The Wrong League

I am writing in reference to your article in the April 3 edition titled “From the Halls of Ivy . . . to a Table at the Ivy,” Robert Strauss’ story about how Ivy League comedy writers have permeated the television sitcom market. I specifically mention the date since there seems to be an article on this small but apparently influential group every few weeks.

In this particular article you quote from an episode of “The Simpsons” that pokes fun at these very same Ivy League writers. In referring to these quotes, one producer says “Conan (O’Brien) wrote that.” As people may or may not know, many writers have a hand in a script, but this particular episode was written by yours truly.

It is rare for a television writer to have a credit to his name that can equally impress producers, agents and the odd relative back home. In my case this episode of “The Simpsons” is my pride and joy. So when I received phone calls asking if it wasn’t I and not the handsome late-night talk show host who penned this episode, I felt compelled to correct this misleading statement in print.

I know my Ivy League colleagues will forgive me for taking issue with this credit, though I doubt they’ll forgive me for not attending one of their institutions of higher learning--though I wouldn’t consider New York University chopped liver!

ADAM I. LAPIDUS, Studio City

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Az a comedi wrider whoo didnt go too a Iv Leege skool, i gues i shood juzt qwit an get emploid az n dich diggr.

What a bunch of BS! Your article on Ivy League grads and their all-encompassing knowledge of comedic television writing was, in itself, laughable. To imply that a Harvard grad has a better grasp of what’s funny than a graduate of UCLA, Radford University (my alma mater) or any community college is as absurd and ridiculous as 90% of the crap on TV today.

The comment was made in the article that Ivy Leaguers excel at comedy writing “because we are overachievers.” Excuse me? I put myself through college. I didn’t have a rich Mommy and Daddy financing my college experience.

What’s so disturbing about the Ivy League connection is that it creates yet another clique that people who are trying to break into the business, like myself, can’t penetrate. It’s too bad the industry of comedy/TV writing isn’t an equal opportunity employer--because there really is plenty of room for anyone with talent.

JEFF SABINI, Reseda

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Great. I’ve spent the last six years trying to establish some relationships in the industry in order to get work as a sitcom writer.

Just when I was making progress (my neighbor’s brother’s wife knows someone who knows someone who does hair on “Roseanne”), I now find out you have to be from an Ivy League school to get work. Hey, it’s a long shot, but maybe the next trend in hiring TV writers will be really funny, talented people who don’t know anyone in the business and didn’t go to Yale or Harvard.

If so, give me a call.

JIM HILTON, Van Nuys

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Your article on Ivy League comedy writers was enlightening. After watching “The Critic,” “The Good Life,” and “Conan O’Brien,” I feel it’s unfair to contend that these Harvard alumni lack sufficient life experience to write good comedy. They simply lack sufficient talent to write good comedy.

CARL WEISMAN, Sherman Oaks

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Astonishing! Sitcom TV comedy writers from the Ivy League! I wrote or co-wrote 564 episodes since 1952--”Mr. Peepers,” “The Real McCoys,” “The Andy Griffith Show” and “MASH,” as well as six comedy features.

EVERETT GREENBAUM, MIT, Class of 1941 (Flunked out in spring, 1940), Encino