Case File 06: Bob McCullough

We open the CYBORGS Case File on BOB McCULLOUGH. Bob has worked as a writer, producer, and director on some of the most popular TV shows throughout the 80s and 90s, including FALCON CREST, BJ AND THE BEAR, STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION, and ZORRO. His first real writing credit was for the episode, “In This Corner Jaime Sommers” on THE BIONIC WOMAN (he also wrote, “Jaime and the King”). But it was his story for the season three SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN episode, “Hocus-Pocus” that earned him entry into the Writer's union. But he had to fight for it. And you WON’T see his name in the episode's credits. We’ll find out why. We’ll also take an in-depth look at how Bob broke into show business - a great story in its own right. In fact, we’re going to go all the way back to Bob’s Hollywood roots, from hanging out at ritzy nightclubs as a child, to rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty at his mom’s bath and closet store, to crashing THE DATING GAME and becoming an NBC PAGE for LAUGH-IN, THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW, and the TONIGHT SHOW WITH JOHNNY CARSON. This is an extra long edition of Case File because it not only spotlights a SMDM/BW writer, BUT ALSO serves as great first-hand advice for breaing into Hollywood. “It’s really an open door in Hollywood if you have what they need. And what they need is smart people who are prepared and who are willing to work hard. If you have those things going for you, there’s no reason you can’t succeed. But if you’re sitting around waiting for them to call you, guess what - they’re busy. Tenacity, persistence, and don’t be afraid to do something a little outside the box.” — Bob McCullough Here’s a detailed time index of this episode: 00:00:00 TEASER 00:01:54 CYBORGS SHOW ID: CASE FILE 06: BOB McCULLOUGH 00:02:16 CYBORGS THEME 00:03:36 JOHN WELCOMES YOU BACK / INTRODUCES PAUL / FORMAT EXPLANATION 00:05:19 PAUL INTRODUCES BOB McCULLOUGH 00:06:57 BOB McCULLOUGH JOINS THE PODCAST 00:07:42 PAUL IS A SCARY GUY / THE STORY BEHIND "WHERE HOLLYWOOD HIDES" 00:09:56 BOB SHARES HIS HOLLYWOOD ROOTS / A DIFFERENT ERA 00:13:14 BOB SAW SOME THINGS / ROCK HUDSON 00:14:57 UNCLE NATE SHOOTS THE PILLOW WITH ARMS 00:16:45 RETAIL STORE / CELEBRITY CUSTOMERS 00:17:45 USC / DENTISTRY / THE DATING GAME / PRODUCER IN TENNIS SHOES 00:21:30 CREATIVE WRITING / VIETNAM WAR / PRODIGAL BROTHER 00:24:05 GRADUATE SCHOOL / SHAKING HANDS AND COLLECTING BUSINESS CARDS 00:26:00 HERB SCHLOSSER / PAGING BOB McCULLOUGH / THIS SENIORITY THING SUCKS  00:29:00 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE / OLGA THE GATE KEEPER / WAITING FOR BARRY CRANE 00:34:30 CAULDRON OF FIRE 00:37:02 BRUCE LANSBURY / IN THE TRENCHES 00:41:54 SAM STRANGIS AND LOCATING THE IMMORTAL 00:45:23 LOCATING THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN / HARVE BENNETT / LEE MAJORS 00:47:45 TED SCHILZ & ABRACADABRA / THE HOCUS-POCUS RIP-OFF / A REAL WRITER 00:55:20 LOCATING THE BIONIC WOMAN / KENNETH JOHNSON / IN THIS CORNER JAIME SOMMERS 01:02:14 ULTIMATE VALIDATION / POLITICAL FRICTION / 100 LETTERS 100 AGENTS 01:04:40 KEY TO LONGEVITY: BE NICE TO PEOPLE 01:07:00 JAIME AND THE KING / DAVID LEE ROTH 01:11:00 BJ AND THE BEAR / GLEN LARSON / MICHAEL SLOAN / LOWEST BUT GREATEST RUNG 01:15:45 FALCON CREST / LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT? 01:26:40 IMDb ROLL CALL 01:27:48 STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION / FOND OF GENE RODDENBERRY / NOT FOND OF STAR TREK 01:33:51 ZORRO: A GREAT EXPERIENCE 01:40:15 TAG TEAM / CAN YOU MAKE THEM ALL VAMPIRES? / NEW INSPIRATION 01:44:00 WORKING HARDER IN RETIREMENT / WHERE HOLLYWOOD HIDES  01:45:30 HOLLYWOOD IS AN OPEN DOOR IF YOU HAVE WHAT THEY NEED 01:46:15 SIGN-OFF