Sheldon Keller

I'M happy to see that there's still a gang of writers getting together and sharing the laughs ["Something's Funny About This Routine," Sept. 3]. I was one of the guys who met every morning for 25 years at Nate 'n Al's delicatessen in Beverly Hills. What an illustrious group of comedy minds we had. Jay Burton, who was one of the writers on the original "Milton Berle Show." You know, the show that actually got television started. Sheldon Keller, from the great "Sid Caesar Show." Danny Simon, who wrote for every show and every comedian and even tried his hand at playwriting like his brother Neil.

Al Gordon, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who spent much of his more than 40-year career writing for Jack Benny's penny-pinching, vain and perennially 39-year-old persona, has died. He was 89. Gordon died Wednesday of age-related causes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said his son, Neil. In a career that began after World War II and included writing for Eddie Cantor's radio show, Gordon soon teamed with comedy writer Hal Goldman . A few months after they met, they learned that Jack Benny needed new material for Rochester, the valet character played by Eddie Anderson on Benny's radio show.

Al Gordon, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who spent much of his more than 40-year career writing for Jack Benny's penny-pinching, vain and perennially 39-year-old persona, has died. He was 89. Gordon died Wednesday of age-related causes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said his son, Neil. In a career that began after World War II and included writing for Eddie Cantor's radio show, Gordon soon teamed with comedy writer Hal Goldman . A few months after they met, they learned that Jack Benny needed new material for Rochester, the valet character played by Eddie Anderson on Benny's radio show.

Sheldon Keller, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who was part of the celebrated writing team on Sid Caesar's 1950s comedy-variety TV show "Caesar's Hour," has died. He was 85. Keller, who also was a founding member of the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, died Monday of complications of Alzheimer's disease at his home in Valencia, said his son, Casey. On "Caesar's Hour," the hourlong show that ran on NBC from 1954 to 1957, Keller was among a group of writers whose ranks at various times included Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Aaron Ruben, Michael Stewart, Gary Belkin, Mel Tolkin, Selma Diamond and Danny and Neil Simon.

"Hey Larry, tell that actor's story," Danny Simon said. "Two actors approach each other on the street," Larry Gelbart said. " 'You working?' says one. 'I'm doing a one-man show,' says the other. The first guy says, 'Is there a part in it for me?'

Sheldon Keller, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who was part of the celebrated writing team on Sid Caesar's 1950s comedy-variety TV show "Caesar's Hour," has died. He was 85. Keller, who also was a founding member of the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, died Monday of complications of Alzheimer's disease at his home in Valencia, said his son, Casey. On "Caesar's Hour," the hourlong show that ran on NBC from 1954 to 1957, Keller was among a group of writers whose ranks at various times included Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Aaron Ruben, Michael Stewart, Gary Belkin, Mel Tolkin, Selma Diamond and Danny and Neil Simon.

This may well go down in the record books as the most naive idea in recorded history--It will probably appear more like a Frank Capra scenario than sound fiscal thinking--but I propose it nevertheless. President-elect Clinton has brought a new breath of fresh hope into our lives. I fear, however, with our crushing national deficit draining so much out of every dollar just to pay off the interest, Clinton will have to proceed with a huge dinosaur around his neck. As we all know, Superman is dead--and so our new President, strong as he may be, will have tough going trying to finance a health program, AIDS research, help for the homeless, Russia, Somalia and Bosnia, job training, education, farm assistance, ad infinitum--with this huge hunk of money needed just to pay off our incredible debt.

The only surprise about "Side by Side" (Sunday at 9 p.m., Channels 2 and 8) is that George Burns isn't in it. Otherwise, it's a formulaic spunky-codgers movie, New York division. Milton Berle, Sid Caesar and Danny Thomas (in alphabetical order) play lifelong chums, two of whom have just been booted into retirement from jobs in the garment industry. They decide to go into business together, manufacturing clothes for older people, made by older people.

Gary Belkin, a comedy writer who honed his skills on Sid Caesar's "Caesar's Hour" and went on to work for such television classics as "The Carol Burnett Show" and "Sesame Street," has died. He was 78. Belkin died Thursday in Los Angeles of emphysema, said his friend Mona Charles. The Bronx-born Belkin got into comedy by suggesting ideas for New Yorker cartoons and writing jokes for radio comedians, and soon broke into television on Caesar's variety show, which aired from 1954 to 1957.

Here's pure gold, and with a silver lining: "Caesar's Writers," a historical and hysterical hour that reunites the squabbling scribes who worked on "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour," the two great Sid Caesar variety shows of the '50s. Happily, hale Caesar is there himself. The program, produced by the Writers Guild of America West and taped earlier this year in Beverly Hills, airs on KCET-TV Channel 28 tonight.

I'M happy to see that there's still a gang of writers getting together and sharing the laughs ["Something's Funny About This Routine," Sept. 3]. I was one of the guys who met every morning for 25 years at Nate 'n Al's delicatessen in Beverly Hills. What an illustrious group of comedy minds we had. Jay Burton, who was one of the writers on the original "Milton Berle Show." You know, the show that actually got television started. Sheldon Keller, from the great "Sid Caesar Show." Danny Simon, who wrote for every show and every comedian and even tried his hand at playwriting like his brother Neil.

"Hey Larry, tell that actor's story," Danny Simon said. "Two actors approach each other on the street," Larry Gelbart said. " 'You working?' says one. 'I'm doing a one-man show,' says the other. The first guy says, 'Is there a part in it for me?'

An active drummer, leader, composer, record producer, inventor and family man, Peter Erskine hardly stands still. Last year was typical for the renowned musician, formerly with Weather Report, Maynard Ferguson and Stan Kenton. He toured Europe twice with his trio, featuring bassist Palle Daniellson and pianist John Taylor, and later recorded the band's third ECM album, "As It Is," due out this spring.