About

I’ve taught in the Writers Program at UCLA Extension since 1995 and received “Outstanding Instructor of the Year” award in 2002. I’ve taught writing courses in Half-Hour Situation Comedy, Animation, Humorous Prose and Screenwriting.. I wrote a bi-weekly newspaper column for COPLEY NEWSPAPERS from 1990-1995 and won two AP (Western states) awards for “Columns, Commentary and Criticism.”  I have also written humorous essays for PARENTING Magazine. My 30 years in television includes sketch comedy, sitcoms, animation and half-hour pilots for the major networks. Sitcom credits include: SILVER SPOONS, DUET, BABY TALK and THE NANNY and more. In animation, my credits include: the sci-fi-comedy-adventure feature film, PLANET KATE, for Nickelodeon, and series: SABRINA THE ANIMATED SERIES, DRAGON TALES, BABY LOONEY TOONS and MAKE WAY FOR NODDY.  And half-hour pilots for NBC, FOX,DISNEY CHANNEL, and 4 more specs. I taught animation writing, via the internet, at FTI (Film & TV Institute) in Fremantle, Western Australia and have conducted numerous seminars in animation writing; screenwriting and creating and producing television for a global market, through the Entertainment Studies Dept. of UCLA Extension. International groups include KOCCA and KIPPA – Korean animation alliances; The Animation Industry of Ireland, and Fuji Television. Since 2002 I have done an annual seminar entitled “My Life As A Writer” for The Filmakadamie of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany . I am the co-author, with Lauren Sarafan, of ME 101: A Workbook for a Better Relationship, published by Warner Books in 2001. Currently, I’m working on a memoir entitled, DOES THIS CANE MAKE ME LOOK FAT? – I’m afraid, that at a certain angle, in bright, unnatural light  – it does….make me look a little heavy?  Hmmmm…..Maybe I need a bigger cane? This is My motto: VIDEO! AUDIO! DISCO! (I LOOKED,I HEARD, I LEARNED!)