Bob Ellison, the two-time Emmy Award winner who wrote for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and served as a game-saving creative/script consultant on Cheers, Wings, Becker and many other comedies, has died. He was 91.
He died April 8 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his business manager, Malcolm Orland, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He was a sweetheart and so good at what he did,” Orland said.
Ellison came from the world of variety shows, where he wrote and/or produced several specials that starred Julie Andrews and Burt Bacharach. He also co-developed the 1988-92 NBC sitcom Dear John, starring Judd Hirsch.
Ellison wrote 15 episodes and was an executive story editor during the last two of The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s seven seasons (from 1975-77). He shared an Emmy with Allan Burns, James L. Brooks, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels and David Lloyd for the beloved series finale, “The Last Show.
He died April 8 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his business manager, Malcolm Orland, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He was a sweetheart and so good at what he did,” Orland said.
Ellison came from the world of variety shows, where he wrote and/or produced several specials that starred Julie Andrews and Burt Bacharach. He also co-developed the 1988-92 NBC sitcom Dear John, starring Judd Hirsch.
Ellison wrote 15 episodes and was an executive story editor during the last two of The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s seven seasons (from 1975-77). He shared an Emmy with Allan Burns, James L. Brooks, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels and David Lloyd for the beloved series finale, “The Last Show.
- 5/11/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
You know, a wise man once said that sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.
"Cheers" is one of the best and most popular sitcoms of all time. That's not hyperbole, either — critics and fans alike will sing the praises of the show until you can't stand it anymore. "Okay, I get it!" you'll say. "You love 'Cheers'! Leave me alone!" Running for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, and starring Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Woody Harrelson, and more, "Cheers" was actually a flop during its first season, finishing last in the ratings during its premiere. Things were so bad, in fact, that the network almost pulled the plug. Eventually, though, "Cheers" found its audience, and that audience couldn't get enough of the barflies and bartenders who called the show home.
The show sprang forth from creators Glen and Les Charles and James Burrows, and as it turns out,...
"Cheers" is one of the best and most popular sitcoms of all time. That's not hyperbole, either — critics and fans alike will sing the praises of the show until you can't stand it anymore. "Okay, I get it!" you'll say. "You love 'Cheers'! Leave me alone!" Running for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, and starring Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Woody Harrelson, and more, "Cheers" was actually a flop during its first season, finishing last in the ratings during its premiere. Things were so bad, in fact, that the network almost pulled the plug. Eventually, though, "Cheers" found its audience, and that audience couldn't get enough of the barflies and bartenders who called the show home.
The show sprang forth from creators Glen and Les Charles and James Burrows, and as it turns out,...
- 3/16/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Shelley Smith, who starred with Martin Short on ABC sitcom The Associates, has died. She was 70 and her death from cardiac arrest came on Aug. 8.
Smith died at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, according to her husband of 18 years, actor Michael Maguire.
“I’m sorry I have not updated everyone sooner,” Maguire said in his post. “My dear, sweet angel Shelly Smith passed peacefully yesterday at 2:20 Pm. Her children, Nicky and Miranda Nathan and I were at her side and holding her hand and kissing her head and singing to her and telling her how much we loved her. Also, with us was Grant Stevens, my great great friend, who gave up himself to help us, understand the process of dying, and guided us through it with so much class and dignity! We owe him a tremendous debt!
“Shelley lived an incredible life! We are all heartbroken, but we are also...
Smith died at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, according to her husband of 18 years, actor Michael Maguire.
“I’m sorry I have not updated everyone sooner,” Maguire said in his post. “My dear, sweet angel Shelly Smith passed peacefully yesterday at 2:20 Pm. Her children, Nicky and Miranda Nathan and I were at her side and holding her hand and kissing her head and singing to her and telling her how much we loved her. Also, with us was Grant Stevens, my great great friend, who gave up himself to help us, understand the process of dying, and guided us through it with so much class and dignity! We owe him a tremendous debt!
“Shelley lived an incredible life! We are all heartbroken, but we are also...
- 8/12/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Shelley Smith, the statuesque super model who starred alongside Martin Short on a sitcom and was a regular on game shows like The $10,000 Pyramid before she launched an egg-donor program to assist infertile couples, has died. She was 70.
Smith died Tuesday at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, her husband of 18 years, actor Michael Maguire, tearfully announced on social media. She had been in a coma after experiencing cardiac arrest three days earlier, and her health had deteriorated in the past year, he said.
On the 1979-80 ABC comedy The Associates, a sequel of sorts to The Paper Chase from creators James L. Brooks, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels and Charlie Hauck, Smith played a sharp, upper-class Bostonian who works at a Wall Street law firm.
The show, which also featured Short, Joe Regalbuto, Alley Mills and Wilfrid Hyde-White — with whom she graced the cover of TV Guide in November 1979 — lasted just 13 episodes.
The 5-foot-9 Smith then played Capt.
Smith died Tuesday at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, her husband of 18 years, actor Michael Maguire, tearfully announced on social media. She had been in a coma after experiencing cardiac arrest three days earlier, and her health had deteriorated in the past year, he said.
On the 1979-80 ABC comedy The Associates, a sequel of sorts to The Paper Chase from creators James L. Brooks, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels and Charlie Hauck, Smith played a sharp, upper-class Bostonian who works at a Wall Street law firm.
The show, which also featured Short, Joe Regalbuto, Alley Mills and Wilfrid Hyde-White — with whom she graced the cover of TV Guide in November 1979 — lasted just 13 episodes.
The 5-foot-9 Smith then played Capt.
- 8/12/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tony Danza reunited with his Taxi co-stars 40 years after the show ended its five-season run.
In a photo Danza shared on Twitter, the actor is seen having drinks with his former co-stars that included Carol Kane, Christopher Lloyd and Judd Hirsch.
“Love these people so much!” Danza captioned the photo.
Love these people so much! #oldfriends #taxi pic.twitter.com/1NIBt3djid
— Tony Danza (@TonyDanza) May 8, 2023
Over on Instagram, Lloyd shared more photos from their reunion and captioned the post, “What the hell is going on here?”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Christopher Lloyd (@mrchristopherlloyd)
The reunion of the Taxi cast happened almost exactly 40 years after the show ended its five-season run and with over 100 episodes produced.
Taxi, created by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis and Ed. Weinberger, centers on a group of employees working the night shift at the fictional Sunshine Cab Company.
In a photo Danza shared on Twitter, the actor is seen having drinks with his former co-stars that included Carol Kane, Christopher Lloyd and Judd Hirsch.
“Love these people so much!” Danza captioned the photo.
Love these people so much! #oldfriends #taxi pic.twitter.com/1NIBt3djid
— Tony Danza (@TonyDanza) May 8, 2023
Over on Instagram, Lloyd shared more photos from their reunion and captioned the post, “What the hell is going on here?”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Christopher Lloyd (@mrchristopherlloyd)
The reunion of the Taxi cast happened almost exactly 40 years after the show ended its five-season run and with over 100 episodes produced.
Taxi, created by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis and Ed. Weinberger, centers on a group of employees working the night shift at the fictional Sunshine Cab Company.
- 5/9/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
David Davis, a veteran comedy writer who co-created the indelible ensemble comedies “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Taxi,” died Nov. 4 in Los Angeles.
Davis’ death was confirmed Saturday by his daughter, Samantha Davis-Friedman. Survivors also include his wife of many decades, “Rhoda” star Julie Kavner, now best known as the voice of Marge Simpson from Fox’s “The Simpsons.”
Davis was known for his work in the Mtm Television stable. He wrote for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Rhoda” and in addition to helping to craft two Hall of Fame sitcoms. After retiring from writing in 1979, Davis worked as a consultant on TV and film projects including the ABC TV series “Phenom” and noted pics including 1987’s “Broadcast News” and the 1983 Oscar winner “Terms of Endearment.”
Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Davis got his start in TV as a script supervisor on such early 1960s comedies as “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis...
Davis’ death was confirmed Saturday by his daughter, Samantha Davis-Friedman. Survivors also include his wife of many decades, “Rhoda” star Julie Kavner, now best known as the voice of Marge Simpson from Fox’s “The Simpsons.”
Davis was known for his work in the Mtm Television stable. He wrote for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Rhoda” and in addition to helping to craft two Hall of Fame sitcoms. After retiring from writing in 1979, Davis worked as a consultant on TV and film projects including the ABC TV series “Phenom” and noted pics including 1987’s “Broadcast News” and the 1983 Oscar winner “Terms of Endearment.”
Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Davis got his start in TV as a script supervisor on such early 1960s comedies as “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis...
- 11/5/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
David Davis, the Emmy-winning writer and producer whose heyday in the 1970s included invaluable work on the enduring network sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show and Taxi, has died. He was 86.
Davis died Friday in Los Angeles, his daughter Samantha Davis-Friedman told The Hollywood Reporter.
Survivors include his wife, actress Julie Kavner, best known as the voice of Marge Simpson on The Simpsons. Davis recommended her for the part of Brenda Morgenstern, Valerie Harper‘s insecure sister on Rhoda — it was her first paying job as an actress — and they were together since 1976.
Rhoda “gave me my life, it gave me my career, it gave me the love of my life, David Davis,” Kavner said in a 2009 interview.
A member of the Mtm Enterprises production company founded by Grant Tinker and Mary Tyler Moore, Davis started out on Mtm’s inaugural series,...
David Davis, the Emmy-winning writer and producer whose heyday in the 1970s included invaluable work on the enduring network sitcoms The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show and Taxi, has died. He was 86.
Davis died Friday in Los Angeles, his daughter Samantha Davis-Friedman told The Hollywood Reporter.
Survivors include his wife, actress Julie Kavner, best known as the voice of Marge Simpson on The Simpsons. Davis recommended her for the part of Brenda Morgenstern, Valerie Harper‘s insecure sister on Rhoda — it was her first paying job as an actress — and they were together since 1976.
Rhoda “gave me my life, it gave me my career, it gave me the love of my life, David Davis,” Kavner said in a 2009 interview.
A member of the Mtm Enterprises production company founded by Grant Tinker and Mary Tyler Moore, Davis started out on Mtm’s inaugural series,...
- 11/5/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s no mystery why Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” is nominated for 17 Emmy Awards including comedy series, actor and guest actor and actress: a delish plot, snappy dialogue, pitch-perfect directing, and a cast to die for led by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. They are “The Three Amigos” for the 21st century. To celebrate the series, which recently had its second season finale, why not look at some fun facts and trivia of the cast many of whom already have mantle full of honors.
Steve Martin
Talk about a modern-day Renaissance man. Martin is an actor, writer, musician-he plays a mean banjo-composer and ace tap dancers. Is there anything he can’t do? Martin won an honorary Oscar in 2014, the AFI’s Life Achievement Award in 2015, four Grammy Awards including two for best comedy recording in 1978 and 1979, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2007 such critics honors...
Steve Martin
Talk about a modern-day Renaissance man. Martin is an actor, writer, musician-he plays a mean banjo-composer and ace tap dancers. Is there anything he can’t do? Martin won an honorary Oscar in 2014, the AFI’s Life Achievement Award in 2015, four Grammy Awards including two for best comedy recording in 1978 and 1979, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2007 such critics honors...
- 9/5/2022
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Tuesday.
This week’s question: Which show that actually made it to air has the most preposterous premise you’d ever encountered?
Kaitlin Thomas (@thekaitling), TVGuide.com
I don’t really know if “Sleepy Hollow” truly had the most preposterous premise I’ve ever encountered, but it was the first show that came to mind this week, because it never should have worked. The show was built around the idea that Ichabod Crane was a hunky history professor-turned-soldier who woke up in present day when someone raised the Headless Horseman, who was revealed to be one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. That sounds like a lot on its own, but there was so much more: America had a magical history! There was a magic bible belonging to George Washington that explained all this stuff!
This week’s question: Which show that actually made it to air has the most preposterous premise you’d ever encountered?
Kaitlin Thomas (@thekaitling), TVGuide.com
I don’t really know if “Sleepy Hollow” truly had the most preposterous premise I’ve ever encountered, but it was the first show that came to mind this week, because it never should have worked. The show was built around the idea that Ichabod Crane was a hunky history professor-turned-soldier who woke up in present day when someone raised the Headless Horseman, who was revealed to be one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. That sounds like a lot on its own, but there was so much more: America had a magical history! There was a magic bible belonging to George Washington that explained all this stuff!
- 5/30/2018
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 7, Episode 24: “The Last Show”
Written by James L. Brooks, Allan Burns, Ed Weinberger, Stan Daniels, David Lloyd & Bob Ellison
Directed by Jay Sandrich
Original Airdate: March 19, 1977 on CBS
The Mary Tyler Moore Show began in 1970 on the CBS network. The show, itself, was ground breaking. It centered on a single woman who had just went through a bad breakup and was trying to make a name for herself. And she accomplished that throughout the seven years that the show was on the air.
In the first episode we were introduced to Mary Richards who had just moved to Minneapolis and was going to start work at the local news station. Since the show began right at the beginning of the seventies the nation was still dealing with women in the workforce. We see elements of this throughout that episode; Mr. Grant seems reluctant...
Written by James L. Brooks, Allan Burns, Ed Weinberger, Stan Daniels, David Lloyd & Bob Ellison
Directed by Jay Sandrich
Original Airdate: March 19, 1977 on CBS
The Mary Tyler Moore Show began in 1970 on the CBS network. The show, itself, was ground breaking. It centered on a single woman who had just went through a bad breakup and was trying to make a name for herself. And she accomplished that throughout the seven years that the show was on the air.
In the first episode we were introduced to Mary Richards who had just moved to Minneapolis and was going to start work at the local news station. Since the show began right at the beginning of the seventies the nation was still dealing with women in the workforce. We see elements of this throughout that episode; Mr. Grant seems reluctant...
- 10/1/2013
- by Joshua Bouye
- SoundOnSight
Taxi, “Like Father, Like Daughter”
Written by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, Ed Weinberger
Directed by James Burrows
Aired September 12th, 1978 on ABC
Comedy pilots are hard. Even the best sitcoms often take a while to find their voice, hitting their strides halfway through season one or even in season two. The cast needs to gel, the writers and actors need to find the right levels for each character, and the series as a whole needs to establish its tone. Given a talented and motivated showrunner, writing staff, director, and cast, each of these will come, with time, but it is extremely rare for all three to come together immediately, in the pilot. As a rule, frankly, comedy pilots are bad. One exception to this rule is Taxi and its pilot, “Like Father, Like Daughter”.
The premise of Taxi is a straightforward one- it’s a workplace comedy...
Written by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, Ed Weinberger
Directed by James Burrows
Aired September 12th, 1978 on ABC
Comedy pilots are hard. Even the best sitcoms often take a while to find their voice, hitting their strides halfway through season one or even in season two. The cast needs to gel, the writers and actors need to find the right levels for each character, and the series as a whole needs to establish its tone. Given a talented and motivated showrunner, writing staff, director, and cast, each of these will come, with time, but it is extremely rare for all three to come together immediately, in the pilot. As a rule, frankly, comedy pilots are bad. One exception to this rule is Taxi and its pilot, “Like Father, Like Daughter”.
The premise of Taxi is a straightforward one- it’s a workplace comedy...
- 6/15/2013
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
The Sopranos was named the best-written show in television history by the Writers Guild of America, edging out an eclectic collection of some of the most beloved and admired series. Members of the Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) voted online for the 101 Best Written TV Series, with David Chase’s iconic “family” drama topping Seinfeld, The Twilight Zone, All in the Family, and M*A*S*H*.
“At their core, all of these wonderful series began with the words of the writers who created them and were sustained by the writers...
“At their core, all of these wonderful series began with the words of the writers who created them and were sustained by the writers...
- 6/3/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside TV
The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is proud to announce the return engagement of its acclaimed production of Enter Laughing: The Musical. Performances will begin Wednesday, January 21st, and continue until March 8th only; all performances will be at the company's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street). Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directs a cast that features Josh Grisetti ("The Knights of Prosperity") as David Kolowitz, "La Law's" married couple Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker as his parents, Bob Dishy (Tony Award? nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Sly Fox; Flora The Red Menace, The Price) as Marlowe, and Marla Schaffel (Tony Award? nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Jane Eyre) as Angela, along with Paul Binotto, Ray DeMattis, Erick Devine, Betsy Dilellio, Gerry McIntyre, Robb Sapp, Emily Shoolin, and Allison Spratt. Matt Castle is the Music...
- 1/20/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
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