TV Confidential with Ed Robertson

TVC 729.2: Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Robert Illes talks to Ed about how he and James Stein got their first big break in television when they wrote the weekly monologue for comedian Bill Cosby on The New Bill Cosby Show (CBS, 1972-1973); working with Tom and Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Show (NBC, 1975) and with legendary comedy writer Pat McCormick on several TV shows; and how a funny moment with writer Stanley Ralph Ross when he and Bob worked together on The New Bill Cosby Show later became the inspiration for one of the Grandfather Stratton episodes of Silver Spoons (NBC, 1982-1987). Bob's memoir, Funny is Money, is available in hardcover, paperback, and as a eBook through Bear Manor Media and Amazon.com.

TVC 729.3: From March 2016: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the influence of comedian George Burns on two generations of TV comedy writers. George Burns died on Mar. 9, 1996 as part of This Week in TV History.

TVC 729.4: Ed welcomes back renowned actress, author, and conservationist Stefanie Powers (Hart to Hart, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., One from the Hart). The United Nations recently honored Stefanie as an Agent of Change in recognition for her work with the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, the nonprofit organization that Stefanie established in 1982 in memory of her longtime life partner that continues and furthers the conservation work of William Holden in East Africa. Topics this segment include how Stefanie's passion for protecting animals and preserving wildlife stems from her early childhood; how Holden was never afraid to back from a challenge, when he was a young man; how Holden came to form the first-ever game ranch for the preservation of species in East Africa in 1950, long before the general public ever knew about conservationism; and the circumstances that led Stefanie to be cast as April Dancer in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Calendar year 2026 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the premiere of The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. March is Women's History Month, while Wednesday, Apr. 22 is Earth Day. Stefanie Powers is also profiled in Vision for the Future: Capturing Inspiring Stories from Leaders and Changemakers, a new anthology eBook that profiles twenty-five visionaries who not only are making a significant impact in their respective fields, but are dedicated to making the world a better place through hope, action, and lasting change. Vision for the Future is available for free at visionforthefuture.ai.

TVC 726.5: From March 2016: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of the Emmy Award-winning drama Family (ABC, 1976-1980) as part of This Week in TV History.

TVC 726.6: From February 2014: Ed and guest co-host Phil Gries welcome Joe Franklin, the legendary TV talk show host whose popular weekday talk show, Joe Franklin's Memory Lane, not only aired every day on New York television for more than forty years (1950-1993), but was also broadcast nationally for many years on superstation WOR and syndicated in many other markets. This past Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 would have been Franklin's 100th birthday.

TVC 726.7: Ed and guest co-host Phil Gries play more of their conversation with legendary TV talk show host Joe Franklin. Our conversation with Joe originally aired in February 2014, eleven months before his passing in January 2015. Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 would have been Joe Franklin's 100th birthday.

TVC 728.1: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with authors, playwrights, and producers Anthony Wynn and Robert Wood. Tony and Bob's latest book, Two for the Road, chronicles the lifelong love story of Barry Morse and his wife of sixty years, actress Sydney Sturgess, as told through the many cards, letters, and audio recordings that Barry and Sydney sent to each other in the course of their marriage. Topics in this segment include Morse's lifelong friendship with playwright George Bernard Shaw; how he always took his work seriously, but never himself seriously; and his genuine affection and compassion for people. Two for the Road: The Lives and Love of Actors Barry Morse and Sydney Sturgess is available for purchase at Amazon.com in the U.S., Amazon.ca in Canada, and Amazon.co.uk in the UK, as well as many other online retailers. Anthony Wynn and Robert Wood also produced the short film The Return of Victor Bergman, which was recently released on Blu-ray by Anderson Entertainment as part of their Space 1999: Super Space Theatre Collectors Edition Blu-ray package. Barry Morse filmed this piece just before his death in 2008.

TVC 728.2: TV Confidential remembers Neil Sedaka, the Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and pianist who sold millions of records worldwide and who wrote or co-wrote more than five hundred songs for himself and other artists in a career that spanned nearly seven decades. Neil Sedaka passed away Friday, Feb. 27 at the age of eighty-six. Because of the often symbiotic relationship between music and television, Neil Sedaka has been the subject of many conversations on TV Confidential, including this segment from June 2012 with Rich Podolksy about Aldon Music, the song publishing firm formed by Don Kirshner in 1958 that published more than two hundred hit records in a five year span, while also launching the careers of such artists as Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, Carole King, Howard Greenfield, and Neil Sedaka. Rich Podolsky's books on music history include Don Kirshner: The Man with The Golden Ear and Neil Sedaka: Rock 'n' Roll Survivor.

TVC 728.3: Our remembrance of Neil Sedaka continues with clips from our conversation from March 2024 with legendary music manager Harvey Lisberg about "Is This the Way to Amarillo," the Sedaka-penned song that became a huge hit in 1971 for British singer Tony Christie; from April 2016 with Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Toni Tennille about "Love Will Keep Us Together," the Sedaka tune that made superstars out of Captain and Tennille while also winning the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1975; and from September 2025 with Ruta Lee about one of Sedaka's final public appearances, a surprise performance at Ruta's ninetieth birthday celebration in May 2025. Neil Sedaka passed away Friday, Feb. 27 at the age of eighty-six. Photo of Neil Sedaka courtesy Facebook.

TVC 728.4: Ed welcomes back actor, author, and documentary filmmaker James Rosin. Jim wrote, produced, and directed Philly Hoops, a deep dive into the early years of one of the NBA's most storied franchises, The Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors), that also traces the rise of professional basketball in the City of Brotherly Love, including the history of the Philadelphia SPHAs, the first professional basketball team in Philadelphia, and a look at the life and legacy of Eddie Gottlieb, the man who not only owned and operated the SPHAs, but was the original owner and coach of the Philadelphia Warriors franchise, not to mention one of the founders of the NBA. Philly Hoops is available on DVD through Amazon.com as well as MovieZyng.com.