James Burrows

And it was a very different show altogether.

writers were sort of pitied against each other on that show they weren't allowed on the floor they weren't allowed any interaction with the actors and so when he came to Cheers and that culture was very different the writers were on the set or run throughs they could talk to the actors you know it was he was like what that what I can you know I think he said Jimmy Burrows that brilliant Jimmy Burrows on he was directing an episode of Cheers and he had an idea for Woody and he said Do you think it would be? And he's like, he's standing right there.

You can tell him yourself, you know.

But I think that realizing what a unique experience that was because that doesn't happen, you know, all the time.

ask you about that.

It's so funny because you saw all of the different... groupings of people, and so there was like, you know, the group of people from Friends, and then all the Frasier people were together, and I was like a weird floater, because no one else, I did one show with Jimmy Burrows that was canceled, called The Class, ran 19 episodes, canceled, and then I did like a guest spot on something that he directed, but I was just like floating between all the people that I kind of knew.

But it's amazing how many people you know, isn't it? Yeah, I know.

I mean, that's the crazy thing about this business because you work with so many different people and the connections.

Yeah, that doesn't happen.

And I credit Jimmy Burrows as well.

Oh, yeah.

late great great Jimmy Burrows yeah um he just had a way of building confidence in you and building confidence in the writers and the producers

definitely

you know he just anybody who worked on a set with Jimmy yes was empowered yes absolutely to the lighting to you know

You know,

that's a magical moment.

Yeah

... which was Will & Grace, and, uh, Jimmy Burrows just r- you know, recently passed away, and he was...

I have the privilege and honor of saying that the first thing that I ever wrote for television was directed by the great-

Mm

...

Jimmy Burrows.

And even Will & Grace, it had those human moments.

Yeah.

[laughs]

Written by Dan Staley and Rob Long, directed by James Burrows.

The original air date for this one was Thursday, January 16th, 1992.

Carla's son, Gino, tells her he wants to enter the priesthood, which by Carla's logic means she has a get into heaven free card.

Yeah.

Jimmy Burrows passed away recently.

Yes.

Jimmy Burrows was the one who introduced me early on, uh, through Cheers, because of Cheers, to some of the funny people, like the Mel Brooks, the Carl Reiners, and I-

Between him and his dad.

Yes.

Love Cheers.

I think James Burrows just like, just died recently within the year or something like that, which is awful.

But still-

Must've been old as hell.