Irma Kalish, a prolific comedy writer who blazed trails for women in television with a career that stretched from radio to 1980s sitcoms, died Monday in Woodland Hills due to complications from pneumonia. She was 96.
Kalish worked on a wide range of series, from “My Favorite Martian” and “Gilligan’s Island” to “All in the Family,” “Maude” and “The Bob Newhart Show.” She was also an active member of the Writers Guild of America West and had a long tenure as a board member and as vice president. She spent 20 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund and she was an early president of Women in Film.
Kalish was a partner in life and work with her husband, Austin “Rocky” Kalish, for seven decades until his death in 2016 at age 95. The two got their start together in radio as writers for “The Martin & Lewis Show” starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Kalish worked on a wide range of series, from “My Favorite Martian” and “Gilligan’s Island” to “All in the Family,” “Maude” and “The Bob Newhart Show.” She was also an active member of the Writers Guild of America West and had a long tenure as a board member and as vice president. She spent 20 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund and she was an early president of Women in Film.
Kalish was a partner in life and work with her husband, Austin “Rocky” Kalish, for seven decades until his death in 2016 at age 95. The two got their start together in radio as writers for “The Martin & Lewis Show” starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
- 9/6/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Irma Kalish, one of television’s first female producers whose writing and producing credits with her husband and writing partner include the Norman Lear series Maude, All in the Family and Good Times as well as My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeannie, The Bob Newhart Show and Too Close for Comfort, died September 3 in Woodland Hills, CA due to complications from pneumonia. She was 96.
The news was confirmed Monday by a family spokesperson.
Kalish, born Irma May Ginsberg in New York City, was also a vice president and longtime board member of the WGA West, receiving the writers guild’s Valentine Davies Award and Morgan Cox Award. She also was one of the first presidents of Women In Film, and the recipient of that organization’s Founders Award. Kalish also spent 27 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
As a writing duo,...
The news was confirmed Monday by a family spokesperson.
Kalish, born Irma May Ginsberg in New York City, was also a vice president and longtime board member of the WGA West, receiving the writers guild’s Valentine Davies Award and Morgan Cox Award. She also was one of the first presidents of Women In Film, and the recipient of that organization’s Founders Award. Kalish also spent 27 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
As a writing duo,...
- 9/6/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Toronto -- Canadian animation producer Cookie Jar Entertainment has stepped up its push into live-action comedy with a Cartoon Network pilot from scribe Steven de Souza ("Die Hard," "48 Hours").
The new live-action programming remit also has Cookie Jar developing "Decidedly Debra" for Family Channel Canada, a tween live-action comedy from the veteran Los Angeles comedy writing team of Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers.
The Family Channel pilot, to be directed by Stacey Curtis ("Majority Rules!") with Peter Benison ("The Wild Girl") as director of photography, follows 14-year-old Debra, who sprinkles her magic and special skills to bring out the best in people.
Cookie Jar's live-action development slate also includes a primetime young adult romantic comedy for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. set in a Montreal coffee shop.
While the Canadian producer's lineup is still mostly animation -- Cookie Jar showcased at Miptv the new animated series "Doodlebops Rockin' Road Show" and new seasons of "Caillou,...
The new live-action programming remit also has Cookie Jar developing "Decidedly Debra" for Family Channel Canada, a tween live-action comedy from the veteran Los Angeles comedy writing team of Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers.
The Family Channel pilot, to be directed by Stacey Curtis ("Majority Rules!") with Peter Benison ("The Wild Girl") as director of photography, follows 14-year-old Debra, who sprinkles her magic and special skills to bring out the best in people.
Cookie Jar's live-action development slate also includes a primetime young adult romantic comedy for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. set in a Montreal coffee shop.
While the Canadian producer's lineup is still mostly animation -- Cookie Jar showcased at Miptv the new animated series "Doodlebops Rockin' Road Show" and new seasons of "Caillou,...
- 4/16/2010
- by By Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Toronto -- Canadian indie producer Cookie Jar Entertainment has cut 35 animation production jobs as it pivots toward more live-action series production.
Toronto-based Cookie Jar in a statement said it was "realigning" its production dollars amid the economic downturn to move deeper into live-action programming.
The Canadian producer added it will expand its copyright promotions licensing group, based in London, and maintain all of its 16 offices internationally.
Cookie Jar is best known for its cartoon properties that include "Caillou," "The Doodlebops" and "Richard Scarry's Busytown Mysteries."
But the studio has also expanded into consumer products and educational publishing. Cookie Jar has broadened its entertainment programming reach into U.S. network series and syndicated fare after acquiring the global brand management group Dic Entertainment for $83 million in 2008.
Cookie Jar has since hired former Columbia TriStar and Paramount TV division boss Tom Mazza to lead a foray into U.S. network series production,...
Toronto-based Cookie Jar in a statement said it was "realigning" its production dollars amid the economic downturn to move deeper into live-action programming.
The Canadian producer added it will expand its copyright promotions licensing group, based in London, and maintain all of its 16 offices internationally.
Cookie Jar is best known for its cartoon properties that include "Caillou," "The Doodlebops" and "Richard Scarry's Busytown Mysteries."
But the studio has also expanded into consumer products and educational publishing. Cookie Jar has broadened its entertainment programming reach into U.S. network series and syndicated fare after acquiring the global brand management group Dic Entertainment for $83 million in 2008.
Cookie Jar has since hired former Columbia TriStar and Paramount TV division boss Tom Mazza to lead a foray into U.S. network series production,...
- 3/16/2010
- by By Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Toronto -- Cookie Jar Entertainment has tapped Bruce Kalish ("Power Rangers") to show-run its hybrid tween series "Mudpit" for the indie Canadian producer's teen and adult label, The Jar.
Production on 26 half-hours of "Mudpit" will start in April.
Kalish most recently created, wrote and executive produced the Disney Xd live action series "Aaron Stone," which was shot in Toronto.
"Mudpit," a blended live action and animated comedy, portrays four teens in a virtual band called Mudpit that are forced by a sudden hit single to balance their off-line teen lives with their virtual world stardom.
Kalish was hired by Burbank-based Tom Mazza, executive vp and head of worldwide TV, who was brought in last year to broaden Cookie Jar's programming into U.S. network series and syndicated fare after the Toronto-based producer acquired the global brand management group Dic Entertainment for $83 million in 2008.
Cookie Jar, best known for its animated kids series,...
Production on 26 half-hours of "Mudpit" will start in April.
Kalish most recently created, wrote and executive produced the Disney Xd live action series "Aaron Stone," which was shot in Toronto.
"Mudpit," a blended live action and animated comedy, portrays four teens in a virtual band called Mudpit that are forced by a sudden hit single to balance their off-line teen lives with their virtual world stardom.
Kalish was hired by Burbank-based Tom Mazza, executive vp and head of worldwide TV, who was brought in last year to broaden Cookie Jar's programming into U.S. network series and syndicated fare after the Toronto-based producer acquired the global brand management group Dic Entertainment for $83 million in 2008.
Cookie Jar, best known for its animated kids series,...
- 2/8/2010
- by By Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Disney Xd has renewed its flagship show, the live-action adventure "Aaron Stone," for a second season and picked up the new comedy "Viper Slap."
"Slap" is about a teenage boy (Logan Miller) who is living his dream as the new lead guitarist of his favorite '80s rock band, Viper Slap, while helping them on the comeback trail.
The project, from Icm-repped creators Michael Kaplan and Ron Rappaport, marks the first multicamera comedy series for the boy-centric Disney Xd, which launched in February after the rebranding of Toon Disney.
Disney Channel senior vp Adam Bonnett, who oversees development and current series for Disney Xd, said his team had been looking for a "Hannah Montana"-type music-flavored comedy vehicle for boys and found it in "Slap."
"It represents a fresh way to approach a music-driven concept that targets boys," he said.
Production on "Slap," exec produced by Kaplan and Richard Gurman,...
"Slap" is about a teenage boy (Logan Miller) who is living his dream as the new lead guitarist of his favorite '80s rock band, Viper Slap, while helping them on the comeback trail.
The project, from Icm-repped creators Michael Kaplan and Ron Rappaport, marks the first multicamera comedy series for the boy-centric Disney Xd, which launched in February after the rebranding of Toon Disney.
Disney Channel senior vp Adam Bonnett, who oversees development and current series for Disney Xd, said his team had been looking for a "Hannah Montana"-type music-flavored comedy vehicle for boys and found it in "Slap."
"It represents a fresh way to approach a music-driven concept that targets boys," he said.
Production on "Slap," exec produced by Kaplan and Richard Gurman,...
- 5/4/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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