At age 93, producer George Schlatter has a lifetime of memories to look back at.
Producing the groundbreaking and iconic TV comedy showLaugh-inis just one facet.
Do you see any parallels to what people are doing online now and what you did then?
George SchlatterFrazer Harrison/Getty Images
Schlatter:I see tremendous similarities.
We would take an item from the back page of a newspaper and make a story out of it.
DEADLINE:Whats your opinion of the way Hollywood is run now versus how it was in your career?
Schlatter:It is much more difficult now.
In my era, you needed an answer from just one person.
They said, OK, go do it.
It was a success because we didnt have to get many people to agree.
All we needed was Herb Schlosser or Fred Silverman to say Yes and we went out and did it.
Schlatter:I was enough of a success in entertainment that I survived business and politics.
Had I started in business or politics, Id still be living in the Valley.
I endured them by accident.
They were at the periphery of my success, not the reason for it.
DEADLINE: What current television shows do you admire?
DEADLINE:In the book, you are constantly vexed by the suits and their suggestions.
For todays producers who may be dealing with the same issues, what is your recommendation?
Schlatter:Pretend to listen… then do whatever you wanted to do before the meeting ever started.
DEADLINE:A key issue in the WGA strike is about the use of artificial intelligence.
Whats your take on its use as a tool?
Schlatter:Artificial Intelligence is not new.
We used to call it, Memos from executives.
They were the first warning of the impending doom of artificial intelligence.
They presented an answer for which there was no question.
But we survived the early stages of artificial intelligence and we called it stupidity.
DEADLINE:Could you have had the career you had in todays world?
That doesnt happen today.
DEADLINE:Who would you cast in a version of Laugh-In airing in the fall?
Schlatter:Goldie Hawn.
As a star, producer, director, writer and publicist.
If Goldie wasnt available, I would go to Lily Tomlin.
DEADLINE:Is cancel culture killing comedy, as some claim?
Schlatter:Cancel Culture?
DEADLINE:You were a manager at Ciros.
Do you have any current restaurants that you think would be comfortable with its patrons from those times?
Schlatter:Il Piccolino was Ciros without the gangsters.
It was colorful, it was exciting and it was fun.
The other place next to that would be Nate and Als.
You get excitement, knowledge and heartburn, all of which are necessary for success.
