Mert Rich (SCTV, Cheers)

Mert Rich joined me to talk about his Emmys; growing up in Detroit; Soupy Sales; Bill Kennedy; Milton Berle; Jackie Gleason; Carl Reiner; being in one of the last Bob Newhart Shows and meeting Mary Tyler Moore at the wrap-up party; Wayne State; going into advertising; joining Second City; doing industrial films with Steven Kampmann; 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour; side jobs; auditioned for Taxi; doing a Quincy; joining SCTV Network 90; being a Juul Haalamayer Dancer; Jake LaMotta's Raging Bull BBQ; Dr. Tongue's 3D House of Beef; meeting partner Brian Pollack at the Hollywood Square - Match Game Hour; writing a parody of Footlose; writing a What's Happening Now! and a Love Boat; working with Al Jean & Mike Reiss; working on Hulk Hogan's Rock n Wrestling; learning how to use a computer on Sledge Hammer!; Jackie Cooper; episode "Dori Day Afternoon"; creating the character of Cliff's girl friend Margaret O'Keefe on Cheers; episode "What's Up, Doc?"; hanging out with Woody Harrelson; Roger Rees; writing the episode that earned Kirstie Alley an Emmy; You've Lost that Loving Feeling; Bill Medley; Roc; firing Jamie Foxx from pilot; difficulties of Roc Live!; Kurt Rambis; episode "The Stan Who Came to Dinner"; writing a pilot for John Ratzenberger; working on the George Carlin Show; Sam Simon; Brian Doyle-Murray; Sister, Sister; Sherman Helmsley; Secret Dairy of Desmond Pfeiffer; Boat Trip; The Simpsons; Sir Roger Moore; Cheers finale; On the Verge of a Wig - Out; Kirstie Alley; COVID 19;