Ernest Chambers obi

Ernest Chambers, ‘Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour’ Showrunner, Dies at 97

The 11-time Emmy nominee teamed with Saul Ilson on other variety programs hosted by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Leslie Uggams, Bobby Darin and Tony Orlando & Dawn. 

He was not on the list.

Ernest Chambers, the 11-time Emmy nominee who served with frequent writing-producing partner Saul Ilson as the original showrunners on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, has died. He was 97.

Chambers died Thursday after a brief illness at his home in Los Angeles, a family spokesperson announced.

During his half-century career in show business, Chambers produced, wrote or executive produced more than 1,000 hours of television, with his productions amassing 51 Emmy nominations.

Chambers and Ilson started working together in 1963 on the first season of The Danny Kaye Show, then landed on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, also for CBS, in 1967. They spent two seasons on the landmark variety program through April 1968, often tussling with network censors to ensure the counter-culture comedy of Dick and Tom Smothers made it to viewers across America.

“We were part of something groundbreaking,” Chambers said in a THR oral history of the show published in 2017. “It proved you could do topical satire, which has led to great shows today like The Simpsons and South Park.”

The pair also worked on The Summer Brothers Smothers Show in 1968 and on acclaimed TV specials and series featuring the likes of Frank Sinatra, Leslie Uggams, Doris Day, Bobby Darin, Carol Channing and Tony Orlando & Dawn.

On his own, Chambers also wrote and/or produced shows for Neil Sedaka, Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, Captain & Tennille, Barbara Mandrell and Gilda Radner and produced Merv Griffin’s long-running talk show and the competition program Dance Fever.

Born in Philadelphia on Dec. 28, 1928, Chambers served in the U.S. Army and attended Columbia University, where he was editor-in-chief of the university humor magazine, The Jester.

In New York, he worked as an advertising copywriter by day while writing comedy sketches and songs for the vibrant cabaret scene at night, and he made it to Broadway in 1961, writing for the Channing revue Show Girl.

Chambers then headed to Hollywood and wrote for such 1960s series as The Bob Newhart Show (a variety program), My Three Sons, The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Danny Kaye Show.

He wrote the stage musical of Dennis the Menace, executive produced the 1993 feature adaptation that starred Walter Matthau and Mason Gamble and served as vp television & film at Merv Griffin Entertainment.

In 1997, he was the executive producer of the Griffin Entertainment game show Click, which gave Ryan Seacrest one of his first hosting gigs.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Veronica; his daughters, Alison and Kathryn; his son, Christopher; and five grandchildren. Another son, Brian Chambers, a film editor (NYPD Blue, Judging Amy) and TV executive, died in 2011 at age 56.

A memorial will be held in Beverly Hills in the coming weeks.

 

Producer

Jami Gertz in Gilda Radner: It's Always Something (2002)

Gilda Radner: It's Always Something

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executive producer

2002

 

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (2000)

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

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TV Series

consulting producerproducer

2000–2001

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2000

5 episodes

 

Justin Cooper, Don Rickles, Jacqueline Steiger, and Betty White in Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! (1998)

Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!

4.4

Video

executive producer

1998

 

Click

5.2

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producer

1997

 

Jackie Mason at the London Palladium

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executive producer

1996

 

TV Laughs at Life

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producer

1995

 

Walter Matthau and Mason Gamble in Dennis the Menace (1993)

Dennis the Menace

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executive producer

1993

 

Class Clowns (1992)

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1992

 

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1989–1990

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Dream Girl, U.S.A.

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executive producerproducer

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99 Ways to Attract the Right Man

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1985

 

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1984

 

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1983

 

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executive producer

1983

 

Battle of the Beat

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executive producer

1983

 

Merv Griffin in The Merv Griffin Show (1962)

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1973–1982

267 episodes

 

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supervising producerproducer

1981–1982

22 episodes

 

The Rainbow Girl

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1982

 

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producer

1980–1981

19 episodes

 

Barry Manilow: One Voice

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1980

 

The Donna Summer Special (1980)

The Donna Summer Special

8.3

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producer

1980

 

The 3rd Barry Manilow Special

8.8

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producer

1979

 

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1979

4 episodes

 

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1979

 

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executive producer

1978

 

The Second Barry Manilow Special

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"Tony Orlando and Dawn" Show. Joyce Vincent, Tony Orlando, Thelma Hopkins

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1974–1976

55 episodes

 

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1976

 

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producer

1976

 

Charo in Charo (1976)

Charo

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1976

 

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1975

 

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producer

1974

 

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producer

1973

 

The Bobby Darin Show (1973)

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producer

1973

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producer

1972

 

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1972

 

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1972

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1972

 

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1972

 

Robert Young, Charlie Callas, Frank Gorshin, George Kirby, Steve Lawrence, Rich Little, and Marilyn Michaels in The ABC Comedy Hour (1972)

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producer

1972

1 episode

 

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1971

8 episodes

 

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1971

 

The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special (1971)

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producer

1971

 

Bill Cosby and Dick Van Dyke in Dick Van Dyke Meets Bill Cosby (1970)

Dick Van Dyke Meets Bill Cosby

6.0

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executive producer

1970

 

Carol Channing's Mad English Tea Party (1970)

Carol Channing's Mad English Tea Party

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producer

1970

 

The Jim Nabors Hour (1968)

The Jim Nabors Hour

6.7

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producer

1968–1970

27 episodes

 

Leslie Uggams in The Leslie Uggams Show (1969)

The Leslie Uggams Show

7.4

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producer

1969

10 episodes

 

The Joey Bishop Show (1967)

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7.1

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producer

1968–1969

255 episodes

 

What's It All About, World?

5.2

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producer

1969

8 episodes

 

Carol Channing Proudly Presents the Seven Deadly Sins

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producer

1969

 

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8.0

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producer

1969

 

Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing (1968)

Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing

7.3

TV Special

producer

1968

 

The Summer Brothers Smothers Show

8.0

TV Series

producer

1968

5 episodes

 

Dick Smothers, Tom Smothers, and Smothers Brothers in The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967)

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

8.0

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producer

1967–1968

46 episodes

 

The John Gary Show (1966)

The John Gary Show

7.6

TV Series

producer

1966

12 episodes

 

Writer

99 Ways to Attract the Right Man

TV Special

Writer

1985

 

NBC Saturday Morning Preview: The Yummy Awards

TV Movie

special material

1983

 

Merv Griffin in The Merv Griffin Show (1962)

The Merv Griffin Show

6.6

TV Series

writer

1973–1982

267 episodes

 

Swoosie Kurtz, Kaleena Kiff, and Tony Randall in Love, Sidney (1981)

Love, Sidney

6.6

TV Series

story

1981

1 episode

 

Barbara Mandrell, Irlene Mandrell, and Louise Mandrell in Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980)

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

6.8

TV Series

writer

1980–1981

19 episodes

 

Barry Manilow: One Voice

8.5

TV Special

Writer

1980

 

The Donna Summer Special (1980)

The Donna Summer Special

8.3

TV Special

written by

1980

 

The 3rd Barry Manilow Special

8.8

TV Special

Writer

1979

 

Presenting Susan Anton (1979)

Presenting Susan Anton

6.1

TV Series

writer

1979

4 episodes

 

The Captain & Tennille Songbook (1979)

The Captain & Tennille Songbook

7.7

TV Special

Writer

1979

 

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney (1978)

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

2.3

TV Movie

written by

1978

 

The Second Barry Manilow Special

8.7

TV Special

Writer

1978

 

"Tony Orlando and Dawn" Show. Joyce Vincent, Tony Orlando, Thelma Hopkins

Tony Orlando and Dawn

6.5

TV Series

writer

1974–1976

54 episodes

 

Neil Sedaka: Steppin' Out

9.2

TV Special

Writer

1976

 

Two's Company

TV Movie

Writer

1973

 

The Bobby Darin Show (1973)

The Bobby Darin Show

8.0

TV Series

written by

1973

13 episodes

 

Love is... Barbara Eden

TV Movie

Writer

1972

 

Bedtime Story

TV Movie

Writer

1972

 

Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Amusement Co. (1972)

Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Amusement Co.

TV Series

writer

1972

7 episodes

 

How to Handle a Woman

TV Movie

Writer

1972

 

The Living End

TV Movie

Writer

1972

 

Robert Young, Charlie Callas, Frank Gorshin, George Kirby, Steve Lawrence, Rich Little, and Marilyn Michaels in The ABC Comedy Hour (1972)

The ABC Comedy Hour

7.9

TV Series

Writer

1972

1 episode

 

Make Your Own Kind of Music!

6.7

TV Series

writer

1971

8 episodes

 

Ver-r-r-ry Interesting

TV Special

Writer

1971

 

The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special (1971)

The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special

7.0

TV Special

written by (as Chambers)

1971

 

Carol Channing's Mad English Tea Party (1970)

Carol Channing's Mad English Tea Party

TV Special

Writer

1970

 

The Jim Nabors Hour (1968)

The Jim Nabors Hour

6.7

TV Series

writer

1968–1970

27 episodes

 

Leslie Uggams in The Leslie Uggams Show (1969)

The Leslie Uggams Show

7.4

TV Series

writer

1969

10 episodes

 

What's It All About, World?

5.2

TV Series

written bywriter

1969

8 episodes

 

Carol Channing Proudly Presents the Seven Deadly Sins

TV Special

Writer

1969

 

Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey: On Broadway (1969)

Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey: On Broadway

8.0

TV Movie

Writer

1969

 

Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing (1968)

Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing

7.3

TV Special

writer

1968

 

The Summer Brothers Smothers Show

8.0

TV Series

writer

1968

5 episodes

 

Dick Smothers, Tom Smothers, and Smothers Brothers in The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967)

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

8.0

TV Series

written bywriter

1967–1968

46 episodes

 

Danny Kaye in The Danny Kaye Show (1963)

The Danny Kaye Show

7.8

TV Series

written bywriterWriter (segment "Goldilocks Fairy Tale") ...

1963–1966

12 episodes

 

Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase in The Hollywood Palace (1964)

The Hollywood Palace

8.1

TV Series

Mr. Caesar's sketch written by

1966

1 episode

 

Run Buddy Run (1966)

Run Buddy Run

7.3

TV Series

writer

1966

1 episode

 

The John Gary Show (1966)

The John Gary Show

7.6

TV Series

writer

1966

12 episodes

 

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)

The Dick Van Dyke Show

8.5

TV Series

written by

1964–1965

3 episodes

 

Rocky Graziano in The Nutcracker (1964)

The Nutcracker

7.8

TV Movie

narration written by

1964

 

William Demarest, Don Grady, Barry Livingston, Stanley Livingston, and Fred MacMurray in My Three Sons (1960)

My Three Sons

7.1

TV Series

storyteleplayteleplay & story ...

1963

4 episodes

 

Joey Bishop in The Joey Bishop Show (1961)

The Joey Bishop Show

6.6

TV Series

written by

1963

1 episode

 

The 35th Annual Academy Awards (1963)

The 35th Annual Academy Awards

4.6

TV Special

written by

1963

 

Lucille Ball and Danny Kaye in The Danny Kaye Show with Lucille Ball (1962)

The Danny Kaye Show with Lucille Ball

8.6

TV Special

Writer

1962

 

The Bob Newhart Show (1961)

The Bob Newhart Show

7.7

TV Series

writer

1961–1962

31 episodes

 

Westinghouse Presents: The Sound of the Sixties

TV Special

Russian advertising sketch

1961

 

Director

An Evening with Carol Burnett

9.1

TV Special

Director

1963

 

Production Management

The Christmas List (1997)

The Christmas List

6.8

TV Movie

production executive

1997

 

Self

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Celebrating the 60th Anniversary (2021)

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Celebrating the 60th Anniversary

Self

2021

 

Inside TV Land (2000)

Inside TV Land

4.0

TV Series

Self

2002

1 episode

 

Behind the Music (1997)

Behind the Music

7.4

TV Series

Self

1998

1 episode

 

The 20th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

TV Special

Self

1968

 

Frances Bavier and Don Knotts in The Andy Griffith Show (1960)

The 19th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

TV Special

Self

1967

Producer and writer, TV, Film and Theater. He has been responsible for conceiving, developing and producing programs for network, cable and syndicated television, as well as feature films and live theater.

 

(1961 - 1989) Active on Broadway in the following productions:

(1961) Stage Play: Show Girl. Musical revue/comedy. Sketches by Charles Gaynor. Additional sketches by Ernest Chambers. Music by Charles Gaynor. Lyrics by Charles Gaynor. Musical Director: Robert Hunter. Music orchestrated by Robert Hunter. Additional orchestrations by Clare Grundman. Assistant Musical Director: Sam Goldstein. Assistant Choreographer: Forest Bonshire [credited as Forrest Bonshire]. Scenic Design by Oliver Smith. Costume Design by Miles White. Lighting Design by Peggy Clark. Sound Design by Jack Mann. Miss Channing's gowns designed and executed by Orry-Kelly. Miss Channing's hats by Emmé. Assistant to Oliver Smith: Jack Brown Sketches directed by Charles Gaynor. Musical numbers directed by 'Richard D'Arcy'. Eugene O'Neill Theatre: 12 Jan 1961- 8 Apr 1961 (100 performances + 2 previews that began on 11 Jan 1961. Cast: Carol Channing (as "Lynn/Naomi/Performer"), Jules Munshin (as "Alfred/Elijah/Performer"), Les Quat' Jeudis (as "Performer"). Produced by Oliver Smith, James A. Doolittle and Charles Lowe.

(1989) Stage Play: Barry Manilow at the Gershwin. Special/concert.