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James Burrows

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the television director. For the British actor, seeJames Burrows (actor).For the New Zealand rugby player and soldier, seeJim Burrows (soldier).For the Queensland politician, seeJim Burrows (politician).
James Burrows
Born(1940-12-30)December 30, 1940(age 83)
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
EducationOberlin College(BA)
Yale University(MFA)
OccupationTelevision director
Years active1965–present
Notable workCheers
Will & Grace
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Taxi
Spouses
Linda Solomon
​
​
(m.1981;div.1993)​
Debbie Easton
​
​
(m.1997)​
Children4
ParentAbe Burrows
3 Sisters Entertainment
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryTelevision production
Founded1995
FounderJames Burrows andNBC Productions
Divisions3 Princesses and a P

James Edward Burrows(born December 30, 1940),[1]sometimes known asJim "Jimmy" Burrows,[2]is an Americantelevision director.Burrows has received numerous accolades including 11Primetime Emmy Awardsand fiveDirectors Guild of America Awards.He was honored with theDirectors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Awardin 2015 and NBC specialMust See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrowsin 2016.

Burrows started his career withThe Mary Tyler Moore Showin 1974.[3]Burrows has directed over 50 television pilots and co-created the television seriesCheers(1982–1993). He has also formed 3 Sisters Entertainment, a joint venture withNBC.He is known for directing numerous episodes of comedy shows such asThe Bob Newhart Show,Taxi,Frasier,Friends,Will & Grace,3rd Rock from the Sun,andThe Big Bang Theory.

He executive produced theEmmy Award-winning ABC specialsLive in Front of a Studio AudienceincludingNorman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"in 2019,"All in the Family" and "Good Times"in 2019, and"The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes"in 2021. He directed episodes for the revivals of theNBCsitcomWill & Grace(2017–2020), and theParamount+Frasier.

Early life and education

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Burrows was born to aJewishfamily[4][5]inLos Angeles,California,the son of Ruth (Levinson) andAbe Burrows,a well-known composer, director and writer.[6]James has one sister, Laurie Burrows Grad.[7]When James was still a young child, his family moved to New York where James attended New York’sHigh School of Music & Art.[8][9]Burrows is a graduate ofOberlin Collegeand the graduate program of theYale School of Drama.[8]

Career

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1967–1973: Early career

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After Yale, Burrows returned to California where he became employed as a dialogue coach onO.K. Crackerby!,a television series starringBurl Ivesand created by Burrows' father, Abe.[10]Burrows then took a job as an assistant stage manager for the 1967 playHolly Golightly,an adaptation of the novellaBreakfast at Tiffany's.[11]The production was unsuccessful, but the job served as Burrows' introduction to its star,Mary Tyler Moore.[11]Early on, Burrows also worked for the road company ofCactus Flowerand the Broadway production ofForty Carats.[12]He also went to direct the short lived Broadway playThe Castro Complex.Burrows continued working in theater as a stage manager and transitioned into directing plays.[13]Burrows directed traveling plays and a production at aJacksonville, Floridadinner theater.[13][14]

1974–1981: Television director

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While working in theater, Burrows wrote Moore and her then husbandGrant Tinkerseeking a job at their production company,MTM Enterprises.[11]In 1974, Tinker hired Burrows as a director for MTM Enterprises where he directed episodes ofThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowandThe Bob Newhart Show.[11][15]Tinker asked directorJay Sandrich,known for his work directingThe Mary Tyler Moore Showand laterThe Cosby ShowandThe Golden Girls,to serve as a mentor to Burrows.[16]

Burrows is best known for his comic timing, complexblockingfor actors, and incorporating more sophisticated lighting in television studio shoots. He is also credited as being one of the first sitcom directors to increase the typical multi-camera television shoot from three to four cameras.[15]During this time Burrows directed for numerous shows such asPhyllis,Rhoda,Laverne & Shirley,Busting Loose,The Ted Knight Show,The Associates,andOn Our Own.

1982–1997:Cheers,Frasier,andFriends

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Burrows co-createdCheerswith brothersGlen and Les Charles.The Charles brothers were also former employees of MTM Enterprises and served as producers on the seriesTaxiwhere Burrows worked as in-house director for 76 episodes.[11][15][17]Burrows and the Charles brothers wanted to create a show where they could have more control.[17]Cheerspremiered onNBCon September 30, 1982.[17]AlthoughCheersinitially struggled in the ratings, the series became a hit, running 275 episodes over eleven seasons.[17]Burrows directed all but 35 of those 275 episodes.[11]During his time onCheersBurrows also directed episodes for shows such as the NBC sitcomsThe Hogan Family,Dear John,andNight Court.

Burrows then gained acclaim for directing theNBCsitcomFrasier.He won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Seriesfor the pilot,The Good Sonin 1993. Burrows directed in total 32 episodes from 1993 to 1997. The series was a spinoff ofCheersfocusing on the character ofDr. Frasier Craneportrayed byKelsey Grammer.The series also starredDavid Hyde Pierce,John Mahoney,Peri Gilpin,andJane Leeves.It received critical acclaim for its writing, directing and performances. It won fivePrimetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series.In 1998, Burrows directed a Chicago-based production of the 1939 comedyThe Man Who Came to DinnerstarringJohn Mahoney.[14]

Burrows also directed 15 episodes of another NBC sitcomFriendsstarringJennifer Aniston,David Schwimmer,Courteney Cox,Matthew Perry,Matt LeBlanc,andLisa Kudrow.The series follows six friends living inNew York City.He received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Seriesfor the 1994 episodeThe One with the BlackoutfromSeason 1.During this time he also received Emmy nominations for directing the pilot episodes of both the NBC sitcom3rd Rock from the SunstarringJohn Lithgow,Kristen Johnson,Joseph Gordon-Levitt,andJane Curtin,and the ABC sitcomDharma & GregstarringJenna ElfmanandThomas Gibson.He also directed episodes of the NBC sitcomsWings,NewsRadio,Caroline in the City,and the CBS sitcomsPearlandGeorge and Leo.

1998–2009: Established director

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From 1998 to 2006 Burrows directed every single episode of the NBC sitcomWill & GracestarringEric McCormack,Debra Messing,Megan Mullally,andSean Hayes.Burrows received twelvePrimetime Emmy Awardnominations for the series winning forPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Seriesin 2000. He was nominated for directing the episodes, "Pilot"(1998)," Homo for the Holidays "(2000)," Lows in the Mid-Eighties "(2001),"A Chorus Lie"(2002)," 24 "(2003), and" It's a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World "(2005). Burrows directed every episode ofWill & Graceduring its initial eight-year run.[18]

In 2006 he directed the pilot of theChuck LorrecreatedCBSsitcomThe Big Bang TheorystarringJohnny Galecki,Jim Parsons,Kaley Cuoco,Simon Helberg,Kunal Nayyar,Sara Gilbert,andMayim Bialik.In 2003 he directed the pilot of another Chuck Lorre createdCBSsitcomTwo and a Half MenstarringCharlie SheenandJon Cryer.During this time he also directed episodes of shows such as the CBS sitcomsThe Class,Courting Alex,andGary Unmarried,, the Fox sitcomBack to You,and the ABC sitcomHank.

2010–present: Revivals and recognition

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Burrows directed high profile sitcoms during the 2010s including theCBSsitcomsMike & Molly(2010–2016) starringBilly Gardell,andMelissa McCarthy,andThe Millers(2013-2015) starringWill Arnett,Margo Martindale,Beau Bridges.Burrows reunited withMatt LeBlancwithMan with a Plan(2016–2020). He also directed the sitcomB Positive(2020–2022) starringAnnaleigh Ashford.Burrows directed episodes of numerous television series including the ABC sitcomsRomantically Challenged,Better with You,the CBS sitcoms$#*! My Dad Says,2 Broke Girls,Partners,Friends with Better Lives,Superior Donuts,andThe Neighborhood,the NBC sitcomsSean Saves the World,Crowded,and theNetflixcomedy seriesDisjointed.

By 2012 Burrows had directed over 50pilotsfor television series.[19]Burrows has directed over 1,000 episodes of television, a milestone he achieved in November 2015 with the NBC sitcomCrowded.[20]To celebrate Burrows' achievement, NBC aired a special tribute on February 21, 2016, titledMust See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrowsfeaturing cast reunions from many of the series Burrows has directed such asCheers,Taxi,Friends,Frasier,The Big Bang Theory,Will & GraceandMike & Molly.[21]In January 2020, Andy Fisher and Burrows won theDirectors Guild of America Awardfor Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials forLive in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons.[22]

In 2016, Burrows directed his 1,000th TV episode, onNBC'sCrowded.[23]Burrows took part in two revivals,Will & Grace(2017–2020) with the original cast reunited. He received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Seriesfor the episode, "We Love Lucy". In 2023 he directed the first two episodes of the revival ofFrasieronParamount+.

In front of the camera

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Burrows has had cameo appearances in several of the shows for which he has directed. In thefirst season ofFriends,Burrows appeared in the episode "The One with the Butt" as the director of the film in which the characterJoey Tribbianiis cast asAl Pacino's "butt double".[24]He also appears as a television director named Jimmy in the 2005HBOseriesThe Comeback.[25]Burrows played himself on the series. An episode ofScrubs,"My Life in Four Cameras", had a character named Charles James in honor ofCheerscreators Burrows and Glen and Les Charles. It was previously asserted inSitcoms: the 101 Greatest TV Comedies of All Time(2007) that Burrows served as the silhouette of the customer who knocks on the door in the final scene ofCheers,[15]but Burrows himself refuted this claim on episode 9 of theNewsRadio-themed podcast Dispatches from Fort Awesome, revealing that the actual "Man Who Knocks" was agent Bob Broder.[26]

Personal life

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Burrows is married to celebrity hairstylist Debbie Easton; the couple lives inManhattan.[27]Burrows was previously married to Linda Solomon.[28][29]He has three daughters and one stepdaughter.[25]

Filmography

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Acting

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Television

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Rhoda Agent Episode: "The Lady in Red"
1975 Phyllis Telephone Man Episode: "Up for Grabs"
1977 The Bob Newhart Show Maintenance Man Episode: "Halls of Hartley"
1989 Cheers Man Standing in the Bar
1994 Friends Director
  • Uncredited
  • Episode: "The One with the Butt"
2005, 2014 The Comeback Himself
2020 Will & Grace Himself Episode: “Filthy Phil, Part II”

As a director

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Film

Year Title Role Notes
1978 More Than Friends Director Comedy film[30]
1982 Partners Gay-themedbuddycomedy film[31]

Television

Year Title Notes Refs.
1974–76 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 4 episodes
1975 Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers Episode: "From Russia with Lust"
Fay 2 episodes
1975–76 Phyllis 19 episodes
1975–77 The Bob Newhart Show 11 episodes
1976–77 The Tony Randall Show 4 episodes
Laverne & Shirley 8 episodes
1977 Bumpers Shortcomedytelevision film [32]
Roosevelt and Truman [33]
Calling Doctor Storm, M. D. [34]
Busting Loose 5 episodes
Lou Grant Episode: "Christmas"
We've Got Each Other 2 episodes
The Betty White Show Episode: "John's Mother"
1977–78 Rhoda 4 episodes
1978 The Plant Family Short comedy television film [35]
The Betty White Show Episode: "Play Misty for John"
Free Country 2 episodes
1978–82 Taxi 75 episodes
1979 Butterflies Short comedy television film [36]
A New Kind of Family Episode: "I Do"
1979–80 The Associates 4 episodes
1980 The Stockard Channing Show 2 episodes
Good Time Harry Episode: "The Wally Smith Story"
1981 Every Stray Dog and Kid Short television film [37]
Best of the West 3 episodes
1982–93 Cheers
  • Co-creator of series
  • Producer from 1982–84
  • Executive producer from 1985–93
  • Directed 237 episodes from 1982–93
1982 Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever Television film [38]
1984 Night Court Episode: "All You Need Is Love"
At Your Service Television film [39]
1985 Big Shots in America Television film [40]
1986 Valerie Episode: "Old Enough"
All Is Forgiven 2 episodes
1987 The Tortellis Short-livedcomedy;Executive Producer
Episode: "Pilot"
CBS Summer Playhouse Episode: "In the Lion's Den" [41]
1988 Channel 99 Television film [42]
Dear John 2 episodes
1989 Out on the Edge Television film;Production manager [43]
1990 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Episode: "Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration"
The Marshall Chronicles 2 episodes
Wings Episode: "Legacy"
The Earth Day Special Cheerssegment
Down Home 2 episodes
The Fanelli Boys Episode: "Pilot"
1991 Roc Episode: "Pilot"
Pacific Station Episode: "Pilot"
Flesh 'n' Blood Episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Arlo"
1992 Flying Blind Episode: "Pilot"
1993 Café Americain 3 episodes
1993–97 Frasier 32 episodes
1994 Monty Episode: "Here Comes the Son"
The Boys Are Back Episode: "Pilot"
Madman of the People 2 episodes
1994–98 Friends 15 episodes
1995 The Preston Episodes Episode: "Pilot"
Hudson Street Episode: "Pilot"
1995–96 Partners 10 episodes
NewsRadio 7 episodes
1996 The Nerd Television film [44]
3rd Rock from the Sun 2 episodes
Pearl Episode: "Pilot"
1996–97 Men Behaving Badly 7 episodes
1997 Chicago Sons Episode: "Pilot"
1998 The Secret Lives of Men "Pilot"
1998–2006,
2017–20 		Will & Grace Director; also executive producer
2001 Tikiville Television film
Last Dance Television film
2003–06 Two and a Half Men 1 Episode "Pilot"
2006 Courting Alex
2006–07 The Class
2007 The Big Bang Theory 2 episodes: "The Pilot" & the Unaired Pilot
2007–08 Back to You
2008–10 Gary Unmarried
2010 Better with You
$h*! My Dad Says 1 Episode "Pilot"
2010–11 Romantically Challenged Short-lived comedy
2010–16 Mike & Molly 48 Episodes (Season 1-3,6) Also Executive Producer
2011 Up All Night
2011–16 2 Broke Girls 4 episodes
2012–13 Partners
2013 Sean Saves the World
2013–15 The Millers 16 episodes
2014 Friends with Better Lives 1 episode
2016 Crowded 9 episodes
2016–17 Man with a Plan 9 episodes; also executive producer
2017 Superior Donuts 8 episodes
Disjointed 2 episodes
2018 The Neighborhood 1 Episode: "Pilot"
2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience:
Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" 		Segment director; Television special [45]
Live in Front of a Studio Audience:
"All in the Family" and "Good Times" 		Executive producer; Television special [46]
2020 B Positive 3 episodes
Raised by Wolves Executive producer
2021 Live in Front of a Studio Audience:
"The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes" 		Executive producer; Television special [47]
2023 Frasier 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Main article:List of awards and nominations received by James Burrows

Over the course of his career, Burrows has been nominated for fifteenDirectors Guild of Americaawards, and for anEmmy Awardevery year between 1980 and 2005, excluding 1997.[48]Burrows has won elevenEmmy Awardsand fiveDirectors Guild of America Awards.[49]TheAcademy of Television Arts and Sciencescelebrated Burrows' forty-year career by hosting a panel in his honor on October 7, 2013.[48]

Further reading

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  • Burrows, James with Eddy Friedland (2022).Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and More.New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780593358269.
  • Darowski, Joseph J.; Darowski, Kate (2017).Frasier: A Cultural History.Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538113875.
  • Darowski, Joseph J.; Darowski, Kate (2017).Cheers: A Cultural History.Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442277960.
  • Littlefield, Warren with T.R. Pearson (2012).Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must-See TV.New York: Doubleday. ISBN 9780385533744.

References

[edit]
  1. ^"MILESTONES: December 30 birthdays for LeBron James, Eliza Dushku, Sandy Koufax".30 December 2020.
  2. ^"Of course Matthew Perry can't go to the Friends reunion".RadioTimes.Retrieved2016-01-15.
  3. ^Stated in interview onInside the Actors Studio
  4. ^Interfaith Family: "Somebody Put Baby in a Dance Competition"September 14, 2010
  5. ^Jewish Journal: "The Heroes of Jewish Comedy" by Tom TeicholzJuly 3, 2003
  6. ^James Burrows Biography (1940-)
  7. ^Rosemberg, Jasmin (19 March 2015)."Stars Sing Broadway Tunes for Alzheimer's at Sardi's Benefit".Variety.Retrieved16 September2015.
  8. ^ab"James Burrows - Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in Television Direction".Directors Guild of America. 23 December 2013.Retrieved16 September2015.
  9. ^"Notable Alumni".Alumni & Friends of LaGuardia High School.Retrieved16 September2015.
  10. ^The Deadline Team (4 December 2014)."James Burrows & Robert Butler To Receive DGA Lifetime Achievement Award For Television".Deadline.Retrieved17 July2015.
  11. ^abcdefRosenberg, Howard (Summer 2007)."The Jimmy Show".Directors Guild of America.Retrieved2 August2015.
  12. ^Du Brow, Rick (19 March 1995)."He Pilots the Pilots: How to succeed in television without really trying? Call James Burrows. He's the sitcom director with the golden touch. (Say" Cheers. ")".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved16 January2016.
  13. ^abLembeck, Michael."Visual History with James Burrows".Directors Guild of America.Retrieved2 October2015.
  14. ^abWeber, Bruce (28 April 1998)."ARTS IN AMERICA; A Winding Path of Laughter From Stage to TV and Back".New York Times.Retrieved2 October2015.
  15. ^abcdBloom, Ken; Blastnik, Frank (2007).Sitcoms: the 101 Greatest TV Comedies of All Time.New York, NY: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc. p. 63.ISBN978-1-57912-752-7.
  16. ^Littlefield, Warren (2012).Top of the Rock, Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV(1st ed.). New York, NY: Doubleday. pp.21–22.ISBN978-0-385-53374-4.
  17. ^abcdRaftery, Brian (2012)."The Best TV Show That's Ever Been".GQ.Retrieved2 August2015.
  18. ^Tepper, Allegra (8 October 2013)."Director James Burrows Feted by TV Academy".Variety.Retrieved17 July2015.
  19. ^Ulaby, Neda (4 September 2012)."Making A Comedy Pilot? You Might Want To Call James Burrows".NPR.Retrieved17 July2015.
  20. ^Andreeva, Nellie (17 November 2015)."Veteran Sitcom Director James Burrows Hits 1,000 TV Episodes Mark".Deadline.Retrieved10 January2016.
  21. ^Eng, Joyce (13 January 2016)."NBC Plans Friends Reunion and Hairspray Musical, Defends Donald Trump Appearances".TV Guide.Retrieved13 January2016.
  22. ^"'1917' Director Takes Home Top Prize At DGA Awards ".www.patch.com.Patch.January 26, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 4,2020.
  23. ^Lowry, Brian (February 16, 2016)."James Burrows Marks Directing Milestone as Sitcoms Lose 'Must See' Label".Variety.RetrievedApril 7,2017.
  24. ^"Friends".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon 7 October 2015.Retrieved10 October2015.
  25. ^abMartel, Ned (29 September 2005)."Time to Pause the Laugh Track".New York Times.Retrieved17 July2015.
  26. ^Jason Klamm and Allen Rueckert (30 August 2016)."Dispatches From Fort Awesome: A NewsRadio Podcast".stolendress.com(Podcast). StolenDress Entertainment. Event occurs at 47:25.Retrieved31 August2016.
  27. ^Doge, Annie (5 March 2015)."James Burrows, Go-To '90s Sitcom Director, Buys Handsome Greenwich Village Apartment for $4.2M".6sqft.com.
  28. ^"James Burrows".Celebrity Images.Retrieved10 January2016.
  29. ^"Burrows, James 1940- (Jim Burrows, Jimmy Burrows)".Encyclopedia.com.Retrieved10 January2016.
  30. ^"More Than Friends".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  31. ^"Partners".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  32. ^"Bumpers".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  33. ^"Roosevelt and Truman".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  34. ^"Calling Doctor Storm, M. D."Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  35. ^"The Plant Family".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  36. ^"Butterflies".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  37. ^"Every Stray Dog and Kid".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  38. ^"Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  39. ^"At Your Service".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  40. ^"Big Shots in America".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  41. ^"In the Lion's Den".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  42. ^"Channel 99".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  43. ^"Out on the Edge".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  44. ^"The Nerd".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
  45. ^"How do All in the Family and The Jeffersons translate to 2019? Surprisingly well".Vox.26 May 2019.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024.
  46. ^"'Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times ".IndieWire.19 December 2019.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024.
  47. ^"'Facts Of Life' & 'Diff'rent Strokes' Next Up For ABC's 'Live In Front Of A Studio Audience'; First Stars, Premiere Date Set ".Deadline Hollywood.19 November 2021.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024.
  48. ^abTepper, Allegra (8 October 2013)."Director James Burrows Feted by TV Academy".Variety.Retrieved17 July2015.
  49. ^"James Burrows on Emmys.com".
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