American screenwriter (born 1933)
Children | 3, including David and Jenji |
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Parent(s) | Charles Kohan May Kohan |
Alan "Buz" Kohan (born August 9, 1933) is an American television writer, producer and composer.[1]
Early life
Kohan was born to a Jewish family[2] in the Bronx, New York City,[3] the son of Charles (b. 1902) and May Kohan.[3] His father was in the leotard business and his mother was a housewife.[3]
Career
Kohan studied at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in 1955 and 1956, respectively. After working in New York, in 1967, he was offered work on The Carol Burnett Show, relocating to Los Angeles.[4]
As a television producer, he produced many television specials, including Bing Crosby's Christmas Show (1970), Perry Como's Winter Show (1971), Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas (1971), The Arthur Godfrey Special (1972), The Keane Brothers Show, Gene Kelly: An American in Pasadena (1978), and Shirley MacLaine: Illusions (1982).
As a writer, he wrote special material for Night of One Hundred Stars, produced at Radio City Music Hall, New York City in 1982, and also (with Marvin Hamlisch, Christopher Adler, and Larry Grossman) Shirley MacLaine on Broadway, produced at Gershwin Theatre, New York City, in 1984. He wrote songs with (and for) his dear friend singer-entertainer Michael Jackson, such as "You Were There" (a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. sung by Jackson), "Gone Too Soon" (written during the early '80s, recorded later for Jackson's Dangerous album released in 1991 as a tribute to Ryan White), "Scared of the Moon" (a rare song from 1984, sung by Michael Jackson, released in 2004 by Sony Music), and "Make a Wish," a never-heard song written by Kohan and sung by Jackson, for the Steven Spielberg version of Peter Pan, Hook. He also co-wrote the Christmas classic "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" for David Bowie and Bing Crosby.[5]
Personal life
Kohan met his wife Rhea Arnold when she was working in Lake George, New York.[4] They married on July 17, 1962, and they have three children together: Jono, David Kohan (who are twins), and Jenji Kohan. As Rhea Kohan, his wife has published the novels Save Me a Seat (Harper & Row, 1979) and Hand-Me-Downs (Random House, 1980).
He and his children David and Jenji have all won Emmys, making them one of just 15 families with parents and children who have won.[6]
References
- ^ "Buz Kohan Biography (1933-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ Jewish Journal: "Jenji Kohan: Smoking the Stereotypes" by Danielle Berrin May 20, 2009
- ^ a b c Emmy TV Legends Interview: "Buz Kohan on how he got his nickname" retrieved October 10, 2015
- ^ a b Aushenker, Michael (27 March 2003). "Queen of Laughter: Rhea Kohan reigns as mistress of ceremonies at Jewish functions in Los Angeles". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ Zaleski, Annie (30 November 2017). "When David Bowie and Bing Crosby Rang in the Holidays". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ September 20, EW Staff Updated; EDT, 2020 at 08:50 PM. "Emmy-winning parents and their Emmy Award-winning children". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
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External links
- Buz Kohan at IMDb
- Buz Kohan at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Buz Kohan at the Internet Broadway Database
- Buz Kohan at Playbill Vault
Awards for Buz Kohan |
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1970s | |
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1980s | - No Award (1980)
- "This Is My Night" – Music and Lyrics by Ken & Mitzie Welch (1981)
- "On the Outside Looking In" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1982)
- "We'll Win This World" – Music by James Di Pasquale; Lyrics by Dory Previn (1983)
- "Gone Too Soon" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1984)
- Love Lives On – Music by James Di Pasquale; Lyrics by Douglas Brayfield (1985)
- "My Christmas Wish" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1986)
- "Welcome to Liberty" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1987)
- "The Sound of Christmas" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1988)
- "The First Time I Loved Forever" – Music by Lee Holdridge; Lyrics by Melanie (1989)
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1990s | |
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2000s | - "Up to You" – Music and Lyrics by John Kimbrough (2000)
- "A Dream That Only I Can Know" – Music and Lyrics by Patrick Williams (2001)
- "You've Got a Lot to See" – Music by Walter Murphy; Lyrics by Seth MacFarlane (2002)
- "Aren't They All Our Children" – Music by David Foster; Lyrics by Linda Thompson (2003)
- "Because You Are Beautiful" – Music by Toni Childs; Lyrics by Toni Childs, Eddy Free, and David Ricketts (2004)
- "Mary Jane/Mary Lane" – Music by Dan Studney; Lyrics by Kevin Murphy (2005)
- "A Wonderfully Normal Day" – Music by Greg O'Connor; Lyrics by Jim Wise (2006)
- "Dick in a Box" – Music by Katreese Barnes, Asa Taccone, Jorma Taccone, and Justin Timberlake; Lyrics by Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Justin Timberlake (2007)
- "I'm F**king Matt Damon" – Music and Lyrics by Tony Barbieri, Sal Iacono, Wayne McClammy, Sarah Silverman, and Dan Warner (2008)
- "Hugh Jackman Opening Number" – Music by John Kimbrough, William Ross, and Rob Schrab; Lyrics by Dan Harmon and Ben Schwartz (2009)
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2010s | |
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2020s | |
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- Gary Belkin, Peter Bellwood, Thomas Meehan, Herb Sargent and Judith Viorst (1970)
- Herbert Baker, Hal Goodman, Larry Klein, Bob Schiller, Norman Steinberg, Bob Weiskopf and Flip Wilson (1971)
- Art Baer, Roger Beatty, Stan Burns, Stan Hart, Don Hinkley, Ben Joelson, Woody Kling, Mike Marmer, Arnie Rosen and Larry Siegel (1972)
- Bill Angelos, Roger Beatty, Stan Hart, Robert Hilliard, Woody Kling, Arnie Kogen, Buz Kohan, Gail Parent, Tom Patchett, Larry Siegel and Jay Tarses (1973)
- Rosalyn Drexler, Ann Elder, Karyl Geld Miller, Robert Illes, Lorne Michaels, Richard Pryor, Jim Rusk, Herb Sargent, James R. Stein, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren and George Yanok (1974)
- Roger Beatty, Gary Belkin, Dick Clair, Rudy De Luca, Arnie Kogen, Barry Harman, Barry Levinson, Jenna McMahon, Gene Perret, Bill Richmond and Ed Simmons (1974)
- Roger Beatty, Gary Belkin, Dick Clair, Rudy De Luca, Arnie Kogen, Barry Levinson, Jenna McMahon, Gene Perret, Bill Richmond and Ed Simmons (1975)
- Anne Beatts, Chevy Chase, Tom Davis, Al Franken, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Michael O'Donoghue, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster and Alan Zweibel (1976)
- Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Tom Davis, James Downey, Al Franken, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Bill Murray, Michael O'Donoghue, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster and Alan Zweibel (1977)
- Roger Beatty, Dick Clair, Tim Conway, Rick Hawkins, Robert Illes, Jenna McMahon, Gene Perret, Bill Richmond, Liz Sage, Larry Siegel, Franelle Silver, Ed Simmons and James R. Stein (1978)
- Alan Alda (1979)
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- Complete list
- (1957–1969)
- (1970–1979)
- (1980–1989)
- (1990–1999)
- (2000–2009)
- (2010–2019)
- (2020–present)
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- Buz Kohan (1980)
- Jerry Juhl, Chris Langham and David Odell (1981)
- Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Chris Cluess, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Stuart Kreisman, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Brian McConnachie, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, Mert Rich, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Dave Thomas (1982)
- Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Martin Short, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Mary Charlotte Wilcox (1983)
- Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Ted Greenberg, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn, Matt Wickline and David Yazbek (1984)
- Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sandy Frank, Eddie Gorodetsky, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline (1985)
- Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sandy Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline (1986)
- Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sandy Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Adam Resnick, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline (1987)
- Jackie Mason (1988)
- John Bowman, A. Whitney Brown, Greg Daniels, Tom Davis, James Downey, Al Franken, Shannon Gaughan, Jack Handey, Phil Hartman, George Meyer, Lorne Michaels, Mike Myers, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Robert Smigel, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner and Christine Zander (1989)
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- Complete list
- (1957–1969)
- (1970–1979)
- (1980–1989)
- (1990–1999)
- (2000–2009)
- (2010–2019)
- (2020–present)
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- Billy Crystal / Jerry Belson, James L. Brooks, Marc Flanagan, Dinah Kirgo, Jay Kogen, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Heide Perlman, Ian Praiser, Sam Simon, Tracey Ullman and Wallace Wolodarsky (1990, tie)
- Billy Crystal, Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan, David Steinberg, Bruce Vilanch and Robert Wuhl (1991)
- No award (1992)
- Judd Apatow, Robert Cohen, David Cross, Brent Forrester, Jeff Kahn, Bruce Kirschbaum, Bob Odenkirk, Sultan Pepper, Dino Stamatopoulos and Ben Stiller (1993)
- No award (1994)
- No award (1995)
- David Feldman, Eddie Feldmann, Mike Gandolfi, Tom Hertz, Leah Krinsky, Dennis Miller and Rick Overton (1996)
- Chris Rock (1997)
- Jose Arroyo, David Feldman, Eddie Feldmann, Jim Hanna, Leah Krinsky, Dennis Miller and David Weiss (1998)
- Tom Agna, Vernon Chatman, Louis C.K., Lance Crouther, Gregory Greenberg, Ali LeRoi, Steve O'Donnell, Chris Rock, Frank Sebastiano, Chuck Sklar, Jeff Stilson, Wanda Sykes and Mike Upchurch (1999)
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- Complete list
- (1957–1969)
- (1970–1979)
- (1980–1989)
- (1990–1999)
- (2000–2009)
- (2010–2019)
- (2020–present)
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1971–1978 | - Bob Ellison and Marty Farrell (1971)
- Anne Howard Bailey (1972)
- Joseph Bologna and Renée Taylor (1973)
- Rosalyn Drexler, Ann Elder, Karyl Geld Miller, Robert Illes, Lorne Michaels, Richard Pryor, Jim Rusk, Herb Sargent, James R. Stein, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren, and George Yanok (1974)
- John Bradford, Cy Coleman, and Robert Wells (1975)
- Ann Elder, Christopher Guest, Lorne Michaels, Earl Pomerantz, Jim Rusk, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren, and George Yanok (1976)
- Buz Kohan and Ted Strauss (1977)
- Chevy Chase, Tom Davis, Al Franken, Charles Grodin, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, Lily Tomlin, and Alan Zweibel (1978)
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2009–present | - Chris Rock (2009)
- Dave Boone and Paul Greenberg (2010)
- Dave Boone, Matt Roberts, and Mo Rocca (2011)
- Louis C.K. (2012)
- Louis C.K. (2013)
- Sarah Silverman (2014)
- Louis C.K. (2015)
- Patton Oswalt (2016)
- Samantha Bee, Ashley Nicole Black, Pat Cassels, Eric Drysdale, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free, Joe Grossman, Miles Kahn, Jo Miller, and Melinda Taub (2017)
- John Mulaney (2018)
- Hannah Gadsby (2019)
- Dave Chappelle (2020)
- Bo Burnham (2021)
- Jerrod Carmichael (2022)
- John Mulaney (2023)
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