About
"It occurred to me during the shooting of The Golden Girls pilot -- 'What is this, All-Star game?' Watching Bea, Betty, Rue, and Estelle was like watching Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and all these guys play on the same team: a Dream Team. It was a magical moment."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Tony Thomas talks about growing up as the son of Danny Thomas. He recalls visiting his father on the set of Make Room for Daddy, where he learned the basics of production literally "at his father's knee." He describes the start of his career at Screen Gems, where he worked as an associate producer on the acclaimed television movie Brian's Song. He speaks about teaming with producer Paul Junger Witt and their work together (later also with Susan Harris) on several successful television series. Thomas discusses his work on The Practice, starring his father, and recounts parting ways with his father's production company, which led to the creation of the controversial series Soap. He describes casting for the satirical series, issues with Standards & Practices, and some of the show's early storylines. He talks about his work on the spin-off series Benson and on several short-lived early 1980s sitcoms. He then chronicles the creation, casting, and production of The Golden Girls. Thomas also outlines several later series he produced, including Blossom. Karen Herman conducted the interview on September 25, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Tony Thomas on learning about show business by being around his father, Danny Thomas
Tony Thomas on leaving Screen Gems and joining Danny Thomas Productions
Tony Thomas on how The Golden Girls came about
Tony Thomas on forming Witt-Thomas Productions
Tony Thomas on advice to aspiring producers
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on humor in his household growing up and visiting his father, Danny Thomas, on the set of Make Room for Daddy
On his decision to be behind the camera; on meeting his producing partner Paul Junger Witt; on producing Brian's Song
Chapter 2
On casting Brian's Song; on joining Danny Thomas Productions; on producing Fay and The Practice
On this time working at Danny Thomas Productions; on forming Witt-Thomas Productions
Chapter 3
On Susan Harris; on creating Soap; on the controversy of Soap
On the cast of Soap; on the cancellation of Soap; on creating the Soap spin-off Benson
Chapter 4
On the cancellation of Benson; on producing I'm a Big Girl Now, It Takes Two and Hail to the Chief; on producing the feature film, "First Born"; on creating and casting The Golden Girls
On the cast of The Golden Girls; on favorite episodes of The Golden Girls; on the show's cancellation and The Golden Palace; on Empty Nest
Chapter 5
On producing Empty Nest, Beauty and the Beast, Herman's Head and Blossom; on producing The Secret Lives of Men
On the end of Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions; on advice to aspiring producers; on career achievements, regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Beauty and the Beast
Tony Thomas on producing Beauty and the Beast
Benson
Tony Thomas on the black community's reaction to Benson and its cancellation
Tony Thomas on spinning Benson off from Soap
Blossom
Tony Thomas on producing Herman's Head and Blossom
Brian's Song
Tony Thomas on producing Brian's Song
Tony Thomas on casting Brian's Song
Tony Thomas on his responsibilities as Associate Producer of Brian's Song and the reaction when it aired
Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy
Tony Thomas on his early home life being the inspiration for the series Make Room for Daddy
Empty Nest
Tony Thomas on Empty Nest
Tony Thomas on producing Empty Nest
Fay
Tony Thomas on producing Fay with Lee Grant
Golden Girls, The
Tony Thomas on how The Golden Girls came about
Tony Thomas on casting The Golden Girls
Tony Thomas on the cast of The Golden Girls
Tony Thomas on battles with Standards and Practices over The Golden Girls
Tony Thomas on favorite episodes of The Golden Girls
Tony Thomas on The Golden Girls going off the air
Golden Palace, The
Tony Thomas on The Golden Palace
It Takes Two
Tony Thomas on producing It Takes Two, It's a Living, and Hail to the Chief
John Larroquette Show, The
Tony Thomas on producing The John Larroquette Show
Practice, The (1976-77)
Tony Thomas on producing The Practice starring his father Danny Thomas
Soap
Tony Thomas on the genesis of Soap
Tony Thomas on why Soap was considered groundbreaking
Tony Thomas on dealing with Standards and Practices regarding Soap
Tony Thomas on Cathryn Damon as "Mary Campbell" on Soap
Tony Thomas on Katherine Helmond as "Jessica Tate" on Soap (Thomas accidentally refers to Helmond as Cathryn Damon)
Tony Thomas on Richard Mulligan as "Burt Campbell" on Soap
Tony Thomas on Robert Mandan as "Chester Tate" on Soap
Tony Thomas on the casting of Soap
Tony Thomas on Billy Crystal as "Jodie Dallas" on Soap
Tony Thomas on Robert Guillaume as "Benson DuBois" on Soap
Tony Thomas on critical and audience reaction to Soap
Tony Thomas on his day-to-day production duties on Soap
Tony Thomas on Soap's cancellation in 1981
Tony Thomas on spinning Benson off from Soap
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Tony Thomas on battles with Standards and Practices over The Golden Girls
Tony Thomas on dealing with Standards and Practices regarding Soap
Representation on Television
Tony Thomas on the black community's reaction to Benson and its cancellation
Television Industry
Tony Thomas on battles with Standards and Practices over The Golden Girls
Tony Thomas on dealing with Standards and Practices regarding Soap
Underrepresented Voices
Tony Thomas on the black community's reaction to Benson and its cancellation
Professions
Producers
Tony Thomas on forming Witt-Thomas Productions
Tony Thomas on his day-to-day production duties on Soap
Tony Thomas on advice to aspiring producers
Genres
Comedy Series
Tony Thomas on producing The Golden Girls
Tony Thomas on producing Soap
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Tony Thomas on producing Brian's Song
People
Beatrice Arthur
Tony Thomas on the cast of The Golden Girls
James Caan
Tony Thomas on casting Brian's Song
Billy Crystal
Tony Thomas on Billy Crystal as "Jodie Dallas" on Soap
Cathryn Damon
Tony Thomas on Cathryn Damon as "Mary Campbell" on Soap
Estelle Getty
Tony Thomas on the cast of The Golden Girls
Lee Grant
Tony Thomas on producing Fay with Lee Grant
Robert Guillaume
Tony Thomas on Robert Guillaume as "Benson DuBois" on Soap
Susan Harris
Tony Thomas on meeting Susan Harris
Tony Thomas on Susan Harris' writing
Katherine Helmond
Tony Thomas on Katherine Helmond as "Jessica Tate" on Soap (Thomas accidentally refers to Helmond as Cathryn Damon)
Robert Mandan
Tony Thomas on Robert Mandan as "Chester Tate" on Soap
Rue McClanahan
Tony Thomas on the cast of The Golden Girls
Richard Mulligan
Tony Thomas on Richard Mulligan as "Burt Campbell" on Soap
Fred Silverman
Tony Thomas on Soap's cancellation in 1981
Danny Thomas
Tony Thomas on his father Danny Thomas' interaction with an audience
Tony Thomas on dealing with this father's fame growing up
Tony Thomas on his home life being the inspiration for the series Make Room for Daddy
Tony Thomas on the humor in his household
Tony Thomas on his father Danny Thomas' reaction to his show business aspirations
Marlo Thomas
Tony Thomas on the humor in his household
Betty White
Tony Thomas on the cast of The Golden Girls
Billy Dee Williams
Tony Thomas on casting Brian's Song
Paul Junger Witt
Tony Thomas on his first show business job at Screen Gems and meeting Paul Junger Witt
Tony Thomas on partnering with Paul Junger Witt
Tony Thomas on early projects he worked on with Paul Junger Witt
Tony Thomas on his producing partnership with Paul Junger Witt