Andy Breckman
Encyclopedia
Andy Breckman is a television and film writer and a radio personality
. He is the co-creator (with David Hoberman
) and executive producer of the Emmy Award
-winning television series Monk on the USA Network
, and is co-host of WFMU
radio's long-running conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay
. He has written screenplays for a number of comedy films including Sgt. Bilko (starring Steve Martin
) and Rat Race (directed by Jerry Zucker
), and is frequently hired as a "script doctor
" to inject humorous content into scripts written by other screenwriters.
Although he started out professionally as a comedy writer, Breckman's biggest success to date, Monk, is a murder-mystery with a humorous edge. Breckman told New Jersey Monthly
that he was a voracious reader of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle
, John D. MacDonald
, and other authors of “solvable” mysteries, as well as being a big fan of the TV series Columbo. “In a way, it’s similar to comedy writing,” he says. “It’s puzzles and puzzle solving. Very logical.” His planned follow-up to Monk, Uncle Nigel (in development for Turner Broadcasting), has a detective
theme.
In August 2009, USA Network launched Little Monk, a spinoff series that portrays the main character, detective Adrian Monk
, as a child. Breckman is part of the show's team of writers.
He is professionally represented by Creative Artists Agency.
to a middle-class Jewish family. He grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey
and attended Haddonfield Memorial High School
. Breckman dropped out of Boston University
in his freshman year, and despite an admitted lack of musical ability, he launched a brief career as a satirical folk singer
. He released two albums, Don't Get Killed and Proud Dad.
Breckman wrote for Late Night With David Letterman
from 1982 to 1984, and contributed sketches to Saturday Night Live
from 1983 to 1996. One of his most well-known vignettes was a Saturday Night Live sketch called "White Like Me" (which he also directed
), in which Eddie Murphy
disguises himself as a Caucasian
for a day. In 2003, he took part in a USO
tour to US military war zones, contributing material for comedian Al Franken
. That year he was served as a jokewriter for comedian Steve Martin's stint as host of the Academy Awards
.
Breckman lives in Madison
, New Jersey
with his wife, documentary filmmaker, Beth Landau
, whom he met on the dating pages of Nerve.com
and who is nicknamed "Boo." They have two children. As an engagement present, Breckman applied his fiancee's name (spelled "Beth Landow") to the murder victim in Monks season two (2003) premiere, Mr. Monk Goes Back to School. His production bio at USA Network says, "He has trouble making friends."
Breckman has three children from a previous marriage. His brother David has worked on Monk in various producer roles.
In 2011, Andy and wife Beth Landau
were a featured couple in the documentary When Strangers Click, a film about internet dating.
have co-hosted a weekly one-hour comedy call-in
radio program, Seven Second Delay
. The premise of the program seems to be a never-ending series of dead-on-arrival concepts, with the comedic value hinging on Breckman's recurring acknowledgment of failure and his desire to go home as quickly as possible. Breckman has described his co-host as "a sad, bitter little man and [WFMU's] fundraisers are a good time to humiliate him and exploit his willingness to do just about anything, including prostituting himself, to raise money for his adorable little public hippy noise radio station."
In 2009, Seven Second Delay began monthly broadcasts from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater comedy club in Manhattan. Starting in 2011 the UCB shows went bi-weekly. Guests on the program have included Dick Cavett
, Joe Franklin
, Amy Sedaris
, Peter Stampfel, Jules Feiffer
, Andrew VanWyngarden
(of the band MGMT
), Dan Okrent, Nora Ephron
, Wallace Shawn
, Jim Downey
, and countless other well-known celebrities with whom Breckman is familiar, as well as lesser-known fringe figures, who Breckman ridicules on the air for not being well-known celebrities.
In 1998, Gadfly Records released Death-Defying Radio Stunts, a CD of outrageous moments from Seven Second Delay studio broadcasts.
, with whom he shared management. The two did not get along, and a feud developed, which has persisted to the present day. Breckman and McLean have penned competing renditions of the origins of their mutual dislike, both of which are available online.
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
. He is the co-creator (with David Hoberman
David Hoberman
David Hoberman is an American film producer, best known as the co-creator and executive producer of the USA Network television series Monk. He has produced over 100 films in his career.- Career :...
) and executive producer of the Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning television series Monk on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
, and is co-host of WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
radio's long-running conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay
Seven Second Delay
Seven Second Delay is a radio show broadcast on radio station WFMU. It has been hosted by Ken Freedman and Andy Breckman since the early 1990s. Will Baum and David Newgarden were Andy's cohosts of the show previous to Ken but David only did a handful of shows and Will did maybe a dozen at the most...
. He has written screenplays for a number of comedy films including Sgt. Bilko (starring Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
) and Rat Race (directed by Jerry Zucker
Jerry Zucker (film director)
Jerry Zucker is an American movie director known for his role in directing comedy spoof films, and the hit film Ghost....
), and is frequently hired as a "script doctor
Script doctor
A script doctor, also called script consultant, is a highly-skilled screenwriter, hired by a film or television production, to rewrite or polish specific aspects of an existing screenplay, including structure, characterization, dialogue, pacing, theme, and other elements...
" to inject humorous content into scripts written by other screenwriters.
Although he started out professionally as a comedy writer, Breckman's biggest success to date, Monk, is a murder-mystery with a humorous edge. Breckman told New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly is a monthly glossy publication featuring issues of possible interest to residents of the United States state of New Jersey...
that he was a voracious reader of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
, John D. MacDonald
John D. MacDonald
John Dann MacDonald was an American crime and suspense novelist and short story writer.MacDonald was a prolific author of crime and suspense novels, many of them set in his adopted home of Florida...
, and other authors of “solvable” mysteries, as well as being a big fan of the TV series Columbo. “In a way, it’s similar to comedy writing,” he says. “It’s puzzles and puzzle solving. Very logical.” His planned follow-up to Monk, Uncle Nigel (in development for Turner Broadcasting), has a detective
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
theme.
In August 2009, USA Network launched Little Monk, a spinoff series that portrays the main character, detective Adrian Monk
Adrian Monk
Adrian Monk is a fictional character portrayed by Tony Shalhoub and the protagonist of the USA Network television series Monk. He is a renowned former homicide detective for the San Francisco Police Department...
, as a child. Breckman is part of the show's team of writers.
He is professionally represented by Creative Artists Agency.
Profile
Breckman was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to a middle-class Jewish family. He grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Haddonfield is a borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a total population of 11,593....
and attended Haddonfield Memorial High School
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Haddonfield Memorial High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Haddonfield, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Haddonfield Public Schools....
. Breckman dropped out of Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in his freshman year, and despite an admitted lack of musical ability, he launched a brief career as a satirical folk singer
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
. He released two albums, Don't Get Killed and Proud Dad.
Breckman wrote for Late Night With David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
from 1982 to 1984, and contributed sketches to Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
from 1983 to 1996. One of his most well-known vignettes was a Saturday Night Live sketch called "White Like Me" (which he also directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
), in which Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
disguises himself as a Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
for a day. In 2003, he took part in a USO
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
tour to US military war zones, contributing material for comedian Al Franken
Al Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
. That year he was served as a jokewriter for comedian Steve Martin's stint as host of the Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
.
Breckman lives in Madison
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
with his wife, documentary filmmaker, Beth Landau
Beth Landau
Beth Landau has produced documentaries such as 1999's Does Life Get Better After 30?.She spent her childhood in Memphis, Tennessee in the 70's, in Dallas, Texas in the 1980s, and then back to Memphis. Landau graduated the University of Texas at Austin...
, whom he met on the dating pages of Nerve.com
Nerve (website)
Nerve is an American online magazine dedicated to sex, relationships and culture. Founded by Rufus Griscom and Genevieve Field, it publishes articles and photography. It also hosts blogs, forums, and a section for personal advertisements. Nerve's CEO is Sean Mills...
and who is nicknamed "Boo." They have two children. As an engagement present, Breckman applied his fiancee's name (spelled "Beth Landow") to the murder victim in Monks season two (2003) premiere, Mr. Monk Goes Back to School. His production bio at USA Network says, "He has trouble making friends."
Breckman has three children from a previous marriage. His brother David has worked on Monk in various producer roles.
In 2011, Andy and wife Beth Landau
Beth Landau
Beth Landau has produced documentaries such as 1999's Does Life Get Better After 30?.She spent her childhood in Memphis, Tennessee in the 70's, in Dallas, Texas in the 1980s, and then back to Memphis. Landau graduated the University of Texas at Austin...
were a featured couple in the documentary When Strangers Click, a film about internet dating.
Radio
Since 1992, Breckman and WFMU station manager Ken FreedmanKen Freedman
Ken Freedman is the ongoing General Manager of WFMU, a freeform radio station. He also co-hosts the conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay with Andy Breckman, as well as hosting his own freeform radio program on Wednesday mornings .Freedman began his radio career as DJ and later station...
have co-hosted a weekly one-hour comedy call-in
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
radio program, Seven Second Delay
Seven Second Delay
Seven Second Delay is a radio show broadcast on radio station WFMU. It has been hosted by Ken Freedman and Andy Breckman since the early 1990s. Will Baum and David Newgarden were Andy's cohosts of the show previous to Ken but David only did a handful of shows and Will did maybe a dozen at the most...
. The premise of the program seems to be a never-ending series of dead-on-arrival concepts, with the comedic value hinging on Breckman's recurring acknowledgment of failure and his desire to go home as quickly as possible. Breckman has described his co-host as "a sad, bitter little man and [WFMU's] fundraisers are a good time to humiliate him and exploit his willingness to do just about anything, including prostituting himself, to raise money for his adorable little public hippy noise radio station."
In 2009, Seven Second Delay began monthly broadcasts from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater comedy club in Manhattan. Starting in 2011 the UCB shows went bi-weekly. Guests on the program have included Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett
Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett is a former American television talk show host known for his conversational style and in-depth discussion of issues...
, Joe Franklin
Joe Franklin
Joe Franklin is an American radio and television personality. From New York City, Franklin is sometimes credited with hosting the first television talk show...
, Amy Sedaris
Amy Sedaris
Amy Louise Sedaris is an American actress, author, and comedian. She is known for playing the character Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central television series Strangers with Candy. Sedaris regularly collaborates with her older brother, humorist and author David Sedaris...
, Peter Stampfel, Jules Feiffer
Jules Feiffer
Jules Ralph Feiffer is an American syndicated cartoonist, most notable for his long-run comic strip titled Feiffer. He has created more than 35 books, plays and screenplays...
, Andrew VanWyngarden
Andrew VanWyngarden
Andrew VanWyngarden is the lead vocalist, guitar player and songwriter for the band MGMT, praised for "an uncanny knack for producing pop music that sounds as if it were filtered through a kaleidoscope"...
(of the band MGMT
MGMT
MGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
), Dan Okrent, Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger.She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in...
, Wallace Shawn
Wallace Shawn
Wallace Michael Shawn , sometimes credited as Wally Shawn, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, author, voice artist, and intellectual. His best-known film roles include Wally Shawn in My Dinner with Andre , Vizzini in The Princess Bride , and debate teacher Mr...
, Jim Downey
Jim Downey (comedian)
James Downey is an American comedy writer and occasional actor. Downey is best known as a long-time writer for Saturday Night Live.-Writing:Downey attended Harvard University, graduating in 1974 with a degree in Russian...
, and countless other well-known celebrities with whom Breckman is familiar, as well as lesser-known fringe figures, who Breckman ridicules on the air for not being well-known celebrities.
In 1998, Gadfly Records released Death-Defying Radio Stunts, a CD of outrageous moments from Seven Second Delay studio broadcasts.
Feud with Don McLean
Early in his singing career, Breckman was given the opportunity to perform as opening act for "American Pie" singer Don McLeanDon McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, with whom he shared management. The two did not get along, and a feud developed, which has persisted to the present day. Breckman and McLean have penned competing renditions of the origins of their mutual dislike, both of which are available online.
Movies
- Moving (1988)
- Arthur 2: On the RocksArthur 2: On the RocksArthur 2: On the Rocks is the 1988 sequel to the 1981 film Arthur. Lead actors Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli reprised their roles.John Gielgud, who won an Academy Award for his role in the original film, reappears briefly in a drunken hallucination on Arthur's part.The film co-stars Kathy Bates as...
(1988) - Hot to TrotHot to TrotHot to Trot is a 1988 comedy film released by Warner Bros. It stars Bobcat Goldthwait as an investment broker, Dabney Coleman as the head of the company Bobcat works for and John Candy as the voice of a horse that helps Bobcat's character make smart decisions in investing. The original music score...
(1988) - True IdentityTrue IdentityTrue Identity is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Charles Lane and starring Lenny Henry, Frank Langella and Anne-Marie Johnson. The plot revolves around a black man , who disguises himself as a white man to escape the mob....
(1991) - I.Q.I.Q. (film)I.Q. is a 1994 American romantic comedy film directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, and Walter Matthau. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith...
(1994) - Sgt. BilkoSgt. Bilko (film)Sgt. Bilko is a 1996 comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Andy Breckman. It is an adaptation of the 1950s television series The Phil Silvers Show .-Plot:...
(1996) - Rat Race (2001)
TV and video
- Hot Hero Sandwich (1979)
- Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
(1982) - Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
(1983–1985) - Tourist Trap (1998)
- TV FunhouseTV FunhouseSaturday TV Funhouse is the title of a recurring skit on NBC's Saturday Night Live featuring cartoons created by longtime SNL writer Robert Smigel as well as a short-lived spinoff series TV Funhouse that ran on Comedy Central...
(2000) - MonkMonk (TV series)Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
(2002–2009) - The 75th Annual Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
(2003)
Discography
- Don't Get Killed (Gadfly Records, 1990)
- Proud Dad (Gadfly Records, 1994)
- Death-Defying Radio Stunts (Gadfly Records, 1998)
External links
- Official website: AndyBreckman.com
- Seven Second Delay on WFMU homepage
- Seven Second Delay official blog
- Breckman's Monk production profile
- "Funny Business," profile of Andy Breckman, New Jersey Monthly, December 19, 2007
- 15 Jokes: Andy Breckman performs standup comedy in New York City
- When Strangers Click, HBO documentary featuring Andy Breckman and his wife Beth Landau