Rafkin's comments from the article (which took them from the book):
On Arthur Godfrey: "Bigoted . . . one of the meanest men I have ever met."
Redd Foxx of "Sanford and Son": "Overall, I would have to say I adored Redd," but between his open and prolific cocaine use, slack rehearsal habits and paranoia, "working with Redd meant learning to work with conflict."
Demond Wilson, Foxx's costar: "One of the most evil actors I have ever worked with."
Tony Randall of "The Odd Couple": "A pain in the (posterior)," but a pro. "To get marvelous, you can put up with a lot."
Suzanne Pleshette of "The Bob Newhart Show": "Had a mouth like a sailor," but also a great pro.
Bonnie Franklin of "One Day at a Time": "From what I call the 'slapping' school of acting. Whenever she wanted to get a point across, she would slap her forehead with her palm . . . took overacting to a new level."
Garry Shandling of "It's Garry Shandling's Show": "One of the most self-centered human beings I have ever worked with, but . . . also a very nice person."
Craig T. Nelson of "Coach": "Undirectable . . . inconsiderate . . . unpleasant . . . patronizing."
He is even frank, in conversation, about his current shows (Suddenly Susan and Veronica's Closet) acknowledging that they have unachieved potential. But he adores Brooke Shields as a person and says she has improved greatly as an actor.
The show he likes best right now, though, he said, is one he has not worked on, CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond," the sharp-witted but gentle-spirited sitcom about a New York sportswriter and his family.
"If I had to pick out a word," Rafkin said, "I would tell Phil Rosenthal, who runs it, that it is 'old fashioned.' I hope he would accept it as the highest compliment."
