ToughPigs is saddened to learn that television writer Dan Wilcox has passed away at the age of 82. Among his many writing and producing credits include “Captain Kangaroo,” “Good Times, “Fernwood 2 Night” (later renamed “America 2 Night”), “Roots: The Next Generations,” and “Newhart.” Perhaps his best-known work was on the television series “M*A*S*H,” where along with his writing partner Thad Mumford, he created thirty-six episodes, including serving on the team that created the series finale, “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen,” which to this day, remains the most-watched episode of scripted television ever.
As a part of his television legacy, Wilcox was also a writer on the first four seasons of “Sesame Street,” where he provided the lyrics to “Everybody Sleeps,” as well as its follow-up, “Everybody Eats.” You can watch the first edition of the former in the video below.
In addition to being a screenwriter, Wilcox also wrote a handful of Sesame books, including the much-loved “Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum” and “The Perils of Penelope,” both with Norman Stiles, as well as “I’m My Mommy – I’m My Daddy” and “The Invention of Paper.”
Whether on the page, on screen, or in a song, we’re grateful that Wilcox made “Sesame Street” a part of his television legacy.
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by Matthew Soberman (Matthew@ToughPigs.com)
