About
"If you want to be a writer, there’s nothing that can stop you. And if it’s not what you want to do, you’ll know soon enough."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Sam Bobrick (1932-2019) talks about his early years, and his first job, working in the ABC mailroom, which eventually led to writing gags for The Ray Bolger Show. He describes his first official television writing jobs on Make Me Laugh and Captain Kangaroo, and his music career, which included writing songs for Elvis Presley and MAD Magazine. Bobrick recounts working on several sitcoms including The Andy Griffith Show, The Flintstones, Gomer Pyle - U.S.M.C., and for Allan Sherman’s special Funnyland. He recalls in depth writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, including his relationship with Tom and Dick Smothers, the controversial nature of the show, and meeting his writing partner, Ron Clark. He discusses writing for several other shows including Get Smart, The Kraft Music Hall, and The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, as well as various pilots and feature films. He concludes by speaking of his involvement in the Writers Guild, career achievements, and how he would like to be remembered. Amy Harrington conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Writers Guild Foundation on December 12, 2016 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Sam Bobrick on the process of writing for The Andy Griffith Show, which included pitching ideas to producer Sheldon Leonard
Sam Bobrick on a typical workweek on The Kraft Music Hall, and on the guest stars of the show, including Groucho Marx
Sam Bobrick on his membership in the Writers Guild
Sam Bobrick on the controversies involved with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and on his writing partner on that show, Ron Clark
Sam Bobrick on what he likes about writing, and on writing plays
Sam Bobrick on writing songs for "Mad Magazine"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on how he got into writing at a young age
On getting a job in the ABC mailroom, and on starting to write jokes for The Ray Bolger Show; on his first official writing job for Make Me Laugh , hosted by Robert Q. Lewis; on writing for Captain Kangaroo; on learning how to write for television and on writing a song for Elvis Presley
On writing songs for "Mad Magazine"; on writing for The Flintstones, and on how he came to write for The Andy Griffith Show with Bill Persky; on the process of writing for The Andy Griffith Show, which included pitching ideas to producer Sheldon Leonard; on writing for Gomer Pyle - U.S.M.C.
On writing for the Allan Sherman special Funnyland; on working on The Bill Dana Show and Make Me Laugh; on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Chapter 2
On working with the writing staff of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on the controversies involved with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and on his writing partner on that show, Ron Clark; on the writers of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
On the performers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, including Pat Paulsen; on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on the legacy of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and on his decision to leave the show to write for The Kraft Music Hall
On a typical work week on The Kraft Music Hall, and on the guest stars of the show including Groucho Marx; on writing for Get Smart; on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, and on working with Tim Conway
On writing and producing The New Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Paul Lynde Show; on writing the pilot Diana with Diana Rigg for producer Leonard Stern; on writing various unsold pilots and on his writing process for pilots
Chapter 3
On the craft of writing and his process; on his membership in the Writers Guild; on what he likes about writing, and on writing plays
On his career in feature films; on how the television industry has changed since he started; on the first time he saw television
On his mentors; on career achievements and regrets; on advice to an aspiring writer and on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Andy Griffith Show, The
Sam Bobrick on the process of writing for The Andy Griffith Show, which included pitching ideas to producer Sheldon Leonard
Sam Bobrick on his first script for The Andy Griffith Show: "The Shoplifters," and on working for Joseph Barbera
Sam Bobrick on writing for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show and on writing for Gomer Pyle - USMC
Sam Bobrick on his favorite episodes of The Andy Griffith Show
Sam Bobrick on the continued popularity of The Andy Griffith Show
Bill Dana Show, The
Sam Bobrick on working on The Bill Dana Show
Captain Kangaroo
Sam Bobrick on writing for Captain Kangaroo
Flintstones, The
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Flintstones, and on how he came to write for The Andy Griffith Show with Bill Persky
Get Smart
Sam Bobrick on writing for Get Smart
Gomer Pyle - USMC
Sam Bobrick on writing for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show and on writing for Gomer Pyle - USMC
Hey Landlord!
Sam Bobrick on working with Garry Marshall on Hey Landlord!
Kraft Music Hall, The
Sam Bobrick on the legacy of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and on his decision to leave the show to write for The Kraft Music Hall
Sam Bobrick on a typical workweek on The Kraft Music Hall, and on the guest stars of the show, including Groucho Marx
Make Me Laugh
Sam Bobrick on his first official writing job for Make Me Laugh hosted by Robert Q. Lewis, and on writing for Captain Kangaroo
New Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Sam Bobrick on writing and producing The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Paul Lynde Show, The
Sam Bobrick on writing The Paul Lynde Show
Ray Bolger Show, The
Sam Bobrick on getting a job in the ABC mailroom, and on starting to write jokes for The Ray Bolger Show
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sam Bobrick on working with the writing staff of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sam Bobrick on the controversies involved with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and on his writing partner, Ron Clark
Sam Bobrick on the writers of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sam Bobrick on the performers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, including Pat Paulsen
Sam Bobrick on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sam Bobrick on the guest stars of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and on network censorship on the show
Sam Bobrick on how comedy writing has changed since the days of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sam Bobrick on the legacy of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and on his decision to leave the show to write for The Kraft Music Hall
Tim Conway Comedy Hour, The
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, and on working with Tim Conway
Topics
Advice
Sam Bobrick on advice to an aspiring writer and on how he'd like to be remembered
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Sam Bobrick on his mentors
Pivotal Career Moments
Sam Bobrick on his mentors
Television Industry
Sam Bobrick on how the television industry has changed since he started
Sam Bobrick on career achievements and regrets
Sam Bobrick on advice to an aspiring writer and on how he'd like to be remembered
Professions
Writers
Sam Bobrick on his writing partner Bill Idelson, and on the advantages of having a writing partner
Sam Bobrick on his writing process for pilots
Sam Bobrick on the craft of writing and his process
Sam Bobrick on what he likes about writing, and on writing plays
Sam Bobrick on advice to an aspiring writer and on how he'd like to be remembered
Genres
Children's Programming
Sam Bobrick on his first official writing job for Make Me Laugh, hosted by Robert Q. Lewis, and on writing for Captain Kangaroo
Comedy Series
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Andy Griffith Show
Sam Bobrick on working on The Bill Dana Show
Sam Bobrick on working with Garry Marshall on Hey Landlord
Sam Bobrick on writing the pilot Diana, with Diana Rigg for producer Leonard Stern
Sam Bobrick on writing various unsold pilots
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, and on working with Tim Conway
Sam Bobrick on writing and producing The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Bobrick on writing The Paul Lynde Show
Game Shows
Sam Bobrick on his first official writing job for Make Me Laugh, hosted by Robert Q. Lewis, and on writing for Captain Kangaroo
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Sam Bobrick on getting a job in the ABC mailroom, and on starting to write jokes for The Ray Bolger Show
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Kraft Music Hall
People
Joseph Barbera
Sam Bobrick on his first script for The Andy Griffith Show: "The Shoplifters," and on working for Joseph Barbera
Tim Conway
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, and on working with Tim Conway
Bill Dana
Sam Bobrick on working on The Bill Dana Show
Andy Griffith
Sam Bobrick on the process of writing for The Andy Griffith Show, which included pitching to producer Sheldon Leonard
Sam Bobrick on writing for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show
Don Knotts
Sam Bobrick on writing for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show
Sheldon Leonard
Sam Bobrick on the process of writing for The Andy Griffith Show, which included pitching to producer Sheldon Leonard
Robert Q. Lewis
Sam Bobrick on his first official writing job for Make Me Laugh, hosted by Robert Q. Lewis
Garry Marshall
Sam Bobrick on working with Garry Marshall on Hey Landlord
Groucho Marx
Sam Bobrick on a typical workweek on The Kraft Music Hall, and on the guest stars of the show, including Groucho Marx
Pat Paulsen
Sam Bobrick on the performers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, including Pat Paulsen
Bill Persky
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Flintstones, and on how he came to write for The Andy Griffith Show with Bill Persky
Elvis Presley
Sam Bobrick on writing a song for Elvis Presley
Allan Sherman
Sam Bobrick on writing for the Allan Sherman special Funnyland
Dick Smothers
Sam Bobrick on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Tom Smothers
Sam Bobrick on working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour