Peter Bonerz
Actor/Director
About This Interview
In his Archive interview, Peter Bonerz talks about playing orthodontist “Jerry Robinson” on The Bob Newhart Show and his work as a director for that series as well as Murphy Brown and Friends. Bonerz notes his first TV part on The Addams Family and how star John Astin taught him television technique.
For The Bob Newhart Show, he fondly recalls working with the ensemble and the casual atmosphere on the set. On Murphy Brown, he comments on the working relationship between himself and creator Diane English and star Candice Bergen and discusses the infamous incident when then US Vice President Dan Quayle criticized the show. He describes the ensemble on Friends, and talks about the memorable Rachel/Ross kiss he directed in season two.
He comments on several other TV projects he worked on through the years including: 9 to 5, E/R, Foley Square, and Home Improvement. Peter Bonerz was interviewed in North Hollywood, CA on April 27, 2010; Jim McKairnes conducted the two-and-a-half-hour interview.
For The Bob Newhart Show, he fondly recalls working with the ensemble and the casual atmosphere on the set. On Murphy Brown, he comments on the working relationship between himself and creator Diane English and star Candice Bergen and discusses the infamous incident when then US Vice President Dan Quayle criticized the show. He describes the ensemble on Friends, and talks about the memorable Rachel/Ross kiss he directed in season two.
He comments on several other TV projects he worked on through the years including: 9 to 5, E/R, Foley Square, and Home Improvement. Peter Bonerz was interviewed in North Hollywood, CA on April 27, 2010; Jim McKairnes conducted the two-and-a-half-hour interview.
Related To This Video
Featured Content
Links to episodes discussed by Peter Bonerz in his Archive interview:
Link to Peter Bonerz's first TV role, The Addams Family: "Morticia the Writer" (airdate: 11/5/65)
Link to The Bob Newhart Show: "A Love Story" (airdate: 2/9/74), directed by Peter Bonerz
The Rachel/Ross kiss from Bonerz-directed Friends: "The One Where Ross Finds Out" (airdate: 11/9/95)
WCBS-TV report on Dan Quayle's comment regarding Murphy Brown's single motherhood (from You Tube)
Resources
Links:
DVD: The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete First Season
IMDb entry for Peter Bonerz
Wikipedia entry for Peter Bonerz
TVLAND link to: The Bob Newhart Show page
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
Highlights
Peter Bonerz on his Bob Newhart Show character "Jerry Robinson" and the other characters in the ensemble
Clip begins at: 21:58, Duration: 02m 28s- Peter Bonerz on his enjoyment both acting and directing for The Bob Newhart Show
Clip begins at: 27:23, Duration: 00m 59s - Actor/Director Peter Bonerz on how open the set was for The Bob Newhart Show of all the shows then being produced at MTM
Clip begins at: 30:50, Duration: 00m 45s - Actor/Director Peter Bonerz on the legacy of The Bob Newhart Show
Clip begins at: 39:04, Duration: 01m 07s - Director Peter Bonerz on working with George Burns on George Burns Comedy Week
Clip begins at: 48:49, Duration: 00m 53s 
Director Peter Bonerz on the successful combination of show creator Diane English and star Candice Bergen on Murphy Brown
Clip begins at: 00:04, Duration: 02m 00s- Director Peter Bonerz on working with Murphy Brown star Candice Bergen
Clip begins at: 04:01, Duration: 02m 33s - Director Peter Bonerz on the Murphy Brown episode "Uh, Oh, Part 2," and the criticism of Murphy's single motherhood by then U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle
Clip begins at: 17:58, Duration: 08m 48s - Director Peter Bonerz on what actor Grant Shaud brought to his Murphy Brown character "Miles Silverberg"
Clip begins at: 27:22, Duration: 01m 25s - Director Peter Bonerz on the Ross/Rachel kiss from Friends season two episode "The One Where Ross Finds Out"
Clip begins at: 51:21, Duration: 01m 17s 
Peter Bonerz on directing actors
Clip begins at: 02:50, Duration: 00m 43s- Peter Bonerz on directing actors
Clip begins at: 02:50, Duration: 00m 43s - Peter Bonerz on creating good morale as the key to leadership as a director
Clip begins at: 04:36, Duration: 00m 37s - Peter Bonerz on how he feels about his own "celebrity"
Clip begins at: 10:11, Duration: 02m 17s
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Introduction
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On his early interests; on overcoming stuttering; on performing in variety shows; on seeing Second City in Chicago and meeting Paul Sills
Clip begins at: 00:11 - On performing professionally in improv with The Premise in New York City; on getting drafted into the Army; on joining the improv group The Committee in San Francisco; on his first TV part on The Addams Family (and not getting the series The Double Life of Henry Phyfe); on learning TV technique from Addams Family star John Astin; on learning not to improv lines (and upsetting the writers) but to improv "business"; on the importance of an audience in performing comedy
Clip begins at: 10:24 - On the popularity of Bob Newhart's comedy albums; on meeting Newhart on the set of Catch-22; on getting hired on The Bob Newhart Show and the original premise of the show; on his Bob Newhart Show character "Jerry Robinson"; on the atmosphere on the set of The Bob Newhart Show; on the socializing of the cast; on the enjoyment of both acting and directing; on the "open set"
Clip begins at: 19:18 - On why he wanted to direct; on a special effect he ordered for the episode "A Love Story"; on the decision to end The Bob Newhart Show; on the show's legacy
Clip begins at: 31:36 - On working with Carroll O'Connor on Archie Bunker's Place; on acting on 9 to 5 and his disagreement over the direction the show was taking; on working on Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs
Clip begins at: 40:33 - On working with George Burns on George Burns Comedy Week ; on creating effects on the sitcom E/R in front of a live audience; on working with show creator Diane English on Foley Square ; on not seeing much of executive producer Mike Nichols on The Thorns
Clip begins at: 48:49 - Chapter 2
- On the successful teaming of Diane English and Candice Bergen on Murphy Brown; on working with both English and Bergen; on a typical workweek in series TV
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the Murphy Brown episode "Full Circle," in which Murphy's learns of her mother's death (the episode was dedicated to the late Colleen Dewhurst); on the Murphy Brown episode "Uh, Oh, Part 2," and Bonerz's opinion of how Murphy's pregnancy affected the show as well as his opinion of then U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle's criticism of Murphy's single motherhood
Clip begins at: 13:39 - On what actor Grant Shaud brought to his Murphy Brown character "Miles Silverberg"; on the guest stars and recurring actors who appeared on Murphy Brown; on Rodney Dangerfield's correction to the writers when he guested on Home Improvement
Clip begins at: 27:22 - On the emotions during filming of the finale episode of Murphy Brown; on TV series "legacies"; on his favorite TV, such as Your Show of Shows and The Wire ("it's in my view the best television ever made")
Clip begins at: 33:52 - On the experience of directing Friends— on the writing, the ensemble; on Friends playing internationally; on the Friends ensemble and their characters
Clip begins at: 39:48 - On the Ross/Rachel kiss from season two's "The One Where Ross Finds Out"; on Tim Allen's demeanor and humor on the set of Home Improvement; on auditioning for sitcom Three Sisters (a return to acting for Bonerz)
Clip begins at: 51:21 - Chapter 3
- On teaching at USC; on directing actors; on creating good morale as the key to leadership as a director
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On how he feels about his own "celebrity"; on volunteering; on directing; on his sons; on his life achievements
Clip begins at: 10:11
Shows
People
Topics
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