O'Donnell worked on Letterman nearly since the show's inception. The Top Ten List was originally created during O'Donnell's time as head writer, and lists were written in collaboration with other staff writers on the show. According to O'Donnell, the Top Ten List was an "almost simultaneous inspiration arriving from staffers Jim Downey, Randy Cohen and Robert "Morty" Morton — largely prompted by the ridiculous 'eligible bachelor' lists in a local New York paper that included the 84-year-old Bill Paley. 'Why, we can put such nonsense together ourselves!' we exclaimed. And we did."[2] He later co-authored several of the Top-ten books based on the show.[3] During Letterman's final season, O'Donnell wrote and spoke about his time as head writer on the show, and compiled his own list of the show's "top ten" moments for The New York Times.[2]
O'Donnell was later the head writer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, from the show's debut in January 2003 until 2008. He occasionally appeared front of the camera in bits for the show as well.[4]
In 2017, the Writers Guild of America presented O'Donnell with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence.[6] A video appearance from recently retired David Letterman was part of O'Donnell's introduction.[7]
Personal lifeEdit
Steve is the identical twin of Mark O'Donnell, the Tony Award-winning co-writer of the Broadway musical Hairspray[1] who died on August 6, 2012.[8] Steve supported his brother by encouraging California voters to vote no on Prop. 8 in 2008.[9]
Gliatto, Tom (1990-08-27), "And the No.1 Reason David Letterman Keeps Reading the Top 10 List–Well, It's Funnier Than His Monologue", People, vol. 34, no. 8
Larry McShane, Associated Press (1991-11-02), "Letterman lists take country by storm", Reading Eagle
steve, donnell, writer, steve, donnell, american, television, writer, credits, include, late, night, with, david, letterman, simpsons, seinfeld, chris, rock, show, steve, donnellsteve, donnell, 2015alma, materharvard, universityoccupationwriterknown, forlate, . Steve O Donnell is an American television writer His credits include Late Night with David Letterman The Simpsons Seinfeld and The Chris Rock Show 1 Steve O DonnellSteve O Donnell in 2015Alma materHarvard UniversityOccupationWriterKnown forLate Night with David Letterman Jimmy Kimmel Live The Chris Rock Show The Bonnie Hunt Show The Simpsons SeinfeldRelativesMark O Donnell twin brother Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Simpsons Episodes Written by O Donnell 5 Seinfeld Episodes Written by O Donnell 6 Space Ghost Coast to Coast Episodes Written by O Donnell 7 References 8 External linksBiography EditThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately Find sources Steve O Donnell writer news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Steve O Donnell was born in Cleveland Ohio and graduated with an A B degree from Harvard College in 1976 He also completed graduate studies in American history at Columbia University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Career EditO Donnell worked on Letterman nearly since the show s inception The Top Ten List was originally created during O Donnell s time as head writer and lists were written in collaboration with other staff writers on the show According to O Donnell the Top Ten List was an almost simultaneous inspiration arriving from staffers Jim Downey Randy Cohen and Robert Morty Morton largely prompted by the ridiculous eligible bachelor lists in a local New York paper that included the 84 year old Bill Paley Why we can put such nonsense together ourselves we exclaimed And we did 2 He later co authored several of the Top ten books based on the show 3 During Letterman s final season O Donnell wrote and spoke about his time as head writer on the show and compiled his own list of the show s top ten moments for The New York Times 2 O Donnell was later the head writer of Jimmy Kimmel Live from the show s debut in January 2003 until 2008 He occasionally appeared front of the camera in bits for the show as well 4 In addition to his tenure as head writer of Letterman and Kimmel O Donnell worked as a writer and producer on The Bonnie Hunt Show The Dana Carvey Show Norm Macdonald Live and Why with Hannibal Buress on Comedy Central He continued his work with Norm Macdonald as a writer on Norm Macdonald Has a Show for Netflix He has appeared in additional brief on screen roles in Strangers With Candy and The Sarah Silverman Program He won Primetime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program category on four occasions for Late Night with David Letterman in 1984 1986 and 1987 and for The Chris Rock Show in 1998 5 In 2017 the Writers Guild of America presented O Donnell with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence 6 A video appearance from recently retired David Letterman was part of O Donnell s introduction 7 Personal life EditSteve is the identical twin of Mark O Donnell the Tony Award winning co writer of the Broadway musical Hairspray 1 who died on August 6 2012 8 Steve supported his brother by encouraging California voters to vote no on Prop 8 in 2008 9 Simpsons Episodes Written by O Donnell EditAll Singing All Dancing The Joy of SectSeinfeld Episodes Written by O Donnell EditThe Pothole The ChecksSpace Ghost Coast to Coast Episodes Written by O Donnell EditHungry Late ShowReferences Edit a b Interview with Steve amp Mark O Donnell The Believer August 2004 Retrieved 2010 01 22 a b Steve O Donnell 2015 05 07 David Letterman s Top Ten On Air Moments New York Times Sources for top ten list Gliatto Tom 1990 08 27 And the No 1 Reason David Letterman Keeps Reading the Top 10 List Well It s Funnier Than His Monologue People vol 34 no 8 Larry McShane Associated Press 1991 11 02 Letterman lists take country by storm Reading Eagle Phil Rosenthal 2009 12 13 No chance of a list less columnist this time of year Chicago Tribune archived from the original on 2009 12 18 Mendoza Manuel 2006 02 04 Inside Kimmel Live Dallas Morning News Retrieved 2010 01 22 Awards for Steve O Donnell IMDb Retrieved 2010 01 22 Longtime Letterman Writer Steve O Donnell Set For WGA East s Herb Sargent Award 3 January 2017 2017 Writers Guild Awards Steve O Donnell accepts the Herb Sargent Award YouTube Archived from the original on 2021 12 18 Kennedy Mark Hairspray co writer Mark O Donnell dies at 58 Boston com Writer Steve O Donnell Says NO on Prop 8 YouTube Archived from the original on 2021 12 18 Retrieved 2016 06 02 External links EditSteve O Donnell at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Steve O 27Donnell writer amp oldid 1152806576, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
