Randy Cohen
Encyclopedia
Randy Cohen is an American
Emmy Award-winning writer
and humorist known as the author of The Ethicist column in The New York Times Magazine
between 1999 and 2011. The column is syndicated throughout the U.S. and Canada
.
in 1971, with a Bachelor of Arts
in music. He spent several years "writing humor pieces, essays, and stories for leading newspapers and magazines"; his first paid, published piece was in 1976 for The Village Voice
In 1981, his book of satiric letters, Modest Proposals, was published by St. Martins Press.
Cohen was a writer on Late Night with David Letterman
for 950 episodes over seven years, starting in 1984. He shared in three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing
for his work on the show.
Cohen wrote for TV Nation
, sharing in a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series in 1995. In 1996, he became the original head writer
for The Rosie O'Donnell Show
.
Cohen wrote for Slate
starting in 1996. At Slate, he became known for "News Quiz," a satiric reader-participation feature which began in February 1998 and ended in November 2000. He also co-wrote a first-season episode of Ed
, first broadcast on February 14, 2001.
Cohen wrote The Ethicist column in The New York Times Magazine between 1999 and 2011. From 2001 to 2005, he also answered listeners' questions on ethics
for the National Public Radio radio news program, All Things Considered
. In a surprise move, the Times ended Cohen's stint as The Ethicist, making his final column Sunday, February 27, 2011. The column remains, however, albeit with a new voice.
Cohen donated $585 to MoveOn.org's
voter registration effort in 2004, apparently in violation of Times policy, which had banned political donations in 2003. The Spokane
, Wash., Spokesman-Review decided on June 20, 2007, to drop Cohen's column, which had been scheduled to begin running in the paper on the following Saturday, because of his donation. Cohen responded that he saw no ethical violation, because he viewed MoveOn as no more activist than other organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America
. Nonetheless, he said he would not make such donations in the future.
Cohen wrote about the eighteenth century boxing champion Daniel Mendoza
. “The Punishing Blow” debuted in 2009, at the Woodstock Fringe Festival.
on the New York Times podcast website, Cohen outlines his personal beliefs about ethics as being ultimately dependent on a person's immediate circumstances, while dismissing the notion that personal moral character
might influence an individual's ethics.
Cohen categorically rejects the idea that individual people are inherently good or bad, asserting that in his opinion all individuals have in them the capacity to do good or bad at different times, in different contexts. In Cohen's view of ethics, individuals are all more or less the same with respect to ethics, but society
is often to blame for the very existence of an ethical dilemma, which aligns him (by his own admission) with many of the beliefs of the Society for Ethical Culture; a fundamental premise of this ethical framework is that humans are morally obligated to promote changes in society so all people can lead more ethical lives.
In the satiric novel, "Daddy-An Absolutely Authentic Fake Memoir" by Andrea Troy, the title character who is The Moralist at a world renown newspaper, "by his own admission" is aligned with The NY Society of Ethical Congestion. "Daddy" is thought to have been modeled on Cohen's own background.
and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania
, in what he has called a "suburban reform Jewish
household."
He was formerly married to the writer and activist
Katha Pollitt
, with whom he has a daughter, Sophie Pollitt-Cohen.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Emmy Award-winning 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....
and humorist known as the author of The Ethicist column in The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
between 1999 and 2011. The column is syndicated throughout the U.S. and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Career
Cohen graduated from the University at Albany, SUNYUniversity at Albany, SUNY
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
in 1971, with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in music. He spent several years "writing humor pieces, essays, and stories for leading newspapers and magazines"; his first paid, published piece was in 1976 for The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
In 1981, his book of satiric letters, Modest Proposals, was published by St. Martins Press.
Cohen was a writer on Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
for 950 episodes over seven years, starting in 1984. He shared in three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program debuted in 1957, and has been annually awarded most years since 1964. It has had many slight name changes, mostly involving the addition or subtraction of the word comedy. Generally, the category has...
for his work on the show.
Cohen wrote for TV Nation
TV Nation
Production on the pilot episode of TV Nation began in January 1993. Moore initially turned to friends and colleagues in many production areas, while also making a point to ensure the show's employees were unionized. For the show's title sequence, graphic designer Chris Harvey put together the...
, sharing in a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series in 1995. In 1996, he became the original head writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
for The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show is an Emmy Award-winning American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. It aired for six seasons from 1996 to 2002...
.
Cohen wrote for Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
starting in 1996. At Slate, he became known for "News Quiz," a satiric reader-participation feature which began in February 1998 and ended in November 2000. He also co-wrote a first-season episode of Ed
Ed (TV series)
Ed is an NBC television program co-produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated, NBC Productions, and Viacom Productions that aired from 2000 to 2004....
, first broadcast on February 14, 2001.
Cohen wrote The Ethicist column in The New York Times Magazine between 1999 and 2011. From 2001 to 2005, he also answered listeners' questions on ethics
Normative ethics
Normative ethics is the study of ethical action. It is the branch of philosophical ethics that investigates the set of questions that arise when considering how one ought to act, morally speaking...
for the National Public Radio radio news program, All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
. In a surprise move, the Times ended Cohen's stint as The Ethicist, making his final column Sunday, February 27, 2011. The column remains, however, albeit with a new voice.
Cohen donated $585 to MoveOn.org's
MoveOn
MoveOn is an American non-profit, progressive or liberal public policy advocacy group and political action committee, which has raised millions of dollars for candidates it identifies as "moderates" or "progressives" in the United States. It was formed in 1998 in response to the impeachment of...
voter registration effort in 2004, apparently in violation of Times policy, which had banned political donations in 2003. The Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
, Wash., Spokesman-Review decided on June 20, 2007, to drop Cohen's column, which had been scheduled to begin running in the paper on the following Saturday, because of his donation. Cohen responded that he saw no ethical violation, because he viewed MoveOn as no more activist than other organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. Nonetheless, he said he would not make such donations in the future.
Cohen wrote about the eighteenth century boxing champion Daniel Mendoza
Daniel Mendoza
Daniel Mendoza was an English prizefighter, who was boxing champion of England 1792–95.-Success:...
. “The Punishing Blow” debuted in 2009, at the Woodstock Fringe Festival.
Cohen's ethical beliefs
In a public speech archived as a podcastPodcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
on the New York Times podcast website, Cohen outlines his personal beliefs about ethics as being ultimately dependent on a person's immediate circumstances, while dismissing the notion that personal moral character
Moral character
Moral character or character is an evaluation of a particular individual's durable moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits...
might influence an individual's ethics.
Cohen categorically rejects the idea that individual people are inherently good or bad, asserting that in his opinion all individuals have in them the capacity to do good or bad at different times, in different contexts. In Cohen's view of ethics, individuals are all more or less the same with respect to ethics, but society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
is often to blame for the very existence of an ethical dilemma, which aligns him (by his own admission) with many of the beliefs of the Society for Ethical Culture; a fundamental premise of this ethical framework is that humans are morally obligated to promote changes in society so all people can lead more ethical lives.
In the satiric novel, "Daddy-An Absolutely Authentic Fake Memoir" by Andrea Troy, the title character who is The Moralist at a world renown newspaper, "by his own admission" is aligned with The NY Society of Ethical Congestion. "Daddy" is thought to have been modeled on Cohen's own background.
Personal life
Cohen was born in Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, in what he has called a "suburban reform Jewish
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
household."
He was formerly married to the writer and activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
Katha Pollitt
Katha Pollitt
Katha Pollitt is an American feminist poet, essayist and critic. She is the author of four essay collections and two books of poetry...
, with whom he has a daughter, Sophie Pollitt-Cohen.
External links
- The Ethicist Archives at the New York Times website