TV writer-producer Bernie Orenstein dies at 95
Bernie Orenstein, the Toronto-born comedy writer and producer who worked on That Girl, Sanford and Son and Kate & Allie with partner Saul Turteltaub, died on Sept. 14 aged 95, his family said.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Bernie Orenstein, a television comedy writer and producer, died on Sept. 14 at the age of 95, according to his family. VarietyLC “died on Sept. 14, his family confirmed. He was 95.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “died Sept. 14, his family announced. He was 95.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2Orenstein was born in Toronto on Feb. 5, 1931, the youngest of five boys. After acting on CBC radio and television, he moved to New York in 1965 and wrote for the CBS prank show Candid Camera. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The youngest of five boys, Bernard Orenstein” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “Orenstein was born in Toronto in 1931 and later moved to New York City to write for the reality series “Candid Camera.”” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2He then wrote for ABC's The Hollywood Palace, where he supplied material for performers such as Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, before teaming up with Saul Turteltaub. The Hollywood ReporterLC “wrote material for the likes of Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Fred Astaire” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “He then wrote for “The Hollywood Palace” before beginning his partnership with Turteltaub.” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter says the two were partners for more than 30 years, even though they rarely wrote in the same room: each wrote an act, or a whole script, and they then combined the work. The Hollywood ReporterLC “They would be partners for 30-plus years — even though they rarely worked together in the same room” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2Their credits included That Girl (from 1967, as writer-producers in its last two seasons), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971-74), Sanford and Son (1974-77), The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show, What's Happening!!, Kate & Allie and Cosby. The Hollywood ReporterLC “They would make a similar move after they joined CBS’ Kate & Allie in 1988” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC ““The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show,” “Kate & Allie,” “What’s Happening!!” and “Cosby.”” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1With Bud Yorkin they launched TOY Productions, which landed three ABC comedies: What's Happening!!, Carter Country and 13 Queens Boulevard. They also created CBS's E/R and the short-lived ABC comedy Chicken Soup (1989), which was cancelled after seven episodes. The Hollywood ReporterLC “the new company landed three comedies on ABC: What’s Happening!!, revolving around Black teens growing up in Watts”“canceled, much to Orenstein’s disappointment, after seven episodes” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 2Orenstein recalled that Redd Foxx, star of Sanford and Son, was very protective of "the two white Jewish guys writing a Black show". VarietyLC “very protective of “the two white Jewish guys writing a Black show.”” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “He was very protective of us, the two white Jewish guys writing a Black show” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2Variety says Orenstein's career lasted 40 years, while The Hollywood Reporter says nearly half a century. Later in life Orenstein earned a college degree, wrote two novels (Fender Mason in 2011 and Black Sheep in 2013), bred thoroughbreds and taught TV history at Long Island University in Brooklyn, where Variety says Orenstein mentored aspiring writers and producers. VarietyLC “Throughout his 40-year career” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “over nearly a half-century in television”“wrote two novels, 2011’s Fender Mason, about horse racing, and 2013’s Black Sheep” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2In a 2016 Television Academy Foundation interview, Orenstein said of the hundreds of scripts and roughly 40 shows, only four or five were really successful, and said they wanted to be remembered "By the body of work and the fact that I never hurt anybody." The Hollywood ReporterLC “I don’t know, 40 shows, I’d say only four or five of them were really successful.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “By the body of work and the fact that I never hurt anybody.” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 2Orenstein is survived by wife Barbara Rhoades Orenstein, whom Orenstein married in February 1979; children Lisa, Barbara, Jenny and Alec; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. VarietyLC “He is survived by his wife, Barbara Rhoades Orenstein; his children, Lisa, Barbara, Jenny and Alec; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “In addition to his second wife, whom he married in February 1979” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both trade outlets run conventional obituaries centred on Orenstein's sitcom credits and partnership with Saul Turteltaub, using Orenstein's own words from a 2016 Television Academy Foundation interview.
- Emphasis
- Variety gives a short summary of credits, famous collaborators and teaching; The Hollywood Reporter gives a long career history with anecdotes about Redd Foxx, Joan Rivers, Candid Camera and failed shows.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Variety omits the production-company history and early-life detail; neither outlet reports a cause of death.
- Charged language
- “ground-breaking ABC feminist comedy”
- For example
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“Throughout his 40-year career, Orenstein worked with notable names such as Joan Rivers, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Dick Van Dyke, Marlo Thomas and Bing Crosby.” — Variety
“one of the most enduring TV comedy teams ever” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Bernie Orenstein died on Sept. 14 aged 95, as confirmed by his family.
- Orenstein was born in Toronto and worked for decades with writing partner Saul Turteltaub.
- Credits include That Girl, Sanford and Son, What's Happening!!, Kate & Allie and The New Dick Van Dyke Show.
- Survivors include wife Barbara Rhoades Orenstein, four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Where accounts differ
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Length of Orenstein's television career
- Left
- Variety says a 40-year career; The Hollywood Reporter says nearly half a century.
Bernie Orenstein person
In interviews quoted by the outlets, Orenstein was self-deprecating about the career, saying most shows failed, and hoped to be remembered for the work and for never hurting anybody. The family described a life of "boundless creativity, humor and love".
““I’ve hung around a long time,” he said.” — Variety
“He lived with boundless creativity, humor and love, always keeping family close and finding joy in every moment” — The Hollywood Reporter
Saul Turteltaub person
Described as Orenstein's longtime writing and producing partner on most of their major shows.
“shortly after that teamed with Saul Turteltaub for the first time.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Left2 articles
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Bernie Orenstein, Co-Writer of ‘That Girl’ and ‘The New Dick Van Dyke Show,’ Dies at 95
Sympathetic Brief obituary listing credits, famous collaborators, teaching role and Orenstein's reflections on legacy.
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Sympathetic Detailed career retrospective built on Orenstein's own interview anecdotes, mixing hits and failures.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 20:01 First VarietyLC Bernie Orenstein, Co-Writer of ‘That Girl’ and ‘The New Dick Van Dyke Show,’ Dies at 95
- 15 Oct 17:37 +45h 36m The Hollywood ReporterLC Bernie Orenstein, Writer-Producer on ‘That Girl,’ ‘Sanford and Son’ and ‘What’s Happening!!,’ Dies at 95
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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