Married With Children (seasons 10 and 11)
I started on “Married With Children” at the start of Season 10. The show reached out to design in the last two seasons, taking Al and the family to new locations all staged in front of a live audience.
My skill set of figuring out ‘gag’ props and SPFx came to the fore. Highlights include the rooftop set, Hell, the garbage-strike dump set, the secret tunnel to the strip club in the basement, and Al’s apartment from when he and Peggy separated, featuring a plane that would ‘land’ outside the window.
This was the beginning of a change in sitcom production and shooting technology. By season 11, we needed scenery backing outside the shoe store, not just a drop. The cameras had gotten that much better.
Art Director (Production Designer): Richard Improta
Rude Awakening (Season 3)
As sitcoms started branching out into cable, ‘Rude Awakening’ aired on Showtime and had different rules than most network sitcoms. Starting in Season 3, the main characters all started a new journey. Billy got sober again, started working at Dave’s Bar, a new set, and started dating Marcus, who needed a new Hollywood Hills Bungalow.
I became the Art Director (Production Designer) in Season 3.
Between Brothers
‘Between Brothers’ was a sitcom about two brothers, two friends, and their lives together. As the show evolved, so did the sets. We started with a main loft set and evolved the newspaper office as the main character’s job changed.
Art Director (Production Designer): Jerry Dunn
Multi-Camera Sitcoms
Projects of Note
Reba (Season 3-5 ) Fox
How I Met Your Mother (Pilot) *Emmy win CBS
Luis Fox
Oh Baby Showtime
Solo En América Telamundo
Ask Harriet CBS
Worked for Columbia Tri Star (Sony), Disney, Fox, and Warner Brothers.
History of 15 other sitcom pilots working with David Sackeroff, Jerry Dunn, Chip Dox, Bernard Vyzga, and Steve Olson.
Go For It!
‘Go For It!’ was a kids’ physical game show that aired on CBS Saturday mornings and was produced for Health South. Teams of kids would compete in a series of physical challenges, and health trivia, and each show would end with a featured musical act.
Season 1 was designed and built in Los Angeles, then trucked to a stage in Palm Beach, FL, for taping. The logistics of getting a crew together and getting the show up and running were challenging.
Season 2 was taped on stage at Universal Studios Orlando.
Production Designer: Tom Buderwitz
