"The Tomorrow Show" with Tom Snyder is NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
October 15, 1973-January 28, 1982.
Playwright, author Neil Simon is Tom Snyder's solo guest.
It was the only time Simon was interviewed by Snyder on The Tomorrow Show...who did make an appearance on the show, September 17, 1981 with Charles Grodin subbing for Tom Snyder. Other guests on that show were Simon's wife Marsha Mason and Roberta Flack.
INTERESTINGLY, THE SEPTEMBER 29, 1977 APPEARANCE BY SIMON IS NOT LISTED IN ANY REFERENCE RESOURCE, INCLUDING IMDb. Not only has it been lost but forgotten by most.
For this reason, and because so many salient anecdotes are expressed related to Neil Simon's early career, his personal life and his philosophy about his craft, this specific TV Audio Air Check has been time consuming and successfully restored by Phil Gries from the original 1/4" reel to reel master recording (mechanical tape recorder issues at the time of taping resulted in the tape itself disengaging from the pinch roller, that stabilizes the tape's constant speed movement losing sound, or rendering sound unrecognizable). In the process of many hours "saving" this reel of tape, approximately 15 minutes of air time has been lost.
However, 34 minutes of programming has been saved of what has become a rare interview in time when Neil Simon had just moved to California from m his beloved New York environment.
The broadcast opens with the theme music "Give My Regards to Broadway," from the Warner Brothers album saluting the James Cagney classic film "Yankee Doodle Dandy."
Snider states that he listens to this melody every night at home, now that he lives alone.
Neil Simon compares the difference living in New York vs living in California. He discuses his plays including California Suite, Star Spangled Girl. the Good Doctor, and Barefoot in the Park. Simon explains that he feels safe writing behind a typewriter as opposed to acting or even speaking before other people. He and Tom relive the glory days when Your Show of Shows starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca were creative breeding grounds for the likes of Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks and others including himself. Simon states that he learned satire and timing and editing during his two years writing for Caesar, and also explains why he wanted to leave the show. Producer Max Liebman is fondly remembered, as well as his special relationship with Carl Reiner, and his brother Danny Simon.
Other topics include the death of Simon's first wife, Joan, his marriage to Marsha Mason, his working habits, and his habitual need to continue to write.
An hour-long talk show hosted by Tom Snyder. Network television's first entry into late-late-night programming on weeknights Monday thru Thursday, usually broadcasting on tape 1 AM to 2 AM. "Tomorrow" was expanded to 90 minutes on September 16, 1980, which lasted only 15 months prior to the entire series leaving the air.