Who was the late Craig Kellem to NBC’s Saturday Night Live?
SNL this weekend paid tribute to Kellem with an on-screen In Memoriam card, at the end of the episode hosted by Melissa McCarthy and featuring music guest Dijon.
The card, a black-and-white photo of Kellem silhouetted against a red background, preceded the end-of-show goodnights led by McCarthy.
Kellem—who died November 24, at age 82, at an assisted living facility in Wynnewood, Pa.—was a producer and writer who worked on television series such as Saturday Night Live, The New Dragnet, The Munsters Today and The New Adam-12.
During SNL’s very first, 1975-76 season, Kellem worked as a producer and talent consultant alongside series creator Lorne Michaels. He and Michaels also produced All You Need Is Cash (aka The Rutles), a March 1978 TV-movie/mockumentary about a Beatles-like band (played by Eric Idle, Neil Innes, Ricky Fataar amd John Halsey).
Kellem also served as a writer on episodes of Domestic Life, Charles in Charge and What a Dummy.
Prior to producing and writing, Kellem worked as a talent consultant on Sammy and Company (a Sammy Davis Jr.-led variety show) and the short-lived The Gladys Knight & the Pips Show.
Craig was a good friend and wonderful storyteller. I will miss him.