Latest News from The Interviews

Richard Coogan

Remembering Richard Coogan

 Thu, 03/13/2014 We're sad to hear of the passing of actor Richard Coogan , who died Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at the age of 99. Coogan started his broadcast career as a radio announcer and began making appearances on television as early as 1945 as an all-around announcer and news anchor in the final days of World War II. From 1949-55 Coogan starred as "Captain Video" in the low budget DuMont hit, Captain Video and His Video Rangers , a favorite of children and adults alike. Coogan also enjoyed a busy Broadway...
Ted Bergmann

Remembering Ted Bergmann

 Mon, 03/10/2014 We're sad to learn of the passing of Television and Advertising Executive Ted Bergmann , who died on March 2, 2014 at the age of 93. Bergmann started his career as an NBC page, but soon went to work in advertising sales for DuMont, eventually becoming Managing Director of the Broadcast Division. He sold DuMont's Life Is Worth Living (with Bishop Fulton Sheen), Life Begins at Eighty , and Cavalcade of Stars , among other programs, and negotiated DuMont's deals for carrying live boxing and NFL...
Michael J. Fox

Feel Good Friday: Michael J. Fox And His Grandmother Dreamed A Dream

 Fri, 03/07/2014 In his Archive of American Television interview, Michael J. Fox reveals that he was somewhat of an "oddity" in his family, interested in writing and creative pursuits much more so than any of his four siblings. With his parents' blessing, Fox dropped out of high school senior year to pursue acting - something he admits was bold of his parents to allow. He shares a great story of why he has his grandmother to thank for his parents' faith in him: Thanks, Grandma, for believing in him and giving...
Stanley Rubin

Remembering Stanley Rubin

 Wed, 03/05/2014 We're sad to learn of the passing of producer Stanley Rubin , who died in his sleep at the age of 96 this past Sunday, March 2, 2014. Rubin started his career in the mailroom at Paramount Pictures and served as a reader for several studios, including Universal. He transitioned to screenwriting and ultimately producing with the now-classic 1952 film noir, "The Narrow Margin," and wrote 19 movies throughout his career. Rubin also produced the television anthology series Your Show Time . With...
Hank Rieger

Remembering Hank Rieger

 Wed, 03/05/2014 We're sad to hear that Publicity Executive and former Television Academy President Hank Rieger passed away this morning. Rieger was 95 years old. He started his career in publicity at United Press (where he scooped the AP on coverage of Marilyn Monroe's death) and soon moved on to NBC, where he rose through the ranks to become the first Vice President of Publicity from 1965-1980. Among his duties at NBC: promoting color television and overseeing publicity for the network's top stars, including...
J. Michael Straczynski

5 Things You Didn't Know About J. Michael Straczynski

 Tue, 03/04/2014 You may know that he created Babylon 5 . And perhaps you know that he wrote for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe , Jake and the Fatman , and Murder, She Wrote . Here are a few other things you may not know about J. Michael Straczynski : 1. He met Rod Serling. Rod Serling was a guest at Career Day during Straczynski's senior year of high school. Serling read one of Straczynski's short stories and told him, "You have a substantial and abiding talent for a person of your age. Two suggestions...
Sex and the City finale

The Sex and the City Finale: Go Big and Go Home

 Sat, 02/22/2014 Carrie has now been with Big for ten years. Ten years! Yep, it's been a full decade since Sex and the City aired its final episode, "An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)" , on February 22, 2004. The characters we loved all had nice tie-ups for their storylines in the finale: Samantha is cancer free and embracing a serious relationship with Smith. Charlotte and Harry are adopting a little girl from China. Miranda shows her softer side and cares for her ailing mother-in-law. And last, but...
George Burns and Gracie Allen

Feel Good Friday: George Burns' Final Tribute to Gracie Allen

 Thu, 02/13/2014 They were a hit on Vaudeville, radio, television, and film. Husband and wife team George Burns and Gracie Allen were two of comedy's finest. They were some of the earliest stars to come to television, way back in 1950 with The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show , and their straight man/ditzy gal routine won them several generations worth of fans. We didn't get a chance to interview the pair for the Archive - Allen passed away in 1964, Burns in 1996 - but we did interview Burns' manager, Irving...