Toplyn, Joe 1953- (Joseph E. Toplyn)

PERSONAL

Full name, Joseph E. Toplyn; born December 14, 1953; married; wife's name, Sherry; children: two sons. Education: Harvard University, M.B.A., 1979.

Addresses:

Agent—Scott Schwartz, Vision Art Management, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Penthouse 1, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Career:

Writer. Peoples Improv Theater, New York City, instructor. Worked as a story editor, writing supervisor, executive script consultant, and a producer. Columbia Pictures, worked in the motion picture division. General Foods, worked as a marketing representative. Worked for a garment manufacturer in Israel.

Member:

Writers Guild of America, West, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Awards, Honors:

Emmy awards (with others), outstanding writing in a variety or music program, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987, and Emmy Award nominations (with others), outstanding writing in a variety or music program, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, and 1990, all for various episodes of Late Night with David Letterman; Emmy Award nomination (with others), outstanding writing in a variety or music program, 1990, for In Living Color; Emmy Award nomination (with others), outstanding variety, music, or comedy series, 1996 and 1997, and Emmy Award nominations (with others), outstanding writing for a variety, music, or comedy program, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, and Television Award nominations (with others), outstanding comedy/variety (including talk), Writers Guild of America, 2000, 2001, and 2002, all for Late Show with David Letterman.

CREDITS

Television Work; Series:

Writing supervisor, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 1992-95.

Executive script consultant, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, ABC, c. 1992-97.

Writing supervisor, The Chevy Chase Show, Fox, 1993.

Occasional producer, Late Show with David Letterman (also known as The Late Show and Late Show Backstage), CBS, beginning c. 1993.

Story editor, then executive story editor, Monk, USA Network, beginning c. 2002.

Television Producer; Specials:

Late Show with David Letterman: Video Special II, CBS, 1996.

Late Show with David Letterman: Video Special III, CBS, 1997.

Television Work; Pilots:

Producer of television pilots.

WRITINGS

Teleplays; with Others; Series:

Late Night with David Letterman, NBC, episodes c. 1982-93.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, beginning 1992.

Head writer, The Chevy Chase Show, Fox, 1993.

Late Show with David Letterman (also known as The Late Show and Late Show Backstage), CBS, beginning c. 1993.

Head writer, The Caroline Rhea Show, syndicated, 2002-2003.

Teleplays; with Others; Specials:

Special material, David Letterman's Second Annual Holiday Film Festival, NBC, 1986.

Late Night with David Letterman Fifth Anniversary Show, NBC, 1987.

Late Night with David Letterman Sixth Anniversary Show, NBC, 1988.

Late Night with David Letterman Seventh Anniversary Show, NBC, 1989.

Late Night with David Letterman Eighth Anniversary Special, NBC, 1990.

David Foster's Christmas Album, NBC, 1993.

Late Show with David Letterman: Video Special II, CBS, 1996.

Late Show with David Letterman: Video Special III, CBS, 1997.

The Late Show with David Letterman Fifth Anniversary Special, CBS, 1998.

Teleplays; Episodic:

(As Joseph E. Toplyn) "Anton in the People's Court," In Living Color, Fox, 1990.

(As Joseph E. Toplyn) "Ice Follies," Doctor, Doctor, CBS, 1990.

(As Joseph E. Toplyn) "Murder, He Wrote," Doctor, Doctor, CBS, 1990.

(As Joseph E. Toplyn) "Anatomy of Love," Doctor, Doctor, CBS, 1991.

(With others) Charlie Hoover, Fox, episodes c. 1991.

"The Promise," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1992.

"Scorch Likes It Hot," Scorch, CBS, c. 1992.

Monk, USA Network, multiple episodes, beginning 2004.

Wrote for other programs, including Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, ABC.

Teleplays; Pilots:

Wrote television pilots.

Humor:

Formerly affiliated with the Harvard Lampoon.