Latest News from The Interviews

Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall

Our Day with “Laverne” & “Shirley” - All Our Dreams Come True

 Wed, 01/27/2016 All our dreams came true one summer day when we got a call from the Archive of American Television asking us if we wanted to interview not just “Laverne” OR “Shirley” but “Laverne” AND “Shirley.” Together. In the same room. How could we say no? We fell in love with “Laverne DeFazio” and “Shirley Feeney” from the first time they graced our TV screens on Happy Days . It all happened when “Laverne” asked uber-clean-cut “Richie Cunningham” about his hankie. “Is that for showin’ or for blowin’?”...
The Tortellis

Spin-offs: The Good, The Bad, and "The Tortellis"

 Tue, 01/26/2016 One thing remains constant in the ever-changing landscape of American Television: where there’s a successful series, there is always the possibility of a spin-off. The temptation to remove a supporting character and give him/her a series of their own is always strong. But it can be a dangerous proposition. You’re removing one of the elements that made the parent show a success, and television history is littered with failed spin-offs. But some succeed and in rare instances surpass the ratings...
Hill Street Blues

"Hill Street Blues" Turns 35 (And You Still Know The Theme Song By Heart)

 Fri, 01/15/2016 It was a gritty cop show. It had one of the catchiest title songs of all time. And today it turns 35. MTM's police drama Hill Street Blues debuted on January 15, 1981, and we've been humming its unforegettable theme ever since. The Hill Street Blues score was the work of composer Mike Post . Watch as he, co-creator Steven Bochco , and pilot director Robert Butler discuss the magic of the music. Here's the famous title theme. WARNING: if you click below, you will likely have this tune in your...
Tony Clifton on Taxi

Archive Perspectives: Andy Kaufman as Tony Clifton

 Thu, 12/17/2015 While cataloging interviews for The Archive of American Television, I hear about some topics from different perspectives. For example, we have Meta Rosenberg , Roy Huggins , and James Garner all discussing The Rockford Files . Each gave us a different perspective on the history of the show and what it was like to work on it. Often in those cases a straight narrative develops, but sometimes a sort of “Rashomon” situation happens with different participants telling differing accounts. It is left...
Judith Light

The Many Roles of Judith Light

 Wed, 12/02/2015 Perhaps you know her as "Shelley Pfefferman" on Transparent , as "Angela Bower" on Who's The Boss? , or as "Karen Wolek" on One Life to Live . Or maybe you recognize her from her stage work in "Wit" or "Other Desert Cities." Judith Light has quite the acting resume, and we were happy to delve into all of it in her recent Archive interview. She shares memories of her childhood in Trenton, talks about her struggles as a young actress trying to find her way, and details her career-changing role as...
David Canary

Remembering David Canary

 Wed, 11/25/2015 We're sad to learn that actor David Canary passed away from natural causes on November 16, 2015 at the age of 77. Canary was best known for playing the dual role of twins "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on the daytime soap opera All My Children . Before All My Children , Canary appeared as a regular on primetime's Peyton Place , played "Candy Canaday" on Bonanza , and had roles on the soap operas The Doctors and Another World . Below are some selections from his 2004 Archive interview: On...
Norman Lloyd

Happy 101st Birthday, Norman Lloyd!

 Sun, 11/08/2015 Acting, directing, producing - longevity in any one of these endeavors is impressive. Norman Lloyd has flourished in all three. The sheer number of credits to his name are staggering by any measure, even for someone turning 101 years old. He has worked extensively with such luminaries as Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles and in such varied mediums as theater, radio, film, and, of course, television. His very first television role was back in 1939 in a live production of Anthony Mann’s The...
Phyllis Diller

The Archive’s Funny Ladies

 Fri, 11/06/2015 In the course of working for the Archive, I encounter our interviewees talking about just about every genre imaginable, from drama, to animation, to service shows (that would be your Julia Childs and your Bill Nyes ). But my ears perk and I sit up a little straighter when someone starts talking about comedy. Funny women always have been a vital element on television. From Lucille Ball to Tina Fey, women and comedy on television are inexorably linked. Whether providing excellent support (Audrey...