Skip to Navigation
TV Video Library: Interviews and Video Clips – Archive of American Television
  • Emmys.com
  • Emmysfoundation.org
  • Press
  • Academy Member Sign-in

Capturing Television History, One Voice At A Time

Home › People

Andy Ackerman

Director/ Editor

About This Interview

Andy Ackerman was interviewed for three hours in South Pasadena, CA.  Ackerman talked about his break into the industry as an assistant editor on the series Welcome Back, Kotter.  He related how he came to work for MTM Enterprises and discussed working on WKRP in Cincinnati as an editor (for which he won an Emmy Award).  He described his approach to editing and noted how the audience creates the rhythm for the show.  He spoke 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 talked about working with the series producers, described memorable episodes, and talked about the atmosphere on the set of the final episode.  He then described his continued work as a director in sitcoms, starting with Wings and Frasier. He discussed at length his work as the main director of the later seasons of Seinfeld. For Seinfeld, he described the series’ style of comedy, the visual ideas he incorporated into the show, and gave his impressions of the ensemble.  He offered production stories about such well-known episodes as “The Soup Nazi,” “The Invitations,” and “The Bizarro Jerry.”  He touched 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
  • Genres

Shows

  • Cheers
  • Seinfeld
  • WKRP in Cincinnati

People

  • Jerry Seinfeld

Genres

  • Comedy Series
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

Watch Interview Highlights

  • Andy Ackerman on the challenges of directing a comedy dealing with a dark or tragic subject
  • Andy Ackerman on working with the Cheers  cast
  • Andy Ackerman on the Seinfeld  episodes "The Pothole" and "The Rye" and his directorial choices on the series
  • Andy Ackerman on ad-libbing on Seinfeld; "happy accidents"

Watch By Chapter

  • Chapter 1
  • Full Chapter One
  • Chapter 2
  • Full Chapter Two
  • Chapter 3
  • Full Chapter Three
  • Chapter 4
  • Full Chapter Four
  • Chapter 5
  • Full Chapter Five
  • Chapter 6
  • Full Chapter Six

Discussed In This Interview

  • shows
  • people
  • genres

shows

  • Cheers
    • Clip 1
  • Seinfeld
    • Clip 1
    • Clip 2
    • Clip 3
  • WKRP in Cincinnati
    • Clip 1

people

  • Jerry Seinfeld

genres

  • Comedy Series
  • Home
  • Interviews
    • People
    • Shows
    • Topics
    • Professions
  • Resources
  • About The Archive
  • Advanced Search

Bookmark and Share

Follow Us

twitter facebook Follow Us

Academy of American Television

Academy of American Television
  • Home
  • The Interviews
  • Resources
  • Advanced Search
  • Blog
  • License Our Clips
  • Terms of Service
  • Transcripts
  • Copyright Policy
  • Emmys.tv
  • Emmysfoundation.org
  • About The Archive
© 1995-2010 Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation All Rights Reserved Emmy and The Emmy Statuette are the trademark property of ATAS/NATAS