>>> YOU GUYS ARE WORKING HARD FOR ONCE.
THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE IS OUR HOME IN MANY WAYS.
WHERE IS MY SANDWICH? WE ALL NEED A REASON TO GET
UP IN THE MORNING. IT WAS FRAMED.
THE AMERICAN OFFICE IS ICONIC.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I FIRE? NONE.
YOU’RE PICKING A HEALTH CARE PLAN.
WE’LL TABLE THAT FOR THE TIME BEING.
TERRIBLE BOSSES. YOU GOT SPUNK.
WELL. I HATE SPUNK.
TERRIBLE WORK MATES. ARE YOU KIDDING?
DO THESE NOT BEND THE [ BLEEP ] BACK?
NO. EVERYBODY TRYING TO GET
ALONG. THE PROBLEM WITH HIRING WOMEN
IS THAT THEY’RE FRAIL AND BREAKABLE.
IS IT POSSIBLE YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT LIGHTBULB BULBS O
YOUR HIP? HILARIOUS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? WHOA.
OUCH!
♪ LET’S TALK ABOUT EARNING A
LIVING. YEAH.
HAVE YOU EVER DONE IT? NO, BUT I COULD.
LUCILLE BALL WITH THE CHOCOLATES, IT’S FUNNY.
GET TO THE PACKING ROOM UNWRAPPED.
YOU’RE FIRED. ALL THE WRITERS NEEDED TO SAY
IS LUCY HAD A CONVEYER BELT. YOU’RE GOOD.
[ LAUGHTER ] SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE
EPISODES OF "I LOVE LUCY" ARE WHEN SHE GETS A JOB OUTSIDE OF
THE HOME BUT IT ALWAYS UNRAVELS. YOU’RE DOING SPLENDIDLY.
SPEED IT UP. WHEN SITCOMS STARTED, THEY
WERE FAMILY SITCOMS AND FOR YEARS, THAT’S ALL THERE WAS.
AND THEN WE MOVE INTO THE 1960s, WE START TO SEE MORE
PEOPLE WORKING IN AN OFFICE THAN ON A FACTORY LINE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION, A
MAJORITY OF ALL WORKERS ARE IN WHITE COLLAR JOBS.
YOU WERE SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES.
YOU READY? I’M READY.
I GOT THOSE ‐‐ THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW WAS
LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY. "THE DICK VAN DYKE" SHOW
BLACK AND WHITE. THAT’S GOT ME INTO SITCOMS.
THAT WAS GROUND BREAKING. FIRST OF ALL YOU HAD CARL
RYANER. CARL RYANER GOT HIS START ON
SHOW OF SHOWS WITH SID CESAR WHICH WAS NOT A SITCOM, IT WAS A
VARIETY SHOW. IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE TENT.
THE WRITER’S ROOM, THE TALENT JUST HAD CARL WITH THAT’S A
PLACE, THAT’S A GOLD MINE. A WRITER’S ROOM IS A GOLD MINE
AND I REMEMBER TALKING TO MYSELF ON THE WAY HOME AND SAID WHAT
PIECE OF GROUND DO I STAND ON THAT NOBODY ELSE STANDS ON?
SO I’LL WRITE ABOUT THE LIFE. I’LL WRITE.
WRITERS ARE LAZY. PEOPLE WRITE WHAT THEY KNOW.
WE GOT A SKETCH. THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY
ABOUT, KIDS. I HAVE GOT AN IDEA.
HE WILL PLAY THE PART OF A TALKING BULLY PIN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS THE GREATEST IDEA BECAUSE IN MOST SITCOMS,
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HUSBAND DID FOR A LIVING.
THE SECOND NUMBER SHOULD COME BEFORE THE BIG SKETCH.
GEE, I DON’T KNOW. I LIKE IT.
NOW I LIKE IT. YEAH, ME, TOO.
I LIKE IT, TOO. WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
LOOK AT THE TIE YOU’RE WEARING. I LOVE THE FACT IT WAS A
GLIMPSE INTO THE WRITER’S ROOM. SEEING HOW SHOWS WORKED
‐‐ PAST NATEFASCINATING TO ME. THIS DRESS IS YEARS OLD.
IT STILL WORKS. IF I’VE ME A KISS.
I MUST HAVE SEEN ABOUT 30 GIRLS AND WHEN SHE CAME INTO THE
ROOM, SHE JUST SAID HELLO, HER NAME WAS AND I HEARD A PING AND
A VOICE. IF IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL ANY
BETTER IF I TELL YOU HOW REALLY SORRY I AM?
WELL, NO. THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE
"DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" WAS MOSTLY IT TO TAKE PLACE IN THE
WORKPLACE. THREE, TWO, ONE, ZERO.
WE DID IT. WHAT?
WHAT DID WE DO? WE WAISTSTED A WHOLE DAY.
AUDIENCES WERE USED TO THE BIG FAMILY SITCOMS OF THE TIME
AND DIDN’T REALLY TAKE TO "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" AT FIRST.
THEY WERE GOING TO CANCEL IT. THEY HAD MARY GRANT TINKER
WHO WAS A CVS EXECUTIVE ON THE SHOW.
TINKER HELPED SAVE THE SHOW BY PUSHING MARY TYLER MOORE TO THE
FOREFRONT. I THINK YOU LOOK VERY NICE
WITHOUT YOUR ‐‐ HAIR?
THESE SHOWS THAT STRADDLE THE WORKPLACE ALMOST ALWAYS RESULT
IN SOMETHING TASTY. NO, I’M NOT SAYING THIS JUST
BECAUSE I’M IN TROUBLE, GOODNESS KNOWS I AM.
WOULD YOU LIKE THESE? WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST I DO WITH
ALL OF THESE NOW, HUH? WELL, THERE MUST BE SOME
NEEDY BALD PEOPLE. [ LAUGHTER ]
NEEDY BALD PEOPLE? AND IT ULTIMATELY BECAME A
RATING SENSATION. THAT’S THE BEST FIVE YEARS OF
MY LIFE. I DON’T BELIEVE THIS.
THE BEST THING I’VE EVER DONE HANDS OUT NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
I WAS 19 IN 1967 AND IT WAS DICK VAN DYKE THAT MADE A HUGE
IMPRESSION ON ME. AFTER THE DICK VAN DIKE SHOW,
MARY TYLER MOORE WAS ONE OF THE LARGER STARS IN AMERICA AND MARY
AND MY DAD STARTED LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THEIR OWN
COMPANY. MARY TYLER MOORE ENTERPRISES
HAS A WOMAN WHOSE NAME IS ON THIS.
AND IT’S LIKE I DON’T NEED TO BE THIS ROARING BIG MACHO PRESENCE.
AND WITHIN THAT YOU HAVE IMPORTANT MESSAGING ABOUT WOMEN
IN THE WORKPLACE AND THOSE POLITICS APPEAR ON BROADCAST
TELEVISION, IN A WORKPLACE COMEDY LIKE THE MARY TYLER MOORE
SHOW. ♪ YOU JUST MIGHT MAKE IT AFTER
ALL ♪ MOVES TO MINNESOTA TO START
WORK AT WJ MTV. WHAT RELIGION AM I?
MR. GRANT, I DON’T QUITE KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS BUT YOU’RE NOT
ALLOWED TO ASK THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS APPLYING FOR A JOB.
WANT TO CALL A COP? [ LAUGHTER ]
IT DID REPRESENT WHAT WOMEN WERE GOING THROUGH IN THE ’70s.
THEY WERE STANDING UP SAYING I MUST BE HEARD.
SITCOMS USED TO BE ABOUT THE WIFE WAS AT HOME DOING THE
DISHES AND THEN THIS WOMAN SPRANG ON TO A SCREEN TO HAVE A
JOB AND OFTEN THE SMARTEST PERSON THERE.
IT WAS SORT OF LIBERATING. YOU GOT SPUNK.
AND I WAITED A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT AND I SAY.
I HATE SPUNK. AND I WANT TO CORRECT
SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. I DON’T HATE SPUNK.
I LOVE SPUNK. IT WAS A TOTAL SHIFT IN
GENDER ROLES. SHE’S A SINGLE WORKING WOMAN,
YOU KNOW, LIVING IN A BUILDING WITH OTHER SINGLE WOMEN.
HOW WOULD YOU BOTH LIKE TO HELP ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT?
FILLPHILIS, THERE IS NO CAPIT PUNISHMENT.
IT CREATING THIS UNCOMFORTABLE DYNAMIC.
IT WAS RIGHT, HUH? YES, TED, YOU WERE RIGHT.
TED THE EGO STATISTICAL EGO MAN.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, LET’S NOT DWOEL ON IT.
THE EXTRAORDINARY BETTY WHITE.
WHO PLAYED SUE ANN WHO WAS MAN HUNGRY AND HAD A MIRRORED
CEILING OVER HER BED. I THINK TELEVISION NEEDS
BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN. LOOK AT ME.
THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WORKPLACE COMEDIES.
PEOPLE THAT WOULD NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS HAVE SPOKEN BUT
COME CONNECTED ANYWAY AND HAVE TO LIVE WITH HUMOR ON A DAY TO
DAY, SECOND TO SECOND BASIS TO GET THROUGH IT.
CHUCKLES THE CLONE IS BENT. THE FUNERAL OF CHUCKLES THE
CLOWN IS ONE OF THE GREAT MOMENTS IN COMEDY.
HE WENT TO THE PARADE DRESSED AS PETER PEANUT AND A ROGUE
ELEPHANT TRIED TO SHELL HIM. EVERYONE IS TRYING TO MAKE
FUN OF IT OTHER THAN MARY. I WONDER WHICH ONES ARE THE
OTHER CLOWNS. THEY WILL JUMP OUT OF A
LITTLE HURST. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL
THESE COMEDIES ARE ABOUT A CRAZY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY GATHERED
TOGETHER IN A WORKPLACE. CHUCKLES THE CLOWN BOUGHT
PLEASURE TO MILLIONS. [ LAUGHTER ]
IT’S SO RELATABLE. SO GO AHEAD
>>> YOU WERE DISMISSING SOME OF THE STAFF.
DID YOU INTEND TO FIRE ME TOO, ESPECIALLY ME.
GO ON HAVING DOING "THE MARY TYLER MOORE" SHOW BECAUSE I LOVE
IT SO MUCH. MARY TYLER MOORE ENTERPRISES
DECIDED TO END THE SHOW WHILE IT WAS STILL GOOD.
THE TELEVISION STATION WHERE MARY WORKS IS BOUGHT OUT.
EVERYONE IS FIRED. I THINK WE ALL NEED SOME
KLEENEX. THERE IS SOME NEAR YOUR DESK.
HOW DO WE LEAVE THIS ROOM? SAYING GOOD‐BYE TO THE SHOW
AND TO EACH OTHER.
♪ IT’S STILL EMOTIONAL AFTER
ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE THAT WAS A FAMILY.
♪ ♪
"THE MARY TYLER MOORE" SHOW. IN THE 1970s, THE BABY BOOM
GENERATION HAD NOT SETTLED INTO THE DOMESTIC SCENE.
THE STANDARD FAMILY SHOW. I’M SURE HE HAS GIRLFRIENDS
BUT HE DENIES IT. WELL, OF COURSE, TODD IS 13
NOW. [ LAUGHTER ]
THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN HOLLYWOOD WERE HITTING THE
COUCH PROBABLY OPENED THE DOORS FOR THE SETTING OF THE SHOW.
I ENJOYED THE ODDITY OF THE PEOPLE.
WHAT SEEMS TO BE YOUR PROBLEM, STAN?
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE INCREDIBLY GOOD
LOOKING. [ LAUGHTER ]
I GO INTO MY OFFICE AND THERE IS A PUPPET.
THERE IS A WORKPLACE COMEDY OR FAMILY COMEDY, YOU BRING
TOGETHER THESE ECCENTRIC TYPES AND IT WORKS BECAUSE OF BOB NEW
HEART’S VOICE. BOB, THEY ARE FLIPPING A
CORN, YOU’RE GOING TO MITSZ THE WHOLE THING.
YOU PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT AND EFFORT AND ENERGY INTO THIS.
ARE YOU GOING TO ASK ME IF YOU CAN EAT IN FRONT OF THE
TELEVISION SET? EVENTUALLY I WAS DOING TO ASK
YOU. I THINK IT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF A REALLY SMART SOPHISTICATED ENSEMBLE COMEDY.
I DON’T HEAR NOTHING. WAIT FOR IT.
M. A. S. H. IS A WORKPLACE THAT THE CHAOS OF THE WAR MAKES THE
WORK SO INTENSE AND CRAZY. WE WERE SET IN KOREA BUT OF
COURSE, AT THAT TIME IT AIRED THE VIETNAM WAR WAS GOING ON?
THOSE HELICOPTERS WILL BE FILLED WITH CANADIANS.
A LOT OF THOSE KIDS AREN’T GETTING HOME FROM THAT PARTY.
ATTENTION, ALL PERSONNEL REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO ADMITTING
WARD AND OPERATING ROOM. WE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE
FLAWED DOING THEIR BEST WORK IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION, ON
M. A. S. H. I WAS DRAWN TO THE OFF BEAT CHARACTERS.
IF YOU SAY NO, WE’LL TELL EVERYBODY YOUR BROTHER IS IN
JAIL. MY BROTHER IS A WARDEN.
WE WON’T SAY THAT PART. HAWK EYE PIERCE WAS THE
CENTER OF THE SHOW. HE WAS THAT PIVOT AND IT WAS
HAWK EYE AND TRAPPER JOHN FLIPPING THE BIRD TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT TO GET ONE UP ON HOT LIPS AND FRANK.
I’VE ALWAYS SAID IT, BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN THERE IS A WOMAN
WITH A VIBRATOR. WHAT DO YOU WANT?
[ LAUGHTER ] THEY RUN THE CAMP THAT
COLONEL BLAKE THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING.
CLINGER, THE ONE THING MCARTH GIRL WITH A 5:00 SHADOW.
THERE IS A CONSTANT DEBATE ABOUT MORALITY.
WHY ARE WE HERE? HOW ARE WE TREATING THESE PEOPLE
AND EACH OTHER? I HOPE THIS GUY DOESN’T MIND
IGNORING ORDERS BY LIVING. AT THE END OF THE THIRD
SEASON. PUT A MASK ON.
KERRY WALKS IN AND SAYS. THE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER
THE SEA OF JAPAN. IT’S BUNION.
THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS. THAT MOMENT IS PURE HONESTY.
I HAVE TROUBLE TELLING THAT STORY FOUR YEARS LATER.
I JUST NEVER EVEN THINK OF IT AS A SITCOM.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST M. A. S. H. M. A. S. H. REALLY BLEW UP WHAT
A WORKPLACE SITCOM COULD BE. THERE WAS DEATH.
THERE WAS SORROW. THERE WAS REALLY A MIXING OF
AGAIN RA GENRE THAT WAS GROUND BREAKING.
THE FIRST DRAMAITY IN PRIME TIME TELEVISION.
IT’S GUNFIRE. IT’S 2:30 IN THE MORNING.
"M. A. S. H." LASTED 11 SEASONS. IF WE DIDN’T HAVE SUCH A
TERRIFIC UNION HERE, I’D PUT IN MY TWO‐WEEK NOTICE BY IN TWO
WEEKS. FEBRUARY 28th, 1983 THE WAR
IS OVER AND THE SHOW IS OVER. IT’S THE MOST ORGANIC PERFECT
FINALLY. YOU BOYS ALWAYS MANAGED TO
GIVE ME A GOOD LAUGH WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST.
I LOVE A GOOD LAUGH LIKE THIS. TO THIS DAY, WE ARE STILL THE
HIGHEST RATED TV SHOW. 125 BILLION WATCHED THAT LAST
EPISODE. SO MANY OF US COULDN’T GET
THROUGH THE GOOD‐BYES. WE JUST KEPT CRYING.
♪ ♪
I TURNED TO MY DAD AND HE WAS CRYING.
AND IT HITS ME THAT YOU CAN MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH FOR HALF AN HOUR
BUT YOU CAN ALSO IN AN INSTANT BECAUSE THEY CARE, TWIST A KNIFE
THAT
>>> PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK BUT CAN’T FIND JOBS.
THE ’70s IS KIND OF A LOSE GENERATION AND EVERYBODY WAS
TRYING TO FIND THEMSELVES. THE ECONOMY WAS IN THE TANK
AND YOU SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE SITCOM.
THAT’S NO LONGER A PROBLEM. THAT’S A TRADITION.
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR LIGHTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE 12th PRECINCT, IT WAS SUCH A CREPTED
PLACE. WELL, WELL, WELL, THE SAME
OLD MELTING POT. KELLY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS. HAVEN’T HELPED A BIT.
REAL COPS DEALING WITH FUNNY
SITUATIONS. GET OUT OF HERE.
BOY, DO I HATE TO START A DAY LIKE THIS?
HOW LYNDON IS BASICALLY THE BOB NEW HEART OF THAT OFFICE.
SURROUNDED BY ALL THE CRAZY NESS MY PERSONALITY.
DOES SHE HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS?
THE WORKPLACE COMEDY IS GREAT BECAUSE ALL THE CHARACTERS COME
IN AND ARE NOT RELATED SO THEY DON’T HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.
TURNED OUT TO BE A DIVERSE CAST WHICH WAS I GUESS,
DIFFERENT IN THOSE DAYS. JACK SUE, GREGORY SIERRA, RON
GLASS WAS UNUSUAL AND REVOLUTIONARY.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE ’70s HAPPENED
HAPPENED, IT WAS A FALLOUT OF THE ’60s AND THEY WHO MIGHT HAVE
HAD A DREAM ABOUT HOW AMERICA WOULD BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
PLACE THEN HAD TO GET A JOB. WE’RE ALL PART TIME HERE.
I ONLY WORK 60 HOURS A WEEK. A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE
GARAGE. WE HAD DREAMS.
WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. WE’LL STICK IN THE GARAGE
FOREVER BUT THE DREAM IS THE THING IT WAS ABOUT.
I JUST CALLED THE GYM. THEY WANT ME TO SPAR WITH
CARLOS. THE GYM?
WOW. THE CHAMP HITTING MY FACE.
DANNY DeVITO’S CHARACTER ON "TAXI" HAS TO BE TOP FIVE
GREATEST SITCOM CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME.
HE IS TERRIFYING. ONCE A BUM, ALWAYS A BUM.
OH, YEAH, YEAH, I SAY TONY HAS A GOOD CHANCE.
I KNOW HE HAS A GOOD CHANCE. I SAY HE CAN WIN.
WANT TO BET? WELL ‐‐
[ LAUGHTER ] THE FRIENDSHIPS THEY HAD IN
"TAXI "TAXI" WOULD GET THEM THROUGH
AND WOULD BE OKAY. THERE IS ONE PERSON TO TRUST.
NOT ME. PROBABLY STAND UP.
ON THAT SHOW PEOPLE FROM COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS
CREATE A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AND THAT’S EXCITING FOR COMEDY
BECAUSE YOU GET TO BOUNCE THESE PEOPLE OFF EACH OTHER.
AND NOW, HERE IS OUR LEAD. MUCH LIKE "TAXI" IT’S A STAFF
OF WORKING PEOPLE DOING THEIR BEST AND NOT ALWAYS THE BEST IS
COMING FROM IT. THIS IS ROCK BOTTOM.
"WKRP" IS ABOUT A LOW RATE THE STATION.
HOW ABOUT THIS STATION’S HELICOPTER?
WE DON’T HAVE ONE. WHY DO WE HAVE HELICOPTER
REPORTS? JUST ME, I GET ON AND DO
THIS. LIGHTS TODAY AND TRAFFIC ARE
HEAVY. THE WORKPLACE IS A WONDERFUL
SETTING FOR SO MANY COMEDIES BECAUSE IT’S A REFUGE.
YOU GET AWAY FROM YOUR KIDS. YOU GET AWAY FROM YOUR WIFE.
AND YOU’RE IN THIS LITTLE ENVIRONMENT WITH PEOPLE YOU GET
TO KNOW PROBABLY CLOSER THAN YOU SHOULD KNOW AND OUT OF THAT WILL
COME CONFLICTS. I DON’T TAKE DICTATION.
I DON’T KNOW HOW JENNIFER ENDED UP AS RECEPTIONEST.
GET COFFEE FOR THE GUYS HERE. I DON’T GET COFFEE, WE AGREED
AGREED. MY MOTHER WAS A ’50s
HOUSEWIFE SO SHE WAS NOT IN A WORKPLACE.
JENNIFER MARLEAU WAS SO POPULAR BECAUSE GIRLS ARE GOING LIKE
YEAH, YOU CAN BE JUST AS CUTE AS YOU WANT TO BE AND BE SMART AND
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU DON’T WANT.
THANK YOU. OH, NO, THANK YOU.
HOW DID SHE GET AWAY WITH THAT?
ARE YOU KIDDING? I LOVE THE "WKRP IN
CINCINNATI." THAT TURKEY EPISODE IS ONE OF
THE FUNNIEST THINGS I’VE SEEN IN MY LIFE.
HERB, YOU’RE IN CHARGE OF GETTING THE TURKEYS.
EVERY THANKSGIVING WHEREVER I AM IN THE WORLD SOMEBODY WILL
BRING UP TURKEYS AWAY. IT’S A CLASSIC.
SOMETHING JUST CAME OUT OF THE BACK OF THE HELICOPTER.
IT’S A DARK OBJECT. OH MY GOD, IT’S TURKEYS.
CAN YOU GET THIS? THEY ARE TRYING TO DO A
SPECIAL EVENT FOR THANKSGIVING AND THEY DROP LIVE TURKEYS OUT
OF A HELICOPTER. I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER.
THE CHILD IS RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES.
TURKEYS ARE EXPLODING ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT.
HOME RUN POSITION HERE. THE CLOUD.
NO ONE KNEW IT WOULD BECOME AN ICONIC EPISODE OF TELEVISION.
PEOPLE YELL IT TO ME AT THE AIRPORT.
GOD AS MY WITNESS. GOD AS MY WITNESS.
AS GOD AS MY WITNESS I THOUGHT TURKEYS COULD FL
>>> IT WAS A PERFECT LAUNCH INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS.
IN THE ’80s THERE IS A THIRD WAVE OF FEMINISM AND IT WAS
TRANSFORMING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN.
I WILL DO MY PEST TO SERVE THE COURT AND THIS NATION.
AND SO THE NET WORK’S MANTRA IS TARGET THE WOMEN.
WOMEN RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO MEN PERFORMING DOMESTIC TASKS.
TONY, HERE ABOUT THE JOB. OH, SORRY, THERE MUST BE A
MISTAKE. THIS JOB IS FOR A HOUSEKEEPER.
THAT’S ME, MR. GOOD MOP. ANGELA, CAREER WOMAN
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE AND TONY T PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER.
THIS IS THE BEST SOUP I’VE EVER HAD.
IT’S SOUP. IT JUST THE DUTIES OF LOVE
YOU UNDER TAKE AS A WIFE AND MOTHER.
TONY, YOU ARE THE HOUSE KEEPER AND THIS IS PART OF THE
HOUSE. THE PRIVATE CHAMBER MAY BE MINE
BUT THE DUST IS YOURS. "WHO’S THE BOSS" WAS A GROUND
BREAKING SHOW IN THE WOMEN WAS THE ONE WEARING THE PANELS.
LISTEN TO THE WAY SHE DOES THAT, SAM.
THAT’S WHY THEY MADE HER THE PRESIDENT.
SO ANGELA IS AN ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE ON "WHO’S THE BOSS ".
ELYCE KEETON ON "FAMILY TIES" IS AN ARCHITECT.
THEY HAVE THESE PROFESSIONAL UP SCALE CAREERS RATHER THAN JUST
JOBS. THOSE ARE REALLY POWERFUL
FANTASIES FOR WOMEN IN THE ’80s. AS A TRAVEL AGENT, I LIKE TO
THINK I’M A LITTLE COG IN A BIG MACHINE.
A VERY LITTLE COG. IN 1986, LINDA BLOOD WORTH
TOMSON WENT TO CBS AND SAID I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT ALL WOMEN
ARE REALLY ABOUT, OPINIONATED AND SUCCESSFUL WHEN GIVEN
OPPORTUNITIES. LINDA BLOOD WORTH TOMSON
CREATED AN ALL VERSION OF THE FEMALE WORKPLACE COMEDY THAT WE
HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE.
♪ I’M GOING TO DO WHAT I ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO, START MY OWN DECORATING BUSINESS AND NO
MATTER HOW MANY FIGHT FIRSTED BANKERS WAIL THEIR TEETH, I HAVE
NO INTENTION OF GOING UNDER. IT WAS A GREAT CAST AND GREAT
WRITING. I CAN’T SEEM TO FIND ANY OF
MY AL MOANEN AL AL‐‐ ALAMONY CHE I THINK YOU MISPLACED THEM.
I LOVE THE OUTRAGEOUSNESS OF CHARACTERS.
IF SEX WERE FAST FOOD, THERE WOULD BE AN ARCH OVER YOUR BED.
BUT THEY HAD AN INTELLIGENCE, WHICH WAS REFRESHING TO SEE ON
TELEVISION. Y’ALL WATCHING?
WE’RE JUST ABOUT TO VOTE. IN 1991 "DESIGNING WOMEN"
TAKES ON THE CLEARANCE THOMAS HEARINGS WITH ANITA HILL.
I DENY EACH AND EVERY SINGLE -L ALLEGATION AGAINST ME TODAY. -AL
THEY WERE TACKLING THE ME TOO MOVEMENT BEFORE THAT WAS A NAME
FOR IT. THIS MAN DOESN’T BELONG ON
THE SUPREME COURT. HE BELONGS IN THEATER.
WE WERE AT APOWER AND I THOUG CREATE THIS SHOW AROUND A WOMAN
WHO WAS A FORCE OF NATURE IN A WORKPLACE THAT HAD TRADITIONALLY
BEEN A MAN’S WORLD. AND THAT’S VERY DIFFERENT FROM
WHAT YOU COULD HAVE WRITTEN IN THE EARLY 1970s.
I’M CONNIE CHUNG IN NEW YORK. I’M BARBARA WALTERS.
I’M MURPHY BROWN. I REMEMBER PITCHING THE SHOW
IN A VERY COLD ROOM IN THE CBS BUILDING AND WHEN I GOT TO THE
POINT WHERE SHE HAD JUST COME BACK FROM BETTY FORD.
HI, EVERYBODY. YOU COULD HEAR THE BRAKES
SCREECHING IN THE ROOM. YOU WERE FONDLING IT WHILE I
WAS GONE. THEY SAID COULDN’T SHE BE 30
AND PLAYED BY HEATHER LOCKLEAR AND I EXPLAINED WHY WHEN YOU
SHAVE DOWN THE OFFROUGH EDGES OF THE CHARACTER YOU BLAND THEM OUT
AND MAYBE THIS IS WHY YOU HAVEN’T HAD A HIT.
MURPHY WAS DEFINED AS BEING EXCELLENT IN HER CAREER.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHUT YOU DOWN ON 15 COUNTS OF FRAUD.
THEY SAID YOU SWINDLED $10 MILLION FROM UNSUSPECTED
INVESTORS. SHE DIDN’T CARE WHAT PEOPLE
THOUGHT OF HER. YOU’RE THE MOST COOL HEADED
PERSON I EVER MET. YOU’RE ELITEST.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE A POINT, DON’T YOU?
YES, I DO AND HERE IS ANOTHER POINT.
MURPHY BROWN HIT BIG AND DREW 20 TO 25 MILLION VIEWERS A WEEK.
AND MURPHY HAD A BABY. IF I DON’T COME UP WITH A
NAME FOR HIM IN, SAY, A YEAR IS THAT A VERY BAD THING?
SHE’S A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER.
IT GOT UNDER PEOPLE’S SKIN. WITH THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY
TWO WEEKS AWAY, VICE PRESIDENT QUAIL BLAMED THE BREAK DOWN OF
AMERICAN FAMILIES IN PART ON THE PROGRAM "MURPHY BROWN".
BEARING BABIES IR RESPONSIBLE IS SIMPLY WRONG.
I THOUGHT I’M TRADING ONE LINERS WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES. IN A RECENT SPEECH, VICE
PRESIDENT QUAIL USED ME AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE POVERTY OF VALUES
IN THIS COUNTRY. DIANE ENGLISH AND LINDA BLOOD
WORTH TOM SON CHANGED THE GAME. MOST SHOW RUNNERS IN A TOTALLY
MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY. THE SHOWS WERE BREAKTHROUGH.
WE COULD CHOOSE TO BLAME THE MEDIA OR THE CONGRESS OR AN
ADMINISTRATION THAT’S BEEN IN POWER FOR 12 YEARS OR WE COULD
>>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME WE GET OUT OF HERE?
WE DON’T WANT TO WORK. IT’S NOT FAIR TO THESE PEOPLE.
THESE PEOPLE ARE MY FRIENDS AND I CARE ABOUT THEM.
FROM THE 1990s, DEFINITELY WORKING MORE THAN BEFORE AND AS
A RESULT OF THAT, YOU START TO SEE MORE WORKPLACE SETTINGS THAN
MIGHT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE PREVIOUSLY.
WE’RE A SUPER STAR SHORT. DID WE HAVE LUCK ON JIM CARRY? EY
WE NEVER LET HIM PLUG "ACE VENTURA".
BROKE THE RULES OF WORKPLACE COMEDY.
THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW IS PROBABLY THE MOST REALISTIC SHOW
EVER WRITTEN ABOUT TELEVISION. LISTEN, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO
KM COME ON MY SHOW TOMORROW NIGHT
AND SAY GOOD‐BYE? IT’S THE WHOLE END OF A THING
TOMORROW NIGHT. GOOD‐BYE.
CAPTURING HOW BROKEN AND LOW FUNCTIONING THE PEOPLE ARE.
A LITTLE UNETHICAL, DON’T YOU THINK?
UNETHICAL? THE WHOLE WORLD WITH UNRAVEL.
THANKS FOR THE UPBEAT TALK. MARY TYLER MOORE DIDN’T WORK
IN A NEWSROOM. BOB NEW HEART WASN’T A
PSYCHIATRIST BUT CAR RIGARY HAD TALK SHOW HOST.
SLEEP WELL. REMEMBER, WE’LL ALL BE SLEEPING
AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK HE SIGNALLED YOU
COULD MIND YOUR LIFE AND MAKE A SHOW OUT OF THAT.
SO WHAT DO I DO NOW? PRETEND LIKE YOU’RE TALKING
TO ME UNTIL WE’RE OFF THE AIR SO IT WON’T SEEM WEIRD.
THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW GAVE HBO THEIR VOICE.
BUT THAT WAS ON PAY CABLE. THE NETWORK TELEVISION WE HAD
SPENT TENURES DOING THESE HANGOUT SHOWS AND EVENTUALLY
EVERYONE REALIZED, LIKE, THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANOTHER
"FRIENDS" AND SO WE KIND OF RETURNED TO THIS NOTION THEY’RE
HANGING OUT BECAUSE THEY WORK TOGETHER.
THEY DON’T HAVE A CHOICE. BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE
2000s, "SCRUBS" IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
MY PITCH WAS A BROAD SILLY COMEDY.
♪ ♪
A BROTHER FINALLY CAN BREATHE.
AND YOU’RE INSIDE OF A YOUNG DOCTOR’S HEAD.
DEATH IS ALWAYS HANGING AROUND THIS HOSPITAL.
MATCH WAS AN INFLUENCE ON ME PAUSE I WAS DRAWN TO COMEDY THAT
SOMEHOW WAS STILL ABOUT SOMETHING.
THIS ISN’T REALLY WHAT I EXPECTED, YOU KNOW?
MOST OF MY PATIENTS ARE CHECKED OUT MENTALLY.
PUMPKIN? THAT’S MODERN MEDICINE.
ADVANCES THAT KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE THAT SHOULD HAVE DIED A
LONG TIME AGO BACK WHEN THEY LOST WHAT MADE THEM PEOPLE.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. WHAT?
DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING IN FRONT OF HER?
SHE’S DEAD. IN THE EARLY 2000s THERE WAS
THIS HUNGER TO REINVENT THE NETWORK SITCOM AND NBC DECIDED
TO TAKE A CHANCE ON A U. K. HIT CALLED "THE OFFICE ".
THERE IS GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.
THE BAD NEWS IS SOME OF YOU WILL LOSE YOUR JOBS, YEAH, YEAH, I
KNOW. I KNOW.
GUTTING. GUTTING.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THAT SHOW.
THIS IS NOTHING LIKE ANYTHING ON TV RIGHT NOW.
THE GOOD NEWS IS I’VE BEEN PROMOTED
PROMOTED. I HAD A DREAM I WAS ON COMEDY
COURT AND THEY TOOK ME TO TASK FOR RUINING THE BRITISH SHOW.
♪ ♪
AND GREG DANIELS WAS LIKE HEY, YOU LIKE THE ENGLISH
"OFFICE" LET’S STAY CLOSE TO THE PILOT.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU THERE IS A SPECIAL FILING
CABINET CABINET.
THE WASTE PAPER PASTBASKET. THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS TO
HAVE FAILED. WEIRD LOOKING ACTORS.
YOU KNOW, ARE WE ROLLING? SO THE FIRST SEASON ENDS.
NO ONE LIKES IT. IRONICALLY A LOT OF VIEWS SAID
IT HUES TOO CLOSE TO THE BRITISH SHOW.
THEN THE BIG THING WAS OKAY, NOW WE’LL WRITE ALL OUR OWN STORIES.
I WANT MICHAEL TO BE VERY OPTIMISTIC.
HIS INTENTIONS HAD TO BE GOOD EVEN WHEN HE WAS DOING TERRIBLE
THINGS. NOBODY LEAVES UNTIL WE WORK
THIS OUT. CAGE MATCH.
CAGE MATCHES, YEAH, THEY WORK.
HOW COULD THEY NOT WORK? IF THEY DIDN’T WORK, EVERYBODY
WOULD BE IN THE CAGE. AMERICAN SHOWS ARE LESS
SCENICAL. DO I HAVE A SPECIAL SOMEONE?
WELL, YEAH, OF COURSE. A BUNCH OF THEM.
MY EMPLOYEES. I WROTE A CHRISTMAS EPISODE
WHERE MICHAEL HAD BOUGHT RYAN A VIDEO IPOD, WHICH HAD JUST COME
OUT. WHOA.
WOW. GEE.
ABOUT FOUR DAYS LATER, APPLE ANNOUNCES THAT IT HAS MADE
CONTENT DEALS WITH NBC. I’D LIKE TO JUST SHOW YOU THE
TV SHOW HERE. THIS IS AN EPISODE FROM "THE
OFFICE." NO!
YOU’LL THANK ME LATER. THE FIRST EPISODE WACKBACK WA
THE HIGHEST EPISODE EVER BECAUSE NOBODY DID ANYTHING BUT SPEND
WEEKS OF WATCHING "THE OFFICE" ON VIDEO IPODS.
THIS WAS ASTOUNDING TO THE PEOPLE AT NBC.
THESE ARE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE KIDS WATCHING THE SHOW
IN DROVES AND THEY’VE NEVER SET FOOT IN AN OFFICE.
AND EVENTUALLY, I REALIZED, OKAY, WELL THIS IS BECAUSE THEIR
EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL. EVERYTHING DWIGHT DOES ANNOYS
ME. DID YOU GET YOUR TICKETS?
TO TWO? THE GUN SHOW. W?
THE GUN SHOW. H? THE GUN SHOW. A?
THE GUN SHOW. T? THE GUN SHOW.
THEY’RE PUT AT A DESK TO ANOTHER KID THEY MAY OR MAY NOT
LIKE. THAT MUST BE WHAT THEY’RE
IDENTIFYING WITH. I MANAGE MY DEPARTMENT AND
I’VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND I’VE LEARN AID LOT
OF LESSONS ALONG THE WAY. YOUR DEPARTMENT IS JUST YOU,
RIGHT? YEAH, BUT I’M NOT EASY TO
MANAGE. IT WAS THE BIGGEST SITCOM
NBC AND NBC WAS SOLD ON THE QUIRK WORKPLACE SITCOMS.
WITH "30 ROCK" I WANTED TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU COULD PUSH THE
PREMISE TO "MARY TIEYLER MOORE" AND THE FIRST WAS IN A NEWS
ENVIRONMENT AND NBC PASSED ON IT AND SAID NO, WRITE MORE OF WHAT
YOU KNOW. WE WERE THERE AT "30 ROCK"
AND "SNL." WE KNEW WHAT WENT ON IN THE
OFFICE. LET’S GET TO TWO COMMERCIAL
PARTY. WE WERE TRYING TO THINK OF A
FUNNYIER CEREAL NAME. THE FIRST INCLUDES HONEY BUNCHES
OF SADNESS, OAT BUM AND SWASTIKOS.
FAR NUGGETST NUGGETS. [ LAUGHTER ]
"30 ROCK" IS A WOMAN THAT’S A CARETAKER FOR AN EGO
I CAN’T FIRE ROSEMARY. YES, YOU CAN, IT IS EASY.
OBSERVE. JONATHAN, YOU ARE FIRED.
THE WORKPLACE SETTING IS GREAT FOR COMEDY BECAUSE YOU ARE
WITH ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS TOUGH FOR YOU.
WHAT DID I TELL YOU? NOT TO FREAK OUT.
WHAT ELSE? STOP FALLING IN LOVE WITH GAY
GUYS. ANYBODY WORKED IN A REGULAR
OFFICE BECAUSE YOU ARE LATE. I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS
>>> DO YOU KNOW JOE BIDEN? HE’S ON MY CELEBRITY SEX
LIST. TRUST ME, YOU CAN DO BETTER
THAN JOE. NO, I DON’T THINK I CAN.
IN SUMMER OF 2008, BARACK OBAMA WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO BE PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN
PEOPLE’S LIVES. PARKS AND RECS ACTUALLY CALLED
PUBLIC SERVICE AT ONE POINT. WE ARE TAKING THE TEMPLATE OF
"THE OFFICE," IT TAKES PLACE IN ONE OF THREE ROOM AND IN THE
SAME DREARY BUILDING. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WORLD IS OUR
OYSTER. HERE WE GO.
LESLIE KNOPE WAS OPTIMISTIC BUT SHE HAD BIG AMBITION WHICH WAS
GOOD FOR COMEDY. ILL WOULD LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE
GET ON BOARD AND BUCKLE UP. WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT
FOR THE MAIN CHARACTER TO BE A WOMAN BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE A
SHOW AND A TRAILBLAZER IN MANY WAYS.
DO YOU MIND IF I BORROW YOUR HAT?
IT WAS A REALISTIC LOOK OF A VIKSAL VERSION WE ALL HAD
BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES AND
ETHNICITYIES AND ALL MINGLING TOGETHER.
CAN YOU GET ME OUT OF IT? YES.
NORMALLY IF GIVEN A CHOICE BETWEEN SOMETHING OR NOTHING, I
CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING. WHEN "PARKS AND RECS" ENDED,
WE LANDED ON A JOINT RESPECT FOR BOBBY MILLER.
MOST LIFE AS AN OFFICER IS NOT CHASING BAD GUYS IN THE STREETS,
IS SITTING AROUND THE PRECINCT AND KILLING TIME BECAUSE IT IS
AN OFFICE. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON
AROUND HERE? AND GO!
THE SHOW STARTED OFF AS PRETTY SILLY.
ONE OF THE TRICKY THING ABOUT A SHOW LASTING FOR A LONG TIME IS
ATTITUDE CHANGED AND IN THIS CASE THERE WAS NO VERSION OF
TELLING A BUNCH OF STORIES ABOUT A POLICE PRECINCT THAT COULD
HAVE GONE ALL OVER THE ISSUES OF POLICEING THAT THE WHOLE COUNTRY
TACTIC TALKED ABOUT.
I GOT STOPPED BY A COP LAST NIGHT CHLGT
NIGHT. FOR WHAT?
FOR WALKING. WHAT ARE YOU DOING AROUND
HERE? I LIVE AROUND HERE.
IT IS OUR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO TAKE A SOCIAL
ISSUE, SOMETHING THAT’S SO SERIOUS AND NOT ONLY FIND THE
HUMOR BUT FIND THE HUMANITY IN IT.
IT IS RIGHT OUTSIDE MY HOME. NOTHING LIKE THAT NEVER HAD
HAPPENED TO ME AND I HAVE DONE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS IN THE
STREETS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
PLAYING A PRANK ON MY BUDDY. SOUNDS FUN.
AFTER THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA, THERE WAS NO
ROOM FOR HOPE IN POLITICIANS AS MUCH AS DIVISION.
WHICH WAS THE PERFECT TIME FOR A SHOW LIKE "VEEP."
I CAN’T [ BLEEP ] BELIEVE HOW TERRIBLE YOU ARE AT YOUR JOB.
WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING ON A PLATFORM OF HIGHER TAXES?
IF A BOMB WENT OFF IN THE WHITE HOUSE, I WOULD NOT CARE.
THOSE ARE THE WORSE PEOPLE ON EARTH.
WHERE WERE YOU, AMY? YOU SAID YOU HAD IT COVERED.
I THINK WE LOVE WORKPLACE SITCOM BECAUSE WE IDENTIFY WITH
THEM EVEN WITH THESE UNLIKABLE PEOPLE IN THIS UNLIKABLE WORLD.
WELL, THEY THINK EXCITED OF A POSSIBILITY OF A WOMAN BECOMING
A PRESIDENT. NOT NECESSARILY YOU.
EVERY GENERATION GETS PUT IN THE SATIRE IT DESERVES.
IT IS TOUGH TO COMPETE WITH REALITY.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. I HAVE A LOVELY INAUGURATION,
BILLY JOEL IS GOING TO SING SO YOU GUYS HAVE TO STOP THE
RECOUNT. ANY SHOW IS ABOUT WORKPLACE
OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE, THEY EVENTUALLY MIGRATE INTO WELL,
WHO’S THE DAD OR THE MOM OR THE CRAZY UNCLE.
THEY KIND OF FIT INTO A FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES.
ANYWHERE CAN BE A WORKPLACE.
MORNING. YOU DO REALIZE THAT I AM
LOST, RIGHT? OH.
IT IS THIS WAY, SIR. IT CAN BE AN AMERICAN COACH
BEING DROPPED IN A BRITISH PREMIER FOOTBALL TEAM.
LOOK AT THIS GUY. THEY CALL IT POLICE BOOTS.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE TRUNK OF THE CAR IS A BOOT?
REFLECTING SOCIETY. REFLECTING ALL OF OUR FALSE AND
YET BEING ABLE TO LAUGH AT OURSELVES.
WHETHER IT IS "DIRTY ROCK" DOING A TV SHOW OR ON MOON BASE.
DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR SEAT BELT.
I FORGOT TO MY BIRD. OH MY GOD, WHERE IS YOUR