Buddy Sheffield
Encyclopedia
Morris Taylor "Buddy" Sheffield is an American comedy
writer
, producer
and composer
. He is probably best known as Emmy-nominated head writer on Fox TV's breakthrough sketch comedy series, In Living Color
, having written such favorites as "Homey Claus", "Homeboy Shopping Network", "This Old Box" and "Men On Books". Sheffield, who is white and was raised in the rural south, won an NAACP Image Award for his work on the show. Prior to that he had spent 10 years writing for dozens of performers ranging from Dolly Parton
to the Smothers Brothers
.
Sheffield co-created the teen hit Roundhouse (TV series)
on Nickelodeon
in the 1990s, often cited as revolutionary for its frenetically paced staging and sophisticated satire involving real teen issues. Roundhouse was shot in real-time before a live audience and was described by one critic as "like seeing all the high points of a smash Broadway show in half an hour." Sheffield created the show with his former wife, Rita Hester, with whom he had founded a children's theatre company when they were students at The University of Southern Mississippi
. That venture, Sheffield Ensemble Theatre, lasted 13 years and had become the number one touring children's theatre in the country prior to going bankrupt as a major contractor to the failed New Orleans World's Fair. Sheffield paid off his cast and crew and moved to Los Angeles. His years in live theatre are apparent in "Roundhouse" and all his work.
In 1982, his musical Cleavage, for which he had written book, music and lyrics, opened on Broadway
. Though it had been playing successfully in New Orleans, it closed after one performance. One day after it closed it received a favorable review from the NY Times.
Sheffield is again targeting Broadway with a musical send-up of Rodgers and Hammerstein
's Oklahoma!
called IDAHO! for which he also wrote book, music and lyrics (with additional music and arrangements by long-time friend and collaborator Keith Thompson). IDAHO! premiered at the NY Musical Festival in September 8, winning several awards including the "Best of Fest" Audience Prize for best-received show. The show is in further development with productions planned in Sydney, Australia in late 2010 and New York state's vaunted Forestburgh Playhouse in June 2011.
In 2007, Sheffield sued The Walt Disney Company
in Los Angeles for breach of implied contract over a musical sit-com called "Rock and Roland" that he pitched to the Disney Channel
in late 2001. Sheffield's detailed pitch was about a junior high kid with a widowed parent who is a regular kid by day and secretly a pop superstar by night. The lawsuit claims that Disney executives showed great interest, requested more material, passed on the project and then misappropriated it. The lawsuit also claimed Disney did little more than switch the genders of all the main characters, an option Sheffield gave them during the pitch. Disney went on to produce the show under the name Hannah Montana
and it became a worldwide mega-hit generating millions for the company. An August 26, 2008 court date was set in Los Angeles
Superior Court but prior to that date the case quietly settled.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is probably best known as Emmy-nominated head writer on Fox TV's breakthrough sketch comedy series, In Living Color
In Living Color
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
, having written such favorites as "Homey Claus", "Homeboy Shopping Network", "This Old Box" and "Men On Books". Sheffield, who is white and was raised in the rural south, won an NAACP Image Award for his work on the show. Prior to that he had spent 10 years writing for dozens of performers ranging from Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
to the Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
.
Sheffield co-created the teen hit Roundhouse (TV series)
Roundhouse (TV series)
Roundhouse is an American sketch comedy television series that aired on Nickelodeon from August 15, 1992 through January 27, 1996.-Background:...
on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
in the 1990s, often cited as revolutionary for its frenetically paced staging and sophisticated satire involving real teen issues. Roundhouse was shot in real-time before a live audience and was described by one critic as "like seeing all the high points of a smash Broadway show in half an hour." Sheffield created the show with his former wife, Rita Hester, with whom he had founded a children's theatre company when they were students at The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
. That venture, Sheffield Ensemble Theatre, lasted 13 years and had become the number one touring children's theatre in the country prior to going bankrupt as a major contractor to the failed New Orleans World's Fair. Sheffield paid off his cast and crew and moved to Los Angeles. His years in live theatre are apparent in "Roundhouse" and all his work.
In 1982, his musical Cleavage, for which he had written book, music and lyrics, opened on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. Though it had been playing successfully in New Orleans, it closed after one performance. One day after it closed it received a favorable review from the NY Times.
Sheffield is again targeting Broadway with a musical send-up of Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
's Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
called IDAHO! for which he also wrote book, music and lyrics (with additional music and arrangements by long-time friend and collaborator Keith Thompson). IDAHO! premiered at the NY Musical Festival in September 8, winning several awards including the "Best of Fest" Audience Prize for best-received show. The show is in further development with productions planned in Sydney, Australia in late 2010 and New York state's vaunted Forestburgh Playhouse in June 2011.
In 2007, Sheffield sued The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
in Los Angeles for breach of implied contract over a musical sit-com called "Rock and Roland" that he pitched to the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
in late 2001. Sheffield's detailed pitch was about a junior high kid with a widowed parent who is a regular kid by day and secretly a pop superstar by night. The lawsuit claims that Disney executives showed great interest, requested more material, passed on the project and then misappropriated it. The lawsuit also claimed Disney did little more than switch the genders of all the main characters, an option Sheffield gave them during the pitch. Disney went on to produce the show under the name Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
and it became a worldwide mega-hit generating millions for the company. An August 26, 2008 court date was set in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Superior Court but prior to that date the case quietly settled.