Robert Tischler (June 12, 1946 – July 13, 2024) was an American television writer, audio engineer and television producer. Tischler engineered the National Lampoon's first comedy album[1] and with Michael O'Donoghue co-created and produced the National Lampoon Radio Hour. A friend of John Belushi's since the Radio Hour days, Tischler produced four Blues Brothers albums, the first of which, Briefcase Full of Blues, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went double platinum. He later worked on Saturday Night Live as head writer from 1981 to 1985.[2]
Bob Tischler | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 12, 1946 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | July 13, 2024 (aged 78) Bodega Bay, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, television producer |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 1 |
Background
editRobert Tischler was born in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1946.[3] He was educated at Ithaca College and Franconia College but never obtained a degree.[3]
Tischler was married to and divorced from Belinda Horowitz; he later married Judith English. He had a son.[3]
Tischler died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Bodega Bay, California, on July 13, 2024, at the age of 78.[3]
Career
editTischler was making radio spots for movie studios when, after hiring improvisational actor Christopher Guest as voice talent, Guest and Tischler became friends.[3] "Chris got me into show business," Tischler later recalled.[4] When Guest became involved with National Lampoon's 1972 Radio Dinner album, he called on Tischler to help.[4] Tischler co-produced the record with Lampoon magazine writers Tony Hendra and Michael O'Donoghue.[3]
In 1981, Tischler joined Saturday Night Live when Dick Ebersol took creative control; Tischler served as head writer for four seasons, leaving the show in 1985. During his tenure, he helped reverse the show's declining fortunes after its rocky sixth season.[3] He championed Eddie Murphy as a cast member, whose emergence as a star was credited as a major factor for the show's newfound successes.[3] Guest, Billy Crystal, and Martin Short also joined the show during this time.[3]
Tischler produced David Brenner's late-night talk show Nightlife during the 1986-'87 season and had since written for and produced a number of television series, including What's Alan Watching?,[5] Empty Nest, Something So Right and Boy Meets World.[3]
References
edit- ^ Stein, Ellin (June 24, 2013). "Chapter 6: The Breaking of the Table". That's Not Funny, That's Sick: The National Lampoon and the Comedy Insurgents Who Captured the Mainstream. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393084375.
- ^ Former SNL Head Writer Bob Tischler Dies
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sandomir, Richard (August 11, 2024). "Bob Tischler, Who Helped Revive 'Saturday Night Live,' Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Kornbluth, Jesse (October 1, 1984). "Revived from New York, It's 'Saturday Night'!". New York Magazine. New York Media, Inc.: 54.
- ^ "What's Alan Watching?". The New York Times. 1989.
