The writers' room inspired the film My Favorite Year (1982), produced by Brooks, and the Broadway play Laughter on the 23rd Floor (1993), written by Neil Simon.
Tulczyński, means "from Tuľčyn") in a Jewish shtetl near Odesa,[2] Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire, the son of Nessie (Cartman) and Mendel "Max" Tolchinsky, a labourer and door-to-door salesman.
[3] A background of anti-Semitic pogroms, shared by other comedy writers of his generation, he noted in 1992, "I'm not happy to have to say ... created the condition where humor becomes anger made acceptable with a joke".
[1] He studied accounting after graduating from high school, and surreptitiously entered show business by composing songs and sketches for local revues[1] and playing piano in jazz clubs.
[1] Teaming with Lucille Kallen, who would become his longtime writing partner, Tolkin began concocting comedy for performers at the Poconos resort Camp Tamiment.
[1] Tolkin wrote for the 1968–1970 CBS situation comedy The Good Guys (which starred Bob Denver, Herb Edelman, and Joyce Van Patten).
[12] With writing partner Larry Rhine, Tolkin shared a 1978 Humanitas Prize for 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television, for the All in the Family episode "The Brother".