Walter Williams (comedian filmmaker)
Encyclopedia
Walter Williams is a filmmaker and comedy
writer, most famous for his "Mr. Bill" shorts that aired on the television series Saturday Night Live
.
Williams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
. In the 1970s he worked as a DJ at a French Quarter
bar. He did comedy
sketches, some over local radio
, with his friend Vance DeGeneres
. Williams became interested in film
. Creating the first "Mr. Bill" short on Super-8 film in 1974 in his living room in New Orleans for a budget of less than $20, it was first aired on a local UHF TV show. He submitted it to Saturday Night Live
where Mr. Bill was a hit. Williams made more Mr. Bill shorts, moved to New York City
, and was hired as a full time writer for Saturday Night Live for the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons.
The VHS release of "Ernest Rides Again
" features "Mr. Bill Goes to Washington", a spoof of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
. According to the book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, Williams made very little money from merchandising Mr. Bill in the 1970s, as most of the Mr. Bill products made (including dolls, pins, posters, coffee mugs, and umbrellas) were bootleg
and unauthorized (Comic strip artist Bill Watterson
had a similar problem with his characters Calvin and Hobbes
in the 1990s).
Willams has performed as stand up comedian and produced a number of advertisements for such companies as Pizza Hut
and Lexus
, and aired comic shorts on The Tonight Show
.
Williams made films for the ABC
television series Into the Night with Rick Dees.
Starting in the 1990s, Williams created more serious films, including documentaries for the Public Broadcasting Service
on such subjects as the Battle of New Orleans
and the erosion of Louisiana
's wetlands.
The later topic and related flood control and environmental issues has been a focus of Williams' work; he produced a series of shorts featuring animated wetland and sea creatures called "The Estuarians" together with Mr. Bill to draw attention to the region's issues, with the tag line "Let's act now, before it's too late". With Hurricane Katrina
in 2005, scenes such as Mr. Bill taking refuge on the roof of his flooded out house in New Orleans seemed prophetic (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
).
Walter Williams reigned as King of the Krewe du Vieux
for the first New Orleans Mardi Gras
parade after Katrina.
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, most famous for his "Mr. Bill" shorts that aired on the television series Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
.
Williams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. In the 1970s he worked as a DJ at a French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
bar. He did comedy
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...
sketches, some over local radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, with his friend Vance DeGeneres
Vance DeGeneres
Vance Elliott DeGeneres is an American actor, musician, film producer and screenwriter, known for his work in television...
. Williams became interested in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. Creating the first "Mr. Bill" short on Super-8 film in 1974 in his living room in New Orleans for a budget of less than $20, it was first aired on a local UHF TV show. He submitted it to Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
where Mr. Bill was a hit. Williams made more Mr. Bill shorts, moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and was hired as a full time writer for Saturday Night Live for the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons.
The VHS release of "Ernest Rides Again
Ernest Rides Again
Ernest Rides Again is a 1993 comedy film written and directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney. It opens with the song "There Once Was A Man Named Worrell". It is the sixth film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, and the last to be released theatrically. Its grossing number...
" features "Mr. Bill Goes to Washington", a spoof of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American drama film starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart about one man's effect on American politics. It was directed by Frank Capra and written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story. Mr...
. According to the book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, Williams made very little money from merchandising Mr. Bill in the 1970s, as most of the Mr. Bill products made (including dolls, pins, posters, coffee mugs, and umbrellas) were bootleg
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
and unauthorized (Comic strip artist Bill Watterson
Bill Watterson
William Boyd Watterson II , known as Bill Watterson, is an American cartoonist and the author of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes...
had a similar problem with his characters Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes is a syndicated daily comic strip that was written and illustrated by American cartoonist Bill Watterson, and syndicated from November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995. It follows the humorous antics of Calvin, a precocious and adventurous six-year-old boy, and Hobbes, his...
in the 1990s).
Willams has performed as stand up comedian and produced a number of advertisements for such companies as Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
and Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
, and aired comic shorts on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
.
Williams made films for the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television series Into the Night with Rick Dees.
Starting in the 1990s, Williams created more serious films, including documentaries for the Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
on such subjects as the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
and the erosion of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
's wetlands.
The later topic and related flood control and environmental issues has been a focus of Williams' work; he produced a series of shorts featuring animated wetland and sea creatures called "The Estuarians" together with Mr. Bill to draw attention to the region's issues, with the tag line "Let's act now, before it's too late". With Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005, scenes such as Mr. Bill taking refuge on the roof of his flooded out house in New Orleans seemed prophetic (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
The effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans have been long-lasting. As the center of Katrina passed South-east of New Orleans on August 29, 2005, winds downtown were in the Category 3 range with frequent intense gusts and tidal surge. Hurricane force winds were experienced throughout the...
).
Walter Williams reigned as King of the Krewe du Vieux
Krewe du Vieux
The Krewe du Vieux is a New Orleans Mardi Gras or Carnival krewe, originally and more fully known as the Krewe du Vieux Carré. The parade begins in the Marigny and slowly meanders its way through the Vieux Carre...
for the first New Orleans Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
parade after Katrina.