My Favorite Year 1982 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 92 minutes || Background: This film presents a fictional story but realistic view of what it was like to work in television during the early years (1948-1954). Early television programming formats borrowed from two existing traditions--radio and live theater. Popular radio programs of the time were moved to television where some flourished and others failed within the new medium. Live, theatrical variety shows with scenery, costumes, and props provided the other successful format featured here. "My Favorite Year" is based on NBC's popular, Saturday evening program, "Your Show of Shows" (1950-54). This comedy-variety show featured a regular cast including Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, and Carl Reiner; but showcased a guest performer each week, ala "Saturday Night Live" today. Caesar was the star and a dominate influence on the behind-the-scenes comedy writing and direction of the program. It was a very stressful environment for the writers and cast, producing 90-minutes of comedy entertainment each week. Keep in mind that early television was LIVE -- even the commercials. Videotape was not invented until 1956. Unfortunately recordings of many early TV programs do not exist since the only way to record television at the time was by kinescope--a film camera aimed at a TV screen producing a rather poor resolution image. Director: Richard Benjamin - this was his first film as a director. - began his career as an actor in such films as "Catch-22" (1970) and "The Sunshine Boys" (1975). - later directed a TV version of Neil Simon's "Laughter on the 23rd Floor" (2001) - Playwright Neil Simon was a writer on "Your Show of Shows" TV show. Screenplay: Norman Steinberg, Dennis Palumbo - Palumbo was a writer for several TV series in the mid-1970s, including "Welcome Back, Kotter" - Steinberg wrote several TV series and co-wrote the film "Blazing Saddles" (1974) Characters - Actors: Alan Swann - Peter O'Toole - Swann character based on real-life Errol Flynn. - O'Toole received a best actor Oscar nomination for this role. - He has appeared in many films including lead role in "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) King Kaiser - Joseph Bologna - King Kaiser is the fictional Sid Caesar character of the movie. Benjy Stone - Mark Linn Baker - Main character Contact info: Steve Scherer