Jump to content

Mel Tolkin: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
pov
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,695,952 edits
m Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 3);
 
(36 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American television comedy writer}}
{{See also|Tolkin}}
{{See also|Tolkin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Mel Tolkin
| name = Mel Tolkin
Line 7: Line 9:
| birth_name =Shmuel Tolchinsky
| birth_name =Shmuel Tolchinsky
| birth_date = August 3, 1913
| birth_date = August 3, 1913
| birth_place = Near [[Odessa]], [[Ukraine]]
| birth_place = Near [[Odesa]], [[Ukraine]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|11|26|1913|8|3}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|11|26|1913|8|3}}
| death_place = [[Century City, California]]
| death_place = [[Century City, California]]
Line 18: Line 20:
|awards = [[Emmy Award]]<br/>[[Humanitas Prize]]<br/>[[Peabody Award]]<br/>Four [[Writers Guild of America Award]]s
|awards = [[Emmy Award]]<br/>[[Humanitas Prize]]<br/>[[Peabody Award]]<br/>Four [[Writers Guild of America Award]]s
}}
}}

'''Mel Tolkin''', né '''Shmuel Tolchinsky''' (August 3, 1913 – November 26, 2007),<ref name=nyt /> was a television [[comedy]] writer best known as head writer of the live [[sketch comedy]] series ''[[Your Show of Shows]]'' ([[NBC]], 1950–1954) during the [[Golden Age of Television]]. There he presided over a staff that at times included [[Mel Brooks]], [[Neil Simon]], and [[Danny Simon]].<!--not Larry Gelbart and Woody Allen, as sometimes reported, who both wrote for successor series, '[[Caesar's Hour]]'', which ran from 1954-1957--> The writers' room inspired the [[film]] ''[[My Favorite Year]]'' (1982), produced by Brooks, and the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[Play (theatre)|play]] ''[[Laughter on the 23rd Floor]]'' (1993), written by Neil Simon.
'''Mel Tolkin''' ({{ne}} '''Shmuel Tolchinsky'''; August 3, 1913 – November 26, 2007)<ref name=nyt /> was an American television [[comedy]] writer best known as head writer of the live [[sketch comedy]] series ''[[Your Show of Shows]]'' ([[NBC]], 1950–1954) during the [[Golden Age of Television]]. There he presided over a staff that at times included [[Mel Brooks]], [[Neil Simon]], and [[Danny Simon]].<!--not Larry Gelbart and Woody Allen, as sometimes reported, who both wrote for successor series, '[[Caesar's Hour]]'', which ran from 1954-1957--> The writers' room inspired the [[film]] ''[[My Favorite Year]]'' (1982), produced by Brooks, and the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[Play (theatre)|play]] ''[[Laughter on the 23rd Floor]]'' (1993), written by Neil Simon.


Tolkin, who won an [[Emmy Award]] and every other major prize for television writing, was the father of [[screenwriter]]-[[novelist]] [[Michael Tolkin]] and TV writer-[[Television director|director]] [[Stephen Tolkin]].
Tolkin, who won an [[Emmy Award]] and every other major prize for television writing, was the father of [[screenwriter]]-[[novelist]] [[Michael Tolkin]] and TV writer-[[Television director|director]] [[Stephen Tolkin]].
Line 25: Line 28:


=== Early life and career ===
=== Early life and career ===
Mel Tolkin was born Shmuel Tolchinsky <ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/arts/27tolkin.html |work=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 27, 2007| title=Mel Tolkin, Lead Writer for 'Show of Shows,' Dies at 94|first= Margalit |last= Fox}}</ref> ({{lang-ru|Тол(ь)чинский, cog. Тульчинский}}, {{lang-uk|Толчинський}}, {{lang-pl|Tolczyński, cog. Tulczyński}}, means "from [[Tulchyn|Tuľčyn]]") in a [[Jewish]] [[shtetl]] near [[Odessa]],<ref name=variety>{{cite news |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976519.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title=Mel Tolkin, 94, TV writer: Won an Emmy for 'Your Show of Shows' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 26, 2007 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5qnFrWP23?url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976519.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |archivedate=June 27, 2010 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> [[Ukraine]], then part of the [[Russian Empire]]. This background of [[anti-Semitic]] [[pogrom]]s, shared by other comedy writers of his generation, he noted in 1992, "I'm not happy to have to say ... created the condition where humor becomes anger made acceptable with a joke".<ref>''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' interview, 1992, quoted in ''The New York Times'', 2007, above</ref>
Mel Tolkin was born Shmuel Tolchinsky<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/arts/27tolkin.html |work=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 27, 2007| title=Mel Tolkin, Lead Writer for 'Show of Shows,' Dies at 94|first= Margalit |last= Fox}}</ref> ({{langx|ru|Тол(ь)чинский, cog. Тульчинский}}, {{langx|uk|Толчинський}}, {{langx|pl|Tolczyński, cog. Tulczyński}}, means "from [[Tulchyn|Tuľčyn]]") in a [[Jewish]] [[shtetl]] near [[Odesa]],<ref name=variety>{{cite news |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976519.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title=Mel Tolkin, 94, TV writer: Won an Emmy for 'Your Show of Shows' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 26, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111162946/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976519.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |archivedate=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ukraine]], then part of the [[Russian Empire]], the son of Nessie (Cartman) and Mendel "Max" Tolchinsky, a labourer and door-to-door salesman.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/article-jewish-basketball-star-sol-tolchinsky-represented-canada-at-1948/|title=Jewish basketball star Sol Tolchinsky represented Canada at 1948 Olympics|accessdate=October 29, 2022}}</ref>
A background of [[anti-Semitic]] [[pogrom]]s, shared by other comedy writers of his generation, he noted in 1992, "I'm not happy to have to say ... created the condition where humor becomes anger made acceptable with a joke".<ref>''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' interview, 1992, quoted in ''The New York Times'', 2007, above</ref>


His family moved to [[Montreal, Quebec]], Canada in 1926, where Tolkin became known as Samuel.<ref name=nyt /> He studied [[accounting]] after graduating from [[high school]], and surreptitiously entered show business by composing songs and sketches for local [[revues]]<ref name=nyt /> and playing [[piano]] in [[jazz club]]s.<ref name=ap /> Fearing his parents would disapprove of what they would see as an impractical career choice, he began using the [[pseudonym]] Mel Tolkin.<ref name=nyt />
His family moved to [[Montreal, Quebec]], Canada in 1926, where Tolkin became known as Samuel.<ref name=nyt /> He studied [[accounting]] after graduating from [[high school]], and surreptitiously entered show business by composing songs and sketches for local [[revues]]<ref name=nyt /> and playing [[piano]] in [[jazz club]]s.<ref name=ap /> Fearing his parents would disapprove of what they would see as an impractical career choice, he began using the [[pseudonym]] Mel Tolkin.<ref name=nyt />
Line 32: Line 37:


===''Your Show of Shows''===
===''Your Show of Shows''===
Considered by TV historians as a classic of the medium,<ref>{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Mark |url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/C/htmlC/caesarsid/caesarsid.htm |title=Sid Caesar |publisher=[[The Museum of Broadcast Communications]] |date=n.d. |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5qnGMI5Ks?url=http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=caesarsid |archivedate=June 27, 2010 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishmuseum.org/online/gallery_theme.php?id=show_shows |title=Entertaining America: Jews, Movies and Broadcasting |publisher=[[Jewish Museum (New York)|The Jewish Museum]] |date=2003 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5qnHEJg3X?url=http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/online/gallery_theme.php?id=show_shows |archivedate=June 27, 2010 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> with Ronald C. Simon, television curator of [[The Paley Center for Media]] calling it "a pinnacle of television history",<ref name=nyt2>{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E1D71E38F937A25752C1A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 14, 2000 | title=Mother Lode of TV Comedy Is Found in Forgotten Closet | first= Glenn |last=Collins}}</ref> the series presented 90 minutes of comedy live each week for 39 weeks a year, for a total of 160 shows airing February 25, 1950, to June 5, 1954.<ref name=nyt2 /> From its sixth-floor office on West 56th Street in [[Manhattan]],<ref name=nyt2 /> writers including [[Mel Brooks]], [[Neil Simon]], [[Danny Simon]], [[Larry Gelbart]], [[Lucille Kallen]] and head writer<ref name=ap>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313307,00.html |title=Writer Mel Tolkin Dies at 94 |date=November 27, 2007 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] via [[Fox News|FoxNews.com]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231135336/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C313307%2C00.html |archivedate=December 31, 2007 |deadurl=no |df= }} Additional [https://www.webcitation.org/5qnGla1AB?url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-11-27-tolkin-obit_N.htm WebCitation archive].</ref> 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. 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".<ref name=nyt />
Considered by TV historians as a classic of the medium,<ref>{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Mark |url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/C/htmlC/caesarsid/caesarsid.htm |title=Sid Caesar |publisher=[[The Museum of Broadcast Communications]] |date=n.d. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610233015/http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=caesarsid |archivedate=June 10, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishmuseum.org/online/gallery_theme.php?id=show_shows |title=Entertaining America: Jews, Movies and Broadcasting |publisher=[[Jewish Museum (New York)|The Jewish Museum]] |date=2003 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508222049/http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/online/gallery_theme.php?id=show_shows |archivedate=May 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 29, 2007 }}</ref> with Ronald C. Simon, television curator of [[The Paley Center for Media]] calling it "a pinnacle of television history",<ref name=nyt2>{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E1D71E38F937A25752C1A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 14, 2000 | title=Mother Lode of TV Comedy Is Found in Forgotten Closet | first= Glenn |last=Collins}}</ref> the series presented 90 minutes of comedy live each week for 39 weeks a year, for a total of 160 shows airing February 25, 1950, to June 5, 1954. From its sixth-floor office on West 56th Street in [[Manhattan]],<ref name=nyt2 /> writers including [[Mel Brooks]], [[Neil Simon]], [[Danny Simon]], [[Larry Gelbart]], and [[Lucille Kallen]].<ref name=ap>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313307,00.html |title=Writer Mel Tolkin Dies at 94 |date=November 27, 2007 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] via [[Fox News|FoxNews.com]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231135336/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C313307%2C00.html |archivedate=December 31, 2007 |url-status=live }} Additional [https://web.archive.org/web/20220615080103/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-11-27-tolkin-obit_N.htm WebCitation archive].</ref>


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.<ref name="latimes/2007-nov-27-me-tolkin">{{cite news |last1=McLellan |first1=Dennis |title=Television comedy writer for Sid Caesar and others |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-27-me-tolkin27-story.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=27 November 2007}}</ref> 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".<ref name=nyt />
⚫
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 [[Television producer|producer]]-[[Television director|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 theatre|Broadway]]".<ref name=nyt />

⚫
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 [[Television producer|producer]]-[[Television director|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 theatre|Broadway]]".<ref name=nyt />


===Later life and career===
===Later life and career===
Tolkin wrote for the 1968–1970 [[CBS]] [[situation comedy]] ''[[The Good Guys (1968 TV series)|The Good Guys]]'', starring [[Bob Denver]], [[Herb Edelman]], and [[Joyce Van Patten]].<ref name=tvobscuritiesgoodguys>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/good_guys/|title=Television Obscurities - The Good Guys|date=2003-10-14}}</ref><ref name=imdbGoodGuysSeason1>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062567/episodes?season=1 IMDB The Good Guys (1968–1970) Episode List Season 1]</ref> For six years in the 1970s, he was a [[story editor]] for the landmark CBS sitcom ''[[All in the Family]]'', writing several of its scripts. He also wrote for the sequel series ''[[Archie Bunker's Place]]'', and for the 1981–1983 [[Tony Randall]] sitcom ''[[Love, Sidney]]''.
Tolkin wrote for the 1968–1970 [[CBS]] [[situation comedy]] ''[[The Good Guys (1968 TV series)|The Good Guys]]'' (which starred [[Bob Denver]], [[Herb Edelman]], and [[Joyce Van Patten]]).<ref name=tvobscuritiesgoodguys>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/good_guys/|title=Television Obscurities - The Good Guys|date=October 14, 2003}}</ref><ref name=imdbGoodGuysSeason1>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062567/episodes?season=1 IMDB The Good Guys (1968–1970) Episode List Season 1]</ref> For six years in the 1970s, he was a [[story editor]] for the landmark CBS sitcom ''[[All in the Family]]'', writing several of its scripts. He also wrote for the sequel series ''[[Archie Bunker's Place]]'', and for the 1981–1983 [[Tony Randall]] sitcom ''[[Love, Sidney]]''.


Tolkin died of [[heart failure]] at age 94, at his home in [[Century City, California]]. Aside from children and grandchildren, he was survived by his wife, Edith, and by a brother, [[Sol Tolchinsky]]. He was interred at [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]] in [[Los Angeles, California]].
Tolkin died of [[heart failure]] at age 94, at his home in [[Century City, California]]. Aside from children and grandchildren, he was survived by his wife, Edith, and by a brother, [[Sol Tolchinsky]]. He was interred at [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]] in [[Los Angeles, California]].


===Other writing===
===Other writing===
Tolkin also wrote comedy for the [[Stand-up comedy|standup comics]] and [[nightclub]] entertainers [[Bob Hope]], [[Jerry Lewis]], [[Danny Kaye]], and [[Danny Thomas]].<ref name=nyt />
Tolkin also wrote comedy for the [[Stand-up comedy|standup comics]] and [[nightclub]] entertainers [[Bob Hope]], [[Jerry Lewis]], [[Danny Kaye]], and [[Danny Thomas]], who later became stars.<ref name=nyt />


==Awards==
==Awards==
⚫
Tolkin received a [[Peabody Award]].<ref name=variety />
⚫
Tolkin and co-writers [[Sam Denoff]], [[Bill Persky]], and [[Carl Reiner]] shared the 1967 Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety [[Emmy Award]], for ''The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special''.<ref name=emmy>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/site-search?search_api_views_fulltext=%22mel+tolkin%22&items_per_page=10 |title=Mel Tolkin Emmy Awards and Nominations |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5qnGcnNPV?url=http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=Mel+Tolkin&program=&start_year=1949&end_year=2009&network=All&web_category=All&winner=All |archivedate=June 27, 2010 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>


⚫
Tolkin and co-writers [[Sam Denoff]], [[Bill Persky]], and [[Carl Reiner]] shared the 1967 Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety [[Emmy Award]], for ''The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special''.<ref name=emmy>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/site-search?search_api_views_fulltext=%22mel+tolkin%22&items_per_page=10 |title=Mel Tolkin Emmy Awards and Nominations |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307132456/http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=Mel+Tolkin&program=&start_year=1949&end_year=2009&network=All&web_category=All&winner=All |archivedate=March 7, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Tolkin also received the following 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 (screenwriter)|Larry Tucker]]
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".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://humanitasprize.info/welcome/?page_id=689 | title=30 Minute Winners | publisher= [[Humanitas Prize]] | accessdate= July 13, 2015 | archivedate= February 12, 2015 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150212142941/http://humanitasprize.info/welcome/?page_id=689 | deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name=WGA>Mel Tolkin search results, {{cite web|url=http://librarycatalog.wgfoundation.org/award/awardresults.ashx |title=Awards |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America, West|Writers Guild Foundation]] |accessdate=July 13, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511045247/http://librarycatalog.wgfoundation.org/award/awardresults.ashx |archivedate=May 11, 2015 |df= }}</ref>
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".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://humanitasprize.info/welcome/?page_id=689 | title=30 Minute Winners | publisher= [[Humanitas Prize]] | accessdate= July 13, 2015 | archivedate= February 12, 2015 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150212142941/http://humanitasprize.info/welcome/?page_id=689 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=WGA>Mel Tolkin search results, {{cite web|url=http://librarycatalog.wgfoundation.org/award/awardresults.ashx |title=Awards |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America, West|Writers Guild Foundation]] |accessdate=July 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511045247/http://librarycatalog.wgfoundation.org/award/awardresults.ashx |archivedate=May 11, 2015 }}</ref>


Tolkin also received four [[Writers Guild of America Award]]s and two additional nominations:<ref name=WGA />
[[Writers Guild of America Award]]s :<ref name=WGA />
*1965: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy
*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
::''[[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
*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
::''The Danny Kaye Show'' with Art Carney, shared with Sheldon Keller, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers, Larry Tucker, Paul Mazursky, Billy Barnes, and Ron Friedman
Line 68: Line 67:
*1978: Television: Episodic Comedy
*1978: Television: Episodic Comedy
::''All in the Family'' ("Archie Gets the Business - Parts I & II"), shared with Larry Rhine
::''All in the Family'' ("Archie Gets the Business - Parts I & II"), shared with Larry Rhine

;Nominations
==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 (screenwriter)|Larry Tucker]]

[[Writers Guild of America Award]] nominations:<ref name=WGA />
*1966: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy
*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
::''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
*1977 Television: Episodic Comedy
::''All in the Family'' ("oey's Baptism"), shared with Larry Rhine and Milt Josefsberg
::''All in the Family'' ("oey's Baptism"), shared with Larry Rhine and Milt Josefsberg

⚫
Tolkin also received a [[Peabody Award]].<ref name=variety />


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Line 83: Line 93:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{cite web |title=Mel Tolkin Papers |url=https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8v40xg3/ |website=Online Archive of California}}
* {{cite news |title=Mel Tolkin, Lead Writer for 'Show of Shows,' Dies at 94 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/arts/27tolkin.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 27, 2007 |language=en}}
* {{cite news |last1=McLellan |first1=Dennis |title=Mel Tolkin, 'Your Show of Shows' writer |url=https://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2007/12/03/mel_tolkin_your_show_of_shows_writer/ |work=Boston.com |date=December 3, 2007}}
*{{cite news |title=Mel Tolkin, 94, TV writer |url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/mel-tolkin-94-tv-writer-1117976519/ |work=Variety |date=November 26, 2007}}
* {{cite web |title=Mel Tolkin |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/1503719%7C110724/Mel-Tolkin/ |website=tcmdb |publisher=tcm.com}}
* {{cite web |title=Mel Tolkin |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/mel-tolkin-7693 |website=IBDB}}
* {{cite web |title=mel-tolkin |url=https://www.playbill.com/person/mel-tolkin-vault-0000007018 |website=playbill}}
* {{EmmyTVLegends name|mel-tolkin|Mel Tolkin}}
* {{EmmyTVLegends name|mel-tolkin|Mel Tolkin}}
* {{IMDb name|0866061}}


{{EmmyAward ComedyVarietyMusicWriting 1950–1974}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyVarietyMusicWriting 1960s}}
{{WritersGuildofAmericaEpisodicComedyScreenplay 1970s}}
{{WritersGuildofAmericaEpisodicComedyScreenplay 1970s}}


Line 95: Line 113:
[[Category:American comedy writers]]
[[Category:American comedy writers]]
[[Category:Jewish Canadian writers]]
[[Category:Jewish Canadian writers]]
[[Category:Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Ukrainian emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Soviet emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Soviet emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Ukrainian Jews]]
[[Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:People from Odessa]]
[[Category:Odesa Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish American writers]]
[[Category:People from Odessky Uyezd]]
[[Category:Jewish American comedy writers]]
[[Category:Jewish American television writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]

Latest revision as of 02:17, 25 October 2024

See also: Tolkin

Mel Tolkin
Born
Shmuel Tolchinsky

August 3, 1913
Near Odesa, Ukraine
DiedNovember 26, 2007(2007-11-26) (aged 94)
Century City, California
Other namesSamuel Tolchinsky
OccupationTelevision comedy writer
Years active1940s to 1980s
Notable workYour Show of Shows
AwardsEmmy Award
Humanitas Prize
Peabody Award
Four Writers Guild of America Awards

Mel Tolkin (né Shmuel Tolchinsky; August 3, 1913 – November 26, 2007)[1] was an American television comedy writer best known as head writer of the live sketch comedy series Your Show of Shows (NBC, 1950–1954) during the Golden Age of Television. There he presided over a staff that at times included Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and Danny Simon. The writers' room inspired the film My Favorite Year (1982), produced by Brooks, and the Broadway play Laughter on the 23rd Floor (1993), written by Neil Simon.

Tolkin, who won an Emmy Award and every other major prize for television writing, was the father of screenwriter-novelist Michael Tolkin and TV writer-director Stephen Tolkin.

Biography

[edit]

Early life and career

[edit]

Mel Tolkin was born Shmuel Tolchinsky[1] (Russian: Тол(ь)чинский, cog. Тульчинский, Ukrainian: Толчинський, Polish: Tolczyński, cog. Tulczyński, means "from Tuľčyn") in a Jewish shtetl near Odesa,[2] Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire, the son of Nessie (Cartman) and Mendel "Max" Tolchinsky, a labourer and door-to-door salesman.[3]

A background of anti-Semitic pogroms, shared by other comedy writers of his generation, he noted in 1992, "I'm not happy to have to say ... created the condition where humor becomes anger made acceptable with a joke".[4]

His family moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1926, where Tolkin became known as Samuel.[1] He studied accounting after graduating from high school, and surreptitiously entered show business by composing songs and sketches for local revues[1] and playing piano in jazz clubs.[5] Fearing his parents would disapprove of what they would see as an impractical career choice, he began using the pseudonym Mel Tolkin.[1]

During World War II, Tolkin did military service in the Canadian Army, playing the glockenspiel in a military orchestra.[1] He moved to New York City, New York, in 1946, and married Edith Leibovitch that year.[1] Teaming with Lucille Kallen, who would become his longtime writing partner, Tolkin began concocting comedy for performers at the Poconos resort Camp Tamiment.[1] In 1949, the duo became the sole writing staff of the NBC television network variety show The Admiral Broadway Revue.[1] By the following year, that series, starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca, had evolved into Your Show of Shows.

Your Show of Shows

[edit]

Considered by TV historians as a classic of the medium,[6][7] with Ronald C. Simon, television curator of The Paley Center for Media calling it "a pinnacle of television history",[8] the series presented 90 minutes of comedy live each week for 39 weeks a year, for a total of 160 shows airing February 25, 1950, to June 5, 1954. From its sixth-floor office on West 56th Street in Manhattan,[8] writers including Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Danny Simon, Larry Gelbart, and Lucille Kallen.[5]

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

[edit]

Tolkin wrote for the 1968–1970 CBS situation comedy The Good Guys (which starred Bob Denver, Herb Edelman, and Joyce Van Patten).[10][11] For six years in the 1970s, he was a story editor for the landmark CBS sitcom All in the Family, writing several of its scripts. He also wrote for the sequel series Archie Bunker's Place, and for the 1981–1983 Tony Randall sitcom Love, Sidney.

Tolkin died of heart failure at age 94, at his home in Century City, California. Aside from children and grandchildren, he was survived by his wife, Edith, and by a brother, Sol Tolchinsky. He was interred at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Other writing

[edit]

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

[edit]

Tolkin received a Peabody Award.[2]

Tolkin and co-writers Sam Denoff, Bill Persky, and Carl Reiner shared the 1967 Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety Emmy Award, for The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special.[12]

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]

Writers Guild of America Awards :[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

[edit]

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

Writers Guild of America Award nominations:[14]

  • 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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Jewish basketball star Sol Tolchinsky represented Canada at 1948 Olympics". Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times interview, 1992, quoted in The New York Times, 2007, above
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Williams, Mark (n.d.). "Sid Caesar". The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010.
  7. ^ "Entertaining America: Jews, Movies and Broadcasting". The Jewish Museum. 2003. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  8. ^ a b Collins, Glenn (November 14, 2000). "Mother Lode of TV Comedy Is Found in Forgotten Closet". The New York Times.
  9. ^ McLellan, Dennis (November 27, 2007). "Television comedy writer for Sid Caesar and others". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "Television Obscurities - The Good Guys". October 14, 2003.
  11. ^ IMDB The Good Guys (1968–1970) Episode List Season 1
  12. ^ "Mel Tolkin Emmy Awards and Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012.
  13. ^ "30 Minute Winners". Humanitas Prize. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c Mel Tolkin search results, "Awards". Writers Guild Foundation. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mel_Tolkin&oldid=1253254588"