First Big Break The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents 02:26 Tabs About “Breck is a very important part of my career. I did that commercial and I'm swinging my hair around and Glen Larson saw me on that and said I want her to be a lead in a McCloud.” - Jaclyn Smith, Actress Interviewees discuss how they got their start in the entertainment industry. Related topics Pivotal Career Moments Highlights Jaclyn Smith on being a "Breck Girl" and appearing on McCloud Norman Stiles on going to write for Sesame Street Edie Falco on how she got her first agent Martin Manulis on being hired by CBS Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday Who talked about this topic Chris AlbrechtView Interview Chris Albrecht on becoming President of Original Programming at HBO Jason AlexanderView Interview Jason Alexander on performing in "Jerome Robbins Broadway" Jason Alexander on being cast in The Seinfeld Chronicles, the pilot to Seinfeld Robert G. AndersonView Interview Robert G. Anderson on being rejected by television news stations as an on-air correspondent, and realizing he could be a producer Dick AskinView Interview Dick Askin on his first job in television Rona BarrettView Interview Rona Barrett on breaking into television Samantha BeeView Interview Samantha Bee on auditioning for and being hired as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Rick BermanView Interview Rick Berman on his early days in Los Angeles going to work at Warner Bros. and Paramount Allan BlyeView Interview Allan Blye on how a call from Tom Smothers led to him moving to the United States from Canada Vin Di BonaView Interview Vin Di Bona on his first television job at WBZ in Boston and becoming a director Kevin BrightView Interview Kevin Bright on his first job after graduating from Emerson College David BrinkleyView Interview David Brinkley on being hired by NBC Radio Connie BrittonView Interview Connie Britton on being cast as "Heather" on Ellen Harvey BullockView Interview Harvey Bullock on coming to write for The Andy Griffith Show Vince CalandraView Interview Vince Calandra on his big break into entertainment - getting a job in the CBS mailroom without having an Ivy League degree David CanaryView Interview David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor Jim CantoreView Interview Jim Cantore on being hired by The Weather Channel Charles CapplemanView Interview Charles Cappleman on becoming a stage manager at CBS Josie CareyView Interview Josie Carey on being hired by WQED before the station went on the air Glenn Gordon CaronView Interview Glenn Gordon Caron on getting his big break at NBC - the unaired pilot The God Squad RuPaul CharlesView Interview RuPaul Charles on his breakthrough hit song "Supermodel" Roy ClarkView Interview Roy Clark on his first television appearance, on the local series The Hayloft Conservatory of Musical Interpretation Kevin ClashView Interview Kevin Clash on going to work on Sesame Street full time Alf ClausenView Interview Alf Clausen on being a copyist for The Carol Burnett Show and various feature films Barbara CordayView Interview Barbara Corday on pitching a series with Barbara Avedon Pierre CossetteView Interview Pierre Cossette on the first music shows he produced Ron CowenView Interview Ron Cowen on the first play he wrote, "Summertree", which was championed by his college professor Jerome Lawrence, developed at the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, and optioned by Lincoln Center before being made into a movie Douglas S. CramerView Interview Douglas S. Cramer on working at Procter & Gamble Ann CurryView Interview Ann Curry on being hired by NBC News, and on moving from reporting to anchoring Jane CurtinView Interview Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live Greg DanielsView Interview Greg Daniels on writing for Not Necessarily the News with Conan O'Brien Tony DanzaView Interview Tony Danza on getting his first acting job on Fast Lane Blues Bill DavisView Interview Bill Davis on his first job at the Canadian Broadcasting Company Elias DavisView Interview Elias Davis and David Pollock on their first big break as writers for Pat Buttram on the radio Louis DorfsmanView Interview Louis Dorfsman on meeting CBS President Frank Stanton and being hired at CBS Betty Cole DukertView Interview Betty Cole Dukert on how she came to join Meet the Press as a producer Rebecca EatonView Interview Rebecca Eaton on her first producing job, on an arts magazine show on WGBH radio in Boston Jeff FagerView Interview Jeff Fager on his first job out of college, at the NBC affiliate WBZ in Boston Edie FalcoView Interview Edie Falco on how she got her first agent Julian FellowesView Interview Julian Fellowes on writing the feature film "Gosford Park" for director Robert Altman Tom FontanaView Interview Tom Fontana on how he came to write for St. Elsewhere after being discovered by Bruce Paltrow and Blythe Danner Albert FreedmanView Interview Albert Freedman on his big break - writing for Groucho Marx on You Bet Your Life Harry FriedmanView Interview Harry Friedman on moving to Los Angeles and being hired to write for Hollywood Squares Chuck FriesView Interview Chuck Fries on going to work for Ziv Productions and moving to California Sandra GimpelView Interview Sandra Gimpel on her first big job: as a dancer in the Fred Astaire movie "The Pleasure of His Company" Paul Michael GlaserView Interview Paul Michael Glaser on getting cast in Love of Life, appearing in the feature film "Fiddler on the Roof" and being put off by acting in film Lesli Linka GlatterView Interview Lesli Linka Glatter on being tapped by Steven Spielberg to direct Amazing Stories, and on shadowing many directors on that show Gary David GoldbergView Interview Gary David Goldberg on his mentor, Nate Monaster Carl GottliebView Interview Carl Gottlieb on being hired to write for The Summer Brothers Smothers Show Walon GreenView Interview Walon Green on meeting David Milch and going to write for Hill Street Blues Hal GurneeView Interview Hal Gurnee on his first television job, at the DuMont Television Network as a page Danette HermanView Interview Danette Herman on her first television job on the Dick Clark series Where the Action Is Lee HoldridgeView Interview Lee Holdridge on a seminal career moment: his involvement in scoring the film Jonathan Livingston Seagull Ellen HollyView Interview Ellen Holly on being discovered as an actress by Charlotte Perry Ellen Holly on appearing as "Stephanie" in the Broadway production of "Too Late the Phalarope" Felicity HuffmanView Interview Felicity Huffman on appearing on an ABC Afterschool Special called "Home Run for Love" when she was fifteen Felicity Huffman on appearing on the Stephen King miniseries Golden Years, which she considers her first big break Kim HunterView Interview Kim Hunter on playing "Stella Kowalski" in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Broadway in on film David IsaacsView Interview Ken Levine and David Isaacs on selling their first script, a spec for The Jeffersons Al JeanView Interview Al Jean on getting his first job in television Geri JewellView Interview Geri Jewell on how a college friend inspired her to try stand-up comedy at the Comedy Store, which led to her breaking into television Hal KanterView Interview Hal Kanter on his first big break writing for Eddie Cantor and other comedians on radio Elodie KeeneView Interview Elodie Keene on editing Tales of the Unexpected for Norman Lloyd David E. KelleyView Interview David E. Kelley on meeting Steven Bochco and interviewing to work on L.A. Law Walter KoenigView Interview Walter Koenig on being cast as "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek and making the character Russian Lucy LawlessView Interview Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Norman LearView Interview Norman Lear on how he schemed to reach out to Danny Thomas and write a bit for him that turned out to be his big break Jack LemmonView Interview Jack Lemmon on his first big break on the radio Ken LevineView Interview Ken Levine and David Isaacs on selling their first script, a spec for The Jeffersons Barry LevinsonView Interview Barry Levinson on writing and performing with Craig T. Nelson on Lohman and Barkley Hal LindenView Interview Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday James LiptonView Interview James Lipton on appearing on "The Lone Ranger" radio show at age 12 Susan LucciView Interview Susan Lucci on auditioning for the character of "Erica Kane" on All My Children and finding out she got the part Stewart MacGregoryView Interview Stewart MacGregory on going to work for NBC television Gavin MacLeodView Interview Gavin McLeod on the first Broadway play he appeared in "A Hat Full of Rain" Robert MacNeilView Interview Robert MacNeil on how he came to work for NBC Jodi MancusoView Interview Jodi Mancuso on how she started working as a hair stylist on Saturday Night Live Barry ManilowView Interview Barry Manilow on becoming the musical director for the local WCBS series Call Back Martin ManulisView Interview Martin Manulis on being hired by CBS John A. MartinelliView Interview John Martinelli on assistant editing The Lawrence Welk Show Rue McClanahanView Interview Rue McClanahan on being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude David MilchView Interview David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues Millie MooreView Interview Millie Moore on her first big break - working on the travelogue documentaries of Jack Douglas Bob NewhartView Interview Bob Newhart on his big break at the local Chicago Emmy Awards and recording his first comedy album Bob Newhart on his national big break at the 1960 Emmy Awards Laraine NewmanView Interview Laraine Newman on performing on The Lily Tomlin Special Edward James OlmosView Interview Edward James Olmos on being cast as "Martin Castillo" on Miami Vice Lori OpendenView Interview Lori Openden on getting hired as a secretary on Barnery Miller and getting interested in casting Bernie OrensteinView Interview Bernie Orenstein on how he got his start in show business: he dropped out of college after appearing in a University of Toronto show called "The All Varsity Revue" Bernie Orenstein on how his first writing job on a Canadian variety show produced by Norman Jewison led to his moving to New York City and writing for Candid Camera Alan PerrisView Interview Alan Perris on his first television job at PBS station WVIZ in Cleveland David PollockView Interview Elias Davis and David Pollock on their first big break as writers for Pat Buttram on the radio Fred RogersView Interview Fred Rogers on being hired at WQED to work in educational television Stanley Ralph RossView Interview Stanley Ralph Ross on becoming in-demand as a writer after being hired to write for Batman Marion RossView Interview Actress Marion Ross on her first television role, on Life with Father starring Leon Ames Mark RothmanView Interview Mark Rothman on his first professional writing job on The Mike Douglas Show Thomas Del RuthView Interview Thomas Del Ruth on his working as an assistant cameraman at 20th Century Fox and learning his way around a camera Joseph SargentView Interview Joseph Sargent on his first directing job on the series Lassie Bob SchiefferView Interview Bob Schieffer on moving to Washington, D.C. and on going to work for CBS News John ShaffnerView Interview John Shaffner on starting out in television John Shaffner on his big break in television in first run-syndication Nina ShawView Interview NIna Shaw on her involvement in The Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment Mentorship Program and the importance of mentorship Treva SilvermanView Interview Treva Silverman on writing for the variety series The Entertainers, starring Carol Burnett Sam SimonView Interview Sam Simon on how he came to write for Taxi John SingletonView Interview John Singleton on getting his first agent based on the strength of the screenplay to "Boyz N the Hood" Yeardley SmithView Interview Yeardley Smith on how she got her first New York agent Yeardley Smith on her Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" directed by Mike Nichols G.E. SmithView Interview G.E. Smith on playing guitar for Hall & Oates and appearing with them on Saturday Night Live Jaclyn SmithView Interview Jaclyn Smith on being a "Breck Girl" and appearing on McCloud Mark SnowView Interview Mark Snow on The Rookies being the first show he worked on and getting the job through his then-brother-in-law, Georg Stanford Brown Darren StarView Interview Darren Star on how his first industry job, as an assistant at the public relations firm Guttman & Pam, led to his first break: selling a film script to Warner Bros. Darren Star on the serendipitous events early on his career that led to his first big break, including working at Showtime for Peter Chernin, who later became the decision maker on Beverly Hills, 90210 at Fox Jeremy StevensView Interview Jeremy Stevens on his first writing job for television on The Skitch Henderson Show Norman StilesView Interview Norman Stiles on going to write for Sesame Street Jeffrey TamborView Interview Jeffrey Tambor on appearing on Kojak, his first television role Nina TasslerView Interview Nina Tassler on how agent David Windsor helped her to see her potential to become an agent Daniel J. TravantiView Interview Daniel J. Travanti on finding out he was cast on Hill Street Blues Saul TurteltaubView Interview Saul Turteltaub on forming a comedy team with a college friend and getting hired to perform at Catskills resorts Saul Turteltaub on dating Shari Lewis (then Phyllis Hurwitz) at summer camp as a kid and calling her up for a writing job when he saw her on television in 1957 Leslie UggamsView Interview Leslie Uggams on how she began performing at the Apollo Theater when she was nine years-old Leslie Uggams on getting her start in television as a child on The Milton Berle Show and other variety shows Tracey UllmanView Interview Tracey Ullman on she transitioned from dance into acting early in her career, and on being cast in the play "Four in a Million" by Les Blair, which was improvised and how that led to her being cast on a sketch show on the BBC Tracey Ullman on the first sketch show she was on, Three of a Kind Bruce VilanchView Interview Bruce Vilanch on his first job, writing for Bette Midler Keenen Ivory WayansView Interview Keenen Ivory Wayans on appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson; his childhood idol- and what it meant for him personally "like stepping into your dream"; on being asked to sit with Johnny after his act Ellen WheelerView Interview Ellen Wheeler on being cast as "Marley Love Hudson McKinnon" on Another World Cindy WilliamsView Interview Cindy Williams on the effect the film "American Graffiti" had on her career and her fame Hugh WilsonView Interview Hugh Wilson on going to work for Armstrong and how he started in television at MTM Productions Ben WolfView Interview Ben Wolf on his first television job as a cameraman at KLAC Bud YorkinView Interview Bud Yorkin on his big break becoming director of The Colgate Comedy Hour at the behest of Pat Weaver Lauren ZalaznickView Interview Lauren Zalaznick on working on her first feature film, "Compromising Positions" Jeff ZuckerView Interview Jeff Zucker on getting his first job after college, as an Olympic Researcher for NBC Alan ZweibelView Interview Alan Zweibel on meeting Lorne Michaels and being hired to write for Saturday Night Live