About
"I like writing for television best because in TV you can just call up transportation. You don’t have to write about a stupid car and what it looks like, and what year it is, and things like that. Also because I just love writing dialogue."
In her two-hour interview, Rita Lakin (1930-2023) talks about her early life, as well as growing up during World War II. She describes her first television-writing job for Dr. Kildare, on an episode that featured Ron Howard and was directed by Sydney Pollack. She recalls writing several episodes of various series including Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre, Daniel Boone, and Peyton Place, where she was close to producer Paul Monash, and began to learn about production. She recounts being head writer for the daytime serial The Doctors, and writing several made-for-television movies including Women in Chains, Torn Between Two Lovers, and A Summer Without Boys. She details her experience as the first female showrunner - for the nighttime serial Flamingo Road. Lakin discusses writing a groundbreaking episode of Medical Center, which was the first television show to feature a transsexual storyline. She speaks of writing for several series produced by Aaron Spelling, including The Mod Squad, Dynasty, and Nightingales, a short-lived series which marked the end of her television-writing career. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Writers Guild Foundation on May 11, 2017 in San Rafael, CA.
Highlights
Rita Lakin on being hired to write for Dr. Kildare, with an episode directed by Sydney Pollack and guest-starring Ron Howard
Rita Lakin on co-creating Nightingales with Aaron Spelling, and on ending her career
Rita Lakin on creating The Rookies with producer Aaron Spelling
Rita Lakin on Mia Farrow cutting her hair during the run of Peyton Place, and on networks notes and the end of the show
Rita Lakin on the advent of the showrunner, and on being the first female showrunner on Flamingo Road
Rita Lakin on turning down Dallas, and on her very short stint on Dynasty
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences, and on her experience with World War II; on deciding she wanted to be a writer; on being hired to write for Dr. Kildare, with an episode directed by Sydney Pollack and guest-starring Ron Howard
On writing "The Shattered Glass" for Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre, and the Daniel Boone episode "The Reunion"; on becoming a staff writer for Peyton Place, and on producer Paul Monash; on writing Peyton Place: The Next Generation, and on the legacy of the show
On being head writer for The Doctors; on writing a couple of episodes of Family Affair; on being story editor for The Mod Squad for producer Aaron Spelling, and on writing Women in Chains
On the advent of the showrunner, and on being the first female showrunner on Flamingo Road; on the premise of Flamingo Road, and on her duties as showrunner; on writing Death Takes a Holiday
Chapter 2
On creating The Rookies with producer Aaron Spelling; on writing A Summer without Boys, and on working with Hugh Hefner on that show; on writing Message to My Daughter
On writing episodes of Medical Center, including a transgender storyline; on the television movie Torn Between Two Lovers, and on advancing the cause of more women television writers; on executive producing Executive Suite, and what what she enjoyed about producing
On her writing process, and on joining the Writers Guild; on turning down Dallas, and on her very short stint on Dynasty; on co-creating Nightingales with Aaron Spelling, and on ending her career
On how television had changed since she started; on mentors in her career; on writing novels
On advice to aspiring writers; on career achievements and regrets, and on then-current shows she enjoys; on how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre
Rita Lakin on writing a draft of "The Shattered Glass" for Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre
Dallas
Rita Lakin on turning down Dallas, and on her very short stint on Dynasty
Daniel Boone
Rita Lakin on writing the Daniel Boone episode "The Reunion"
Death Takes a Holiday
Rita Lakin on writing Death Takes a Holiday
Doctors, The
Rita Lakin on being head writer for The Doctors
Dr. Kildare
Rita Lakin on being hired to write for Dr. Kildare, with an episode directed by Sydney Pollack and guest-starring Ron Howard
Rita Lakin on the experience of writing her first television episode (for Dr. Kildare) and on how television writers were regarded when she began
Dynasty
Rita Lakin on turning down Dallas, and on her very short stint on Dynasty
Executive Suite
Rita Lakin on executive producing Executive Suite
Family Affair
Rita Lakin on writing a couple of episodes of Family Affair
Flamingo Road
Rita Lakin on the advent of the showrunner, and on being the first female showrunner on Flamingo Road
Rita Lakin on the premise of Flamingo Road, and on her duties as showrunner
Rita Lakin on hiring writers for Flamingo Road
Medical Center
Rita Lakin on writing episodes of Medical Center, including a transgender storyline featuring Robert Reed
Message to My Daughter, A
Rita Lakin on writing Message to My Daughter
Mod Squad, The
Rita Lakin on being story editor for The Mod Squad, and on her duties on that show
Rita Lakin on learning about production while working on The Mod Squad
Nightingales
Rita Lakin on co-creating Nightingales with Aaron Spelling, and on ending her career
Peyton Place
Rita Lakin on becoming a staff writer for Peyton Place, and on producer Paul Monash
Rita Lakin on Mia Farrow cutting her hair during the run of Peyton Place, and on networks notes and leaving the show
Rita Lakin on writing Peyton Place: The Next Generation, and on the legacy of Peyton Place
Rookies, The
Rita Lakin on creating The Rookies with producer Aaron Spelling
Summer Without Boys, A
Rita Lakin on writing A Summer Without Boys, and on working with Hugh Hefner on that show
Torn Between Two Lovers
Rita Lakin on the television movie Torn Between Two Lovers, and on advancing the cause of more women television writers
Women in Chains
Rita Lakin on working with Aaron Spelling, and on writing the television movie Women in Chains
Topics
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Rita Lakin on mentors in her career
Historic Events and Social Change
Rita Lakin on the first time she saw television, and on her experience with World War II
Rita Lakin on the advent of the showrunner, and on being the first female showrunner on Flamingo Road
Rita Lakin on the television movie Torn Between Two Lovers, and on advancing the cause of more women television writers
Pivotal Career Moments
Rita Lakin on mentors in her career
Representation on Television
Rita Lakin on the advent of the showrunner, and on being the first female showrunner on Flamingo Road
Rita Lakin on the television movie Torn Between Two Lovers, and on advancing the cause of more women television writers
Television Industry
Rita Lakin on how television had changed since she started
War
Rita Lakin on the first time she saw television, and on her experience with World War II
Women
Rita Lakin on the advent of the showrunner, and on being the first female showrunner on Flamingo Road
Rita Lakin on the television movie Torn Between Two Lovers, and on advancing the cause of more women television writers
World War II
Rita Lakin on the first time she saw television, and on her experience with World War II
Professions
Producers
Rita Lakin on what makes a good producer, and on what she enjoyed about producing
Show Creators
Rita Lakin on the premise of Flamingo Road, and on her duties as showrunner
Writers
Rita Lakin on her writing process, and on joining the Writers Guild
Rita Lakin on advice to aspiring writers
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Rita Lakin on writing "The Shattered Glass" for Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre
Comedy Series
Rita Lakin on executive producing Executive Suite
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Rita Lakin on being story editor for The Mod Squad
Rita Lakin on creating The Rookies with producer Aaron Spelling
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Rita Lakin on writing for Peyton Place
Rita Lakin on being head writer for The Doctors
Rita Lakin on creating and acting as showrunner for Flamingo Road
Rita Lakin on during down Dallas, and on her very short stint on Dynasty
Medical Dramas
Rita Lakin on writing for Dr. Kildare
Rita Lakin on writing episodes of Medical Center, including a transgender storyline featuring Robert Reed
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Rita Lakin on working with Aaron Spelling, and on writing the television movie Women in Chains
Rita Lakin on writing Death Takes a Holiday
Rita Lakin on writing A Summer without Boys, and on working with Hugh Hefner on that show
Rita Lakin on the television movie Torn Between Two Lovers, and on advancing the cause of more women television writers
Western Series
Rita Lakin on writing the Daniel Boone episode "The Reunion"
People
Mia Farrow
Rita Lakin on Mia Farrow cutting her hair during the run of Peyton Place, and on networks notes and the end of the show
Hugh Hefner with Emerson College
Rita Lakin on writing A Summer without Boys, and on working with Hugh Hefner on that show
Ron Howard
Rita Lakin on being hired to write for Dr. Kildare, with an episode directed by Sydney Pollack and guest-starring Ron Howard
Paul Monash
Rita Lakin on becoming a staff writer for Peyton Place, and on producer Paul Monash
Sydney Pollack
Rita Lakin on being hired to write for Dr. Kildare, with an episode directed by Sydney Pollack and guest-starring Ron Howard
Robert Reed
Rita Lakin on writing episodes of Medical Center, including a transgender storyline featuring Robert Reed
Aaron Spelling
Rita Lakin on working with Aaron Spelling, and on writing the television movie Women in Chains
Rita Lakin on creating The Rookies with producer Aaron Spelling
Rita Lakin on co-creating Nightingales with Aaron Spelling, and on ending her career