"Facts of Life" Co-Creator and Writer Jenna McMahon 1925-2015 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 03-09-2015, 10:47 PM

Link

Jenna McMahon, a three-time Emmy Award winner and the co-creator of the long-running comedies The Facts of Life and Mama’s Family, has died. She was 89.

McMahon, whose real name was Mary Virginia Skinner, died March 2 of heart failure at a hospital in Monterey, Calif., her daughter, Kerry Holden-Dixon, told The Hollywood Reporter.

McMahon partnered with the late Dick Clair to form one of the top comedy writing teams of the 1970s and ’80s.

Newly arrived from New York, McMahon (her mother's maiden name) had opened a playhouse in West Hollywood and was teaching acting when she met Clair in 1961. They came up with a comedy act along the lines of the one done by Mike Nichols and Elaine May, her daughter said.

Clair & McMahon played nightclubs, graduated to appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show and The Merv Griffin Show and were regulars on the short-lived comedy variety shows What’s It All About, World? and The Funny Side.

McMahon and Clair wrote episodes of The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show before Carol Burnett, who admired their act, added them to the staff of her famed CBS variety show.

They worked there for six seasons (1973-78) and notably created the character of Eunice, the browbeating, ranting daughter of Mama (Vicki Lawrence) and wife of Ed (Harvey Korman) for the show's recurring comedy sketch “The Family.” That would lead to Mama’s Family, which starred Lawrence and aired from 1983-90 on NBC and in first-run syndication.

McMahon and Clair contributed the story for the final first-season episode of NBC’s Diff’rent Strokes, which served as the springboard for The Facts of Life. That series, which revolved around the fictional Eastland girls boarding school, ran from 1979-88 and starred Charlotte Rae, Kim Fields and Mindy Cohn.

The pair (with Stu Silver) later created the sitcom It’s a Living, which centered on the waitresses and maitre d' (Marian Mercer) working at a restaurant at the top of the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. It ran for two seasons on ABC, then another four in first-run syndication.

McMahon and Clair also penned episodes of the comedies Maude, Soap and Flo, and they did a highly regarded 1987 ABC variety special titled Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin (that’s Burnett, Reiner, Goldberg and Williams, who won an Emmy for his performance.)

McMahon and Clair combined for all seven of their Emmy nominations, and their three wins came for their writing on the Burnett Show.

Born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., McMahon moved to New York and studied under legendary acting coach Stella Adler. Her credits as an actress included Dennis the Menace, The Twilight Zone, Love, American Style, The Bob Newhart Show and Welcome Back, Kotter.

In addition to her daughter, survivors include McMahon's brother Bill and sister-in-law Doris. A memorial service will be held in California.

Clair died in December 1988 at age 57 of AIDS-related illnesses and had his body frozen with the hope of being revived someday.

Marvo301 · 03-10-2015, 02:29 PM

Jenna McMahon

ABlairican Pie · 03-10-2015, 05:36 PM

RIP Jenna McMahon. Very sad.

80schild.com · 03-13-2015, 06:20 AM

it's cool that the co-creator of Facts of Life Dick Clair had his body frozen when he died, with the hopes of being revived in the future. It's like something out of Seven Little Indians. #RandomFacts

03-09-2015, 10:47 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: 34,405	"Facts of Life" Co-Creator and Writer Jenna McMahon 1925-2015 Link Jenna McMahon, a three-time Emmy Award winner and the co-creator of the long-running comedies The Facts of Life and Mama’s Family, has died. She was 89. McMahon, whose real name was Mary Virginia Skinner, died March 2 of heart failure at a hospital in Monterey, Calif., her daughter, Kerry Holden-Dixon, told The Hollywood Reporter. McMahon partnered with the late Dick Clair to form one of the top comedy writing teams of the 1970s and ’80s. Newly arrived from New York, McMahon (her mother's maiden name) had opened a playhouse in West Hollywood and was teaching acting when she met Clair in 1961. They came up with a comedy act along the lines of the one done by Mike Nichols and Elaine May, her daughter said. Clair & McMahon played nightclubs, graduated to appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show and The Merv Griffin Show and were regulars on the short-lived comedy variety shows What’s It All About, World? and The Funny Side. McMahon and Clair wrote episodes of The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show before Carol Burnett, who admired their act, added them to the staff of her famed CBS variety show. They worked there for six seasons (1973-78) and notably created the character of Eunice, the browbeating, ranting daughter of Mama (Vicki Lawrence) and wife of Ed (Harvey Korman) for the show's recurring comedy sketch “The Family.” That would lead to Mama’s Family, which starred Lawrence and aired from 1983-90 on NBC and in first-run syndication. McMahon and Clair contributed the story for the final first-season episode of NBC’s Diff’rent Strokes, which served as the springboard for The Facts of Life. That series, which revolved around the fictional Eastland girls boarding school, ran from 1979-88 and starred Charlotte Rae, Kim Fields and Mindy Cohn. The pair (with Stu Silver) later created the sitcom It’s a Living, which centered on the waitresses and maitre d' (Marian Mercer) working at a restaurant at the top of the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. It ran for two seasons on ABC, then another four in first-run syndication. McMahon and Clair also penned episodes of the comedies Maude, Soap and Flo, and they did a highly regarded 1987 ABC variety special titled Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin (that’s Burnett, Reiner, Goldberg and Williams, who won an Emmy for his performance.) McMahon and Clair combined for all seven of their Emmy nominations, and their three wins came for their writing on the Burnett Show. Born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., McMahon moved to New York and studied under legendary acting coach Stella Adler. Her credits as an actress included Dennis the Menace, The Twilight Zone, Love, American Style, The Bob Newhart Show and Welcome Back, Kotter. In addition to her daughter, survivors include McMahon's brother Bill and sister-in-law Doris. A memorial service will be held in California. Clair died in December 1988 at age 57 of AIDS-related illnesses and had his body frozen with the hope of being revived someday.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads. Last edited by Zoneboy; 03-10-2015 at 03:55 PM.

03-10-2015, 02:29 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Jenna McMahon
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-10-2015, 05:36 PM	#3
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	RIP Jenna McMahon. Very sad.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

03-13-2015, 06:20 AM	#4
80schild.com Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2002 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 354	it's cool that the co-creator of Facts of Life Dick Clair had his body frozen when he died, with the hopes of being revived in the future. It's like something out of Seven Little Indians. #RandomFacts