Sitcom Writer and "Yes, Dear" Creator Alan Kirschenbaum has Died - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-27-2012, 05:46 PM

Friends and associates of comedy writer Alan Kirschenbaum were stunned Saturday morning as word spread of his death.
CAA confirmed Kirschenbaum's death but declined comment on other specifics. There were reports on Twitter and social media platforms that Kirschenbaum apparently committed suicide on Sunday.

Kirschenbaum most recently was co-creator and exec producer of "Friend Me," a comedy that has a midseason order from CBS. The CBS TV Studios series began production a few weeks ago though no premiere date has been set. Kirschenbaum co-created the comedy about young people working for a social media startup series with Ajay Sahgal.

Kirschenbaum was well known and well liked in the creative community. His long resume included serving as co-creator/exec producer of the CBS sitcom "Yes, Dear." He had deep roots in the comedy realm as the son of Catskills comedian Freddie Roman.

In an interview with the New York Times in 2001, Kirschenbaum recalled growing up surrounded by comedy.

"One great thing about my dad was that he would never make me go to sleep, so there were always people over at the house late -- Morty Gunty, Myron Cohen, Corbett Monica, Dick Capri and Mal Z. Lawrence -- telling stories," Kirschenbaum said. "It was magical to me."

Reaction on social media to Kirschenbaum's passing was swift.

"I knew Alan since he was 14. I wrote jokes for his dad, watched him grow up, took pride in his success. Stunned," comedy vet Alan Zweibel wrote on Twitter Saturday.

"A sweet man. A joy and a light," wrote writer-actor Dana Gould, also on Twitter.

"Excellent person, fantastic writer. Completely shocked and devastated," actor Willie Garson tweeted.

"Deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Alan Kirschenbaum. He was someone I truly thought the world of. Sad day," thesp Michael Chiklis tweeted.

Among the many shows Kirschenbaum worked on were "Raising Hope," "My Name is Earl," "Coach" and "Everybody Loves Raymond." He was a longtime friend and former writer partner of "Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal.

Rosenthal credits Kirschenbaum with offering valuable advice and inspiration to become a writer. ''I told him I will teach you everything I know about writing a sitcom,'' Kirschenbaum told the New York Times. ''It took less than 15 minutes.''

Indeed, Kirschenbaum was known for helping to mentor younger writers. He worked for the UCLA Extension Writers Program as an instructor.

Survivors include his father, a wife and daughter.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061332

Zoneboy · 10-27-2012, 06:00 PM

Alan Kirschenbaum died on Friday, his agency, CAA, has confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 51 years old.

The TV vet spent over three decades writing for various sitcoms, starting with work on Everything's Relative and Dear John in the late 1980's. He later wrote for Coach and Everybody Loves Raymond, then served as co-exec producer and writer on Stark Raving Mad and Yes, Dear, the Anthony Clark-Jean Louisa Kelly CBS comedy that he also co-created.
More recently, Kirschenbaum was a consulting producer on NBC's My Name is Earl and Fox's Raising Hope, and then co-created with Ajay Saghal the upcoming CBS sitcom Friend Me, about two kids who move out from the midwest to Los Angeles to work for web giant Groupon.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...s-at-51-383666

gilligan fanatic · 10-27-2012, 06:10 PM

That's too bad

Topanga96 · 10-27-2012, 07:09 PM

That was a funny show. He will be missed. RIP

10-27-2012, 05:46 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Sitcom Writer and "Yes, Dear" Creator Alan Kirschenbaum has Died Friends and associates of comedy writer Alan Kirschenbaum were stunned Saturday morning as word spread of his death. CAA confirmed Kirschenbaum's death but declined comment on other specifics. There were reports on Twitter and social media platforms that Kirschenbaum apparently committed suicide on Sunday. Kirschenbaum most recently was co-creator and exec producer of "Friend Me," a comedy that has a midseason order from CBS. The CBS TV Studios series began production a few weeks ago though no premiere date has been set. Kirschenbaum co-created the comedy about young people working for a social media startup series with Ajay Sahgal. Kirschenbaum was well known and well liked in the creative community. His long resume included serving as co-creator/exec producer of the CBS sitcom "Yes, Dear." He had deep roots in the comedy realm as the son of Catskills comedian Freddie Roman. In an interview with the New York Times in 2001, Kirschenbaum recalled growing up surrounded by comedy. "One great thing about my dad was that he would never make me go to sleep, so there were always people over at the house late -- Morty Gunty, Myron Cohen, Corbett Monica, Dick Capri and Mal Z. Lawrence -- telling stories," Kirschenbaum said. "It was magical to me." Reaction on social media to Kirschenbaum's passing was swift. "I knew Alan since he was 14. I wrote jokes for his dad, watched him grow up, took pride in his success. Stunned," comedy vet Alan Zweibel wrote on Twitter Saturday. "A sweet man. A joy and a light," wrote writer-actor Dana Gould, also on Twitter. "Excellent person, fantastic writer. Completely shocked and devastated," actor Willie Garson tweeted. "Deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Alan Kirschenbaum. He was someone I truly thought the world of. Sad day," thesp Michael Chiklis tweeted. Among the many shows Kirschenbaum worked on were "Raising Hope," "My Name is Earl," "Coach" and "Everybody Loves Raymond." He was a longtime friend and former writer partner of "Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal. Rosenthal credits Kirschenbaum with offering valuable advice and inspiration to become a writer. ''I told him I will teach you everything I know about writing a sitcom,'' Kirschenbaum told the New York Times. ''It took less than 15 minutes.'' Indeed, Kirschenbaum was known for helping to mentor younger writers. He worked for the UCLA Extension Writers Program as an instructor. Survivors include his father, a wife and daughter. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061332
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10-27-2012, 06:10 PM	#3
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	That's too bad
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10-27-2012, 07:09 PM	#4
Topanga96 I <3 Cory Matthews Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 25, 2012 Location: In Cory's World :) Posts: 313	That was a funny show. He will be missed. RIP
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10-27-2012, 06:00 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Alan Kirschenbaum died on Friday, his agency, CAA, has confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 51 years old. The TV vet spent over three decades writing for various sitcoms, starting with work on Everything's Relative and Dear John in the late 1980's. He later wrote for Coach and Everybody Loves Raymond, then served as co-exec producer and writer on Stark Raving Mad and Yes, Dear, the Anthony Clark-Jean Louisa Kelly CBS comedy that he also co-created. More recently, Kirschenbaum was a consulting producer on NBC's My Name is Earl and Fox's Raising Hope, and then co-created with Ajay Saghal the upcoming CBS sitcom Friend Me, about two kids who move out from the midwest to Los Angeles to work for web giant Groupon. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...s-at-51-383666