Brian Michael Levant (born August 6, 1952) is an American television and film director, writer and producer who took charge of Mork & Mindy for it's 4th Season.
Biography[]
Levant was born in Highland Park, Illinois. An alumnus of the University of Arizona. He is married to Allison Logan and together they have 3 children.
He is still an active director and producer, but is probably equally well known now for his massive memorabilia collection [1]
Career[]
Brian Levant’s name appears on over 400 episodes of television and pilots as a writer, show runner and director. He started his long television career in 1976 as a writer for the TV series Happy Days. writing 14 episodes in total from 1976 - 1984, and adding duties as supervising producer, story editor and story and program consultant on the show.
Other television writing credits include The Jeffersons, Still the Beaver and Married with Children, The New Leave It to Beaver
His television directing credits include Married with Children, The New Leave it to Beaver and Charles in Charge.
He also acted as producer on the Bad News Bears from 1979 - 1980
He is though perhaps best known for directing the comedy films Beethoven, The Flintstones, Jingle All the Way, Are We There Yet? and The Spy Next Door starring Jackie Chan.
Filmography[]
| Title | Year | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem Child 2 | 1991 | Yes | Directorial debut | ||
| Beethoven | 1992 | Yes | |||
| The Flintstones | 1994 | Yes | |||
| Jingle All the Way | 1996 | Yes | |||
| Leave It to Beaver | 1997 | Yes | |||
| The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | 2000 | Yes | |||
| Snow Dogs | 2002 | Yes | |||
| Are We There Yet? | 2005 | Yes | |||
| Beethoven's Big Break | 2008 | Story | Direct-to-video | ||
| The Spy Next Door | 2010 | Yes | |||
| A Christmas Story 2 | 2012 | Yes | Yes | Direct-to-video | |
| Sophia Grace & Rosie's Royal Adventure | 2014 | Yes | Yes | Direct-to-video | |
| Max 2: White House Hero | 2017 | Yes | Limited released | ||
| Police Academy | TBA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Announced |
Mork & Mindy[]
Creative Consultant[]
Levant served first as creative consultant for 16 episodes of Season 3 on Mork & Mindy
- Reflections and Regrets
- Mindy and Mork
- I Heard It Through the Morkvine
- Old Muggable Mork
- Mork and the Family Reunion
- Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby
- Mork the Swinging Single
- Mindy, Mindy, Mindy
- Mork Meets Robin Williams
- There's a New Mork in Town
- Twelve Angry Appliances
- Mindy Gets Her Job
- Mork and the Bum Rap
- Alas, Poor Mork, We Knew Him Well
- Mork's New Look
- Gunfight at the Mor-Kay Corral
Series Producer[]
Brian Levant was assigned by Garry Marshall to take over as the Producer of the Show for the entirety of it's 4th Season, overseeing yet another period of change, including the departure of most of the supporting cast of the previous two seasons, and the reestablishment of Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr, as well as the introduction of Jonathan Winters. With the change of head some of the writing staff also departed with others coming over from Laverne & Shirley & Happy Days within the Marshall set up, feeling there was too much emphasis on gag making rather than story telling, however other writers felt the atmosphere under Levant was more buoyant and enjoyed their time, as did in house director Bob Claver.
Notable Episodes as Writer[]
Levant only actually wrote two episodes of the show, but both are regarded as pivotal episodes, in progression of plot and of the relationship between the two protagonists, bookending the equally pivotal Reflections & Regrets
Season 3's - Mindy and Mork which deals with the effects of Mindy's career starting to progress in earnest (a focus through the Season), taking her more and more away from Mork, his reaction to it, and the hurdles they have to face in being able to stick together. Including the memorable role reversal, and Mindy's first lone 'audience' with Orson.
and
Season 4's premiere - Limited Engagement, one of the most fondly remembered episodes of the show, involving Mork's multiple attempts to both propose to Mindy, and convince her (against her family's advice) to listen to her heart and not her head.