Bob Tischler, a former head writer for Saturday Night Live, has died at age 78.
His son Zeke told The New York Times his father died following a battle with pancreatic cancer July 13 at his home in Bodega Bay, California.
Tischler had also produced notable projects such as The National Lampoon Radio Hour, as well as albums by the Blues Brothers, composed of Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi.
‘I produced a lot of comedy and I did writing, but I wasn’t a member of the union or anything,’ Tischler said in the 2002 book Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live.
The Times notes Tischler played a role in reviving Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s after the variety show endured a slump.
Bob Tischler, a former head writer for Saturday Night Live, has died at age 78
Tischler’s son Zeke told The New York Times his father died following a battle with pancreatic cancer July 13 at his home in Bodega Bay, California
The show underwent what the publication noted has been widely regarded as it’s ‘worst season’ from November 1980 to April 1981, with producer Jean Doumanian at the helm.
After Dick Ebersol took over producer duties from Doumanian, he hired Tischler in the capacity of a supervisory producer on the recommendation of late SNL head writer Michael O’Donoghue, according to the publication.
Tischler would go on to fill the head writer role after O’Donoghue was let go by Ebersol over a controversial sketch that never aired involving late NBC president Fred Silverman.
Ebersol said in his 2022 memoir From Saturday Night to Sunday Night: My Forty Years of Laughter, Tears, and Touchdowns in TV that Tischler ‘was exactly the leader the writers’ room needed – steady, calm and respected.’
Tischler’s work was hailed as a key factor in the show’s longevity
Tischler was pictured in a recording studio with audio professional Jim Scheffler
Tischler had produced albums by the Blues Brothers, composed of Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi
The show underwent what the publication noted has been widely regarded as it’s ‘worst season’ from November 1980 to April 1981. Tischer was hired as a producer in the spring of 1981 before becoming the show’s head writer the following year
One-time SNL writer Kevin Kelton, who worked on the series spanning 1983-1985, said that Tischler’s work was an key factor in the show’s longevity, according to the paper.
Kelton said Ebersol ‘was a terrific producer, but he was not considered a great comedic mind,’ while Tischler ‘was more forceful on the comedy side in terms of determining how to shape material and what material made the show.
‘He mentored me, along with the rest of the writing staff. I’m not sure the show would have survived without Bob.’