Visual History with Alan Myerson
Interviewed by:Howard Storm
As an episodic television director, Myerson’s credits span from The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, and Private Benjamin to Hunter, Miami Vice, and Baywatch, to Boston Public, Lizzie McGuire, and Joan of Arcadia. His feature films are Steelyard Blues (1972) starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland; Private Lessons (1981) starring Sylvia Kristel and Howard Hesseman; and Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988) starring Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, and Leslie Easterbrook.
Intending to become a writer, Alan Myerson moved from Los Angeles to New York and stumbled upon directing when he auditioned for an Off-Broadway play on a lark. He parlayed his newly minted career to a stint as the world-renowned Second City’s director, helming Second City’s second company. He was encouraged to establish an improvisational theater troupe in San Francisco while on his honeymoon there by acquaintances, thus forming The Committee. With the popularity of The Committee and their politically driven improvisational pieces, Myerson was recruited to direct Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland’s FTA Tour, which he then, as many times before, parlayed into his feature directorial debut, Steelyard Blues (1972), starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
For his directorial efforts, Myerson was nominated in 1995 for a CableACE Awards in the Directing a Comedy Series for The Larry Sanders Show. He was once again nominated for both a DGA Award and a Primetime Emmy for The Larry Sanders Show’s popular episode, Ellen, or Isn’t She. Myerson has been a member of the Television Creative Rights Committee since 2001.
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Highlights


Director Alan Myerson describes why he believes that empathy is the director's most important tool.
Alan Myerson / Highlight 1
Director Alan Myerson describes why he believes that empathy is the director's most important tool.


Myerson talks about directing an Emmy-nominated episode of The Larry Sanders Show with Ellen DeGeneres and Garry Shandling.
Alan Myerson / Highlight 2
Myerson talks about directing an Emmy-nominated episode of The Larry Sanders Show with Ellen DeGeneres and Garry Shandling.


Myerson discusses bringing his personal stamp to the Police Academy franchise by finding the dramatic undercurrents of the comedic premise of the film.
Alan Myerson / Highlight 3
Myerson discusses bringing his personal stamp to the Police Academy franchise by finding the dramatic undercurrents of the comedic premise of the film.