Ted L. Nancy: Difference between revisions
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'''Ted L. Nancy''' is a pseudonym and registered trademark used by the comedian [[Barry Marder]] in connection with a series of comedy books and [[Hoax letter writers|prank letters]] entitled “Letters from a Nut.” Books in the series “authored” by the Ted L. Nancy character include: “Letters from a Nut,” “More Letters from a Nut,” “Extra Nutty! Even More Letters from a Nut,” “Hello Junk Mail!,” “Ted L. Nancy’s Afternoon Stories,” and “All New Letters from a Nut.”<ref name="coauthor">{{cite web|title=Letters from a nut & 2 other titles; Assignment of Copyright|url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=1&ti=1,1&Search_Arg=letters%20from%20a%20nut&Search_Code=TALL&CNT=25&PID=awbH2OEUDtCnITv9T3agBV9j4m&SEQ=20120904214503&SID=1|publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]]|accessdate=4 September 2012}}</ref>. |
'''Ted L. Nancy''' is a pseudonym and registered trademark used by the comedian [[Barry Marder]] in connection with a series of comedy books and [[Hoax letter writers|prank letters]] entitled “Letters from a Nut.” Books in the series “authored” by the Ted L. Nancy character include: “Letters from a Nut,” “More Letters from a Nut,” “Extra Nutty! Even More Letters from a Nut,” “Hello Junk Mail!,” “Ted L. Nancy’s Afternoon Stories,” and “All New Letters from a Nut.”<ref name="coauthor">{{cite web|title=Letters from a nut & 2 other titles; Assignment of Copyright|url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=1&ti=1,1&Search_Arg=letters%20from%20a%20nut&Search_Code=TALL&CNT=25&PID=awbH2OEUDtCnITv9T3agBV9j4m&SEQ=20120904214503&SID=1|publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]]|accessdate=4 September 2012}}</ref>. |
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Revision as of 05:49, 7 September 2012
Ted L. Nancy is a pseudonym and registered trademark used by the comedian Barry Marder in connection with a series of comedy books and prank letters entitled “Letters from a Nut.” Books in the series “authored” by the Ted L. Nancy character include: “Letters from a Nut,” “More Letters from a Nut,” “Extra Nutty! Even More Letters from a Nut,” “Hello Junk Mail!,” “Ted L. Nancy’s Afternoon Stories,” and “All New Letters from a Nut.”[1].
History
- In 2002 ABC made a pilot for “Letters From A Nut.” It was written & produced by Barry Marder & Jerry Seinfeld. [2]
- In 2003 FX Television made a pilot for "The Ted L. Nancy" show. That show was written & produced by Barry Marder & Jerry Seinfeld.
- In 2007 Lionsgate Television, winner of the Emmy for Best Show for Mad Men, optioned the books from Barry Marder to make into a television show which was reported by Daily Variety.[3]
- In 2008 Lionsgate sold the show as a pilot presentation to Fox TV. That show called Sincerely, Ted L. Nancy is created and written by Jerry Seinfeld, Barry Marder and Chuck Martin. Reportedly, Ted L. Nancy is the voice for the underdog consumer who is usually the last to get help from customer service. It starred Kevin Sussman as the comic hero Ted.[4]
- In 2012 it was announced that Scholastic bought a funny educational, historical Ted L. Nancy book entitled “Ted L. Nancy’s Family Tree.” [5]
- In 2012 a promo video for Seinfeld’s widely successful new Internet series “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee” identifies Marder as Ted L. Nancy and will debut on September 6, 2012.
An interesting account of the history of the Ted L. Nancy trademark is found in the complaint in Marder v. John Doe, available here: Marder v. John Doe
Controversy
For years the mystery of Ted L. Nancy’s true identity sparked controversy as it was "widely rumored" that Nancy was an alter ego of the comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld, who endorses few products, writes introductions for the books.
Roger Friedman of Fox News suggested in 2002 that Barry Marder — a longtime Jerry Seinfeld collaborator and friend, and the executive producer of the ABC pilot based on the letters (which never made it to the air) — is the real source.
His assumption proved true on September 23, 2010 when Jerry Seinfeld introduced Barry Marder as the writer "Ted L. Nancy" on Larry King Live on CNN.[6]
Jerry Seinfeld also appeared with Barry Marder on “The Today Show With Matt Lauer” as the author of the books.[7]
Though comedian Bruce Baum has claimed some connection to the books, most notably the first three books, it appears Barry Marder controls and owns the Ted L. Nancy properties. And it appears Barry Marder has written at least four additional Ted L. Nancy books and produced numerous television pilots with this pseudonym.
External links
Visit the website for more information.
References
- ^ "Shooting Stars: ABC pilot attempts to answer nutty questions". Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Nancy, Lionsgate plot 'Nut' job for TV". Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Sincerely, Ted L. Nancy". Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "What Publishing Editors Recently Bought". Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Jerry Seinfeld on Larry King Live". Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Jerry Seinfeld On 'Today Show': Reveals Identity Of Author Behind 'Letters From A Nut". Retrieved 5 September 2012.