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MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: IN CONVERSATION...: WRITING AND PERFORMING TELEVISION COMEDY {WITH DICK CAVETT AND BUCK HENRY} {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, presented in New York and moderated by Museum television curator Ron Simon, kicks off a series of three seminars cosponsored by the Writers Guild, East, called "In Conversation...." Each seminar features two writers who engage in a discussion about the craft and process of writing for television. The guests for this seminar are the talk-show host/writer/performer, Dick Cavett, the host of various incarnations of "The Dick Cavett Show" and a writer for "The Tonight Show," among other programs; and the writer/performer Buck Henry, a writer and cast member of "That Was the Week That Was," a creator/story editor of "Get Smart," and a frequent host of "Saturday Night Live." The two writers join Ron Simon on stage for a discussion of the following topics, among others: their early work as actors; the thrill, for a variety show writer, of getting a laugh for the host with a monologue joke; the importance of writing with an ear to the particular host's delivery -- with Cavett's example of writing for Jack Paar in the 1960s; the learning experience, for Cavett, of writing for the many substitute hosts on "The Tonight Show" during the period between the reigns of Paar and Johnny Carson; Cavett's work for Jerry Lewis; Henry's character based on David Susskind; dealing with backlash from angry viewers when a sketch or joke offends; Henry's experiences on "That Was the Week That Was"; the importance of not "asking for a laugh" as a writer or as a performer; and both panelists' experiences hosting "Saturday Night Live." Questions from the seminar audience lead to comments on the following topics, among others: the challenges of being a talk-show interviewer; Henry's show business roots; Lorne Michaels's ill-fated "The New Show" on which Henry was a regular; Henry's involvement with "Get Smart"; Lorne Michaels's "media crucifixion" over the perceived decline of "Saturday Night Live" in recent seasons; Cavett's experience of having a guest die during a televised interview; the personal nature of the boundaries of taste in comedy; and writing physical comedy.

During the seminar, Simon screens clips of the Cavett's and Henry's writing and performance work, including segments from "Saturday Night Live, " "The New Steve Allen Show," "That Was the Week That Was," "Get Smart," and "The Dick Cavett Show," among others.

Details

  • NETWORK: Paley
  • DATE: May 9, 1996 6:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:33:59
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:43055
  • GENRE: Seminars
  • SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Ron Simon … Moderator
  • Dick Cavett … Panelist
  • Buck Henry … Panelist