Abstract (300 words maximum)
As part of the Women Writers of Film & Television digital humanities project, this presentation will detail the life and work of television writer Madelyn Davis Pugh. She started out as a radio writer for NBC and CBS. She was a notable female writer during the 60s and stood out in that male-dominated field. Pugh started a partnership with Bob Carroll Jr. and together, they wrote almost 400 television programs and 500 radio shows. Some shows that they wrote for were the American variety show, The Steve Allen Show (1956-1961) on NBC and ABC, and the American radio program and network television series My Favorite Husband (1948-1951). Pough and Carrol also helped create the well-known American television sitcom I Love Lucy (1951-1957) on CBS. They were nominated for 3 Emmy Awards for this show as well. The writing of this show was so good that many people thought the star of the show, Lucille Ball ad-libbed her lines but everything in the show was scripted. They were executive producers and writers for the American sitcom Alice (1976-1985) and won a Golden Globe for their work. Madelyn Pugh died on April 10, 2011, and many people still watch her work currently.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anna Weinstein
Women Writers of Film & Television Project: Madelyn Davis Pugh
As part of the Women Writers of Film & Television digital humanities project, this presentation will detail the life and work of television writer Madelyn Davis Pugh. She started out as a radio writer for NBC and CBS. She was a notable female writer during the 60s and stood out in that male-dominated field. Pugh started a partnership with Bob Carroll Jr. and together, they wrote almost 400 television programs and 500 radio shows. Some shows that they wrote for were the American variety show, The Steve Allen Show (1956-1961) on NBC and ABC, and the American radio program and network television series My Favorite Husband (1948-1951). Pough and Carrol also helped create the well-known American television sitcom I Love Lucy (1951-1957) on CBS. They were nominated for 3 Emmy Awards for this show as well. The writing of this show was so good that many people thought the star of the show, Lucille Ball ad-libbed her lines but everything in the show was scripted. They were executive producers and writers for the American sitcom Alice (1976-1985) and won a Golden Globe for their work. Madelyn Pugh died on April 10, 2011, and many people still watch her work currently.