Ed. Weinberger (left) with First Lady Betty Ford and Mary Tyler Moore in 1975

Edwin B. "Ed." Weinberger is an American screenwriter and television producer.

Life and career

Born in 1938 and raised in Philadelphia,[1] the only son of Jewish butcher Leon and his wife Helen Weinberger,[2] Ed. Weinberger began his TV career after he dropped out of Columbia University,[2] writing for such stand-up comedians as Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, and Bill Cosby. His first job in television was writing for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He also wrote for The Bob Hope Special, The Bill Cosby Show, and The Dean Martin Variety Hour.

Weinberger, along with James L. Brooks, David Davis, Allan Burns, and Stan Daniels, formed the core of MTM Enterprises. In 1977, they left for Paramount Pictures and started the John Charles Walters Company. Weinberger also played Mr. Walters in the logo. The series Taxi was created the following year. He also wrote and co-created The Cosby Show, which ran for eight years. Weinberger went on to create and executive produce several other sitcoms, including Amen, Mr. President, Dear John, Baby Talk, and Sparks. In 1985, he became president of television production company Carson Productions, replacing John J. McMahon.[3]

Weinberger has won a Peabody Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and nine Emmy Awards. He has also received the Writers Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award.

He has been married to TV actress Carlene Watkins since 1984. With his son, Jack, Weinberger wrote and produced the musical play Mary and Joseph, which had a national tour in 2007–08.

Weinberger explained in 2000 that he began using the abbreviation "Ed." when he was eight years old, admitting that "it's an affectation that's gotten out of hand."[1]

In 2012, he sued two former business managers, claiming they had failed to obtain revenue for him from his work on Amen.[4] His case was dismissed in 2013 by the Los Angeles Superior Court, but that decision was overturned in 2015 by the appellate court.[4]

Accolades

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResult
1973Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowNominated
1974Nominated
Writers Guild of America AwardsEpisodic ComedyThe Mary Tyler Moore Show: "The Lars Affair"Nominated
1975Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowWon
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesThe Mary Tyler Moore Show: "Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?"Won
Writers Guild of America AwardsEpisodic ComedyNominated
1976Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowWon
1977Won
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesThe Mary Tyler Moore Show: "The Last Show"Won
1978Writers Guild of America AwardsEpisodic ComedyNominated
1979Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesTaxiWon
1980Won
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesThe Associates: "The Censors"Nominated
1981Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesTaxiWon
Writers Guild of America AwardsEpisodic ComedyThe Associates: "The Censors"Nominated
1982Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesTaxiNominated
1983Nominated
1985Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesThe Cosby Show: "Pilot"Won

References

  • Michael B. Kassel (November 29, 2007). "Ed Weinberger: U.S. Writer-Producer". Museum of Broadcast Communications. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
  • O'Connor, John (October 6, 1988). "Review/Television; Life After Divorce, in the 'Taxi' Spirit". The New York Times.
  1. 1 2 McNary, David (November 19, 2000). "WGA salutes scribe". Variety. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Blandford, Linda (April 2, 1989). "Anatomy Of A Sitcom". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Confirm Weinberger Carson Prods. Prexy". Variety. November 6, 1985. p. 3.
  4. 1 2 Austin Siegemund-Broka (May 15, 2015). "Cosby Show' Creator Revives Fight With Business Managers". The Hollywood Reporter.
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