Marty Farrell

Biography: Marty Farrell is a highly respected and well-established television writer who has worked on a variety of projects. He was a writer for "The Kraft Music Hall" from 1968 through 1971 (the end of the series' run). He has gone on to write for several highly acclaimed TV specials.
His writing credits include the following.
TV Specials: "Comedy is King" (NBC April 1968) Special starring Alan King, Liza Minnelli, Kenneth Mars, Linda Lavin, Connie Stevens and Charlie Callas. This is the first special Marty Farrell wrote for and led to his tenure as a writer on Kraft Music Hall. "The Klowns" (1970) with Sammy Davis, Jr., Jerry Lewis, Juliet Prowse and the Ringling Brothers Circus "Singer Presents Burt Bacharach" (CBS March 14, 1971) With guests Tom Jones, Rudolph Nureyev...and a special guest appearance by Barbra Streisand. --Streisand appeared in about 18 or 19 minutes of the show. Her appearance included her classic "One Less Bell To Answer"/"A House Is Not A Home"Marty Farrell is a highly respected and well-established television writer who has worked on a variety of projects. He was a writer for "The Kraft Music Hall" from 1968 through 1971 (the end of the series' run). He has gone on to write for several highly acclaimed TV specials.
His writing credits include the following.
TV Specials:
"Comedy is King" (NBC April 1968) Special starring Alan King, Liza Minnelli, Kenneth Mars, Linda Lavin, Connie Stevens and Charlie Callas. This is the first special Marty Farrell wrote for and led to his tenure as a writer on Kraft Music Hall.
"The Klowns" (1970) with Sammy Davis, Jr., Jerry Lewis, Juliet Prowse and the Ringling Brothers Circus
"Singer Presents Burt Bacharach" (CBS March 14, 1971)
With guests Tom Jones, Rudolph Nureyev...and a special guest appearance by Barbra Streisand.
--Streisand appeared in about 18 or 19 minutes of the show. Her appearance included her classic "One Less Bell To Answer"/"A House Is Not A Home" medley. Plus she and Bacharach performed "Close To You".
--Nureyev danced to music written by Bacharach for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
--This special won several Emmys including "Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music"
"The Kopy Kats Kopy TV" (1971)
--Nominated for an Emmy Award
"Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center" (CBS Dec. 7, 1971)
--Nominated for an Emmy Award
--Won the Christopher Award
"The Andy Williams Christmas Special" (Dec. 1971) One of the highest rated specials of 1971.
"A Royal Gala Variety Performance" (ABC 1972) Presented in the presence of Queen Elizabeth. The show was hosted by Rowan and Martin. Other guests included Liza Minnelli, Roger Moore, the Osmonds and Lily Tomlin.
"Ed Sullivan's Broadway" (1973) starring Ethel Merman, Jack Cassidy, Gwen Verdon, Michelle
Lee, Marilyn Michaels, Bobby Van. The special also included clips from Broadway shows and a look at Ed's early career as a columnist which began in the 1930s.
"Ed Sullivan presents TV's Comedy Years" (1973) Starring Red Buttons, Martha Raye and Sid Caesar. With vintage clips from TV's early comedy years.
The 46th Annual Academy Awards (1974)
Marty Farrell was the solo writer of this special. This is believed to be the first time that one person wrote the entire show. The special had four co-hosts: Burt Reynolds, John Huston, David Niven and Diana Ross. The Academy paid tribute to the Marx Brothers with a special Oscar which was accepted by Groucho. This was also the first time the show ran over three hours. This show is also remembered as the infamous "Year of the Streaker!"
Barbra Streisand: "Funny Girl To Funny Lady" (ABC March 9, 1975) Also appearing: Dick Cavett, Muhammed Ali and James Caan
"The Mac Davis Christmas Special" (1975) - Marty Farrell was awarded the Film Advisory Board of Excellence Award for this show...an award not often given to a television special.
"Bell Telephone Jubilee" (1976) A special celebrating the 100th anniversary of the invention of the telephone. Hosted by Bing Crosby and Liza Minnelli.
"Celebration....The American Spirit" (ABC January 1976) A Bi-Centennial variety special (celebrating America's 200th birthday). It was taped throughout America in the Summer of 1975. The cast included Ray Charles, Andy Griffith, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, the Osmonds, Andy Williams and Robert Young. Frank Sinatra closed the show with a performance taped in front of the Jefferson Memorial.
"The 28th Annual Emmy Awards" (May 1976) Hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and John Denver. Broadcast from the Shubert Theatre in Century City. Produced by Norman Rosemont.
"The Diahann Carroll Show" (CBS Aug. 14, 1976 - Sept. 4, 1976)
Musical-Variety series, 4-week summer replacement series. "The Heismann Trophy Awards" (1977) with Elliot Gould and O.J. Simpson hosting from New York
"America Salutes the Queen" (NBC 1977)
3-hour special taped November 1977 at London's Paladium. It was hosted by Bob Hope. The other guests included Julie Andrews, Harry Belafonte, Rudolph Nureyv, Alan King, Cleo Laine, Paul Anka, Rich Little and the Muppets. This special aired worldwide in celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubliee.
"TV Critics Circle Awards" (CBS 1977) - The only broadcast of this award. It was hosted by Beverly Sills and Steve Lawrence, and starred Ben Vereen, Linda Lavin, Diahann Carroll, and Shields and Yarnel.
"Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Salute to the 75th Anniversary of the World Series" (1978) Starring Danny Kaye, Steve Martin, the Muppets, and lots of baseball
stars. The special included great clips from many of the World Series.
"The Kraft 75th Anniversary Special" (1978)
Hosted by Bob Hope. (The special was originally set to have Bing Crosby as host. But before the show was taped, Crosby had a fatal heart attack on a golf course in Madrid, Spain. Bob Hope, who was scheduled to be a special guest, was then asked to host.)
"A Tribute to 'Mr. Television,' Milton Berle" (NBC March 26, 1978) The special had an impressive guest list that included Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Angie Dickinson, Don Rickles, Gregory Peck, Kirk Douglas, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Marlo Thomas, George Carlin and Kermit the Frog.
The Golden Globe Awards (1978) Hosted by Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland
"A Tribute to Neil Simon" (1978) With Raquel Welch, Jack Albertson, Sid Caesar, Paul Williams, Richard Benjamin, Phil Silvers, and Professor Irwin Corey.
"Rockette: A Holiday Tribute to the Radio City Music Hall" (NBC Dec. 14, 1978) Hosted by Gregory Peck With guests Beverly Sills, Jack Jones, Diahann Carroll, Alan King, Greer Garson, Ben Vereen, Ann-Margret and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
Pat Boone and Family (1978)
"Pat Boone and Family Thanksgiving Special" (1979)
"The 15th Annual Jukebox Awards" (1979) hosted by George Segal and Mac Davis. The guests included Lionel Ritchie and the Commodores ("Three Times A Lady"), Bobby Vinton, Johnny Ray, Judy Collins, Frankie Avalon, Kay Starr, Teresa Brewer, Anne Murray, The Kingston Trio, Barbara Mandrell, Glen Campbell, and Roberta Flack.
"Woodstock...Re-Lived" (1979) - A look back at Woodstock, ten years later. Hosted by Beau Bridges, with lots of footage from that weekend in August of 1969.
"The 2nd Annual Black Achievement Awards" (1979)
Hosted by Sammy Davis Jr., who also directed the special.
"Olympathon '79" - A seven hour live show from the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. It was a benefit show for the U.S. athletes (however, the U.S. ended up boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics).
"The 22nd Annual Grammy Awards" (February 27, 1980) The highlight was the unannounced appearance of Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, who performed their "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" duet.
"Uptown at the Apollo" (NBC May 30, 1980) This special had four co-hosts: Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, Ben Vereen and Flip Wilson. Other guests were Bunny Briggs, Sarah Vaughan, Billy Eckstine, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Howard "Sandman" Sims, Nipsey Russell, Doc Severinsen and The Temptations. Jack Albertson played the part of Frank Schiffman, the owner of the Apollo. Highlights included a duet by Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughan. Plus, Gladys Knight, Lou Rawls, and Natalie Cole performing a medley together as they pay tribute to some of the great stars who played the Apollo Theatre; and a challenge dance between Bunny Briggs and "Sandman" Simms.
--Nominated for a NAACP Image Award
--Won the Christopher Award "Because We Care" (1980) with Julie Andrews, Jane Fonda, Walter Matthau, Danny Kaye, and Michael Jackson. Frank Sinatra performed "New York, New York" from the soccer stadium in Rio "TV Guide 1980: The Year in Review" (NBC 1981) Hosted by Hal Linden. With Ed Asner, Tom Brokaw, Shields and Yarnell, and lots of clips from TV shows that aired in 1980. "The Grammy Hall of Fame" (1981) Hosted by Andy Williams. The guests included Count Basie and his Orchestra, Joe Williams, Peter Allen, Mary Crosby, Andy Gibb. Also appearing was Natalie Cole who did an "Unforgettable" duet to a film of her father. This was years before the duet was released on record. "The Way They Were" (1981) 2-hour special taped at Northwestern University in 1980. This special featured many of the stars who attended Northwestern including Patricia Neal, Charlton Heston, Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Jerry Orbach, Carol Lawrence, Robert Reed, Robert Conrad, Ann-Margret, and Penny Fuller. --Nominated for a Writers Guild of America award. "An Evening at the Moulin Rouge" Special celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Moulin Rouge. Hosted by George Hamilton. Taped at the Moulin Rouge in the Summer of 1981. "An All Star Salute to the U.S. Olympic Team" (1984) Special shot in three different places: New York, Texas and Los Angeles. It featured several guests including a young comic named Jim Carey. "The 28th Annual Grammy Awards" (1986) Barbra Streisand presented a special governor's award as a tribute to George and Ira Gershwin. The award was accepted, on stage, by Dorothy Gershwin (Mrs. Ira Gershwin). "Happy Birthday, Bugs! Fifty Looney Years" (1990) "All-Star Salute to Our Troops" (CBS 1991) - A salute to the Gulf War troops carried live from Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. It starred Glenn Ford, Sophia Loren, Tony Orlando, Andy Griffith, and many Country Music stars. The network let the show run overtime for President Bush's closing appearance. The senior Bush was, at the time, the hero of the hour. "AFI's 100 years....100 movies" (1998) "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars" (1999) "AFI's 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies" (2000) "A Tribute To Barbra Streisand" (CBS 2001) Taped at the Beverly Hills Hotel in February of 2001 and aired later in the year. Barbra Streisand was presented with the 29th Annual AFI Life Achievement Award. "I Love Lucy - 50th Anniversary Special" (CBS November 11, 2001) Writing credit (theatrical movie) "Raging Bull" (1980)… Expand