"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."

    About This Interview

    In his four-hour 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.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of William Blinn

    William Blinn on being hired to be on the writing staff of Bonanza, and on learning from the older writers there

    05:34
    Thumbnail of William Blinn

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

    07:04
    Thumbnail of William Blinn

    William Blinn on the main themes of Roots

    01:38
    Thumbnail of William Blinn

    William Blinn on the legacy of Roots

    01:56
    Thumbnail of William Blinn

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

    01:23
    Thumbnail of William Blinn

    William Blinn on what makes a great television episode or pilot

    01:52
    Play Full Interview

    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

    17:12

    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

    12:45

    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

    09:39

    On writing for The Invaders; on writing for Here Come the Brides starring Bobby Sherman and David Soul

    08:25

    On writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell; on how he came to adapt Brian's Song for television

    11:34

    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

    10:02

    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

    08:28

    On writing for and producing Aaron Spelling's series The Rookies; on creating Starsky and Hutch

    10:52

    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

    07:24

    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

    06:07

    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

    15:08

    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

    13:16

    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

    15:14

    Chapter 6

    On dramatic license taken in Roots; on Roots and network censorship; on specific scenes in Roots and on casting the show

    11:17

    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

    09:55

    On adapting Eight Is Enough for television

    08:35

    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

    10:02

    On forming a production company with Jerry Thorpe; on the made-for-television movie A Question of Love

    11:19

    On adapting Fame for television; on a typical workweek on Fame

    06:49

    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"

    11:45

    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

    07:37

    On working on Magical World of Disney; on career achievements; on advice to aspiring writers

    05:03

    On what makes a great television episode or pilot; on how he would like to be remembered

    02:16

    Bonanza

    William Blinn on being hire to be on the writing staff of Bonanza and on learning from the older writers there

    35:25

    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

    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

    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)

    William Blinn on winning an Emmy for Brian's Song

    04:43

    Fame (1982-87)

    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

    William Blinn on adapting Fame for television

    03:30

    William Blinn on a typical workweek on Fame

    03:19

    Here Come the Brides

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

    07:03

    Interns, The

    William Blinn on writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell

    04:01

    Invaders, The

    William Blinn on writing for The Invaders

    01:21

    Laramie

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

    03:15

    Magical World of Disney

    William Blinn on working on Magical World of Disney

    01:42

    Maverick

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

    03:15

    Rawhide

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

    03:15

    Rookies, The

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

    07:15

    Roots

    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

    William Blinn on Roots: The Next Generations

    00:51

    Starsky and Hutch

    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

    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

    Anthology Drama

    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

    William Blinn on winning an Emmy for Brian's Song

    04:43

    Historic Events and Social Change

    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

    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

    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)

    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

    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

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

    04:17

    Writers

    William Blinn on advice to aspiring writers

    01:20

    William Blinn on what makes a great television episode or pilot

    01:52

    Classic Anthology Series

    William Blinn on working on Magical World of Disney

    01:47

    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

    Comedy Series

    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

    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

    William Blinn on writing for Fame

    19:22

    Medical Dramas

    William Blinn on writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell

    04:01

    Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

    William Blinn on writing for The Invaders

    01:21

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    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

    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

    Debbie Allen

    William Blinn on Debbie Allen as "Lydia Grant" on Fame

    01:30

    Edward Asner

    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

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

    02:24

    LeVar Burton

    William Blinn on LeVar Burton as younger "Kunta Kinte" on Roots

    01:41

    James Caan

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

    02:02

    Sandy Duncan

    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

    William Blinn on writing for The Interns starring Mike Farrell

    04:01

    Paul Michael Glaser

    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

    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

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

    02:22

    Diana Hyland

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

    01:23

    Ernest Kinoy

    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

    William Blinn on Roots producers David Wolper and Stan Margulies

    02:00

    Worthington Miner

    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

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

    04:12

    Richard Roundtree

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

    04:07

    David Soul

    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

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

    07:15

    David L. Wolper

    William Blinn on Roots producers David Wolper and Stan Margulies

    02:00

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