Mel Tolkin
Mel Tolkin | |
---|---|
Born | Shmuel Tolchinsky August 3, 1913 Near Writers Guild of America Awards |
Mel Tolkin (
Tolkin, who won an
Biography
Early life and career
Mel Tolkin was born Shmuel Tolchinsky
A background of
His family moved to
During
Your Show of Shows
Considered by TV historians as a classic of the medium,
Tolkin, famously fought, argued, quipped, crafted, "paced, muttered, swore, occasionally typed and more than occasionally threw things: crumpled paper cups, cigars (lighted) and much else.[9] The acoustical-tile ceiling was fringed with pencils, which had been flung aloft in a rage and stuck fast; Mr. Tolkin once counted 39 of them suspended there".[1]
The series quickly settled into a starring quartet of Caesar, Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris. Many of its sketches became classics that found a new audience beginning in 1973, when the show's producer-director, Max Liebman, compiled the theatrical film release 10 From Your Show of Shows. Tolkin continued writing on an acclaimed successor series, Caesar's Hour, which ran September 27, 1954 through 1957. He also wrote the theme song for Your Show of Shows, "Stars Over Broadway".[1]
Later life and career
Tolkin wrote for the 1968–1970
Tolkin died of
Other writing
Tolkin also wrote comedy for the standup comics and nightclub entertainers Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye, and Danny Thomas, who later became stars.[1]
Awards
Tolkin received a
Tolkin and co-writers
With writing partner Larry Rhine, Tolkin shared a 1978 Humanitas Prize for 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television, for the All in the Family episode "The Brother". Rhine and Tolkin also shared a 1977 nomination in that category, for the All in the Family episode "Archie's Brief Encounter - Part II".[13][14]
- 1965: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy
- The Danny Kaye Show (1963-64), shared with Herbert Baker, Sheldon Keller, Saul Ilson, Ernest Chambers, Gary Belkin, Paul Mazursky, and Larry Tucker
- 1966: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy
- The Danny Kaye Show with Art Carney, shared with Sheldon Keller, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers, Larry Tucker, Paul Mazursky, Billy Barnes, and Ron Friedman
- 1968: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy
- 'The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, shared with Mel Brooks, Sam Denoff, William Persky, and Carl Reiner
- 1978: Television: Episodic Comedy
- All in the Family ("Archie Gets the Business - Parts I & II"), shared with Larry Rhine
Nominations
Emmy nominations:
- Best Comedy Writing - 1956
- for Caesar's Hour (NBC), shared with Mel Brooks, Selma Diamond, Larry Gelbart, and Sheldon Keller
- Best Comedy Writing - Variety Or Situation Comedy - 1957
- for Caesar's Hour (NBC), shared with Gary Belkin, Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Sheldon Keller, Neil Simon, and Mike Stewart
- Best Comedy Writing - 1958
- for Caesar's Hour (NBC), shared with Gary Belkin, Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart,Sheldon Keller, Neil Simon, and Mike Stewart
- Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy or Variety - 1964
- The Danny Kaye Show (CBS), shared with Herbert Baker, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers, Larry Gelbart, Saul Ilson, Sheldon Keller, Paul Mazursky, and Larry Tucker
- 1966: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy
- The Danny Kaye Show with Fred Gwynne, shared with Sheldon Keller, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers, Larry Tucker, Paul Mazursky, Billy Barnes, and Ron Friedman
- 1977 Television: Episodic Comedy
- All in the Family ("oey's Baptism"), shared with Larry Rhine and Milt Josefsberg
Legacy
The Your Show of Shows writers' room inspired the film My Favorite Year (1982),[5] produced by Brooks, and the Broadway play Laughter on the 23rd Floor (1993),[5] written by Neil Simon.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Fox, Margalit (November 27, 2007). "Mel Tolkin, Lead Writer for 'Show of Shows,' Dies at 94". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Mel Tolkin, 94, TV writer: Won an Emmy for 'Your Show of Shows'". Variety. November 26, 2007. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012.
- ^ "Jewish basketball star Sol Tolchinsky represented Canada at 1948 Olympics". Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ Los Angeles Times interview, 1992, quoted in The New York Times, 2007, above
- ^ a b c d "Writer Mel Tolkin Dies at 94". Associated Press via FoxNews.com. November 27, 2007. Archived from the original on December 31, 2007. Additional WebCitation archive.
- The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2010.
- The Jewish Museum. 2003. Archived from the originalon May 8, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ a b Collins, Glenn (November 14, 2000). "Mother Lode of TV Comedy Is Found in Forgotten Closet". The New York Times.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis (27 November 2007). "Television comedy writer for Sid Caesar and others". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "Television Obscurities - The Good Guys". 2003-10-14.
- ^ IMDB The Good Guys (1968–1970) Episode List Season 1
- ^ "Mel Tolkin Emmy Awards and Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012.
- ^ "30 Minute Winners". Humanitas Prize. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ^ Writers Guild Foundation. Archived from the originalon May 11, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
External links
- "Mel Tolkin Papers". Online Archive of California.
- "Mel Tolkin, Lead Writer for 'Show of Shows,' Dies at 94". nytimes.com. 27 November 2007.
- McLellan, Dennis (3 December 2007). "Mel Tolkin, 'Your Show of Shows' writer". Boston.com.
- "Mel Tolkin, 94, TV writer". Variety. 26 November 2007.
- "Mel Tolkin". tcmdb. tcm.com.
- "Mel Tolkin". IBDB.
- "mel-tolkin". playbill.
- Mel Tolkin at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Mel Tolkin at IMDb