Was Jackie Gleason Difficult to Work With or Work for? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

howilu · 07-31-2020, 06:14 PM

I was reading in Donna McCrohan's book The Honeymooners Companion that Jackie Gleason was demanding and a perfectionist and had a high writer turnover rate. In another book, I also read that while filming the show, Gleason wouldn't stop the action for any reason, regardless of mistakes.

So that led me to ask was Jackie Gleason a difficult person to work with or work for?

Bill S. · 07-31-2020, 10:48 PM

That is the rumor. On Shout! Factory's Sid Caesar box set, Mel Brooks makes reference to the way Gleason treated the writers. Apparently he used to tear up scripts he didn't like.

07-31-2020, 06:14 PM	#1
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,963	Was Jackie Gleason Difficult to Work With or Work for? I was reading in Donna McCrohan's book The Honeymooners Companion that Jackie Gleason was demanding and a perfectionist and had a high writer turnover rate. In another book, I also read that while filming the show, Gleason wouldn't stop the action for any reason, regardless of mistakes. So that led me to ask was Jackie Gleason a difficult person to work with or work for?

07-31-2020, 10:48 PM	#2
Bill S. Member Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2003 Posts: 1,112	That is the rumor. On Shout! Factory's Sid Caesar box set, Mel Brooks makes reference to the way Gleason treated the writers. Apparently he used to tear up scripts he didn't like.