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Andy Ackerman

Director / Editor

"We all know when something's not funny. But I think somehow I've been blessed with an ear. I know if something's not quite working. I feel like I have the ability to help the actor to do a little tweak. Maybe instead of ending it with this inflection or underlining this word, try stressing this word instead, and take beats. A lot of it is timing and that’s rhythm. Knowing when to pause, when not to pause. That's just the beauty of, of language in-general."  

About This Interview

Andy Ackerman was interviewed for three hours in South Pasadena, CA.  Ackerman talks about his break into the industry as an assistant editor on the series Welcome Back, Kotter.  He relates how he came to work for MTM Enterprises and discusses working on WKRP in Cincinnati as an editor (for which he won an Emmy Award).  He describes his approach to editing and notes how the audience creates the rhythm for the show.  He speaks in great detail about his long association with Cheers, for which he worked as an editor (another Emmy win) and a director.  For Cheers, he talks about working with the series producers, describes memorable episodes, and talks about the atmosphere on the set of the final episode.  He then describes his continued work as a director in sitcoms, starting with Wings and Frasier. He discusses at length his work as the main director of the later seasons of Seinfeld. For Seinfeld, he describes the series’ style of comedy, the visual ideas he incorporated into the show, and gives his impressions of the ensemble.  He offers production stories about such well-known episodes as “The Soup Nazi,” “The Invitations,” and “The Bizarro Jerry.”  He touches on some of the series he’s directed since Seinfeld, including Becker, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The New Adventures of Old Christine.  The interview was conducted by Jenni Matz on November 13, 2007.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • Almost Perfect
  • Andy Richter Controls the Universe
  • Becker
  • Bernie Mac Show, The
  • Big Wave Dave's
  • Cheers
  • Cheers: "One for the Road"
  • Cheers: "What is... Cliff Clavin?"
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
  • Everybody Loves Raymond
  • Frasier
  • Jeopardy!
  • Lateline
  • Mickey Mouse Club, The
  • Muddling Through
  • New Adventures of Old Christine, The
  • Office, The
  • Seinfeld
  • Seinfeld: "The Bizarro Jerry"
  • Seinfeld: "The Chaperone"
  • Seinfeld: "The Finale"
  • Seinfeld: "The Invitations"
  • Seinfeld: "The Pothole"
  • Seinfeld: "The Rye"
  • Seinfeld: "The Soup Nazi"
  • Taxi
  • WKRP in Cincinnati
  • Welcome Back Kotter
  • Wings

People

  • Peter Boyle
  • James Burrows
  • Jerry Stiller
  • Alex Trebek
  • Dick Van Dyke

Topics

  • Creative Influences and Inspiration
  • Pop Culture
  • Television Industry

Genres

  • Comedy Series
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  • Highlights
  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Highlights

  • Andy Ackerman on the challenges of directing a comedy dealing with a dark or tragic subject (02m 42s)Andy Ackerman on the challenges of directing a comedy dealing with a dark or tragic subject (02m 42s)
  • Andy Ackerman on working with the <i>Cheers</i>  castAndy Ackerman on working with the Cheers cast
  • Andy Ackerman on the <i>Seinfeld</i>  episodes "The Pothole" and "The Rye" and his directorial choices on the series (05m 02s)Andy Ackerman on the Seinfeld episodes "The Pothole" and "The Rye" and his directorial choices on the series (05m 02s)
  • Andy Ackerman on ad-libbing on Seinfeld; "happy accidents" (01m 43s)Andy Ackerman on ad-libbing on Seinfeld; "happy accidents" (01m 43s)

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • On his childhood and early influences
  • On majoring in accounting at Santa Clara University and then switching and getting involved with the business school's TV studio
  • On his first jobs in television after college at Welcome Back Kotter and WKRP in Cincinnati
  • Chapter 2
  • On directing 
  • On directing on Seinfeld
  • Chapter 3
  • On editing and directing Cheers
  • On directing Wings
  • On passing on Frasier to direct Big Wave Dave's; on directing Muddling Through and returning to Frasier
  • Chapter 4
  • Full Chapter Four
  • Chapter 5
  • On directing Seinfeld
  • Chapter 6
  • On other shows he worked on: Almost Perfect, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Lateline, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Becker
  • On how television has changed since he was a child; On Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • On his love of television comedy and his proudest achievements

Shows

  • Almost Perfect
    • Andy Ackerman on the show Almost Perfect (00m 25s)
  • Andy Richter Controls the Universe
    • Andy Ackerman on the great experience he had on the show Andy Richter Controls the Universe (02m 56s)
  • Becker
    • Andy Ackerman on reuniting with Ted Danson on Becker (02m 56s)
  • Bernie Mac Show, The
    • Andy Ackerman on directing The Bernie Mac Show (00m 34s)
  • Big Wave Dave's
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Big Wave Dave's (02m 14s)
  • Cheers
    • Andy Ackerman on working with the Cheers cast (14m 26s)
    • Andy Ackerman on his favorite episodes of Cheers that he edited (02m 00s)
    • Andy Ackerman on the Cheers finale, "One for the Road" (00m 49s)
    • Andy Ackerman on working with Alex Trebek for the Jeopardy! episode of Cheers, "What is... Cliff Clavin?" (00m 52s)
  • Cheers: "One for the Road"
    • Andy Ackerman on the Cheers finale, "One for the Road" (00m 49s)
  • Cheers: "What is... Cliff Clavin?"
    • Andy Ackerman on working with Alex Trebek for the Jeopardy! episode of Cheers, "What is... Cliff Clavin?" (00m 52s)
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm
    • Andy Ackerman on reuniting with Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm (03m 17s)
  • Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
    • Andy Ackerman on TV shows he grew up watching (01m 17s)
  • Everybody Loves Raymond
    • Andy Ackerman on directing a couple episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond (02m 31s)
    • Andy Ackerman on some of his favorite television moments (00m 30s)
  • Frasier
    • Andy Ackerman on passing on the opportunity to direct Frasier (04m 24s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing 4 episodes of Frasier (01m 53s)
  • Jeopardy!
    • Andy Ackerman on working with Alex Trebek for the Jeopardy! episode of Cheers, "What is... Cliff Clavin?" (00m 52s)
  • Lateline
    • Andy Ackerman on the great experience he had on the show Lateline (00m 53s)
  • Mickey Mouse Club, The
    • Andy Ackerman on TV shows he grew up watching (00m 17s)
  • Muddling Through
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Muddling Through with Jennifer Aniston (00m 42s)
  • New Adventures of Old Christine, The
    • Andy Ackerman on directing The New Adventures of Old Christine (01m 30s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing The New Adventures of Old Christine (00m 43s)
  • Office, The
    • Andy Ackerman on his thoughts on The Office (00m 17s)
  • Seinfeld
    • Andy Ackerman on the Seinfeld episodes "The Pothole" and "The Rye" and his directorial choices on the series (05m 02s)
    • Andy Ackerman on ad-libbing on Seinfeld; "happy accidents" (01m 43s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Seinfeld (25m 55s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing his first episode of Seinfeld, "The Chaperone" (03m 25s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing an episode of Seinfeld, "The Pothole" (02m 39s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing an episode of Seinfel d, "The Rye" (00m 56s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing a dark episode of Seinfeld, "The Invitations" (02m 36s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Seinfeld; the transition after Larry David left the show (03m 47s)
    • Andy Ackerman on his favorite Jerry Seinfeld/Larry David penned episodes of Seinfeld (00m 33s)
    • Andy Ackerman on the Seinfeld finale (08m 30s)
    • Andy Ackerman on some of his favorite television moments (00m 52s)
  • Seinfeld: "The Bizarro Jerry"
    • Andy Ackerman on his favorite Jerry Seinfeld/Larry David penned episodes of Seinfeld (00m 33s)
  • Seinfeld: "The Chaperone"
    • Andy Ackerman on directing his first episode of Seinfeld, "The Chaperone" (03m 25s)
  • Seinfeld: "The Finale"
    • Andy Ackerman on the Seinfeld finale (08m 30s)
  • Seinfeld: "The Invitations"
    • Andy Ackerman on directing a dark episode of Seinfeld, "The Invitations" (02m 36s)
  • Seinfeld: "The Pothole"
    • Andy Ackerman on directing an episode of Seinfeld, "The Pothole" (02m 39s)
  • Seinfeld: "The Rye"
    • Andy Ackerman on directing an episode of Seinfeld, "The Rye" (00m 56s)
    • Andy Ackerman on one of his favorite Seinfeld episodes, "The Rye" (02m 02s)
  • Seinfeld: "The Soup Nazi"
    • Andy Ackerman on one of his favorite Seinfeld episodes, "The Soup Nazi" (01m 56s)
  • Taxi
    • Andy Ackerman on James Burrows take on Taxi (00m 22s)
  • WKRP in Cincinnati
    • Andy Ackerman on how he got a job editing for WKRP in Cincinnati and winning an Emmy for the show (05m 00s)
  • Welcome Back Kotter
    • Andy Ackerman on his first job as an assistant editor at Welcome Back Kotter
  • Wings
    • Andy Ackerman on working on Wings (07m 29s)

People

  • Jason Alexander
    • Andy Ackerman on Jason Alexander (00m 20s)
  • Kirstie Alley
    • Andy Ackerman on actress Kirstie Alley (02m 04s)
  • David Angell
    • Andy Ackerman on being approached to do Frasier with Peter Casey, David Angell and David Lee (04m 24s)
  • Jennifer Aniston
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Muddling Through with Jennifer Aniston (02m 35s)
  • Jack Benny
    • Andy Ackerman on some of his favorite television moments: with Michael Richards, Peter Boyle and Jack Benny (00m 55s)
  • Peter Boyle
    • Andy Ackerman on some of his favorite television moments: with Michael Richards, Peter Boyle and Jack Benny (00m 19s)
  • James Burrows
    • Andy Ackerman on advice he got from James Burrows - listen (01m 42s)
    • Andy Ackerman on director James Burrows (00m 22s)
  • Peter Casey
    • Andy Ackerman on being approached to do Frasier with Peter Casey, David Angell and David Lee (04m 24s)
  • Ted Danson
    • Andy Ackerman on actor Ted Danson (00m 39s)
    • Andy Ackerman on reuniting with Ted Danson on Becker (00m 57s)
  • Larry David
    • Andy Ackerman on Seinfeld after Larry David left the show (03m 47s)
    • Andy Ackerman on the Seinfeld finale - Larry David returned for the final episode (06m 17s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Seinfeld and meeting Larry David (05m 10s)
    • Andy Ackerman on reuniting with Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm (03m 17s)
    • Andy Ackerman on learning from Larry David (01m 26s)
  • Victor Fresco
    • Andy Ackerman on writer Victor Fresco (03m 46s)
  • Kelsey Grammer
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Kelsey Grammer in Frasier (01m 25s)
  • David Isaacs
    • Andy Ackerman on passing on Frasier to work with Ken Levine and David Isaacs on Big Wave Dave's (04m 24s)
  • David Lee
    • Andy Ackerman on being approached to do Frasier with Peter Casey, David Angell and David Lee (04m 24s)
  • Ken Levine
    • Andy Ackerman on passing on Frasier to work with Ken Levine and David Isaacs on Big Wave Dave's (04m 24s)
  • Kari Lizer
    • Andy Ackerman on meeting Kari Lizer, creator of The New Adventures of Old Christine (01m 30s)
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus
    • Andy Ackerman on directing The New Adventures of Old Christine (01m 30s)
    • Andy Ackerman on Julia Louis-Dreyfus  (00m 26s)
  • Michael Richards
    • Andy Ackerman on Jon Voight guest starring on Seinfeld with Michael Richards (01m 56s)
    • Andy Ackerman on some of his favorite television moments: with Michael Richards, Peter Boyle and Jack Benny (00m 52s)
  • Andy Richter
    • Andy Ackerman on Andy Richter (00m 12s)
  • Jerry Seinfeld
    • Andy Ackerman on Jerry Seinfeld as an actor (02m 29s)
    • Andy Ackerman on directing Seinfeld and meeting Jerry Seinfeld (02m 08s)
    • Andy Ackerman on experimenting with visual storytelling  (02m 38s)
  • Jerry Stiller
    • Andy Ackerman on working with Jerry Stiller on Seinfeld (03m 22s)
  • Alex Trebek
    • Andy Ackerman on working with Alex Trebek for an episode of Cheers (00m 52s)
  • Dick Van Dyke
    • Andy Ackerman on special guest star Dick van Dyke on Becker (01m 59s)
  • Jon Voight
    • Andy Ackerman on Jon Voight guest starring on Seinfeld with Michael Richards (01m 56s)
  • Hugh Wilson
    • Andy Ackerman on editing WKRP in Cincinnati with show creator Hugh Wilson (00m 32s)

Topics

  • Creative Influences and Inspiration
    • Andy Ackerman on being a stage manager/assistant director for a high school production and learning a lot from his teacher (01m 42s)
  • Pop Culture
    • Andy Ackerman on how Seinfeld phrases made it into the pop culture lexicon (01m 51s)
    • Andy Ackerman on what makes a successful show (02m 56s)
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Andy Ackerman on Larry David's admiration of the character Sgt. Bilko and how that influenced Curb Your Enthusiasm (00m 46s)
  • Pop Culture > Classic TV series episodes
    • Andy Ackerman on directing his first episode of Seinfeld, "The Chaperone" (03m 25s)
  • Television Industry > Censorship / Standards & Practices
    • Andy Ackerman on censorship on Seinfeld (00m 56s)

Genres

  • Comedy Series
    • Andy Ackerman on the challenges of directing a comedy dealing with a dark or tragic subject (02m 42s)
    • Andy Ackerman on editing and directing Cheers (14m 26s)
    • Andy Ackerman on Seinfeld (30m 02s)
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