William Blinn

Writer / Producer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his four-hour Archive interview, William Blinn (1937-2020) talks about some of his first writing for television in a variety of dramatic genres for such series as Bonanza, Here Comes the Brides, and The Interns. He speaks thoroughly about writing the teleplay for the landmark television movie Brian's Song, for which he won an Emmy and a Peabody Award. For Brian's Song, he talks about the casting of the telefilm, researching the real-life people on which it was based, and the audience reaction to the movie. He details his work on the popular 1970s series The Rookies and Starsky and Hutch. For Starsky, Blinn describes his creation of the series and talks about the 2004 feature film adaptation. Blinn speaks in great detail about his work as the head writer of the landmark television miniseries Roots. He talks about working with Roots author Alex Haley on the miniseries outline, talks about cast members, discusses many of the miniseries' dramatic moments, and offers his opinion of its legacy. He also talks about producing the popular series Eight Is Enough and Fame, describing the ups and downs of working on both of these shows. Additionally, he speaks about his teleplay for the movie A Question of Love, one of the first television dramas involving a lesbian theme. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on October 7, 2005 in Encino, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"It's not enough just to tell the truth. Then you're doing the History Channel. There's something to be said for that, but it may not always be compelling. And it's not enough just to be interesting, because then you're doing Paris Hilton and her elephant. You know it'll be interesting, but it's cotton candy. If you can tell the truth in an interesting way, then you accomplished something."

People Talking About ...
William Blinn
Highlights
William Blinn on being hired to be on the writing staff of Bonanza, and on learning from the older writers there
05:34
William Blinn on writing for Here Come the Brides starring Bobby Sherman and David Soul
07:04
William Blinn on the main themes of Roots
01:38
William Blinn on the legacy of Roots
01:56
William Blinn on the death of Diana Hyland, who played the original wife on Eight Is Enough
01:23
William Blinn on what makes a great television episode or pilot
01:52
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on studying acting, and on deciding to become a stage manager instead; on his earliest impressions of television
On seeing the original live Studio One broadcast of "Twelve Angry Men", and on a Studio One anecdote involving Worthington Miner; on his earliest television writing jobs for the westerns Maverick, Laramie, Rawhide, and others; on being hired for the writing staff of Bonanza, and on learning from the older writers there

Chapter 2
On storylines he wrote for Bonanza and the origin of those ideas; on the atmosphere on the set of Bonanza; on the elements and formula of Westerns on television, the "horse-operas" and on the quality of Gunsmoke
On writing for The Invaders; on writing for Here Come the Brides starring Bobby Sherman and David Soul
On writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell; on how he came to adapt Brian's Song for television

Chapter 3
On the title Brian's Song, and on adapting the story; on James Caan as "Brian Piccolo" in Brian's Song; on talking to the real-life people who inspired Brian's Song and on dealing with the racial aspect of the story
On expanding on the short article from which Brian's Song was adapted; on winning an Emmy Award for Brian's Song; on the legacy of Brian's Song
On writing for and producing Aaron Spelling's series The Rookies; on creating Starsky and Hutch

Chapter 4
On the pilot of Starsky and Hutch and the relationship between the lead characters; on his input casting the lead roles on Starsky and Hutch; on "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch, and on the success of the show
On the chemistry between Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul on Starsky and Hutch and the actors fighting for better scripts; on having little control over the scripts on Starsky and Hutch; on the 2004 feature film version of Starsky and Hutch
On the genesis of Roots and on working with Alex Haley; on witnessing Alex Haley tell the story of his family to audiences, and on the challenges of writing the screenplay for Roots and on Alex Haley's input; on being on the set of Roots while it filmed

Chapter 5
On working with Alex Haley on Roots, and on the research that went into the show; on the Roots character "Captain Davies" played by Edward Asner, and on the "Anne Reynolds" character played by Sandy Duncan; on the main themes of Roots
On Roots producers David Wolper and Stan Margulies and his making suggests for directors and cast; on some of his decisions in adapting Roots, and on the other writers on the show including Ernest Kinoy; on the then-new miniseries format that Roots was presented in, and on the "My name is Toby" scene

Chapter 6
On dramatic license taken in Roots; on Roots and network censorship; on specific scenes in Roots and on casting the show
On his criticisms of Roots, and on the success of the show; on public reaction to Roots and the legacy of the show; on Roots: The Next Generations
On adapting Eight Is Enough for television

Chapter 7
On the concept of Eight Is Enough; on the death of Diana Hyland, who played the original wife on Eight Is Enough; on Mark Hamill leaving Eight Is Enough after the pilot episode, and on Betty Buckley joining the cast
On forming a production company with Jerry Thorpe; on the made-for-television movie A Question of Love
On adapting Fame for television; on a typical workweek on Fame

Chapter 8
On working with Debbie Allen on Fame, and on the process of making an episode; on the budget of Fame, and on Gene Anthony Ray as "LeRoy"
On Fame being cancelled by NBC and going into first-run syndication; on the influence of Fame, and on dealing with cast changes on the show; on Debbie Allen as "Lydia Grant" on Fame, and on his leaving the show
On working on Magical World of Disney; on career achievements; on advice to aspiring writers
On what makes a great television episode or pilot; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows

Bonanza

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William Blinn on being hire to be on the writing staff of Bonanza and on learning from the older writers there
William Blinn on storylines he wrote for Bonanza and the origin of those ideas
02:45
William Blinn on the atmosphere on the set of Bonanza
01:43

Brian's Song

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William Blinn on how he came to adapt Brian's Song for television
07:32
William Blinn on the title Brian's Song, and on adapting the story
01:45
William Blinn on James Caan as "Brian Piccolo" in Brian's Song
02:02
William Blinn on talking to the real-life people who inspired Brian's Song
02:16
William Blinn on the reaction to Brian's Song, and on dealing with the racial aspect of the story
03:59
William Blinn on expanding on the short article from which Brian's Song was adapted
03:02
William Blinn on winning an Emmy Award for Brian's Song
04:43
William Blinn on the legacy of Brian's Song
00:42

Eight Is Enough

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William Blinn on adapting Eight Is Enough for television, and on casting the show
08:35
William Blinn on the concept and stories of Eight Is Enough
03:24
William Blinn on the death of Diana Hyland, who played the original wife on Eight Is Enough
01:23
William Blinn on Mark Hamill leaving Eight Is Enough after the pilot episode, and on Betty Buckley joining the cast
04:47
William Blinn on the end of Eight Is Enough
00:26

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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William Blinn on winning an Emmy for Brian's Song
04:43

Fame (1982-87)

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William Blinn on adapting Fame for television
03:30
William Blinn on a typical workweek on Fame
03:19
William Blinn on working with Debbie Allen on Fame, and on the process of making an episode
05:46
William Blinn on the budget of Fame, and on Gene Anthony Ray as "LeRoy"
05:59
William Blinn on Fame being cancelled by NBC and going into first-run syndication
02:32
William Blinn on the influence of Fame, and on dealing with cast changes on the show
03:35
William Blinn on Debbie Allen as "Lydia Grant" on Fame, and on his leaving the show
01:30

Here Come the Brides

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William Blinn on writing for Here Come the Brides starring Bobby Sherman and David Soul
07:03

Interns, The

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William Blinn on writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell
04:01

Invaders, The

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William Blinn on writing for The Invaders
01:21

Laramie

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William Blinn on his earliest television writing jobs for the westerns Maverick, Laramie, Rawhide, and others
03:15

Magical World of Disney

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William Blinn on working on Magical World of Disney
01:42

Maverick

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William Blinn on his earliest television writing jobs for the westerns Maverick, Laramie, Rawhide, and others
03:15

Rawhide

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William Blinn on his earliest television writing jobs for the westerns Maverick, Laramie, Rawhide, and others
03:15

Rookies, The

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William Blinn on writing for and producing Aaron Spelling's series The Rookies
07:15

Roots

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William Blinn on the genesis of Roots and on working with Alex Haley
06:57
William Blinn on witnessing Alex Haley tell the story of his family to audiences, and on the challenges of writing the screenplay for Roots and on Alex Haley's input
05:57
William Blinn on being on the set of Roots while it filmed
02:14
William Blinn on working with Alex Haley on Roots, and on the research that went into the show
03:38
William Blinn on the "Captain Davies" character in Roots, played by Edward Asner, and on the "Anne Reynolds" character played by Sandy Duncan
03:53
William Blinn on the main themes of Roots
01:37
William Blinn on Richard Roundtree playing a difficult scene in Roots as "Sam Bennett"
04:07
William Blinn on Roots producers David Wolper and Stan Margulies and his making suggests for directors and cast
02:00
William Blinn on some of his decisions in adapting Roots, and on the other writers on the show including Ernest Kinoy
08:57
William Blinn on the then-new miniseries format that Roots was presented in, and on the "My name is Toby" scene
04:17
William Blinn on dramatic license taken in Roots
01:32
William Blinn on Roots and network censorship
02:01
William Blinn on specific scenes in Roots
02:49
William Blinn on the casting of Roots
03:08
William Blinn on LeVar Burton as younger "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
01:41
William Blinn on his criticisms of Roots, and on the success of the show
04:05
William Blinn on public reaction to Roots
03:03
William Blinn on the legacy of Roots
01:56

Roots: The Next Generations

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William Blinn on Roots: The Next Generations
00:51

Starsky and Hutch

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William Blinn on creating Starsky and Hutch
02:35
William Blinn on the pilot of Starsky and Hutch and the relationship between the lead characters
03:02
William Blinn on "Starsky's" car on Starsky and Hutch and casting the lead roles
01:15
William Blinn on his input casting the lead roles on Starsky and Hutch
00:37
William Blinn on "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch
01:28
William Blinn on Starsky and Hutch going to series and the success of the pilot episode
01:02
William Blinn on the chemistry between Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul on Starsky and Hutch and the actors fighting for better scripts
02:33
William Blinn on having little control over the scripts on Starsky and Hutch
00:42
William Blinn on the 2004 feature film version of Starsky and Hutch
01:21
William Blinn on Paul Michael Glaser as "Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch
00:48
William Blinn on how he came to have the film rights of Starsky and Hutch
00:41

Studio One

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William Blinn on seeing the original live Studio One broadcast of "Twelve Angry Men", and on a Studio One anecdote involving Worthington Miner
03:56
Topics

Anthology Drama

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William Blinn on seeing the original live Studio One broadcast of "Twelve Angry Men", and on a Studio One anecdote involving Worthington Miner
03:56

Emmy Awards

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William Blinn on winning an Emmy for Brian's Song
04:43

Historic Events and Social Change

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William Blinn on the reaction to Brian's Song, and on dealing with the racial aspect of the story
03:59
William Blinn on "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch
01:28
William Blinn on writing the miniseries Roots
28:30

Memorable Moments on Television

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William Blinn on the then-new miniseries format that Roots was presented in, and on the "My name is Toby" scene
04:17

Representation on Television

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William Blinn on the reaction to Brian's Song, and on dealing with the racial aspect of the story
03:59
William Blinn on "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch
01:28
William Blinn on writing the miniseries Roots
28:30

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

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William Blinn on seeing the original live Studio One broadcast of "Twelve Angry Men", and on a Studio One anecdote involving Worthington Miner
03:56

Underrepresented Voices

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William Blinn on the reaction to Brian's Song, and on dealing with the racial aspect of the story
03:59
William Blinn on "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch
01:28
William Blinn on writing the miniseries Roots
28:30

We Considered

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William Blinn on the then-new miniseries format that Roots was presented in, and on the "My name is Toby" scene
04:17
Professions

Writers

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William Blinn on advice he would give aspiring writers
03:38
William Blinn on advice to aspiring writers
01:20
William Blinn on what makes a great television episode or pilot
01:52
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
William Blinn on seeing the original live Studio One broadcast of "Twelve Angry Men", and on a Studio One anecdote involving Worthington Miner
03:56
William Blinn on working on Magical World of Disney
01:47

Comedy Series

View Genre
William Blinn on writing for Here Come the Brides starring Bobby Sherman and David Soul
07:04
William Blinn on writing Eight Is Enough
08:35
William Blinn on writing Eight Is Enough
10:02

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
William Blinn on writing for and producing Aaron Spelling's series The Rookies
07:15
William Blinn on creating Starsky and Hutch
03:37
William Blinn on Starsky and Hutch
13:31

Drama Series

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William Blinn on writing for Fame
19:22

Medical Dramas

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William Blinn on writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell
04:01

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

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William Blinn on writing for The Invaders
01:21

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
William Blinn on how he came to adapt Brian's Song for television
07:32
William Blinn on adapting Brian's Song
18:30
William Blinn on being a writer on Roots
15:08
William Blinn on writing the miniseries Roots
28:30
William Blinn on writing the miniseries Roots
21:20
William Blinn on the made-for-television movie A Question of Love
06:54

Western Series

View Genre
William Blinn on his earliest television writing jobs for the westerns Maverick, Laramie, Rawhide, and others
03:15
William Blinn on being hired to be on the writing staff of Bonanza, and on learning from the older writers there
05:34
William Blinn on the elements and formula of Westerns on television, the "horse-operas" and on the quality of Gunsmoke
05:10
William Blinn on writing for Bonanza
04:29
People

Debbie Allen

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William Blinn on Debbie Allen as "Lydia Grant" on Fame
01:30

Edward Asner

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William Blinn on the "Captain Davies" character in Roots, played by Edward Asner, and on the "Anne Reynolds" character played by Sandy Duncan
03:53

Betty Buckley

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William Blinn on Betty Buckley joining the cast of Eight Is Enough
02:24

LeVar Burton

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William Blinn on LeVar Burton as younger "Kunta Kinte" on Roots
01:41

James Caan

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William Blinn on James Caan as "Brian Piccolo" in Brian's Song
02:02

Sandy Duncan

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William Blinn on the "Captain Davies" character in Roots, played by Edward Asner, and on the "Anne Reynolds" character played by Sandy Duncan
03:53

Mike Farrell

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William Blinn on writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell
04:01

Paul Michael Glaser

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William Blinn on his input casting Paul Michael Glaser roles on Starsky and Hutch
00:37
William Blinn on the chemistry between Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul on Starsky and Hutch and the actors fighting for better scripts
02:33
William Blinn on Paul Michael Glaser as "Starsky" on Starsky and Hutch
00:48

Alex Haley

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William Blinn on the genesis of Roots and on working with Alex Haley
06:57
William Blinn on witnessing Alex Haley tell the story of his family to audiences, and on the challenges of writing the screenplay for Roots and on Alex Haley's input
05:57

Mark Hamill

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William Blinn on Mark Hamill leaving Eight Is Enough after the pilot episode, and on Betty Buckley joining the cast
02:22

Diana Hyland

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William Blinn on the death of Diana Hyland, who played the original wife on Eight Is Enough
01:23

Ernest Kinoy

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William Blinn on some of his decisions in adapting Roots, and on the other writers on the show including Ernest Kinoy
08:57

Stan Margulies

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William Blinn on Roots producers David Wolper and Stan Margulies
02:00

Worthington Miner

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William Blinn on seeing the original live Studio One broadcast of "Twelve Angry Men", and on a Studio One anecdote involving Worthington Miner
03:56

Gene Anthony Ray

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William Blinn on the budget of Fame, and on Gene Anthony Ray as "LeRoy"
04:12

Richard Roundtree

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William Blinn on Richard Roundtree playing a difficult scene in Roots as "Sam Bennett"
04:07

David Soul

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William Blinn on writing for Here Come the Brides starring Bobby Sherman and David Soul
07:04
William Blinn on his input casting David Soul on Starsky and Hutch
00:37
William Blinn on the chemistry between Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul on Starsky and Hutch and the actors fighting for better scripts
02:33

Aaron Spelling

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William Blinn on writing for and producing Aaron Spelling's series The Rookies
07:15

David L. Wolper

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William Blinn on Roots producers David Wolper and Stan Margulies
02:00

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