy
John Moffitt on working on The Ed Sullivan Show during the time of the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy
Tim Kiley
John Moffitt on Bing Crosby's appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on becoming assistant director on The Ed Sullivan Show after working on a European mobile unit during the summer
John Moffitt on The Ed Sullivan Show director Tim Kiley
John Moffitt on his mentors
Michael King
John Moffitt on producing the relaunched Hollywood Squares
Ted Koppel
John Moffitt on how Ted Koppel 5 days a week got picked up and pushed back Fridays
Bill Lee
John Moffitt on the death of Bill Lee and how Bill's wife became the new partner in Moffitt/Lee Productions
Jerry Lewis
John Moffitt on admiring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin
George Lucas
John Moffitt on George Lucas being a fan of The Richard Pryor Show
Dean Martin
John Moffitt on admiring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin
Steve Martin
John Moffitt on directing Don Kirshner's Rock Concert where Steve Martin made his first TV appearance
Jack McGeehan
John Moffitt on getting his break through scheduling for Jack McGeehan, who worked on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on working with Jack McGeehan for The Beatles' appearance in Miami Beach
John Moffitt on his mentors
Lorne Michaels
John Moffitt on turning down the chance to direct Saturday Night Live at its beginning
Edward R. Murrow
John Moffitt on meeting idol Edward R. Murrow
John Moffitt on having some fun with the slide card promoting Edward R. Murrow
John Moffitt on promotional material for Person to Person
Conan O'Brien
John Moffitt on hiring a writer out of Harvard named Conan O'Brien for HBO's first series, Not Necessarily the News
William S. Paley
John Moffitt on how Bill Paley was not pleased with the prank on the Murrow slide
Joseph Papp
John Moffitt on assisting Joseph Papp at the New York Shakespeare Festival
Robert Precht
John Moffitt on getting his break on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on Ed Sullivan not trusting a red light
John Moffitt on Robert Precht wanting him to AD The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on Robert Precht making him a director on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on his mentors
Richard Pryor
John Moffitt on directing The Richard Pryor Show
John Moffitt on photos from The Richard Pryor Show
Michael Richards
John Moffitt on casting Larry David and Michael Richards on Fridays
John Moffitt on a photo of Fridays
George Shapiro
John Moffitt on directing Andy Kaufman
Tom Smothers
John Moffitt on Tom Smothers recruiting director Tim Kiley for The Smothers' Brothers Show
Ringo Starr
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (cont.)
Rolling Stones
John Moffitt on directing the Rolling Stones appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
Barbra Streisand
John Moffitt on Barbra Streisand's early appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
Ed Sullivan
John Moffitt on Ed Sullivan
John Moffitt on Ed Sullivan selecting acts for The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
John Moffitt on how The Ed Sullivan Show reflected the Civil Rights Movement
John Moffitt on The Ed Sullivan Show going off the air
John Moffitt on a picture of Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan
John Moffitt on a picture of him with Ed Sullivan
John Moffitt on a picture of Ed Sullivan with a Beatles' wig
John Moffitt on promotional photos of Ed Sullivan
Beatles, The
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (cont.)
Danny Thomas
John Moffitt on promotional photos of Bob Hope and Danny Thomas
Dick Van Dyke
John Moffitt on directing variety show Van Dyke and Company
Bruce Vilanch
John Moffitt on producing the relaunched Hollywood Squares
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
John Moffitt on Dartmouth grad Pat Weaver and getting denied from the NBC Management Training Program
Robin Williams
John Moffitt on Robin Williams appearing on The Richard Pryor Show
John Moffitt on producing HBO's Comic Relief Specials
John Moffitt on directing and shooting Robin Williams
John Moffitt on photos from The Richard Pryor Show with Robin Williams
John Moffitt on a photo of Comic Relief
Bob Zmuda
John Moffitt on Andy Kauffman wanting to fake his own death; on Zmuda going to Chris Albrecht to propose Comic Relief Specials