Eddie Gorodetsky
About
Biography
Biography
Eddie Gorodetsky excelled in many fields, although his contribution usually remained under the radar of popular recognition. As a television writier, he was best known for his work with Chuck Lorre on shows like "Dharma & Greg," "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory." He also contributed to "SCTV Network 90," "Late Night with David Letterman" and "Saturday Night Live" in the 1980s. An avid music fan and record collector, he also worked as a radio DJ and as the producer of the satellite radio series "Theme Time Radio Hour With Bob Dylan."
Providence, RI native Gorodetsky's polymath career began in the late 1970s, working with his first and greatest love, music. Attending Boston's Emerson College, his avuncular personality and huge musical knowledge led him to a job as a DJ at the city's WBCN radio station, then a bastion of underground styles. It was here that he began to hone the craft of comedy writing while producing amusing skits for the station, and he moved into this field full-time as he became disillusioned with the station's drift towards straightforward classic rock sounds.
During the 1980s, Gorodetsky earned his first television credits on some of the highest-profile comedy shows of the day, including the cult favorite "SCTV Network 90" (NBC 1981-83), "Late Night With David Letterman" (NBC 1982-1993) and finally "Saturday Night Live" (NBC 1975- ). His association with each show earned him joint Primetime Emmy Award nominations in the category Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program in the years 1982, 1985 and 1987.
Through the decade following his departure from "SNL," Gorodetsky's output was steady but usually focused on one project at a time. An association with the comedian and magician Penn Jillette and his partner Teller led Gorodetsky to help write some of their television specials, including "Penn and Teller's Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends" (1987) and "Don't Try This at Home!" (1990). In the 1990s, he penned six episodes of Will Smith's sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (NBC 1990-96) and five of the short-lived Philadelphia-set sitcom "Brotherly Love" (NBC/WB 1995-97, a vehicle for teen idol Joey Lawrence and his two brothers Matthew and Andrew.
Gorodetsky's next continuing project defined his career as a television writer and cemented the first of two important professional relationships. Odd-couple marital comedy "Dharma & Greg" (ABC 1997-2002) marked the first collaboration between Gorodetsky and its creator Chuck Lorre, a man with his own musical background as the composer of Debbie Harry's 1986 hit "French Kissin' in the USA." The pair's styles and personalities complemented one another, and Gorodetsky's time on "Dharma & Greg" was followed by stints on Lorre's other series, "Two and a Half Men" (CBS 2003-) and "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS 2007- ). Gorodetsky also broadened his range of credits while working alongside Lorre, directing episodes of "Dharma & Greg" and appearing onscreen in three episodes of "Two and a Half Men."
Gorodetsky's other most important collaborator was rock icon Bob Dylan, whose satellite radio show "Theme Time Radio Hour With Bob Dylan" Gorodetsky produced, programmed and wrote for its entire run between 2006 and 2009. The eclectic style of the show was very much informed by Gorodetsky's musical aesthetic. A particular fan of Christmas songs, Gorodetsky released the quirky compilation album Christmas Party with Eddie G. on Columbia Records in 1990 and for several years sent an annual holiday mix tape to around 1500 friends in the entertainment industry.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Special)
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