Dick Wolf
Writer/ Producer
About This Interview
Dick Wolf was interviewed for three hours plus (in two sessions) at his Universal Studios-based office in Los Angeles, CA. Wolf began the interview by talking about his parents, who worked at NBC publicity in the 1950's, and the fact that, as a child, he was often in the Peanut Gallery of The Howdy Doody Show. Wolf also spoke extensively about his early career in advertising and his original ad campaigns and slogans. He then chronicled his transition into writing, starting with a feature film and then progressing into writing and producing the NBC series Hill Street Blues. Wolf spoke at length about working on Hill Street Blues; about writing in general; about Grant Tinker and the production company MTM Enterprises as well as his MTM colleagues Steven Bochco, Tom Fontana and David Milch. He detailed his rationale for segueing into writing and producing Miami Vice. The interview was conducted by Michael Rosen on March 25 and April 21, 2003.
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Highlights
Dick Wolf on how he got into television writing
Clip begins at: 00:08, Duration: 01m 43s
Dick Wolf on the role of a producer
Clip begins at: 00:02, Duration: 05m 08s- "The difference between total success and total failure in Hollywood is a knife edge."
Clip begins at: 00:00 
Producer Dick Wolf on being in the "Peanut Gallery" of The Howdy Doody Show when he was a child
Clip begins at: 12:56, Duration: 03m 31s
Dick Wolf on reading the newspapers every day
Clip begins at: 02:22, Duration: 00m 44s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his early years, education, and occasionally being in the "Peanut Gallery" at The Howdy Doody Show
Clip begins at: 0:20 - On his early career in advertising
Clip begins at: 16:27 - Part 2
- On his first job in television as a writer for Hill Street Blues; the premise of the show; its cast; its legacy
Clip begins at: 0:0 - Part 3
- On producing Miami Vice
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On producing Gideon Oliver and Christine Cromwell
Clip begins at: 20:02 - On creating a show and the difficulties of even established producers
Clip begins at: 25:57 - Part 4
- On the development and production of Law & Order
Clip begins at: 0:0 - Part 5
- On producing Law & Order
Clip begins at: 0:0 - Part 6
- On the role of a producer
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On producing Mann and Machine. The Human Factor, and Crime & Punishment
Clip begins at: 05:10 - On producing New York Undercover, Swift Justice, and Feds
Clip begins at: 10:19 - On creating and producing Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Clip begins at: 21:18 - On the appeal of police and medical dramas
Clip begins at: 26:07 - Part 7
- On Twin Towers, Deadline, Arrest and Trial, Crime and Punishment
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On producing Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Clip begins at: 08:36 - On producing the 2003-2004 series Dragnet
Clip begins at: 10:47 - On his working process with multiple shows on the air; then-current projects; his mentors; and how he'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 14:18 - Photo: the pilot Law & Order script with the production note Dick Wolf read from during the interview
Clip begins at: 22:27
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If it is then I think we should be ashamed of ourselves, or rather we try to highlight such issues and then drive some kind of pleasure watching it.-Arthur van der Vant
i would like to see dick 20 years younger
ive spent many many hours watching this guys work
I see him everyday walking his dog. Hes a nice dude!
Wolf wules the wuld
wolf is a genius!
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