Case File 06: Bob McCullough

Cyborgs: A Bionic Podcast

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