Latest News from The Interviews

TV Writer & Historian Max Wilk Has Died

 Sat, 02/26/2011 Max Wilk, who wrote for and about the "Golden Age of Television," has died at the age of 90. Wilk contributed to such early TV series as Philco TV Playhouse , Starring Boris Karloff , and Mama . Max Wilk's Archive Interview was conducted on November 15, 2000. Interview Description: Max Wilk (1920-2011) was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours in Westport, CT. Wilk briefly described his beginnings as a writer in radio, touring with Irving Berlin’s “This Is the Army” during World War II, and his...

M*A*S*H's "The Interview" Aired 35 Years Ago Today

 Thu, 02/24/2011 On February 24, 1976, one of M*A*S*H 's most well known episodes aired, "The Interview." In "The Interview," TV journalist Clete Roberts guest-starred as a newsman who visits the 4077 M*A*S*H unit where he conducts interviews with the "cast" about their wartime experiences. This episode was presented in black-and-white to emphasize its documentary style; the use of black-and-white turned out to be apropos when it became an instant classic. The inspiration for the show came from legendary...

Former "Meet the Press" Moderator Bill Monroe Has Died

Thu, 02/17/2011 Bill Monroe was the executive producer and moderator of Meet the Press from 1975-1984; he formerly worked as NBC's Washington D.C. bureau chief. Interview description: Bill Monroe was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours in Bethesda, MD. Monroe talked about growing up in New Orleans where he became a print and radio journalist. He spoke about his first job in television at WDSU-TV, where, as news director, he instituted the use of television cameras in the state legislature and pioneered the...

TV Academy Foundation and "Variety" host the 2011 TV Summit

 Wed, 02/16/2011 The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation and "Variety" hosted the day-long 2011 TV Summit yesterday at the Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles. As people move to watch TV whenever and wherever they want - through smartphones, tablets, computers and other platforms - traditional advertising revenue models are disrupted. The TV Summit covered ways for the industry to continue to make quality content and be a vibrant money-making business at the same time. Among the days' panelists...

Versatile actress Betty Garrett dies at 91

 Mon, 02/14/2011 Betty Garrett, star of stage, film and television passed away at 91 in Los Angeles on Saturday. She was best known in television as Archie Bunker's energetic neighbor Irene Lorenzo on All in the Family , then later as Laverne & Shirley's landlady (and later Laverne's mother-in-law) Edna Babish. Here's a playlist of some of the highlights in her 2003 Archive interview: Her full interview is available here . Interview Description: Actress Betty Garrett (1919-2011) talked about her early years...

Longtime "Sesame Street" Writer Tony Geiss Has Died

 Mon, 01/31/2011 Tony Geiss, a key collaborator on Sesame Street for which he was awarded several Emmy Awards, has died at the age of 86. Click here for his New York Times obituary . Click here for Tony Geiss' full Archive interview . Interview description: Tony Geiss was interviewed for one-and-a-half hours at the Sesame Workshop in New York, NY. Geiss spoke in great detail about his 28-year association as a writer of the classic children’s series Sesame Street . He described the basics of writing for the show...

Jack LaLanne-- Fitness Guru and TV Legend-- Has Died at age 96

 Mon, 01/24/2011 Jack LaLanne's fitness shows spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, and earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Interview description: Jack LaLanne was interviewed for two hours in Morro Bay, CA. He spoke about his youth as a gawky teenager, and how his interest in bodybuilding transformed him into a fitness guru. He chronicled the founding of his gym and the creation of his syndicated Jack LaLanne Show . He talked about the production and format of the long-running show as well as the...

New from "The Archive of American Television Presents" DVD Series - "John Gielgud's Ages of Man"

Tue, 01/18/2011 “All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players." –William Shakespeare, As You Like It The latest release in "The Archive of American Television Presents" DVD series is now available. The art of acting has rarely been demonstrated with such brilliance as in Sir John Gielgud's Ages of Man . Adapted from George Rylands’s anthology, the one-man performance features a selection of Shakespearean soliloquies and sonnets exploring the journey of life from birth to death. Showcasing...

Let’s Be Careful Out There: "Hill Street Blues" Turns 30

 Fri, 01/14/2011 30 years ago, on January 15, 1981, Hill Street Blues premiered. The series redefined the “cop genre,” yet was nearly canceled for low ratings! The series was the lowest-rated series that NBC had ever renewed (ranking at #87 of 96 of all prime-time shows). This first season then set the record for most Emmy nominations (21) and wins (8) in a single season. Created by Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll and produced by fabled MTM Enterprises, Hill Street Blues would win the Emmy for Best Drama...