About
"In Double Indemnity Edward G. Robinson said, 'You know why I'm so good at this? 'Cause I got this little man inside me and he can always spot a phony claim.' Well, I have little man inside of me and it has everything to do with knowing how an audience is going to react to material if it is performed right. The little man has never let me down."
In his four-hour interview, Mark Rothman talks about becoming enthralled by television at an early age, and meeting his writing partner Lowell Ganz in college. He describes his first big break writing for The Mike Douglas Show, and how he and Ganz came to write for The Odd Couple. He recounts his time as a staff writer on The Odd Couple, and working with demanding stars Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. He tells of moving over to Happy Days to help it transition from a single-camera show to a multi-camera show, and speaks of the break-out success of Henry Winkler's "Fonzie" character. Rothman discusses spinning-off Laverne & Shirley from Happy Days and having it become number one the week it debuted. He outlines personal conflicts on the set of Laverne & Shirley, and the great windfall he received when the show went into syndication. He speaks of other shows such as Busting Loose, The Ted Knight Show, and The New Odd Couple and his break-up with longtime writing partner Lowell Ganz. He concludes by discussing his blogs and numerous projects, including plays and a Laverne & Shirley feature film script he has written. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on September 27, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Mark Rothman on his first professional writing job on The Mike Douglas Show
Mark Rothman on inventing the Happy Days catchphrase "Sit on it!"
Mark Rothman on being hired for The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on his favorite episodes of The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on the highlight of his career
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his interest in television growing up; on meeting his writing partner Lowell Ganz
On his good instincts as a writer; on his first professional writing job with Mike Douglas
On being hired to write for The Odd Couple; on being fired and then returning to The Odd Couple writing staff
On his contribution to The Odd Couple scripts; on working with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman
Chapter 2
On his favorite episodes of The Odd Couple
On going to write for Happy Days; on Happy Days switching from single-camera to multi-camera; on working with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
On "Fonzie" becoming the central character of Happy Days; on inventing the Happy Days catchphrase "Sit on it!"; on Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days
On the cast of Happy Days; on the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Chapter 3
On the inception of Laverne and Shirley; on developing the characters of Laverne and Shirley; on the physical comedy of the show and problems on the set
On the cast of Laverne and Shirley; on tensions between the writers and the actors on Laverne and Shirley; on his favorite episode of the show
On his favorite memories of Laverne and Shirley; on Garry Marshall's involvement in Laverne and Shirley; on the legacy of the show
On creating The Ted Knight Show; on creating the series Makin' It; on the ill-fated series America 2100
Chapter 4
On producing The New Odd Couple; on producing She's the Sheriff
On his post-television career; on his blog; on advice to aspiring writers
On career highlights and regrets; on his television legacy
Shows
Happy Days
Mark Rothman on going to write for Happy Days
Mark Rothman on switching Happy Days from a single camera show to a multi-camera show in front of an audience
Mark Rothman on working with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
Mark Rothman on "Fonzie" becoming the central character of Happy Days
Mark Rothman on inventing the Happy Days catchphrase "Sit on it!"
Mark Rothman on Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Ron Howard as "Richie Cunningham" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Marion Ross as "Marion Cunningham" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Tom Bosley as "Howard Cunningham" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Erin Moran as "Joanie Cunningham" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Donny Most and Anson Williams as "Ralph Malph" and "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Pat Morita as "Arnold" on Happy Days and the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Mark Rothman on Pat Morita as "Arnold" on Happy Days and the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on developing the characters of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on coming up with the names of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on the characters of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on the physical comedy of Laverne and Shirley and difficulties on the set
Mark Rothman on the writing team of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on Michael McKean and David L. Lander as as "Lenny" and "Squiggy" on Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on Eddie Mekka as "Carmine Ragusa" on Laverne and Shiley
Mark Rothman on Phil Foster as "Frank DeFazio" on Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on Betty Garrett as "Edna Babish" on Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on tensions between him and Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams on Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on his favorite episode of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on his favorite memories of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on Garry Marshall's involvement in Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on his contribution to the legacy of Laverne and Shirley
Mike Douglas Show, The
Mark Rothman on his first professional writing job on The Mike Douglas Show
New Odd Couple, The
Mark Rothman on producing The New Odd Couple
Odd Couple, The (1970-75)
Mark Rothman on being hired for The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on being a staff writer for The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on being let go from The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on returning to The Odd Couple writing staff
Mark Rothman on his second stint on The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on his contribution to Odd Couple scripts
Mark Rothman on his favorite episodes of The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on working with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
She's the Sheriff
Mark Rothman on producing She's the Sheriff
Mark Rothman on working with Suzanne Somers on She's the Sheriff
Topics
Advice
Mark Rothman on advice to aspiring writers
Characters & Catchphrases
Mark Rothman on inventing the Happy Days catchphrase "Sit on it!"
Mark Rothman on "Fonzie" becoming the central character of Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on developing the characters of Laverne and Shirley
First Big Break
Mark Rothman on his first professional writing job on The Mike Douglas Show
Pivotal Career Moments
Mark Rothman on his first professional writing job on The Mike Douglas Show
Pop Culture
Mark Rothman on inventing the Happy Days catchphrase "Sit on it!"
Mark Rothman on "Fonzie" becoming the central character of Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days
Mark Rothman on developing the characters of Laverne and Shirley
Television Industry
Mark Rothman on advice to aspiring writers
Professions
Writers
Mark Rothman on his good instincts as a writer
Mark Rothman on advice to aspiring writers
Genres
Comedy Series
Mark Rothman on writing for The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on writing for The Odd Couple (Part 2)
Mark Rothman on writing for Happy Days
Mark Rothman on writing for Laverne and Shirley
People
Jerry Belson
Mark Rothman on working with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
Tom Bosley
Mark Rothman on Tom Bosley as "Howard Cunningham" on Happy Days
Mike Douglas
Mark Rothman on his first professional writing job on The Mike Douglas Show
Phil Foster
Mark Rothman on Phil Foster as "Frank DeFazio" on Laverne and Shirley
Lowell Ganz
Mark Rothman on meeting and writing with his first writing partner Lowell Ganz
Mark Rothman on being hired for The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on being a staff writer for The Odd Couple
Mark Rothman on tensions between him and Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams on Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on the ill-fated series America 2100
Mark Rothman on his biggest regret
Betty Garrett
Mark Rothman on Betty Garrett as "Edna Babish" on Laverne and Shirley
Ron Glass
Mark Rothman on producing The New Odd Couple
Ron Howard
Mark Rothman on Ron Howard as "Richie Cunningham" on Happy Days
Jack Klugman
Mark Rothman on his contribution to The Odd Couple scripts
Ted Knight
Mark Rothman on creating The Ted Knight Show
David L. Lander
Mark Rothman on Michael McKean and David L. Lander as "Lenny" and "Squiggy" on Laverne and Shirley
Garry Marshall
Mark Rothman on working with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
Penny Marshall
Mark Rothman on Pat Morita as "Arnold" on Happy Days and the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on the physical comedy of Laverne and Shirley and difficulties on the set
Mark Rothman on tensions between him and Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams on Laverne and Shirley
Michael McKean
Mark Rothman on Michael McKean and David L. Lander as "Lenny" and "Squiggy" on Laverne and Shirley
Erin Moran
Mark Rothman on Erin Moran as "Joanie Cunningham" on Happy Days
Pat Morita
Mark Rothman on Pat Morita as "Arnold" on Happy Days and the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Donny Most
Mark Rothman on Donny Most and Anson Williams as "Ralph Malph" and "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days
Tony Randall
Mark Rothman on his contribution to The Odd Couple scripts
Marion Ross
Mark Rothman on Marion Ross as "Marion Cunningham" on Happy Days
Suzanne Somers
Mark Rothman on working with Suzanne Somers on She's the Sheriff
Anson Williams
Mark Rothman on Donny Most and Anson Williams as "Ralph Malph" and "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days
Cindy Williams
Mark Rothman on Pat Morita as "Arnold" on Happy Days and the inception of Laverne and Shirley
Mark Rothman on the physical comedy of Laverne and Shirley and difficulties on the set
Mark Rothman on tensions between him and Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams on Laverne and Shirley
Demond Wilson
Mark Rothman on producing The New Odd Couple
Henry Winkler
Mark Rothman on "Fonzie" becoming the central character of Happy Days
Mark Rothman on Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days