Redditt
I’m Bruce Vilanch, the Comedy Writer Behind 25 Years of Oscars Ceremonies—AMA!
By Staff
January 30, 2025
It is I, Bruce Vilanch—comedy writer, Emmy winner, and the man responsible for countless Oscars zingers (the good, the bad, and the “what were they thinking?!”). I wrote for 25 Academy Awards ceremonies, collaborating with hosts like Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, and Billy Crystal. In 2000, I became the show’s head writer, steering the laughs until 2014.
Beyond the Oscars, I’ve crafted comedy for the Tonys, Grammys, and Emmys, written alongside Roger Ebert at the Chicago Tribune, and penned Bette Midler’s iconic farewell serenade to Johnny Carson—an Emmy-winning moment. I held court as a head writer (and a literal square) for four years on Hollywood Squares next to my pal Whoopi Goldberg.
I’ve also contributed to TV history in other ways—writing for Donny & Marie, The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, and yes, the infamously disastrous Star Wars Holiday Special. On the bright side, I’ve written jokes for legends like Lily Tomlin, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Rosie O’Donnell, and even Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
I’ll be online tomorrow, Thursday, January 30th, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. PST. Ask me about the Oscars, Hollywood’s best (and worst) moments, or my long, strange career. Start dropping questions now, and I’ll answer them tomorrow!
And if you want even more, check out my podcast, The Oscars…What Were They Thinking?! on Spotify, Apple, or all other platforms here.
Oh, and I’ve got a new book—It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time, which explores my adventures in comedy (and infamy). You can pre-order it now.
To read the Q & A Click Here
