Preview
![image preview](https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ebww_eckstein/1020/preview.jpg)
Creation Date
10-22-2022
Description
Subject of illustration: Alan Zweibel, an original Saturday Night Live writer, delivers the introduction of keynote speaker Laraine Newman at the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop in Dayton, Ohio.
Zweibel has won five Emmy Awards for his work in television, which also includes It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (which he co-created and produced); The Late Show With David Letterman; and Curb Your Enthusiasm. His theatrical contributions include a collaboration with Billy Crystal on the Tony Award-winning play 700 Sundays; Martin Short’s Broadway hit Fame Becomes Me; and six off-Broadway plays including Bunny Bunny — Gilda Radner: A Sort of Romantic Comedy, which he adapted from his bestselling book. Among his 11 books are the 2006 Thurber Prize-winning novel The Other Shulman; the popular children’s book Our Tree Named Steve; and a parody of the Haggadah titled For This We Left Egypt? written with Dave Barry and Adam Mansbach. He co-wrote the screenplays for the films Dragnet; North; and The Story of Us. His cultural memoir, Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier, was published in 2020. A 2021 movie he co-wrote with Billy Crystal, Here Today, starring Crystal and Tiffany Haddish, can be seen on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, among other platforms. But the production that Alan is proudest of is the one he co-created with his wife, Robin — their three children and five grandchildren.
Artist's Note
Alan Zweibel is someone I’ve been emailing with during the pandemic, and because I knew him ahead of time, I was a bit nervous about what he would think of the picture. I redid his face more times then anyone else's, perhaps five times before I captured the right expression, which is one that is not his usual online photo of looking straight ahead and smiling. I wanted to show his earnestness and sincerity he has with the audience. By the way, I learned later his wife loved the piece. That was satisfying. I want everyone’s significant other pleased. This is not a roast.
Rights
Copyright © 2022, Bob Eckstein. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Erma Bombeck, humor writing, Saturday Night Live, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, Comedy, Illustration, Live-drawing