Larry Gelbart (Writing)
Little is known about Larry Gelbart, a figure with a modest footprint in Writing. Stay tuned for updates as more details become available.
Works
In the Beginning: The Caesar Years
New interviews with Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, footage from the reunion of Caesar's Writers (1996), and sketches from Your Show of Shows (1950) and Caesar's Hour (1954).
Release Date: 2012-11-13
Character: Self
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
A documentary about the legendary and influential comedian, actor and writer, who went out from the BBC to conquer Hollywood, but sadly the system quickly withdrew its support when they couldn't contain his talents. This portrait is spiked with many comments from people who knew Feldman privately or had dealt with him professionally. His early death sadly rendered him all but forgotten by the public. The compilation consists of interviews, some film clips and photos as well as various audio clips from him.
Release Date: 2008-03-31
Character: Self
Vote Count: 5
A Better Man: The Making of 'Tootsie'
Documentary about the making of the 1982 film, featuring interviews with the cast and crew.
Release Date: 2008-02-05
Character: Self
Vote Count: 3
Legends
The story of the big names that have shaped the musical genres, plus an occasional stopgap for the new rock 'n' roll - comedy.
Release Date: 2006-11-17
Character: Self
Episode Count: 1
Vote Count: 1
The Foreign Eye
Fantasies and clichés about Brazil and Brazilians as reinforced by international films, even those actually shot in Brazil. This documentary features interviews with non-Brazilian directors, writers and stars who have been involved in some of those films.
Release Date: 2006-10-26
Character: Self
Vote Count: 7
Patriot Act
Inspired by the passing of U.S.O. perennial Bob Hope, Friars Club roast-master Jeffrey Ross takes Drew up on an invitation to join the U.S.O. in their ongoing mission - delivering punch-lines on the front lines. Having just bought a new camcorder, he travels to Iraq and captures his rare, intimate, and often times hilarious experience on camera. Armed with nothing but that camcorder and some jokes, Ross shoots his own life-changing experience as he travels alongside six other well known comics, entertaining battle weary G.I.'s stationed in some of the most remote parts of the Sunni Triangle.
Release Date: 2005-10-28
Character: Himself
Vote Count: 2
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
The documentary Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter contains numerous clips from the film and television work of the beloved entertainer. These snippets are intercut with interview footage featuring people who worked with Hope as well as film historian Leonard Maltin who provides a context for Hope's career. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Release Date: 2003-11-11
Character: Himself
And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself
In 1914, the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa invites studios to shoot his actual battles against Porfírio Diaz army to raise funds for financing guns and ammunition. The Mutual Film Corporation, through producer D.W. Griffith, interests for the proposition and sends the filmmaker Frank Thayer to negotiate a contract with Pancho Villa himself.
Release Date: 2003-09-07
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 88
M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion
The M*A*S*H 30th Anniversary Reunion Special is a retrospective documentary on the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H that aired on the FOX TV network on May 17, 2002. The progam features interviews with past cast members, producers, and writers who contributed to the series, which originally aired on CBS-TV from September 17, 1972 to February 28, 1983.
Release Date: 2002-05-17
Character: Himself
Vote Count: 2
Bedazzled
Elliot Richards, a socially awkward IT worker, is given seven wishes to get the girl of his dreams when he meets a very seductive Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include being a 7 foot basketball star, a wealthy, powerful man, and a sensitive caring guy. But, as could be expected, the Devil puts her own little twist on each of his fantasies.
Release Date: 2000-10-19
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 1917
The Sid Caesar Collection: The Magic of Live TV
One of the greatest comedians of early television, Sid Caesar hasn't had his work shown in perennial reruns, so it's especially gratifying to see a collection of his classic sketches released on video, with Caesar himself introducing the material. Besides being a truly gifted comic, Caesar benefited from having some brilliant supporting players, including Carl Reiner, Imogene Coca, and Nanette Fabray. Some of his illustrious writers, including Neil Simon, Woody Allen, and Mel Brooks, appear in interviews setting up the sketches. The sketches themselves include some all-time classics such as Caesar and company playing the figurines populating a medieval town clock (a brilliant bit partly written by Neil Simon and his brother, Danny, who reminisce after the sketch).
Release Date: 2000-06-20
Character: Self
The Sid Caesar Collection: Inside the Writer's Room
The Big Daddy of televised comedy sketches, Sid Caesar had millions of Americans holding their sides and howling at his uproarious antics and those of his inspired sidekicks--Imogene Coca, Nanette Fabray, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. These are compilations of fan favorites--digitally remastered to be as crisp as they were in the 1950s. "The Fan Favorites" includes gems from the heyday of live TV, as well as interviews with writers and actors, including Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, and Neil Simon. 3-3/4 hours on 3 cassettes or 3 DVDs. Set 1 features live gut-busters from "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour", including 18 of Caesar's own favorite sketches, plus revealing interviews with contemporaries, including Mel Brooks and Neil Simon. Three digitally remastered volumes: "The Magic of Live TV, Inside the Writer's Room," and "Creating the Comedy". Almost 4 hours on 3 cassettes or 3 DVDs.
Release Date: 2000-06-20
Character: Himself
The Sid Caesar Collection: Creating the Comedy
The Big Daddy of televised comedy sketches, Sid Caesar had millions of Americans holding their sides and howling at his uproarious antics and those of his inspired sidekicks--Imogene Coca, Nanette Fabray, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. These are compilations of fan favorites--digitally remastered to be as crisp as they were in the 1950s. "The Fan Favorites" includes gems from the heyday of live TV, as well as interviews with writers and actors, including Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, and Neil Simon. 3-3/4 hours on 3 cassettes or 3 DVDs. Set 1 features live gut-busters from "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour", including 18 of Caesar's own favorite sketches, plus revealing interviews with contemporaries, including Mel Brooks and Neil Simon.
Release Date: 2000-06-20
Character: Himself
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies
To commemorate the first century of American filmmaking, the American Film Institute embarked on a celebration of America's greatest movies from the first 100 years of American cinema — 1896-1996.
Release Date: 1998-06-23
Character: Self
Episode Count: 1
Vote Count: 7
Weapons of Mass Distraction
As two warring media moguls grapple for ownership of a coveted professional football team, they use the newspapers, magazines and television stations they own to destroy each other's reputations.
Release Date: 1997-05-17
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 14
Caesar's Writers
On January 24, 1996, at the Writers Guild Theater in Los Angeles, CA, legendary comic Sid Caesar was reunited with nine of his writers from Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour. The event was taped for release on PBS and BBC in a 1-hour cut, and later on VHS and DVD in its full 2-hour length. Be prepared to laugh non-stop as the panel, made up of head writer Mel Tolkin, Caesar, Carl Reiner, Aaron Ruben, Larry Gelbart, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Danny Simon, Sheldon Keller, and Gary Belkin share stories about their time working on Caesar's shows and offer their insights about writing comedy.
Release Date: 1996-08-19
Character: Self
Intimate Portrait
Intimate Portrait is a biographical television series on the Lifetime Television cable network focusing on different celebrities, which includes interviews with each subject. Among the people profiled were Grace Kelly, Natalie Wood, Carly Simon, Jackie Kennedy, Katharine Hepburn, Carol Burnett, Tanya Tucker, and Marla Maples.
Release Date: 1993-11-14
Character: Self
Episode Count: 1
Vote Count: 5
Frasier
After many years spent at the “Cheers” bar, Frasier moves back home to Seattle to work as a radio psychiatrist after his policeman father gets shot in the hip on duty.
Release Date: 1993-09-16
Character: Joe (voice)
Episode Count: 1
Vote Count: 784
Barbarians at the Gate
F. Ross Johnson decides to buyout his own tobacco firm RJR Nabisco after the plans of the launch of his new product, a smokeless cigarette Premier, fail on account of market rumours.
Release Date: 1993-03-20
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 42
Mastergate
A "play on words" about a fictional political scandal concerning covert arms deals and double-dealing government operatives, satirizing the Watergate hearings of 1972-1973.
Release Date: 1992-11-01
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 1
Memories of M*A*S*H
Hosted by one-time M*A*S*H guest star Shelley Long, “Memories of M*A*S*H” included brand-new interviews with the cast as well as producers, creators and guest-stars. The 90-minute retrospective aired on November 25th, 1991 on CBS as part of its “Classic Weekend II,” which also included “The Bob Newhart 19th Anniversary Special” and “The Best of Ed Sullivan II.” Dozens of clips from over over sixty different episodes were shown. It was the brain-child of Michael Hirsh (also responsible for “Making M*A*S*H”) and coincided with the 20th anniversary of M*A*S*H.
Release Date: 1991-11-25
Character: Self
Charlie Rose
Acclaimed interviewer and Emmy-winning journalist Charlie Rose engages a wide range of guests, including philosophers, writers, politicians, athletes, entertainers, artists, business leaders, scientists, educators, and other newsmakers in one-on-one interviews and round-table discussions.
Release Date: 1991-09-30
Character: Self (Charlie Rose archive footage 3/24/98)
Episode Count: 1
Vote Count: 10
Blame It on Rio
Matthew Hollis is man on holiday in Rio with his best friend. Both men have teenage daughters with them. When Matthew falls for his best friend's amorous daughter named Jennifer, they embark on a secret, if slightly one-sided relationship. Jennifer's father is furious when he finds out about the 'older man' in his daughter's life, and sets out to hunt him down with the aid of Matthew!
Release Date: 1984-02-17
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 175
AfterMASH
AfterMASH is an American situation comedy that aired on CBS from September 26, 1983, to December 11, 1984. A spin-off of the series M*A*S*H, the show takes place immediately following the end of the Korean War and chronicles the adventures of three characters from the original series: Colonel Potter, Klinger and Father Mulcahy. M*A*S*H supporting cast-member Kellye Nakahara joined them, albeit off-camera, as the voice of the hospital's public address system. Rosalind Chao rounded out the starring cast as Soon-Lee Klinger, a Korean refugee whom Klinger met, fell in love with and married in the M*A*S*H series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen." AfterMASH premiered in the fall of 1983 in the same Monday night 9:00 P.M. EST. time slot as its predecessor M*A*S*H. It finished 10th out of all network shows for the 1983-1984 season according to Nielsen Media Research television ratings. For its second season CBS moved the show to Tuesday nights at 8:00 EST., opposite NBC's top ten hit The A-Team, and launched a marketing campaign featuring illustrations by Sanford Kossin of Max Klinger in a nurse's uniform, shaving off Mr. T's signature mohawk, theorizing that AfterMASH would take a large portion of The A-Team's audience. The theory, however, was proven wrong. In fact, the exact opposite occurred, as AfterMASH's ratings plummeted to near the bottom of the television rankings and the show was canceled nine episodes into its second season, while The A-Team continued until 1987, with 97 episodes.
Release Date: 1983-09-26
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Episode Count: 1
Vote Count: 9
Tootsie
When struggling, out of work actor Michael Dorsey secretly adopts a female alter ego – Dorothy Michaels – in order to land a part in a daytime drama, he unwittingly becomes a feminist icon and ends up in a romantic pickle.
Release Date: 1982-12-17
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 1771
Neighbors
One man's quiet suburban life takes a sickening lurch for the worse when a young couple move into the deserted house next door. From the word go it is obvious these are not the quiet professional types who *should* be living in such a nice street. As more and more unbelievable events unfold, our hero starts to question his own sanity... and those of his family.
Release Date: 1981-12-18
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 142
Rough Cut
Two sophisticated jewel thieves join forces to steal $30 million in uncut jewels.
Release Date: 1980-06-19
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 38
United States
United States is a short-lived half-hour comedy-drama that NBC added to its Tuesday primetime schedule in March 1980. Larry Gelbart, the show's executive producer and chief writer, said the name United States was not a reference to the country but rather to "the state of being united in a relationship". Gelbart envisioned a series that would be "a situation comedy based on the real things that happen in my marriage and in the marriages of my friends". Episodes tackled such topics as marital infidelity, household debt, friends who drink too much, death within the family, and sexual misunderstandings. United States focused on Richard and Libby Chapin, an upwardly mobile couple who lived in a Los Angeles suburb. Beau Bridges played Richard, and Helen Shaver played Libby. Gelbart reverted to black-and-white script for the show's titles. He said that was to convey the mood of "a sophisticated '30s film." Gelbart also avoided use of background music and a laugh track. Scripts featured dialogue such as, "Just for once I'd like to be treated like a friend instead of a husband," and "Maybe you and Bob can go out and get yourselves one redhead with two straws." United States premiered at 10:30 p.m. on March 11, 1980. NBC pulled it from the schedule within two months, after only six of 13 episodes had aired. The remaining episodes were not broadcast until 1986, when the A&E cable channel aired United States.
Release Date: 1980-03-11
Department: Production
Job: Producer
Episode Count: 13
Vote Count: 1
Movie Movie
Three movie genres of the 1930s, boxing films, WWI aviation dramas, and backstage Broadway musicals, are satirized using the same cast.
Release Date: 1978-11-01
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 20
Oh, God!
When God appears to an assistant grocery manager as a good natured old man, the Almighty selects him as his messenger for the modern world.
Release Date: 1977-10-07
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 123
Karen
Karen is an American sitcom starring Karen Valentine that aired on ABC from January to May 1975. A mid-season replacement, Karen was canceled due to low ratings.
Release Date: 1975-01-30
Department: Production
Job: Producer
Episode Count: 13
Vote Count: 1
Roll Out
Roll Out is an American sitcom that aired Friday evenings on CBS during the 1973-1974 television season. Starring nightclub comedian Stu Gilliam and Hilly Hicks, and featuring Ed Begley, Jr. and Garrett Morris, the series was set in France during World War II and was loosely based on the 1952 film Red Ball Express. Actor Jimmy Lydon, familiar as a juvenile lead in the 1940s, was cast as an Army captain. His character's name was Henry Aldrich: the same name he used in Paramount's comedy features of the forties.
Release Date: 1973-10-05
Department: Production
Job: Producer
Episode Count: 12
Vote Count: 1
M*A*S*H
The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is stuck in the middle of the Korean war. With little help from the circumstances they find themselves in, they are forced to make their own fun. Fond of practical jokes and revenge, the doctors, nurses, administrators, and soldiers often find ways of making wartime life bearable.
Release Date: 1972-09-17
Department: Production
Job: Producer
Episode Count: 251
Vote Count: 667
A Fine Pair
A detective gets involved with the beautiful daughter of an old friend. The daughter turns out to be a jewel thief, who in turn gets the detective involved in a caper in Austria.
Release Date: 1968-09-27
Department: Writing
Job: Co-Writer
Vote Count: 4
On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...
A chastity belt provides an endless amount of grief for a woman whose jealous husband has gone off to the Crusades.
Release Date: 1967-12-01
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 5
Not With My Wife, You Don't
During the Korean War, Italian nurse Virna Lisi falls in love with two American fliers, Tony Curtis and George C. Scott. Lisi marries Curtis after he convinces her that Scott has been killed in a plane crash. She soon discovers Scott is alive, but remains happily married to Curtis until Scott re-enters their lives 14 years later.
Release Date: 1966-11-02
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 9
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
A wily slave must unite a virgin courtesan and his young smitten master to earn his freedom.
Release Date: 1966-10-16
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 107
The Wrong Box
In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other—or can be made to have seemed to do so.
Release Date: 1966-06-19
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 57
The Thrill of It All
A housewife's sudden rise to fame as a soap spokesperson leads to chaos in her home life.
Release Date: 1963-07-17
Department: Writing
Job: Story
Vote Count: 74
Judy Garland, Robert Goulet & Phil Silvers Special
This very special television event that aired February 1963 helped launch the famed Judy Garland Show which captivated TV audiences throughout 1963 and 1964. Along with co-stars Robert Goulet (who was at the time reeling from the Broadway success of Camelot) and Phil Silvers (enjoying similar success due to popular performances in TV's Sgt. Bilko) join Judy at her entertaining best for song dance and brilliant comedy.
Release Date: 1963-03-19
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Vote Count: 1
The Notorious Landlady
An American junior diplomat in London rents a house from, and falls in love with, a woman suspected of murder.
Release Date: 1962-04-13
Department: Writing
Job: Screenplay
Vote Count: 51
Startime
Startime is an anthology show of drama, comedy, and variety, and was one of the first American television shows broadcast in color. The program was aired Tuesday nights in the United States on the NBC Television network in the 1959-60 television season.
Release Date: 1959-10-06
Department: Writing
Job: Writer
Episode Count: 1
Vote Count: 2