- John Charles Walters Company
The John Charles Walters Company was a production company formed in
1978 by four former employees ofMTM Enterprises :James L. Brooks , David Davis,Stan Daniels andEd Weinberger . The company existed from 1978 until 1983 and produced the 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.The company also produced "The Associates", a TV
sitcom about a small group of youngWall Street lawyers which ran during the 1979 television season starringMartin Short . The show lasted for 9 of the 13 episodes produced, but received 2Golden Globe nominations after its cancellation.The name
According to a 2003 interview [http://www.emmys.tv/emmymag/june03/foundation.php] , James L. Brooks said that the company was named the John Charles Walters Company because the foursome "wanted a venerable Protestant name." The book "Hailing Taxi" indicates that the partners discovered an old pub sign that said "Charles Walters." They bought it in order to make it their logo, but then discovered that there was a director in Hollywood named Charles Walters. They added the name John to avoid legal problems.
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. The woman is Weinberger's actual assistant.Related Links and Sources
* [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/W/htmlW/weinbergere/weinbergere.htm Museum of Broadcast Communications] - Ed Weinberger profile
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6746832/ MSNBC.com] - TV Vanity Cards (includes John Charles Walters)
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