About
"Take great joy in everything you write. Irving Berlin was interviewed, they said, 'Mr. Berlin, you have more songs than any other writer living or dead...what is your favorite song?' And he said, 'the last one I wrote', which really says it. After years of doing this, every time I write something, whether it's a paragraph or something for a benefit or whatever... I hope they like it. We all do that. As long as you keep that attitude I think you'll be good."
In his four-hour interview, Sam Denoff (1928-2011) describes his work in radio at WNEW in New York and his move to Los Angeles to work in television, starting with The Steve Allen Show. He talks about working on The Andy Williams Show before landing a job with writing partner Bill Persky on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Denoff discusses his work as a writer and producer on this classic sitcom, for which he co-wrote memorable episodes such as "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" and "That's My Boy?" Denoff details the production of the landmark series That Girl, starring Marlo Thomas, which he and Persky co-created and co-produced, as well as the series Good Morning World. He recalls other series he created, which include The Funny Side, Big Eddie, On Our Own, and Turnabout. Denoff describes specials he worked on, including The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special (1967), The Bill Cosby Special (1968), Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman (1969) and Hallmark Hall of Fame's "The Man Who Came to Dinner," with Orson Welles (1972). Denoff also touches on writing for the American Comedy Awards and working as a consultant for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. Bill Freiberger conducted the interview on March 9, 2000 in Brentwood, CA.
Highlights
Sam Denoff on working for Sid Caesar
Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
Sam Denoff on first seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair
Sam Denoff on winning his first Emmy (for The Dick Van Dyke Show) from a hospital bed
Sam Denoff on advice to aspiring television writers - write spec scripts
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood; on playing piano; on loving radio shows; on wanting to be a songwriter
On working as a page at NBC and observing the live dramatic anthology series being filmed at Studio 8H; on working at S. Klein department store; on interviewing for a job at WNEW radio
Chapter 2
On writing for WNEW radio in New York; on meeting longtime collaborator Bill Persky; on writing "Let's Keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn"; on getting an agent and starting to write for comedians
On working for Sid Caesar; on his first memories of television; on getting hired to write for Steve Allen; on writing for the ABC affiliate show
Chapter 3
On writing for non-broadcast affiliate shows for NBC; on working with Jack Palance and Gene Kelly
On writing for The Andy Williams Show; on meeting Jonathan Winters
On writing for The Dick Van Dyke Show; on working with Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard
Chapter 4
On lessons from Carl Reiner; on why The Dick Van Dyke Show remains funny
On the non-existent writer's room of The Dick Van Dyke Show; on the disappearane of lead time in television; on how accurately The Dick Van Dyke show portrayed a writer's room
On the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Chapter 5
On specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show; "That's my Boy", "I'd Rather Be Bald than Have no Head at All"; "October Eve", "The Gunslinger", "Coast to Coast Big Mouth"
On his writing partnership with Bill Persky; on winning Emmy awards; on the assassination of JFK
On The Julie Andrews specials; on writing for The Bill Dana Show; on the Hollywood Blacklist
Chapter 6
On the Blacklist; on creating That Girl with Marlo Thomas; on Danny Thomas
On the pilot episode and cast of That Girl; on a typical work week; on Daisy Productions and his favorite episodes of That Girl
Chapter 7
On the audience reaction to That Girl; on Good Morning World; on the Sid Caesar reunion special; on reuniting Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore
On The Funny Side, hosted by Gene Kelly; on The Montefuscos, Big Eddie, The Don Rickles Show and the Hallmark Hall of Fame
Chapter 8
On "The Man Who Came To Dinner" with Orson Welles and Don Knotts; on splitting from his longtime comedy partner Bill Persky; on The Late Summer, Early Fall Bert Convy Show, The Sunshine Boys pilot with Neil Simon, On Our Own produced by David Susskind; On Turnabout with Sharon Gless; on working with Garry Shandling
On current projects; on teaching at USC; on not wanting to retire; on advice to aspiring writers; on career highlights and how he'd like to be remembered
Chapter 9
On photos of people with whom he's worked - Joan Collins, Bess Armstrong, Orson Welles, Bill Persky, Dick Van Dyke, Sheldon Leonard, Steve Allen, Don Rickles
Shows
Andy Williams Show, The
Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams
Sam Denoff on meeting the Osmond family and writing for The Andy Williams Show when Jonathan Winters was a guest
Big Eddie
Sam Denoff on writing Big Eddie starring Sheldon Leonard
Bill Dana Show, The
Sam Denoff on writing for The Bill Dana Show
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman
Sam Denoff on co-writing and producing the Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore reunion special
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Sam Denoff on writing for The Dick Van Dyke Show; working with Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on the "That's My Boy?" episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Denoff on the atmosphere on The Dick Van Dyke Show; why the show is still funny
Sam Denoff on the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show; Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show; "That's my Boy"," I'd Rather Be Bald than Have no Head at All", "The Gunslinger"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "That's my Boy"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - " I'd Rather Be Bald than Have no Head at All"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "The Gunslinger"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Coast to Coast Big Mouth"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "October Eve"
Sam Denoff on why The Dick Van Dyke Show is so fondly remembered
Sam Denoff on how JFK's assassination affected the cast and crew of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dick Van Dyke Show, The: "Coast to Coast Big Mouth"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Coast to Coast Big Mouth"
Dick Van Dyke Show, The: "I'd Rather Be Bald Than Have No Head At All"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - " I'd Rather Be Bald than Have no Head at All"
Dick Van Dyke Show, The: "October Eve"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "October Eve"
Dick Van Dyke Show, The: "That's My Boy?"
Sam Denoff on the "That's My Boy?" episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "That's my Boy"
Dick Van Dyke Show, The: "The Gunslinger"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "The Gunslinger"
Don Rickles Show, The
Sam Denoff on creating and writing The Don Rickles Show produced by Sheldon Leonard
Funny Side, The
Sam Denoff on the short lived series The Funny Side
Garry Moore Show, The
Sam Denoff on the mistake that "made" The Garry Moore Show
Good Morning World
Sam Denoff on writing Good Morning World with many of The Dick Van Dyke Show team
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Sam Denoff on a Hallmark Hall of Fame special, "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
Sam Denoff on writing Hallmark Hall of Fame's "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
Sam Denoff on a Hallmark Hall of Fame special, "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
Sam Denoff on writing Hallmark Hall of Fame's "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
It's Garry Shandling's Show.
Sam Denoff on It's Garry Shandling's Show
Judy Garland Show, The
Sam Denoff on being offered a job on The Judy Garland Show, with executive producer George Schlatter
Julie Andrews Specials
Sam Denoff on writing for the Julie Andrews specials
Kraft Television Theatre
Sam Denoff on observing the early days of live television while working as a page at NBC's Studio 8H where Kraft Television Theater, Robert Montgomery Presents, and other live anthology series were filmed
Lotsa Luck
Sam Denoff on creating and writing Lotsa Luck with Dom DeLuise
Montefuscos, The
Sam Denoff on the short lived series The Montefuscos
On Our Own
Sam Denoff on the series On Our Own produced by David Susskind
Playhouse 90
Sam Denoff on observing the early days of live television while working as a page at NBC's Studio 8H where Kraft Television Theater, Robert Montgomery Presents, and other live anthology series were filmed
Robert Montgomery Presents
Sam Denoff on observing the early days of live television while working as a page at NBC's Studio 8H where Kraft Television Theater, Robert Montgomery Presents, and other live anthology series were filmed
Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, The
Sam Denoff on working on the Sid Caesar Reunion special
Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)
Sam Denoff on writing for The Steve Allen Show on ABC in 1961
Sunshine Boys, The
Sam Denoff on the pilot The Sunshine Boys
That Girl
Sam Denoff on the creation of That Girl with Marlo Thomas
Sam Denoff on the pilot episode, work week, and budget of That Girl
Sam Denoff on his favorite episodes of That Girl
Sam Denoff on critical acclaim for and the end of That Girl
Turnabout
Sam Denoff on producing the series Turnabout with Sharon Gless and John Schuck
Topics
Anthology Drama
Sam Denoff on observing the early days of live television while working as a page at NBC's Studio 8H where Kraft Television Theater, Robert Montgomery Presents, and other live anthology series were filmed
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Sam Denoff on interference from censors on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Classic TV Series Episodes
Sam Denoff on the "That's My Boy" episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Comedy
Sam Denoff on the "That's My Boy" episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Sam Denoff on how television changed the world; how early TV influenced him
Emmy Awards
Sam Denoff on winning his first Emmy (for The Dick Van Dyke Show) from a hospital bed
Sam Denoff on winning his second Emmy (for The Dick Van Dyke Show) from a hospital bed
Sam Denoff on winning an Emmy for his work on the Sid Caesar Reunion special
Hollywood Blacklist
Sam Denoff on the Hollywood blacklist
Sam Denoff on the Hollywood Blacklist
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Sam Denoff on how JFK's assassination affected the cast and crew of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Technological Innovation
Sam Denoff on first seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair
Television Industry
Sam Denoff on the pilot The Sunshine Boys
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Sam Denoff on observing the early days of live television while working as a page at NBC's Studio 8H where Kraft Television Theater, Robert Montgomery Presents, and other live anthology series were filmed
Underrepresented Voices
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "That's my Boy"
Women
Sam Denoff on That Girl's feminist message
Professions
Producers
Sam Denoff on becoming a producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Writers
Sam Denoff on wanting to be writers, not producers, and the process of writing for The Steve Allen Show
Sam Denoff on learning a lesson from Carl Reiner: "the best comedy comes from reality"
Sam Denoff on bringing your home life into your work life as a writer
Sam Denoff on his writing partnership with Bill Persky
Sam Denoff on his advice to aspiring writers
Genres
Comedy Series
Sam Denoff on writing for The Dick Van Dyke Show; on working with Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on learning a lesson from Carl Reiner: "the best comedy comes from reality"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Denoff on That Girl with Marlo Thomas
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Sam Denoff on writing for The Steve Allen Show on ABC in 1961
People
Steve Allen
Sam Denoff on writing for The Steve Allen Show on ABC in 1961
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Bill Persky and Steve Allen on the set of The Steve Allen Show
Charlie Andrews
Sam Denoff on getting hired by Charlie Andrews for a television special
Desi Arnaz
Sam Denoff on his landlords at Desilu studios
Lucie Arnaz
Sam Denoff on working with Lucie Arnaz
Danny Arnold
Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
Sam Denoff on directors on That Girl
James T. Aubrey
Sam Denoff on Jim Aubrey not understanding the need for "Rob Petrie" to be a comedy writer
Peter Baldwin
Sam Denoff on directors on That Girl
Lucille Ball
Sam Denoff on his landlords at Desilu studios
Irving Berlin
Sam Denoff on wise words from Irving Berlin
Ted Bessell
Sam Denoff on the changes in Ted Bessell's character
Steven Bochco
Sam Denoff on producing the series Turnabout with Sharon Gless and John Schuck, written by Steven Bochco
Mel Brooks
Sam Denoff on working on the Sid Caesar Reunion special
Red Buttons
Sam Denoff on the pilot The Sunshine Boys
Sid Caesar
Sam Denoff on working for Sid Caesar
Sam Denoff on Dick Van Dyke, Jackie Gleason and Sid Caesar as straight men
Sam Denoff on working on the Sid Caesar Reunion special
George Carlin
Sam Denoff on "Ann Marie"'s agent played by George Carlin
Imogene Coca
Sam Denoff on working on the Sid Caesar Reunion special
Joan Collins
Sam Denoff on a Hallmark Hall of Fame special, "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Joan Collins
Bill Dana
Sam Denoff on meeting Bill Dana
Sam Denoff on writing for The Steve Allen Show on ABC in 1961, with head writer Bill Dana
Sam Denoff on writing for The Bill Dana Show
Dom DeLuise
Sam Denoff on creating and writing Lotsa Luck with Dom DeLuise
Bob Finkel
Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams produced by Bob Finkel
Phil Foster
Sam Denoff on writing "Let's Keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn" with Bill Persky, performed by Phil Foster
Jackie Gleason
Sam Denoff on Dick Van Dyke, Jackie Gleason and Sid Caesar as straight men
Sharon Gless
Sam Denoff on producing the series Turnabout with Sharon Gless and John Schuck
Goldie Hawn
Sam Denoff on a young Goldie Hawn
Ed Herlihy
Sam Denoff on Ed Herlihy hosting local show Date in Manhattan, which featured one of Denoff's songs
Milt Josefsberg
Sam Denoff on what he and Bill Persky learned from comedy writer Milt Josefsberg
Gene Kelly
Sam Denoff on working with Gene Kelly
Sam Denoff on the short lived series The Funny Side
John F. Kennedy
Sam Denoff on how JFK's assassination affected the cast and crew of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Don Knotts
Sam Denoff on the admiration Orson Welles had for Don Knotts when filming "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
Norman Lear
Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams, executive produced by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear
Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on the genesis of The Dick Van Dyke Show; on working with Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on producer Sheldon Leonard and his method of producers being head writers
Sam Denoff on how JFK's assassination affected the cast and crew of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Denoff on writing Big Eddie starring Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on creating and writing The Don Rickles Show produced by Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Sheldon Leonard during production of Big Eddie
Jerry Lewis
Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
Sam Denoff on consulting on the Jerry Lewis telethons
Rose Marie
Sam Denoff on the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show; Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke
Garry Marshall
Sam Denoff on cameos in Garry Marshall's films
Dean Martin
Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
Dick Martin
Sam Denoff on renting from Dick Martin and writing for Rowan and Martin
Garry Moore
Sam Denoff on the mistake that "made" The Garry Moore Show
Mary Tyler Moore
Sam Denoff on the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show; Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke
Sam Denoff on everyone loving Mary Tyler Moore
Sam Denoff on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show written by Carl Reiner
Sam Denoff on co-writing and producing the Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore reunion special
Donny Osmond
Sam Denoff on meeting the Osmond family on The Andy Williams Show
Jack Palance
Sam Denoff on working with Jack Palance and pitching him circus jokes
Bill Persky
Sam Denoff on meeting and working with writing partner Bill Persky
Sam Denoff on working with Bill Persky writing for comedians
Sam Denoff on his work with Bill Persky on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Denoff on his writing partnership with Bill Persky
Sam Denoff on his writing partnership with Bill Persky
Sam Denoff on the creation of That Girl with Marlo Thomas
Sam Denoff on fighting with Marlo Thomas and Bill Persky keeping the peace
Sam Denoff on Bill Persky getting into directing
Sam Denoff on splitting with writing partner Bill Persky
Sam Denoff on a photo of him and Bill Persky
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Dick Van Dyke and Bill Persky on the set of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Bill Persky on the set of The Steve Allen Show
Carl Reiner
Sam Denoff on the genesis of The Dick Van Dyke Show; on working with Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show; Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke
Sam Denoff on learning a lesson from Carl Reiner: "the best comedy comes from reality"
Sam Denoff on producer Sheldon Leonard and show creator Carl Reiner
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "October Eve"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Coast to Coast Big Mouth"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - " I'd Rather Be Bald than Have no Head at All"
Sam Denoff on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show written by Carl Reiner
Sam Denoff on working on the Sid Caesar Reunion special
Sam Denoff on creating and writing Lotsa Luck with Dom DeLuise - pilot episode directed by Carl Reiner
Sam Denoff on his biggest career highlight - getting employed by Carl Reienr
Don Rickles
Sam Denoff on creating and writing The Don Rickles Show produced by Sheldon Leonard
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Bill Persky and Don Rickles on the set of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dan Rowan
Sam Denoff on renting from Dick Martin and writing for Rowan and Martin
Jay Sandrich
Sam Denoff on directors on That Girl
George Schlatter
Sam Denoff on being offered a job on The Judy Garland Show, with executive producer George Schlatter
Sam Denoff on working with George Schlatter on the American Comedy Awards
John Schuck
Sam Denoff on producing the series Turnabout with Sharon Gless and John Schuck
Garry Shandling
Sam Denoff on It's Garry Shandling's Show
George Shapiro
Sam Denoff on agent George Shapiro
Neil Simon
Sam Denoff on the pilot The Sunshine Boys
Lionel Stander
Sam Denoff on the pilot The Sunshine Boys
David Susskind
Sam Denoff on the series On Our Own produced by David Susskind
Bob Sweeney
Sam Denoff on directors on That Girl
Frank Tarloff
Sam Denoff on "David Adler" aka Frank Tarloff - Tarloff used a pseudonym during the Blacklist
Danny Thomas
Sam Denoff on producer Danny Thomas
Sam Denoff on Danny Thomas
Sam Denoff on fighting with Marlo Thomas and Bill Persky keeping the peace
Marlo Thomas
Sam Denoff on the creation of That Girl with Marlo Thomas
Sam Denoff on fighting with Marlo Thomas and Bill Persky keeping the peace
Sam Denoff on Marlo Thomas and Daisy Productions
Sam Denoff on the end of That Girl
Mel Tolkin
Sam Denoff on working on the Sid Caesar Reunion special
Dick Van Dyke
Sam Denoff on Dick Van Dyke's talent and physical comedy abilities
Sam Denoff on Dick Van Dyke, Jackie Gleason and Sid Caesar as straight men
Sam Denoff on Dick Van Dyke and "schmuckery"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - "October Eve"
Sam Denoff on specific episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show - " I'd Rather Be Bald than Have no Head at All"
Sam Denoff on co-writing and producing the Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore reunion special
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Dick Van Dyke
Sam Denoff on a photo of him with Dick Van Dyke and Bill Persky on the set of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sam Denoff on a photo Dick Van Dyke "killing" Bill Persky and Sam Denoff on their last episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
E. Duke Vincent
Sam Denoff on writing Good Morning World and writer E. Duke Vincent, future partner with Aaron Spelling
Orson Welles
Sam Denoff on a Hallmark Hall of Fame special, "The Man Who Came to Dinner", to star Orson Welles
Sam Denoff on the admiration Orson Welles had for Don Knotts when filming "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
Sam Denoff on a photo of him and Bill Persky with Orson Welles
Andy Williams
Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams
Jonathan Winters
Sam Denoff on writing for The Andy Williams Show when Jonathan Winters was a guest
Bud Yorkin
Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams, executive produced by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear
Alan Zweibel
Sam Denoff on It's Garry Shandling's Show