Mel Tolkin

Mel Tolkin ( Shmuel Tolchinsky; August 3, 1913 – November 26, 2007) (, , , means "from Tuľčyn") in a Jewish shtetl near Odessa in the Russian Empire (now Ukraine), the son of Nessie (Cartman) and Mendel "Max" Tolchinsky, a labourer and door-to-door salesman.

A background of anti-Semitic pogroms, shared by other comedy writers of his generation, he noted in 1992, "I'm not happy to have to say ... created the condition where humor becomes anger made acceptable with a joke".

His family moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1926, where Tolkin became known as Samuel. with Ronald C. Simon, television curator of The Paley Center for Media calling it "a pinnacle of television history", the series presented 90 minutes of comedy live each week for 39 weeks a year, for a total of 160 shows airing February 25, 1950, to June 5, 1954. From its sixth-floor office on West 56th Street in Manhattan,

Tolkin, famously fought, argued, quipped, crafted, "paced, muttered, swore, occasionally typed and more than occasionally threw things: crumpled paper cups, cigars (lighted) and much else. The acoustical-tile ceiling was fringed with pencils, which had been flung aloft in a rage and stuck fast; Mr. Tolkin once counted 39 of them suspended there". For six years in the 1970s, he was a story editor for the landmark CBS sitcom All in the Family, writing several of its scripts. He also wrote for the sequel series Archie Bunker's Place, and for the 1981–1983 Tony Randall sitcom Love, Sidney.

Tolkin died of heart failure at age 94, at his home in Century City, California. Aside from children and grandchildren, he was survived by his wife, Edith, and by a brother, Sol Tolchinsky. He was interred at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Other writing Tolkin also wrote comedy for the standup comics and nightclub entertainers Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye, and Danny Thomas, who later became stars.

With writing partner Larry Rhine, Tolkin shared a 1978 Humanitas Prize for 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television, for the All in the Family episode "The Brother". Rhine and Tolkin also shared a 1977 nomination in that category, for the All in the Family episode "Archie's Brief Encounter - Part II".

Writers Guild of America Awards : 1965: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy The Danny Kaye Show (1963-64), shared with Herbert Baker, Sheldon Keller, Saul Ilson, Ernest Chambers, Gary Belkin, Paul Mazursky, and Larry Tucker 1966: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy The Danny Kaye Show with Art Carney, shared with Sheldon Keller, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers, Larry Tucker, Paul Mazursky, Billy Barnes, and Ron Friedman 1968: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, shared with Mel Brooks, Sam Denoff, William Persky, and Carl Reiner 1978: Television: Episodic Comedy All in the Family ("Archie Gets the Business - Parts I & II"), shared with Larry Rhine

Nominations

Emmy nominations: Best Comedy Writing - 1956 for Caesar's Hour (NBC), shared with Mel Brooks, Selma Diamond, Larry Gelbart, and Sheldon Keller Best Comedy Writing - Variety Or Situation Comedy - 1957 for Caesar's Hour (NBC), shared with Gary Belkin, Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Sheldon Keller, Neil Simon, and Mike Stewart Best Comedy Writing - 1958 for Caesar's Hour (NBC), shared with Gary Belkin, Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Sheldon Keller, Neil Simon, and Mike Stewart Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy or Variety - 1964 The Danny Kaye Show (CBS), shared with Herbert Baker, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers, Larry Gelbart, Saul Ilson, Sheldon Keller, Paul Mazursky, and Larry Tucker

Writers Guild of America Award nominations: 1966: Television: Variety: Series or Special: Musical or Comedy The Danny Kaye Show with Fred Gwynne, shared with Sheldon Keller, Gary Belkin, Ernest Chambers, Larry Tucker, Paul Mazursky, Billy Barnes, and Ron Friedman 1977 Television: Episodic Comedy All in the Family ("Joey's Baptism"), shared with Larry Rhine and Milt Josefsberg

Legacy The Your Show of Shows writers' room inspired the film My Favorite Year (1982), produced by Brooks, and the Broadway play Laughter on the 23rd Floor (1993), written by Neil Simon.