Stanley Ralph Ross

Writer / Producer

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his three-and-a-half hour interview, Stanley Ralph Ross (1935-2000) talks in detail about writing for television shows, including Mr. Roberts, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Batman, The Monkees, Columbo, Wonder Woman, and All in the Family. He discusses winning an Emmy Award for writing an episode of All in the Family. Ross also speaks about the creation of The Electric Company. He recounts writing several made-for-television movies, such as Coffee, Tea, or Me, as well as appearing in the 1976 true crime drama about Charles Manson, Helter Skelter. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on February 11, 1998 in Beverly Hills, CA.

"Never give up. That's the key. That's it. Just remember that if you get rejected, wait awhile. They'll get fired. They rotate the rascals."

People Talking About ...

Stanley Ralph Ross

Highlights

Stanley Ralph Ross on being a creative consultant for Helter Skelter

Stanley Ralph Ross on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman," then played by Eartha Kitt

Stanley Ralph Ross on the catchphrases of Batman

Stanley Ralph Ross on his early experience with television, and on Milton Berle

Stanley Ralph Ross on writing the stage musical "Chaplin," starring Anthony Newley

Stanley Ralph Ross on Bob Arbogast

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his early interest in books; on his early experience with television, and on Milton Berle

On his early interest in music, and on working along side Sammy Davis, Jr.; on meeting Ernie Kovacs, and on what he wanted to do after he graduated from high school

On moving to Los Angeles in 1956 and working at the post office; on making a record with Bob Arbogast

Chapter 2

On working as a copywriter for various ad agencies in Los Angeles; on being a tour guide for Universal Studios; on writing promotional copy for the ABC series Combat!, and on the experience of being at ABC studios

On being hired to write for the comedy series Mister Roberts, and later for Batman; on starting a music publishing company; on becoming in-demand as a writer after being hired to write for Batman

On writing the Batman episode "The Lady and the Tiger,", which introduced "Catwoman"; on having trouble with ABC Standards & Practices over a Batman script involving "Catwoman"; on the campy tone of Batman

On the producers of Batman, including Bill Dozier; on Adam West as "Batman" and Burt Ward as "Robin" on Batman, and on the guest villains of the show; on the regular supporting cast of Batman

Chapter 3

On the catchphrases of Batman; on the process of creating an episode of Batman; on writing the "Catwoman" episodes of Batman, and on Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt as "Catwoman"

On actors making script suggestions; on multiple actors playing the same villain on Batman, and on Frank Sinatra wanting to play "The Joker"; on various characters he created for Batman, including "The Siren," played by Joan Collins

On the directors of Batman; on being on the set of Batman, and on the scheduling of the show; on Batman going from airing twice a week to once a week

On the Batman episode "Come Back, Shame"; on writing an episode of That Girl; on the popularity of Batman

Chapter 4

On the development of The Electric Company; on writing an episode of All in the Family for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award, and on working with Norman Lear; on writing Columbo, and on working with Peter Falk as "Columbo"

On writing for and appearing on Banacek; on writing for a The Mod Squad episode guest-starring Louis Gossett, Jr.; on writing for Love, American Style, and on juggling writing for several shows at once

On working on Bill Cosby's show Cos; on writing for That's My Mama, starring Clifton Davis; on writing the third pilot for Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter and Lyle Wagonner

Chapter 5

On deciding to leave shows after he writes the pilot; on developing Monster Squad and Challenge of the Sexes; on providing voiceover for Super Friends at the behest of Joseph Barbera

On the process of doing voiceover; on providing voiceover for Superman, Rambo, and Inspector Gadget; on being a creative consultant for Helter Skelter

On creating The Kallikaks; on having an issue with one of the actors and Standards & Practices on The Kallikaks

Chapter 6

On writing Three on a Date, directed by Bill Bixby; on writing Murder at the Mardi Gras, starring David Groh and Didi Conn; on writing the movie Coffee, Tea, or Me?

On writing Sky Heist and producing For the Love of It, directed by Hal Kanter; on writing the stage musical "Chaplin," starring Anthony Newley; on writing "The Motion Picture Guide"

On his then-current projects; on career highlights and regrets; on advice to aspiring writers; on the then-future of television

Chapter 7

On various personalities he's worked with throughout his career, including Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, and Sheldon Leonard

On various personalities he's worked with throughout his career, including Norman Lear and Della Reese

Chapter 8

On b-roll pictures from his career- in a recording studio at age 22; with Bob Arbogast; at the house where he grew up in Coney Island; with Joseph Barbera and William Hanna; with Brenda Vacarro; with Milton Berle; in a sound booth doing "Babe II"; at his daughter's wedding

Shows

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Stanley Ralph Ross

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

All in the Family

Banacek

Batman

Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes

Coffee, Tea, or Me?

Columbo

Combat!

Cos

Electric Company, The

For the Love of It

Helter Skelter

Inspector Gadget

Kallikaks, The

Love, American Style

Mod Squad, The

Monster Squad

Murder at the Mardi Gras

Sky Heist

Super Friends

That Girl

That's My Mama

Three on a Date

Wonder Woman

Advice

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Characters & Catchphrases

Emmy Awards

First Big Break

Pivotal Career Moments

Pop Culture

Television Industry

Actor

Performers

Voiceover

Writers

Adventure/Espionage Series

Children's Programming

Comedy Series

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Game Shows

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Danny Arnold

William Asher

Joseph Barbera

Milton Berle

Bill Bixby

Lynda Carter

Joan Collins

Bill Cosby

Bob Cummings

Bill Dozier

Peter Falk

Louis Gossett, Jr.

Hal Kanter

Eartha Kitt

James Komack

Ernie Kovacs

Norman Lear

Sheldon Leonard

Julie Newmar

Don Nicholl

Carroll O'Connor

Della Reese

Debbie Reynolds

Allan Sherman

Frank Sinatra

Danny Thomas