Thursday, April 27, 1995 Special: (A. Whitney Brown is most noted for his Saturday Night Live News Update segment titled, 'The Big Picture" and an Emmy he was awarded for comedy writing on that show. He started out on the street as a juggler after dropping out of school in the eighth grade. He later became a comedian, writing his own material, and was discovered by SNL from an appearance on 'The Tonight Show." He has published a book on political satire titled, "The Big Picture," (Harper Collins, 1991). To his credit, Brown has written numerous tele-scripts and other televisied productions, as well as a off-broadway, one- man show.) On working on Saturday Night Live: It's a high pressure environ ment and it's a very hard job. It's a hard job to do a bad show, let alone a good show. It's the same amount of work, good or bad. It's also pretty chaotic emotional environment because people are tired because it's long hours, so everyone is fatigued and doing crazy things. I have a lot of sympathy for the troubles they're going through. On the quality of comedy on television: I'm sure there's a pendulum. There's period when it's really great, like in the seventies when there was "Laverne and Shirley," "The Odd Couple," and all the Gary Marshall shows. In the eighties there was "Cheers," "The Cosby Show." It seems like there is a We've Made It Easier For The Class Of '95 To Drive The Class Of '95. More Power More Safety Featur AND THE TOYOTA There's no better way to enter the work force than behind the wheel of the all-new, always dependable Toyota Tercel. And it's easy with Toyota's special college graduate program... just choose Toyota's special financing or get Toyota's premier rate*, with no down payment, no payments for 90 days**, and a year of free roadside assistance. Just see your participating Toyota dealer for all the details • COLLEGE GRADUATE PROGRAM FINANCED THROUGH TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION'S 60 MONTH PREMIER RATE. 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THE ALL NEW TOYOTA TERCEL Dual Air Bags ...Now With Special Financing As Low As 2.9% APR! WE'RE MAKING IT EASIER FOR COLLEGE GRADS. Not even a time zone (laughs). No, it's the same world, same rkm4xxxity 97eia ackaf . cultyre, same television, same A. Whitney Brown performed radio, etc. Its one culture we in Reed Lecture Hall on Saturday live in. There's just less people in this particular spot. On being writer and performer: I've always had an equal balance. The first writing I did was for myself to perform. Then I started writing for others. The only difference is that it's easier to perform something if you didn't write it and it's harder to write something if you're not going to perform it. I News used to have to write my segment for SNL's News Update on Friday night be cause I'd be busy with other things. I'd have to stay up all night and come in at seven in the morning with it written and at noon I'd do the first read through. Many times the producer would say to me that I was reading that piece like a writer who just wrote it instead of an actor who just got it. There's a big difference because writers are insecure and want to know how good their piece is and they constantly want to change it. Whereas the actor has it set in stone and cannot question the script. On the difference between New York City and Erie: COLLEGE GRAD PROGRAM. On starting out: I went to "The Tonight Show" and showed them a tape and said that I'd like to be on "The Tonight Show." I' m telling you there are people on "The Tonight Show" whose job it is to find someone to fill five minutes. If you know how to do it then it's easy to get a job. On Behrend: My experience has been that even if I'm in a place for a year I can't really make a distinction about one place as opposed to some other place. I think it's just me. On the personal future: I really don't know. A few years ago I could have told you and I would have been totally wrong so I can't tell you. I worry about it alot. I wonder what the future holds. I have alot of regrets about the past and I have discovered that how much I regret the past depends on what I'm doing in my life right now. If I feel like I'm making a contribution or if I'm helping someone, I don't regret the past too much. I figure that's what it took to get here, nor do I fear the future. I just think, well, whatever happens, I'll handle it. But when my life is not going well and I'm not finding my satisfaction or if I'm not feeling useful than I regret the past alot and fear the future. So, I try to concentrate on what I'm doing now and stay here in this moment to make this one work. Interview Conducted and Transcribed by R. Carl Campbell 11l News Editor Side Door Impact Beams Better Gas Mileage
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