James Burrows - Directed by James Burrows : Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and More

Our first encounter with James Burrows was in the 1970s on a soundstage at MTM Enterprises, where wed gotten our first staff-writing positioni.e., full-time job. Wed gone to the stage to see a run-through of the weeks show being directed by a newcomer, a young man, bearded and bald beyond his years. He was in the process of getting his butt chewed out by one of our shows executive producers, who was never the least bit shy about sharing his opinions loudly and publicly. The young director stood there taking it but not liking it.

We decided it was pointless to introduce ourselves to the poor bastard, because he was clearly going to be on the next plane back to wherever hed made the mistake of leaving. If anyone had told us wed one day partner with him in what would turn out to be the most happily successful show and production company in our careers, wed have thought them insane.

Of course, youve guessed by now that poor bastard is the author and subject of this book. Jimmy Burrows weathered that storm and went on to become a great friend and a brilliant and incomparably successful director.

He was just starting out in his profession that day, but it seemed like hed been destined for a career in show business for his entire life. Born to legendary writer, humorist, script doctor, and personality Abe Burrows, hed spent hours of his life in theaters and studios and socialized with people whose names the average person only sees on a marquee. It was as if both nature and nurture intended that he become a member of the entertainment world.

But what was he to do? He couldnt act his way out of the rain, couldnt write, sing, dance, or play an instrument with any distinctive ability. He tried to yodel, do impressions anyone recognized, throw his voice, juggle plates, or saw a woman in half (volunteers for rehearsal are tough to enlist).

Then inspiration struck. Directing was the perfect job. He could do it sitting down, he could wear any clothes he wanted, and he could tell everyone what to do. And if anything ever went wrong, he could blame it on the writers.

Whatever the real origin of his career choice might have been, it has entertained millions, starting with the brothers Charles. We worked together with him on many MTM shows, then for four years on Taxi. Our collaboration over those years was so positive we ultimately decided to make it legal. We made some very good and some very lucky decisions together over the years, but the best one was the first. We became partners.

It seemed inevitable. Wed grown up together, worked out any personality kinks, and had the important things in common: We admired the same movies and TV shows, we laughed at the same things, and, most important, we liked each other. As only people who have shared hundreds of meals eating from Styrofoam containers on their laps can bond.

As excited as we were to be working with Jimmy at the time, even we, his biggest fans, couldnt have predicted how far he would go. Hes simply become the greatest director of comedy in television history. And thats not just the opinion of Jimmy and his wife, though theyre the only ones who have it on their bath towels. Hes the greatest by any measurement: number of episodes, number of gigantic hit series, number of awards, and the amount and volume of laughter hes been responsible for. And, amazingly, when hes not working on a series, hes doing pilots for new series.

We could write a book ourselves about everything that Jimmy brings to his work. Hes smart and incredibly inventive. Hes in full control onstagetheres never a doubt whos in charge. Yet within the order he maintains, he makes space for people to feel comfortable to experiment and create.

Hes an actors director, as any actor whos worked with him will tell you, but hes also a writers director. Maybe in part because of his father, he understands how writing works and why it sometimes doesnt. Most important, he knows good writing when he sees it.

First and foremost, he has the perfect temperament for the job. Hes particularly well suited for directing TV, where, as opposed to film and theater, casts and crews can sometimes work together for years, as has been the case for Jimmy several times. The situation requires a special kind of personality, pretty much exactly the one he has. Weve never seen him lose his temper (though we have seen him want to). He has no capital-E ego. Hes supernaturally patient, calm when everyone around him is pounding on panic buttons. And hes a great audience and encourager. People want to do their best for him; they want to make him laugh.

And, oh yeah, Jimmys funny.

One day when we were just starting to put Cheers together, the three of us were in our office and were presented with a huge stack of legal documents for our signatures. They were detailed partnership contracts, anticipating every possible contingency and laying out legal procedures to settle any future disputes. We stared glumly at them in silence for a moment, then Jimmy said, Im okay with a handshake. We shook hands and tossed all the paper in the trash. That was over forty years ago, and working with him has never been anything but a pleasure and an honor. And a hell of a lot of fun.

Ready when you are, J.B.