Robert Kaufman

Robert Kaufman (1931-1991) was an American screenwriter, film producer, and television writer who made significant contributions to comedy entertainment across multiple decades. His notable works include screenplays for "Love at First Bite," "Getting Straight," and "Divorce American Style," as well as writing for television series like "The Monkees." After studying at Columbia University for three years, Kaufman began his career as a publicist for comedian Mort Sahl in New York City before transitioning to comedy writing in the late 1950s. His move to Los Angeles in 1961 marked the beginning of his successful Hollywood career, with his first film credit coming in 1965 for "Ski Party." Throughout his career, Kaufman demonstrated versatility across different comedic styles and formats, writing for both television and film. His work in the 1980s included a non-exclusive deal with Universal Pictures as a writer-producer, continuing to contribute to major studio productions until his death in 1991 in Beverly Hills, California. The work featured here remains accurate to the best of my knowledge, but please verify any specific details elsewhere.

Reader reviews and discussions of Robert Kaufman's work are limited online, with minimal presence on review sites like Goodreads and Amazon. His screenplays receive more attention in film reviews than as standalone works. Viewers appreciated: - Sharp dialogue in "Love at First Bite" - Social commentary in "Getting Straight" - Character development in "Divorce American Style" Common criticisms: - Uneven pacing in later films - Dated cultural references - Scripts sometimes prioritized jokes over story coherence Due to Kaufman working primarily as a screenwriter in the pre-internet era, comprehensive review aggregates are not available. Individual film ratings on IMDb range from 5.8 to 7.2, with "Love at First Bite" (1979) receiving the highest audience scores. Notable viewer comment from IMDb: "The dialogue crackles with wit, especially in the courtroom scenes. Kaufman knew how to write smart comedy that didn't talk down to the audience." - Review of "Divorce American Style" (1967)

Inside Scientology: How I Joined Scientology and Became Superhuman (1972) A firsthand account detailing the author's experiences during his four years as a member of the Church of Scientology, including descriptions of their practices, beliefs, and organizational structure.

Buck Henry wrote screenplays for "The Graduate" and "What's Up Doc?" while also contributing extensively to TV comedy like "Get Smart." His mix of sophisticated humor and cultural commentary parallels Kaufman's approach to comedy writing.

Paul Mazursky began as an actor before becoming a filmmaker who wrote and directed films like "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" and "Down and Out in Beverly Hills." His work in the 1960s and 70s dealt with similar themes of American social dynamics that Kaufman explored.

Larry Gelbart created "M*A*S*H" for television and wrote films including "Oh, God!" and "Tootsie." His career path from New York comedy writing to Hollywood success mirrors Kaufman's trajectory.

Neil Simon moved from television writing on shows like "Your Show of Shows" to creating Broadway plays and Hollywood screenplays. His focus on relationship comedy and divorce themes connects directly to Kaufman's work on "Divorce American Style."

Mel Brooks worked in both television and film, creating comedies that mixed broad humor with social commentary. His films like "Young Frankenstein" and "High Anxiety" share the genre-mixing approach seen in Kaufman's "Love at First Bite."