Roy Christopher

Production Designer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his nearly three-hour interview, Roy Christopher (1935-2021) talks about his start at NBC where he began in television production design on The Dean Martin Show. He describes his work in the 1970s on James Komack-produced series including Chico and the Man and Welcome Back, Kotter. He notes his work on several television specials, including The Richard Pryor Show and Our Town. He speaks in great detail about his design of the sets for the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Frasier. Finally, he talks about his considerable contributions to awards shows, including the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys. Throughout the interview, Christopher discusses the craft of production design and his unique style of incorporating contemporary ideas into his work. B-roll consists of over forty photos: the set designs for various Academy Awards and Emmy Awards shows, as well as stills from series and specials including The Dean Martin Show, The Jonathan Winters Show, The Richard Pryor Show, Our Town, The Midnight Special, Chico and the Man, Make Your Own Kind of Music, The David Steinberg Show, Frasier, and Murphy Brown. Karen Herman conducted the interview on June 30, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I'd like to teach designers how to read a script, how to break it down, how to think. What they're really paying for is your mind. They want you to be able to take verbal stuff, written stuff, and translate it into verbal terms -- that's an art. Open your mind to that. Read a poem and paint it."

People Talking About ...

Roy Christopher

Highlights

Roy Christopher on finding "Martin Crane's" chair for Frasier

01:32

Roy Christopher on his process for creating sets for Chico and the Man

02:26

Roy Christopher on working on The Dean Martin Show, and on working with the crew of the show

03:05

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Welcome Back, Kotter

03:51

Roy Christopher on designing the newsroom set on Murphy Brown, and on shifting styles from the 1980s to the 1990s and beyond

02:36

Roy Christopher on advice to aspiring production designers

01:55

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on building sets for plays in high school, and on early sets he built; on making art direction his career

On becoming an assistant art director on The Dean Martin Show; on working on The Dean Martin Show, and on working with the crew of the show

On working with Dean Martin on The Dean Martin Show; on doing art direction for The Pat Boone Show

Chapter 2

On the influence of pop art on the art direction on television; on the addition of "production designer" as a title in television and what the profession entails; on how production design has changed since he started, and on how computers have impacted the job

On how lighting has changed over the years; on the limitations of color shades when he started in the 1960s and 1970s; on doing production design for Chico and the Man, and on his decision to work on sitcoms; on working with producers on production design for shows like Chico and the Man, Murphy Brown, and Frasier

On his process for creating sets for Chico and the Man; on the death of Freddie Prinze, and on working with the cast of Chico and the Man; on doing production design for Welcome Back, Kotter

Chapter 3

On working with James Komack on shows like Welcome Back, Kotter; on doing production design for Hollywood Television Theatre; on doing production design for the 1977 production of Our Town

On doing production design for The Richard Pryor Show; on dealing with changing fashions and styles over the years in production design; on doing production design for Midnight Special

On doing production design for the 1978 made-for-television movie Fame; on doing production design for All the Way Home

Chapter 4

On doing production design for Growing Pains, and for American Playhouse; on doing production design for My Sister Sam, and working with Diane English on that show

On doing production design for Murphy Brown, produced by Diane English and starring Candice Bergen, and on designing "Murphy's" apartment; on styles in the then-present (2006)

On doing production design for Wings; on doing production design for The Carol Burnett Show (1991), and on working with Carol and Lucille Ball; on how he came to do production design for Frasier

Chapter 5

On the budget he had to design Frasier, and on selecting the furniture and artwork for "Frasier Crane's" apartment; on designing different permanent sets for Frasier; on working with Kelsey Grammer on the show

On his biggest challenges in doing production design for Frasier; on staying with Frasier for its entire eleven-year run, on the end of the show, and on its popularity; on doing production design for NewsRadio and Just Shoot Me!

On doing production design for Becker, starring Ted Danson; on doing production design for Freddie, starring Freddie Prinze, Jr.; on how he came to do production design for the Academy Awards, and on the first one he worked on, directed by Marty Pasetta

Chapter 6

On the process of designing the sets for the Academy Awards; on the challenge of keeping the Academy Awards fresh year after year

On how the Academy Awards have changed over the years, and on how it compares with production designing the Emmy Awards; on doing production design for the Grammys; on then-current projects

On his wife, Dorothy; on career highlights and regrets and on advice to aspiring production designers; on how he'd like to be remembered

On B-roll pictures from his career: his first Academy Awards set; 1981 Academy Awards set; 1984 Academy Awards set; 1987 Academy Awards set; 1990 Academy Awards set; 1992 Academy Awards set; 1994 Academy Awards set; 1995 Academy Awards set; 1997 Academy Awards set; 1999 Academy Awards set; 2000 Academy Awards set

Chapter 7

On B-roll pictures from his career- 2003 Academy Awards set; 2004 Academy Awards set; 2005 Academy Awards set; 2006 Academy Awards set; 2006 Academy Awards with Gil Cates; working on a sketch with his assistant; with Gil Cates; with producer Gary Smith; at a drawing table; on the set of The Jonathan Winters Show; with art director Henry Bumstead; with Karl Malden at the Motion Picture Academy; winning an Emmy Award; 1981 Emmy Awards set; Emmy Award set, 1981; set of The Richard Pryor Show; set of 1977 Our Town; The Midnight Special set; The Dean Martin Show set; set of Chico and the Man with Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson; wide shot of Chico and the Man set; Make Your Own Kind of Music set; set of The David Steinberg Show; set of Frasier; with Ron Olsen on the set of Frasier; Murphy Brown set; with agent Larry Grossman; with his wife Dorothy Christopher; model of the Frasierset

Shows

Academy Awards, The

Roy Christopher on how he came to do production design for the Academy Awards, and on the first one he worked on, directed by Marty Pasetta

04:09

Roy Christopher on the process of designing the sets for the Academy Awards

04:26

Roy Christopher on the logistics of the stage and moving the pieces of the set at the Academy Awards

04:40

Roy Christopher on the challenge of keeping the Academy Awards fresh year after year

01:59

Roy Christopher on how the Academy Awards have changed over the years, and on how it compares with production designing the Emmy Awards

04:18

All the Way Home

Roy Christopher on doing production design for All the Way Home

03:09

American Playhouse

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the American Playhouse production of "Paper Angels"

01:10

Becker

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Becker, starring Ted Danson

02:33

Carol Burnett Show, The (1991)

Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Carol Burnett Show (1991), and on working with Carol and Lucille Ball

04:34

Chico and the Man

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Chico and the Man, and on his decision to work on sitcoms

04:18

Roy Christopher on working with producers on production design for shows like Chico and the Man, Murphy Brown, and Frasier

03:12

Roy Christopher on his process for creating sets for Chico and the Man

02:26

Roy Christopher on the death of Freddie Prinze, and on working with the cast of Chico and the Man

01:58

Dean Martin Show, The

Roy Christopher on becoming an assistant art director on The Dean Martin Show

03:28

Roy Christopher on working on The Dean Martin Show, and on working with the crew of the show

03:05

Roy Christopher on working with Dean Martin on The Dean Martin Show

02:05

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Roy Christopher on how the Academy Awards have changed over the years, and on how it compares with production designing the Emmy Awards

04:18

Fame (1978)

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the 1978 made-for-television movie Fame

01:46

Frasier

Roy Christopher on working with producers on production design for shows like Chico and the Man, Murphy Brown, and Frasier

03:12

Roy Christopher on how he came to do production design for Frasier

02:34

Roy Christopher on the budget he had to design Frasier, and on selecting the furniture and artwork for "Frasier Crane's" apartment

04:37

Roy Christopher on finding "Martin Crane's" chair for Frasier

01:32

Roy Christopher on designing the Café Nervosa set for Frasier

01:23

Roy Christopher on designing the radio station set for Frasier

01:13

Roy Christopher on working with Kelsey Grammer on Frasier

02:15

Roy Christopher on his biggest challenges in doing production design for Frasier

01:42

Roy Christopher on staying with Frasier for its entire eleven-year run, on the end of the show, and on its popularity

03:02

Freddie

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Freddie, starring Freddie Prinze, Jr.

02:48

Grammys, The

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the Grammys

00:47

Growing Pains

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Growing Pains

03:33

Hollywood Television Theatre

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Hollywood Television Theatre

02:45

Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond, The

Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond, and on working with director Delbert Mann

02:34

Midnight Special, The

Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Midnight Special

03:23

Murphy Brown

Roy Christopher on working with producers on production design for shows like Chico and the Man, Murphy Brown, and Frasier

03:12

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Murphy Brown, produced by Diane English and starring Candice Bergen, and on designing "Murphy's" apartment

04:59

Roy Christopher on designing the newsroom set on Murphy Brown, and on shifting styles from the 1980s to the 1990s and beyond

02:36

My Sister Sam

Roy Christopher on doing production design for My Sister Sam, and working with Diane English on that show

02:42

NewsRadio

Roy Christopher on doing production design for NewsRadio and Just Shoot Me

02:19

Our Town

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the 1977 production of Our Town

03:07

Pat Boone Show, The

Roy Christopher on doing art direction for The Pat Boone Show

03:05

Richard Pryor Show, The

Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Richard Pryor Show

03:27

Roy Christopher on tailoring the set to fit Richard Pryor's personality and comedic style for The Richard Pryor Show, and on designing around specific people in general

03:53

Welcome Back, Kotter

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Welcome Back, Kotter

03:51

Roy Christopher on working with James Komack on shows like Welcome Back, Kotter

02:32

Wings

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Wings

02:58

Roy Christopher on a problem he encountered when designing the set for Wings

01:22

Topics

Advice

Roy Christopher on advice to aspiring production designers

02:04

Television Industry

Roy Christopher on how production design has changed since he started, and on how computers have impacted the job

03:41

Roy Christopher on advice to aspiring production designers

02:04

Professions

Art Director/Set Decorator

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Roy Christopher on the influence of pop art on the art direction on television in the 1970s

03:01

Designers

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Roy Christopher on the influence of pop art on the art direction on television in the 1970s

03:01

Roy Christopher on how lighting has changed over the years

01:47

Roy Christopher on the limitations of production design in the early years

01:47

Roy Christopher on the addition of "production designer" as a title in television and what the profession entails

02:28

Roy Christopher on the limitations of color shades when he started in the 1960s and 1970s

02:15

Roy Christopher on dealing with changing fashions and styles over the years in production design

01:50

Roy Christopher on styles in the then-present (2006)

01:15

Roy Christopher on his style

01:57

Roy Christopher on advice to aspiring production designers

02:04

Production Designer

View Profession

Roy Christopher on the addition of "production designer" as a title in television and what the profession entails

02:28

Roy Christopher on the limitations of color shades when he started in the 1960s and 1970s

02:15

Roy Christopher on dealing with changing fashions and styles over the years in production design

01:50

Roy Christopher on styles in the then-present (2006)

01:15

Roy Christopher on his style

01:57

Roy Christopher on advice to aspiring production designers

02:04

Genres

Awards Shows

Roy Christopher on how he came to production design for the Academy Awards, and on the first one he worked on, directed by Marty Pasetta

04:09

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the Emmy Awards

15:24

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the Grammys

00:47

Classic Anthology Series

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Hollywood Television Theatre

02:45

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the American Playhouse production of "Paper Angels"

01:10

Comedy Series

Roy Christopher on doing production design for sitcoms including Chico and the Man, Welcome Back, Kotter, Frasier, and Murphy Brown

15:49

Roy Christopher on working with James Komack on shows like Welcome Back, Kotter

02:32

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Growing Pains

03:33

Roy Christopher on doing production design for My Sister Sam

02:42

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Murphy Brown

07:35

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Wings

02:58

Roy Christopher on how he came to do production design for Frasier

02:34

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Frasier

17:12

Roy Christopher on doing production design for NewsRadio and Just Shoot Me!

02:19

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Becker, starring Ted Danson

02:33

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Roy Christopher on doing art direction for The Dean Martin Show and The Pat Boone Show

11:43

Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Richard Pryor Show

07:20

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Midnight Special

03:23

Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Carol Burnett Show (1991), and on working with Carol and Lucille Ball

04:34

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond, and on working with director Delbert Mann

02:34

Roy Christopher on doing production design for the 1978 made-for-television movie Fame

01:46

Roy Christopher on doing production design for All the Way Home

03:09

People

Candice Bergen

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Roy Christopher on doing production design for Murphy Brown, produced by Diane English and starring Candice Bergen, and on designing "Murphy's" apartment

04:59

Carol Burnett

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Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Carol Burnett Show (1991), and on working with Carol and Lucille Ball

04:34

Dean Martin

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Roy Christopher on working with Dean Martin on The Dean Martin Show

02:05

Delbert Mann

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Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond, and on working with director Delbert Mann

02:34

Diane English

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Roy Christopher on doing production design for My Sister Sam, and working with Diane English on that show

02:42

Roy Christopher on doing production design for Murphy Brown, produced by Diane English and starring Candice Bergen, and on designing "Murphy's" apartment

04:59

James Komack

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Roy Christopher on working with James Komack on shows like Welcome Back, Kotter

02:32

Kelsey Grammer

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Roy Christopher on working with Kelsey Grammer on Frasier

02:15

Lucille Ball

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Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Carol Burnett Show (1991), and on working with Carol and Lucille Ball

04:34

Marty Pasetta

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Roy Christopher on how he came to production design for the Academy Awards, and on the first one he worked on, directed by Marty Pasetta

04:09

Richard Pryor

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Roy Christopher on tailoring the set to fit Richard Pryor's personality and comedic style for The Richard Pryor Show, and on designing around specific people in general

03:53

Ted Danson

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Roy Christopher on doing production design for Becker, starring Ted Danson

02:33