Rob Long
Encyclopedia
Rob Long is a writer
and television producer
in Hollywood, California
, USA. As a screenwriter
and executive producer
for the long-running television program
Cheers
, he received Emmy
and Golden Globe
nominations in 1992 and 1993. Long created the television show George & Leo
, among others.
In addition to his television work, Long is a contributing editor
for National Review
, as well as a contributor to Newsweek International, The Wall Street Journal
, and the Los Angeles Times
. He hosts the syndicated weekly radio commentary Martini Shot
, and appears regularly on political commentary shows. In May 2010, he took part in launching a new center-right commentary site, Ricochet.
Long received an award from the Writers Guild of America
, and is on the Board of Directors of The American Cinema Foundation, a non-profit arts organization created to nurture and reward television and feature-film projects. His published works include Conversations with My Agent and Set Up, Joke, Set Up, Joke.
in 1987. After graduation, he studied for two years at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, where he later served as an Adjunct Professor of screenwriting
in 1990, and became an executive producer
for the show in 1992. During his tenure, the show won two Emmys
and two Golden Globes
. Long received Emmy
and Golden Globe nominations in 1992 and 1993.
After Cheers ended in 1993, Long formed a television production company with his Cheers collaborator and fellow Emmy nominee Dan Staley. Together, they created the television show George & Leo
, starring Bob Newhart
and Judd Hirsch
, for CBS
. They also created Love & Money for CBS and Men, Women & Dogs for The WB Television Network
. In addition to their show creation work, Long and his partner served as creative consultants on numerous shows.
ly political satire
column for National Review
entitled Letters from Al. Written anonymously, the majority of these columns purported to be personal letters from Vice President
Al Gore
to his friend "Rusty", an academic researcher
living in a Brazil
ian rainforest
. The letters revealed insider information about government figures, as well as humorous speculation on their roles in public controversies. Occasionally the letters were from other political figures, such as George Bush
and Dick Morris
, and on occasion the column purported to be the transcript of a police wiretap. National Review maintained the author's anonymity throughout the Clinton presidency
, revealing Long's identity only after George Bush was inaugurated in 2001.
Long is now a contributing editor
for National Review, where he writes the fortnightly column The Long View. He comments on political and social topics, especially mass media
and Hollywood politics. He is also a contributor to Newsweek International, The Wall Street Journal
, and the Los Angeles Times
.
Long hosts the syndicated radio show Martini Shot
, where he provides news and opinion on the film industry
, as well as interviews with notable subjects. Broadcast weekly, the show originates at Los Angeles
PBS
station KCRW
. The show's title is a Hollywood term for the final scene of the day on a film production
set. In addition, Long regularly appears on political commentary shows.
, author and former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan
. In 2010, Robinson and Long launched a new, more interactive website, Ricochet, featuring a news feed in the model of Facebook
, Twitter
, or Tumblr
. The site features approximately 40 contributors from conservative publications, such as National Review and The Weekly Standard, who start conversation threads open to commentary and discussion. In order to encourage earnest and respectful discussion, only paying members of the site are allowed to comment, and a code of conduct is enforced.
Long is mentioned and quoted extensively in the book The Sound of No Hands Clapping by Toby Young
.
Long serves on the Board of Directors
of The American Cinema Foundation, a "Los Angeles
-based non-profit arts organization created to nurture and reward television and feature-film projects that promote democratic pluralism and inclusion."
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. As a screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
for the long-running television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
, he received Emmy
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
and Golden Globe
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
nominations in 1992 and 1993. Long created the television show George & Leo
George & Leo
George & Leo is a short-lived American sitcom starring Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch. Set on Martha's Vineyard, the series aired on CBS from September 15, 1997 to March 16, 1998.-Synopsis:...
, among others.
In addition to his television work, Long is a contributing editor
Contributing editor
A contributing editor is a magazine job title that varies in responsibilities. Most often, a contributing editor is a freelancer who has proven ability and readership draw. The contributing editor regularly contributes articles to the publication but does not actually edit articles, and the title...
for National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
, as well as a contributor to Newsweek International, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, and the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. He hosts the syndicated weekly radio commentary Martini Shot
Martini Shot
Martini Shot is a Hollywood term that describes the final shot set-up of the day. According to Dave Knox, author of the film industry slang guide Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde, the Martini Shot was so named because "the next shot is out of a glass", referring to a post-wrap drink.Other named...
, and appears regularly on political commentary shows. In May 2010, he took part in launching a new center-right commentary site, Ricochet.
Long received an award from the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America, west
Writers Guild of America, West is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. The Guild was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, which include the Screen Writers Guild...
, and is on the Board of Directors of The American Cinema Foundation, a non-profit arts organization created to nurture and reward television and feature-film projects. His published works include Conversations with My Agent and Set Up, Joke, Set Up, Joke.
Education
Long graduated from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1987. After graduation, he studied for two years at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, where he later served as an Adjunct Professor of screenwriting
Screenwriting
Screenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
Television career
Long started his career as a screenwriter for the television show CheersCheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
in 1990, and became an executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
for the show in 1992. During his tenure, the show won two Emmys
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
and two Golden Globes
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
. Long received Emmy
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
and Golden Globe nominations in 1992 and 1993.
After Cheers ended in 1993, Long formed a television production company with his Cheers collaborator and fellow Emmy nominee Dan Staley. Together, they created the television show George & Leo
George & Leo
George & Leo is a short-lived American sitcom starring Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch. Set on Martha's Vineyard, the series aired on CBS from September 15, 1997 to March 16, 1998.-Synopsis:...
, starring Bob Newhart
Bob Newhart
George Robert Newhart , known professionally as Bob Newhart, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Noted for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery, Newhart came to prominence in the 1960s when his album of comedic monologues The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was a worldwide...
and Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch is an American actor most known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy series Taxi, John Lacey on the NBC series Dear John, and Alan Eppes on the CBS series Numb3rs.-Early life and education:...
, for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. They also created Love & Money for CBS and Men, Women & Dogs for The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
. In addition to their show creation work, Long and his partner served as creative consultants on numerous shows.
Political and social commentary
Beginning in 1993, Long wrote a fortnightFortnight
The fortnight is a unit of time equal to fourteen days, or two weeks. The word derives from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights"....
ly political satire
Political satire
Political satire is a significant part of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly...
column for National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
entitled Letters from Al. Written anonymously, the majority of these columns purported to be personal letters from Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
to his friend "Rusty", an academic researcher
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
living in a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
. The letters revealed insider information about government figures, as well as humorous speculation on their roles in public controversies. Occasionally the letters were from other political figures, such as George Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Dick Morris
Dick Morris
Dick Morris is an American political author and commentator who previously worked as a pollster, political campaign consultant, and general political consultant....
, and on occasion the column purported to be the transcript of a police wiretap. National Review maintained the author's anonymity throughout the Clinton presidency
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
, revealing Long's identity only after George Bush was inaugurated in 2001.
Long is now a contributing editor
Contributing editor
A contributing editor is a magazine job title that varies in responsibilities. Most often, a contributing editor is a freelancer who has proven ability and readership draw. The contributing editor regularly contributes articles to the publication but does not actually edit articles, and the title...
for National Review, where he writes the fortnightly column The Long View. He comments on political and social topics, especially mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
and Hollywood politics. He is also a contributor to Newsweek International, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, and the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
.
Long hosts the syndicated radio show Martini Shot
Martini Shot
Martini Shot is a Hollywood term that describes the final shot set-up of the day. According to Dave Knox, author of the film industry slang guide Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde, the Martini Shot was so named because "the next shot is out of a glass", referring to a post-wrap drink.Other named...
, where he provides news and opinion on the film industry
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
, as well as interviews with notable subjects. Broadcast weekly, the show originates at Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
station KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
. The show's title is a Hollywood term for the final scene of the day on a film production
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
set. In addition, Long regularly appears on political commentary shows.
Ricochet
In 2008, Long started a political news and commentary website, RobinsonandLong.com, in collaboration with Peter RobinsonPeter Robinson (speechwriter)
Peter Mark Robinson is an American author, research fellow, television host and former speechwriter for then-Vice President George H.W. Bush and President Ronald Reagan. He is currently the host of Uncommon Knowledge, an interview show by Stanford's Hoover Institution. He is also a research fellow...
, author and former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. In 2010, Robinson and Long launched a new, more interactive website, Ricochet, featuring a news feed in the model of Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, or Tumblr
Tumblr
Tumblr is a website and microblogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users, or choose to make their tumblelog private. The service emphasizes ease of use. The site ranks as the 10th...
. The site features approximately 40 contributors from conservative publications, such as National Review and The Weekly Standard, who start conversation threads open to commentary and discussion. In order to encourage earnest and respectful discussion, only paying members of the site are allowed to comment, and a code of conduct is enforced.
Other work
Long is the author of two books. His first, Conversations with My Agent, is a memoir of his early career. Published in 1998, it provides extensive advice for aspiring scriptwriters, and has become a "cult classic". His second book, Set Up, Joke, Set Up, Joke, is a further memoir of his entertainment industry experiences, and was published in 2005.Long is mentioned and quoted extensively in the book The Sound of No Hands Clapping by Toby Young
Toby Young
Toby Young, MA, FRSA is a British journalist and the author of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, the tale of his stint in New York as a contributing editor at Vanity Fair magazine...
.
Long serves on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of The American Cinema Foundation, a "Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based non-profit arts organization created to nurture and reward television and feature-film projects that promote democratic pluralism and inclusion."
Associated television shows
- CheersCheersCheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
(1990–1993) - George & LeoGeorge & LeoGeorge & Leo is a short-lived American sitcom starring Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch. Set on Martha's Vineyard, the series aired on CBS from September 15, 1997 to March 16, 1998.-Synopsis:...
(1997–1998) - Love & Money (1999)
- Men, Women & Dogs (2001–2002)
Awards and nominations
- Nomination, Primetime Emmy AwardPrimetime Emmy AwardThe Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
(1992) - Nomination, Primetime Emmy AwardPrimetime Emmy AwardThe Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
(1993) - Nomination, Golden Globe AwardGolden Globe AwardThe Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
(1992) - Nomination, Golden Globe AwardGolden Globe AwardThe Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
(1993) - Award, Writers Guild of AmericaWriters Guild of America, westWriters Guild of America, West is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. The Guild was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, which include the Screen Writers Guild...
External links
- Martini Shot at KCRW Retrieved 2009-10-30
- Letters from America on Newsweek Retrieved 2009-10-30
- Q+A with Rob Long at LAist Retrieved 2010-01-05
- Rob Long at IMDB Retrieved 2009-10-30
- Rob Long's blog Retrieved 2009-10-30
- Rob Long search at NPR Retrieved 2010-01-05
- The American Cinema Foundation Retrieved 2009-10-30
- Cheerful Long on National Review Online Retrieved 2009-10-30
- Book Review on The Guardian Retrieved 2009-10-30
- In-depth podcast interview