About
“I used to admire [comedians]…because they would say something and 200 people in the audience would laugh. It was my job when I was doing ‘Sanford’ to make 20 million people all over the country laugh at the same time."
In his nearly two-and-a-half-hour interview, Saul Turteltaub (1932-2020) tells the story of his first big break into television, which came through his former summer camp girlfriend, Shari Lewis. He discusses writing on various variety and talk shows, including On Broadway Tonight, The Pat Boone Show, and The Carol Burnett Show, before he and partner Bernie Orenstein became producers on The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show. Turteltaub then details two major series that he and Orenstein wrote and produced: That Girl (the end of which he blames on his push to have Marlo Thomas’ character get married) and Sanford and Son. For Sanford and Son, he discusses working with Redd Foxx, the legacy of the show, and its spin-offs. He tells the story of creating What’s Happening!! with Orenstein, including working with Fred Berry as “Rerun” and his regrets over not casting Gary Coleman on the show. Turteltaub then talks about his work on Kate & Allie and Cosby, and concludes by discussing career highlights and giving advice to aspiring writers and producers. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on May 12, 2016 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Saul Turteltaub on dating Shari Lewis (then Phyllis Hurwitz) at summer camp as a kid and calling her up for a writing job when he saw her on television in 1957
Saul Turteltaub on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on Richard Pryor's appearance at a live show called "Calm L.A.," which was meant to calm tensions following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saul Turteltaub on Marlo Thomas' input on That Girl, and how his and Bernie Orenstein's push for Thomas' character to get married led to the end of the show
Saul Turteltaub on advice to aspiring writers
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on forming a comedy team while in college and working at resorts in the Catskills and Sun Valley, Idaho
On breaking into television through his summer camp girlfriend, Shari Lewis; on writing for Candid Camera and That Was the Week that Was
On writing for On Broadway Tonight and his friendship with Richard Pryor; on writing for various talk shows and for Jackie Gleason
On writing for The Pat Boone Show; on working with his writing partner Bernie Orenstein
On writing for The Carol Burnett Show; on becoming a producer on The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
Chapter 2
On producing The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show; on producing That Girl
On being the co-producer of The New Dick Van Dyke Show; on producing Sanford and Son
On the Sanford and Son writers room; on specific Sanford and Son episodes; on the cast of the show
On the legacy of Sanford and Son; on Sanford and Son's spin-offs; on creating What's Happening!!
On creating Carter Country with Bernie Orenstein and Bud Yorkin; on E/R and Foley Square
Chapter 3
On executive producing and writing Kate & Allie; on executive consulting on Cosby
On his writing process; on his then-current relationship with Bernie Orenstein; on advice to aspiring writers and producers; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show, The
Saul Turteltaub on leaving The Carol Burnett Show to be a producer for The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
Saul Turteltaub on producing The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show and decisions he regrets making on the show
Candid Camera
Saul Turteltaub on writing for and performing on Candid Camera
Saul Turteltaub on working with Allen Funt, host of Candid Camera
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Saul Turteltaub on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
Carter Country
Saul Turteltaub on creating Carter Country with Bernie Orenstein
Cosby
Saul Turteltaub on serving as an executive consultant on Cosby with Bernie Orenstein
E/R
Saul Turteltaub on writing the sitcom E/R with Bernie Orenstein
Foley Square
Saul Turteltaub on co-executive producing Foley Square, which was written and produced by Diane English
Kate & Allie
Saul Turteltaub on executive producing and writing Kate & Allie with Bernie Orenstein
New Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Saul Turteltaub on being the co-producer of The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Pat Boone Show, The
Saul Turteltaub on writing for The Pat Boone Show with Bernie Orenstein
Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on Norman Lear asking him and his partner Bernie Orenstein to produce Sanford and Son and Redd Foxx almost not coming back to the show for its third season
Saul Turteltaub on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on the end of Sanford and Son, which was the result of ABC poaching Redd Foxx
Saul Turteltaub on the Sanford and Son writers room
Saul Turteltaub on the popularity of Sanford and Son, which he attributes to Redd Foxx
Saul Turteltaub on the Sanford and Son episode, "Steinberg and Son"
Saul Turteltaub on the ensemble cast of Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on Redd Foxx's input (or lack thereof) on Sanford and Son scripts
Saul Turteltaub on the legacy of Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin being hands-off on the production of Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on the Sanford and Son spin-offs, The Sanford Arms and Grady
That Girl
Saul Turteltaub on how producing a special for Cass Elliot led to he and his partner Bernie Orenstein becoming producers for That Girl
Saul Turteltaub on how he and his partner Bernie Orenstein divided the responsiblities of producing That Girl
Saul Turteltaub on Marlo Thomas' input on That Girl, and how his and Bernie Orenstein's push for Thomas' character to get married led to the end of the show
Saul Turteltaub on directing episodes of That Girl and getting to meet St. Louis Cardinal's player, Stan Musial
Saul Turteltaub on That Girl co-star Ted Bessell
Saul Turteltaub on the legacy of That Girl
That Was the Week that Was
Saul Turteltaub on writing for That Was the Week that Was
What's Happening!!
Saul Turteltaub on creating What's Happening!! with partner Bernie Orenstein and Bud Yorkin
Saul Turteltaub on casting Fred Berry as "Rerun" on What's Happening!!
Saul Turteltaub on Fred Berry missing a day of rehearsal for What's Happening!!
Saul Turteltaub on the cast of What's Happening!!: Haywood Nelson, Danielle Spencer, and Shirley Hemphill
Saul Turteltaub on how What's Happening!! was adjusted after Mabel King left the show
Topics
Advice
Saul Turteltaub on advice to aspiring writers
Saul Turteltaub on advice to aspiring producers
Civil Rights Movement
Saul Turteltaub on his friendship with Richard Pryor and Pryor's appearance at a live show called "Calm L.A.," which was meant to calm tensions following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Saul Turteltaub on Carl Reiner as his mentor
First Big Break
Saul Turteltaub on forming a comedy team with a college friend and getting hired to perform at Catskills resorts
Saul Turteltaub on dating Shari Lewis (then Phyllis Hurwitz) at summer camp as a kid and calling her up for a writing job when he saw her on television in 1957
Historic Events and Social Change
Saul Turteltaub on his friendship with Richard Pryor and Pryor's appearance at a live show called "Calm L.A.," which was meant to calm tensions following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pivotal Career Moments
Saul Turteltaub on forming a comedy team with a college friend and getting hired to perform at Catskills resorts
Saul Turteltaub on dating Shari Lewis (then Phyllis Hurwitz) at summer camp as a kid and calling her up for a writing job when he saw her on television in 1957
Saul Turteltaub on Carl Reiner as his mentor
Representation on Television
Saul Turteltaub on Marlo Thomas' input on That Girl, and how his and Bernie Orenstein's push for Thomas' character to get married led to the end of the show
Television Industry
Saul Turteltaub on his opinion of then-current television shows
Saul Turteltaub on advice to aspiring writers
Saul Turteltaub on advice to aspiring producers
Women
Saul Turteltaub on Marlo Thomas' input on That Girl, and how his and Bernie Orenstein's push for Thomas' character to get married led to the end of the show
Professions
Producers
Saul Turteltaub on advice to aspiring producers
Saul Turteltaub on how he and his partner Bernie Orenstein divided the responsiblities of producing That Girl
Writers
Saul Turteltaub on working with his writing partner Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on the craft of writing: "You don't write the first page unless you know the last page"
Saul Turteltaub on writing on a typewriter, and his partner Bernie Orenstein getting a computer long before he did
Saul Turteltaub on what he likes about writing
Saul Turteltaub on advice to aspiring writers
Genres
Children's Programming
Saul Turteltaub on writing for Shari Lewis's first network show The Shari Lewis Show
Comedy Series
Saul Turteltaub on writing for and performing on Candid Camera
Saul Turteltaub on writing for That Was the Week that Was
Saul Turteltaub on executive producing and writing Kate & Alley with Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on serving as an executive consultant on Cosby with Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on producing That Girl with his partner Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on producing Sanford and Son and it spin-offs with his partner Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on creating What's Happening!! with Bernie Orenstein and Bud Yorkin
Saul Turteltaub on creating Carter Country with Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on writing the sitcom E/R with Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on co-executive producing Foley Square, which was written and produced by Diane English
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Saul Turteltaub on writing The Super Comedy Bowl with writing partner Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
Saul Turteltaub on leaving The Carol Burnett Show to be a producer for The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
Saul Turteltaub on producing The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show and decisions he regrets making on the show
Saul Turteltaub on writing a special for Cass Elliot and how that led to Marlo Thomas asking he and his partner Bernie Orenstein to produce That Girl
Reality TV
Saul Turteltaub on writing for and performing on Candid Camera
Talk Shows
Saul Turteltaub on writing for various talk shows, including The Les Crane Show and The Merv Griffin Show
Saul Turteltaub on writing for The Pat Boone Show with Bernie Orenstein
People
Ted Bessell
Saul Turteltaub on That Girl co-star Ted Bessell
Pat Boone
Saul Turteltaub on writing for The Pat Boone Show with Bernie Orenstein
Carol Burnett
Saul Turteltaub on working with Carol Burnett on her show
Gary Coleman
Saul Turteltaub on not casting Gary Coleman on What's Happening!!
Bill Cosby
Saul Turteltaub on working with Bill Cosby on Cosby
Jane Curtin
Saul Turteltaub on working with Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James on Kate & Allie
Phyllis Diller
Saul Turteltaub on producing The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show and decisions he regrets making on the show
Diane English
Saul Turteltaub on co-executive producing Foley Square, which was written and produced by Diane English
Redd Foxx
Saul Turteltaub on Redd Foxx holding out for a higher salary on Sanford and Son and almost not appearing on the show when Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein became producers, and how Eydie Gorme convinced him to come back to the show
Saul Turteltaub on working with Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on the popularity of Sanford and Son, which he attributes to Redd Foxx
Saul Turteltaub on Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson's chemistry on Sanford and Son and Foxx's skills as an actor
Allen Funt
Saul Turteltaub on working with Allen Funt, host of Candid Camera
Jackie Gleason
Saul Turteltaub on writing for Jackie Gleason
Eydie Gorme
Saul Turteltaub on Redd Foxx holding out for a higher salary on Sanford and Son and almost not appearing on the show when Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein became producers, and how Eydie Gorme convinced him to come back to the show
Susan Saint James
Saul Turteltaub on working with Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James on Kate & Allie
Harvey Korman
Saul Turteltaub on working with Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
Norman Lear
Saul Turteltaub on Norman Lear asking him and his partner Bernie Orenstein to produce Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin being hands-off on the production of Sanford and Son
Shari Lewis
Saul Turteltaub on dating Shari Lewis (then Phyllis Hurwitz) at summer camp as a kid and calling her up for a writing job when he saw her on television in 1957
Saul Turteltaub on writing for Shari Lewis's first network show The Shari Lewis Show
Lorne Michaels
Saul Turteltaub on hiring Lorne Michaels as a writer on The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on writing for The Pat Boone Show with Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on working with his writing partner Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on writing The Super Comedy Bowl with writing partner Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on writing on a typewriter, and his partner Bernie Orenstein getting a computer long before he did
Saul Turteltaub on his then-current relationship with producing/writing partner Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub on how he and his partner Bernie Orenstein divided the responsiblities of producing That Girl
Richard Pryor
Saul Turteltaub on his friendship with Richard Pryor and Pryor's appearance at a live show called "Calm L.A.," which was meant to calm tensions following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Carl Reiner
Saul Turteltaub on working with Carl Reiner
Garry Shandling
Saul Turteltaub on Garry Shandling writing for Sanford and Son and the last time he saw Shandling
Marlo Thomas
Saul Turteltaub on Marlo Thomas' input on That Girl, and how his and Bernie Orenstein's push for Thomas' character to get married led to the end of the show
Dick Van Dyke
Saul Turteltaub on being the co-producer of The New Dick Van Dyke Show, which was shot in a remote part of Arizona near where Dick Van Dyke was living at the time
Demond Wilson
Saul Turteltaub on working with Demond Wilson on Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson's chemistry on Sanford and Son and Foxx's skills as an actor
Bud Yorkin
Saul Turteltaub on producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin being hands-off on the production of Sanford and Son