John Charles Walters Company
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The John Charles Walters Company was a production company formed in 1978 by four former employees of MTM Enterprises: James L. Brooks, David Davis, Stan Daniels, and Ed Weinberger. The company existed from until 1983 and produced the popular TV show Taxi.
The foursome who created John Charles Walters were part of the creative team that produced The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spinoff Phyllis, as well as The Betty White Show among others, during the 1970's. They were lured away by Paramount following the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show's run. Paramount financed the John Charles Walters Company during its existence.
While best known for Taxi, the company also produced The Associates, a sitcom which ran during the 1979-80 television season.
The name
According to a 2003 interview [link], James L. Brooks said that the company was named the John Charles Walters Company because the foursome "wanted a venerable Protestant name". The fictional Walters is not believed to be named after anybody in particular.The only known existence of Walters appears at the end of both Taxi and The Associates. In the end credits, the back of Walters is seen leaving his office while a female voice offscreen wishes him good night (or Merry Christmas in holiday-themed episodes); Walters merely groans in response. Ed Weinberger is believed to have portrayed Walters during the sequence.
Related Links and Sources
- [Museum of Broadcast Communications] - Ed Weinberger profile
- [MSNBC.com] - TV Vanity Cards (includes John Charles Walters)
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