About
"Comedy resists description. It's hard to describe what it is and what makes it what it is. But when it works, it works great."
In his two-hour interview, Harvey Bullock (1921-2006) talks about his early love of writing and breaking into the business in radio and, with partner Ray Allen, early television. Bullock describes working on several programs, including his stint on Today with Dave Garroway. Bullock speaks fondly about his work as one of the key writers of the sitcom classic The Andy Griffith Show. For this series, Bullock talks about each of the series cast members, teleplays he wrote (including the classics "The Pickle Story" and "Opie the Birdman"), and what the series meant to him. Bullock then speaks about several later series he worked on into the mid-1980s. B-roll consists of several stills from The Andy Griffith Show. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 6, 2005 in Dana Point, CA.
Highlights
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman"
Harvey Bullock on the process of writing scripts for The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on deciding he wanted to be a writer
Harvey Bullock on advice to aspiring writers and comedy writers
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on deciding he wanted to be a writer; on getting his start in television
On working with Abe Burrows in radio; on writing for The Robert Q. Lewis Show on radio and working for Dave Garroway
On writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman"; on writing the various characters on The Andy Griffith Show; on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show
Chapter 2
On Andy Griffith's involvement in writing The Andy Griffith Show; on writing for Don Knotts as "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show; on Ron Howard as "Opie Taylor" on the show
On the supporting cast of The Andy Griffith Show; on working with producer Sheldon Leonard on The Andy Griffith Show; on the process of writing the show
On the directors of The Andy Griffith Show; on writing various memorable episodes of The Andy Griffith Show
Chapter 3
On The Andy Griffith Show episode "Andy's English Valet"; on The Andy Griffith Show episode "The Legend of Barney Fife" and leaving the show; on writing Return to Mayberry
On the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show; on working with Dave Garroway on the Today show and on meeting his wife while working on the show; on writing for Johnny Carson on Who Do You Trust?, and on writing for McKeever & the Colonel; on working with Gertrude Berg and Walter Winchell
Chapter 4
On writing for The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan; on working with Joseph Barbera and Bill Hanna; on writing for Hogan's Heroes, Love, American Style, and Alice
On being a producer on The Love Boat; on working with Elvis Presley on the feature "Girl Happy"
On his writing style; on advice to aspiring writers and comedy writers; on how he'd like to be remembered
Chapter 5
On b-roll pictures from his career- with Andy Griffith; Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, and a goat; Andy Griffith and Ron Howard filming "Opie the Birdman"; Andy Griffith with Harvey Bullock's son Andy; animation cell from The Flintstones; at the TV Land Awards with the cast and crew of The Andy Griffith Show; portrait of Harvey Bullock; with wife Betty at the TV Land Awards
Shows
Alice
Harvey Bullock on writing for Alice
Andy Griffith Show, The
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman"
Harvey Bullock on coming to write for The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on writing the various characters on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Andy Griffith's involvement in writing The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on writing for Don Knotts as "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Ron Howard as "Opie Taylor" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Frances Bavier as "Aunt Bea" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Howard McNear as "Floyd the Barber" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Jim Nabors as "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on working with producer Sheldon Leonard on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on the process of writing scripts for The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on the directors of The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie's Hobo Friend"
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "The Pickle Story"
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "One Punch Opie" and "Barney's" catchphrase "Nip it in the bud"
Harvey Bullock on The Andy Griffith Show episode "Andy's English Valet"
Harvey Bullock on The Andy Griffith Show episode "The Legend of Barney Fife" and leaving The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show
Hogan's Heroes
Harvey Bullock on writing for Hogan's Heroes
Love Boat, The
Harvey Bullock on being a producer on The Love Boat
Love, American Style
Harvey Bullock on writing for Love, American Style
McKeever & the Colonel
Harvey Bullock on writing Who Do You Trust?, and on writing for McKeever & the Colonel
Real McCoys, The
Harvey Bullock on writing for The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan
Return to Mayberry
Harvey Bullock on writing Return to Mayberry
Robert Q. Lewis Show, The
Harvey Bullock on writing for The Robert Q. Lewis Show on radio and for Dave Garroway
Today
Harvey Bullock on working with Dave Garroway on the Today show and on meeting his wife while working on the show
Who Do You Trust?
Harvey Bullock on writing for Johnny Carson on Who Do You Trust?, and on writing McKeever & the Colonel
Topics
Advice
Harvey Bullock on advice to aspiring writers and comedy writers
Characters & Catchphrases
Harvey Bullock on writing for Don Knotts as "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Jim Nabors as "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "One Punch Opie" and "Barney's" catchphrase "Nip it in the bud"
Classic TV Series Episodes
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman" starring Andy Griffith and Ron Howard
Comedy
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman" starring Andy Griffith and Ron Howard
First Big Break
Harvey Bullock on coming to write for The Andy Griffith Show
Pivotal Career Moments
Harvey Bullock on coming to write for The Andy Griffith Show
Pop Culture
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman" starring Andy Griffith and Ron Howard
Harvey Bullock on writing for Don Knotts as "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Jim Nabors as "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "One Punch Opie" and "Barney's" catchphrase "Nip it in the bud"
Television Industry
Harvey Bullock on advice to aspiring writers and comedy writers
Professions
Writers
Harvey Bullock on the process of writing scripts for The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on his writing style
Harvey Bullock on advice to aspiring writers and comedy writers
Genres
Comedy Series
Harvey Bullock on writing for The Andy Griffith Show (Part 1)
Harvey Bullock on writing for The Andy Griffith Show (Part 2)
Harvey Bullock on writing for The Andy Griffith Show (Part 3)
Harvey Bullock on writing for Johnny Carson on Who Do You Trust?, and on writing McKeever & the Colonel
Harvey Bullock on writing for Hogan's Heroes
Harvey Bullock on writing for Love, American Style
Harvey Bullock on writing for Alice
Harvey Bullock on being a producer on The Love Boat
Game Shows
Harvey Bullock on writing for Johnny Carson on Who Do You Trust?, and on writing McKeever & the Colonel
News and Documentary
Harvey Bullock on working with Dave Garroway on the Today show and on meeting his wife while working on the show
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Harvey Bullock on writing Return to Mayberry
Western Series
Harvey Bullock on writing for The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan
People
Joseph Barbera
Harvey Bullock on working with Joseph Barbera and Bill Hanna
Frances Bavier
Harvey Bullock on Frances Bavier as "Aunt Bea" on The Andy Griffith Show
Gertrude Berg
Harvey Bullock on working with Gertrude Berg and Walter Winchell
Walter Brennan
Harvey Bullock on writing for The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan
Abe Burrows
Harvey Bullock on working with Abe Burrows in radio
Johnny Carson
Harvey Bullock on writing for Johnny Carson on Who Do You Trust?, and on writing McKeever & the Colonel
Dave Garroway
Harvey Bullock on working with Dave Garroway on the Today show and on meeting his wife while writing for the show
Andy Griffith
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman" starring Andy Griffith and Ron Howard
Harvey Bullock on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show
Harvey Bullock on Andy Griffith's involvement in writing The Andy Griffith Show
William Hanna
Harvey Bullock on working with Joseph Barbera and Bill Hanna
Ron Howard
Harvey Bullock on writing The Andy Griffith Show episode "Opie the Birdman" starring Andy Griffith and Ron Howard
Harvey Bullock on Ron Howard as "Opie Taylor" on The Andy Griffith Show
Don Knotts
Harvey Bullock on writing for Don Knotts as "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
Linda Lavin
Harvey Bullock on writing for Alice starring Linda Lavin
Sheldon Leonard
Harvey Bullock on working with producer Sheldon Leonard on The Andy Griffith Show
Howard McNear
Harvey Bullock on Howard McNear as "Floyd the Barber" on The Andy Griffith Show
Jim Nabors
Harvey Bullock on Jim Nabors as "Gomer Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show
Elvis Presley
Harvey Bullock on working with Elvis Presley on the feature "Girl Happy"
Walter Winchell
Harvey Bullock on working with Gertrude Berg and Walter Winchell