Alumnus finds success in Hollywood

He went to Los Angeles wanting to be a DJ. \nHe never got the job. \nInstead, he became a writer for the critically acclaimed show "MASH."\nJohn Rappaport, an IU graduate, talked to a sociology class Friday about his career in the media. He joked with students and talked about his memories.\nRappaport began his career at the IU-funded NPR-affiliate, WFIU. At the time the shows were all scripted, but Rappaport started something different.\n"I hold the distinction as being the first guy to ad lib on WFIU," Rappaport said.\nHe originally wanted to be a business major, but graduated from IU with a degree in radio and television. After graduation he worked as a television host in the Chicago and Indianapolis areas.\nSoon after, he started writing and performing comedy for radio shows and stand-up comedy.\nWhen he moved to Los Angeles, he was introduced to an agent. One day he got a call saying the show "Laugh In" was looking for a writer.\nHe had a single night to come up with a writing sample.\nRappaport laughed as he remembered the job interview.\n"I walked in with a nice sports coat and nice cropped hair," Rappaport said. "The interviewers had beards and were dressed in jeans. Maybe they gave me the job because I looked so funny."\nRappaport was 29 years old when he got the job, and at the time he was the youngest writer. He said today his age would be considered old because a lot of the shows are looking for younger writers to draw in a certain demographic.\nCensorship issues controlled many of the shows, but Rappaport said "Laugh In" writers got away with a lot of things because they did it quickly.\nThe show was considered groundbreaking because they were the first to show a girl's navel. He said censorship issues have improved greatly since then.\n"In one of the segments we had a character who was a hooker," Rappaport said. "But on the script we had to call her a 'friendly lady.'"\nRappaport wrote for "Laugh In" for four years. He went on to write, edit and consult on shows such as "All in the Family" and "The Odd Couple."\nHe then became a supervising producer and the head writer for "MASH," one of the most watched shows in television history.\nRappaport said he has the keenest appreciation for writing.\n"Writers are like the directors of the symphony," he said.\nHe used the analogy to prove people remember Beethoven, who wrote the symphony. \n"People don't remember who played in the orchestra."\nScreenwriters, he said, are similar because they will always be remembered. \nRappaport said writing for comedy is a difficult thing to do correctly.\nHe remembers sitting in a room throwing out lines with other writers. He said for every good line there might have been 40 lines that were rejected.\nOver the years, Rappaport has received four People Choice awards, one Golden Globe, five Writer's Guild Award nominations and eight Emmy nominations.\nHe recalls his first Emmy nomination.\n"It wasn't a surprise -- it was a runaway show ("Laugh In") and a critical success," Rappaport said. "I was very stubborn and wrote what I thought was quality. I wouldn't write something I wouldn't want to watch -- it pissed me off when we lost."\nRappaport said one of his most memorable moments of his career was the final week of "MASH."\n"It was almost surreal being a part of something that was so amazing and unique," he said.\nHe said the challenge of being a writer in Hollywood is that the script and the creation is a small part of the business.\n"Dealing with the suits is hard. It's so much more commerce," he said. "It's a much more corporate culture."\nHe remembers his old IU days of having a good time, and pioneering things in the Telecommunications Department.\nRappaport said he has been coming back to IU's Homecoming for three years.\n"It's a great feeling to know you can come back and return something for whatever reason the University is proud of you and what you have accomplished."\nGarett Summers, a senior, was one of the students who attended Rappaport's lecture.\n"He didn't seem like he was a star," Summers said. "He seemed like a guy coming back for Homecoming. He was very relaxed and funny, and it made his message more receptive"