Was awarded the Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016
Became a member of the Directors Guild of America in 1972
Graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1969
Spent 21 years directing daily morning television before getting a job with "Saturday Night Live," but had no sketch comedy experience
Quote: "[on "Saturday Night Live"] "In that panic scramble where the walls are being repainted and some costumes are being swapped out, we go on air at 11:30 p․m․ and it just sort of flies and remarkably seems to never crash․""
Quote: "[on "Saturday Night Live"] "It's just an adrenaline high and the most challenging but exhilarating mountain I've had to climb in television․""
Directed four "Direct from Broadway" musicals captured on film, including "Memphis․"
Awards
1976Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Director for a Daytime Variety Program:nominated
1977Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Director for a Daytime Variety Program:winner
1978Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Director for a Variety Program:nominated
1979Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Direction for a Variety Program:nominated
1981Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming - Directors:nominated
2007DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety:nominated
2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:nominated
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:nominated
2009DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety:nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series:nominated
2010DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety:nominated
2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series:winner
2011DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety:nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series:winner
2012DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety:nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2013DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety:nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2014DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:winner
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2015DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:nominated
2016DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:nominated
2017DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:winner
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2018DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:winner
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2019DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:winner
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2020DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:winner
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2021DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:winner
2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:winner
2022DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming:winner
2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:nominated