Chuck Schodowski(1934-2025)
- Actor
- Director
Chuck's TV career began at WJW-TV8 in 1960 as an engineer. In 1969 he
was promoted to director/producer. WJW is where Chuck met
Ernie Anderson and
Tim Conway. Chuck began working with them on
Ernie's show (Ghoulardi) in 1963. He reluctantly started doing sketches
for the show, first as "handsome, debonair, downstairs neighbor, Jerry
Kreegle". When Tim and Ernie left for Los Angeles, the Hoolihan & Big
Chuck Show took over Ghouldardi's time slot in 1966 with Bob Wells as
Hoolihan. When Bob left for Florida in 1979, the show became The Big
Chuck and Lil' John Show, with John Rinaldi. The show continued until
2007 when Chuck retired. In 2011 Chuck and Lil' John are back showing
old skits as, apparently, after 47 years Chuck missed TV.
The show(s) were so popular they beat The Tonight Show in the ratings. This made everyone want to be on the show. Of the famous guests they had come to do skits were Imogene Coca, Andy Griffith, Pat Paulsen, Ken ("The Hawk") Harrelson, Sam McDowell, Takeru Kobayashi, Muhammad Ali, Janice Pennington, Bobby Vinton, Mel Torme, Bill Hufsey, Bob ("Mad Dog") McGuire and Chuck's co-author Tom Feran. Chuck even went three rounds with Mike Tyson.
Bob ("Mad Dog") McGuire came on the show to do his act for "New Talent Time" in 1983. He brought with him a new song, Moon over Parma. Drew Carey saw it on a rerun and when Drew was starring in his own show bought the song and it became the first season theme.
Chuck has 28 local Emmys and 3 international film festival medals. He directed several made-for-TV movies of which Heartsong, U.S.A. is one he won an Emmy for. Brock Peters does the narration for this Thanksgiving special. Chuck also directed Burgess Meredith in The Wandering Muse of Artemus Flagg in 1977.
Chuck even "played" a photographer in The Fortune Cookie, mimicking his other job for the Browns and Indians.
The show(s) were so popular they beat The Tonight Show in the ratings. This made everyone want to be on the show. Of the famous guests they had come to do skits were Imogene Coca, Andy Griffith, Pat Paulsen, Ken ("The Hawk") Harrelson, Sam McDowell, Takeru Kobayashi, Muhammad Ali, Janice Pennington, Bobby Vinton, Mel Torme, Bill Hufsey, Bob ("Mad Dog") McGuire and Chuck's co-author Tom Feran. Chuck even went three rounds with Mike Tyson.
Bob ("Mad Dog") McGuire came on the show to do his act for "New Talent Time" in 1983. He brought with him a new song, Moon over Parma. Drew Carey saw it on a rerun and when Drew was starring in his own show bought the song and it became the first season theme.
Chuck has 28 local Emmys and 3 international film festival medals. He directed several made-for-TV movies of which Heartsong, U.S.A. is one he won an Emmy for. Brock Peters does the narration for this Thanksgiving special. Chuck also directed Burgess Meredith in The Wandering Muse of Artemus Flagg in 1977.
Chuck even "played" a photographer in The Fortune Cookie, mimicking his other job for the Browns and Indians.
