Writing

Nat Hiken

Born June 23, 1914 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died December 7, 1968 · aged 54

Nat Hiken was an American radio and television writer, producer, and songwriter, renowned for his contributions to early television comedy. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he began his career in radio, writing for shows like The Grouch Club and The Fred Allen Show. Transitioning to television, Hiken created and wrote for The Phil Silvers Show (1955–1959) and Car 54, Where Are You? (1961–1963), both of …

Known For

The Love God?The Love God? · 1969
The Love God?
6.01969
MovieComedy
Ornithologist Abner Peacock sells off his modest-selling birdwatching periodical to a charlatan who turns it into a girlie mag, making it a massive financial success. After Peacock and the magazine are taken to court on obscenity charges, he unwillingly becomes a reluctant hero and ends up a swinging libertine.
The Slowest Gun in the WestThe Slowest Gun in the West · 1960
The Slowest Gun in the West
4.51960
MovieWesternComedy
The town of Primrose, Arizona is beset by outlaws, so the towns people hire Fletcher Bissell III (A.K.A. The Silver Dollar Kid) as their new sheriff. Fletcher is so cowardly the townsfolk are sure that the local outlaws will be too proud to gun him down. This proves to be the case, and the outlaws hire their own cowardly gunfighter, Chicken Finsterwald, to go up against The Silver Dollar Kid.
Slapsie Maxie'sSlapsie Maxie's · 1939
Slapsie Maxie's
6.01939
MovieComedy
In this comedic short, when a waiter accidentally knocks out boxing champ Tiger Dorsey in Slapsie Maxie's restaurant, Maxie arranges a boxing match between the reluctant waiter and the champ.
Carol + 2Carol + 2 · 1966
Carol + 2
10.01966
MovieComedyMusic
Carol + 2 was the title of the second of a multi-year series of television variety specials starring Carol Burnett which aired on the CBS Television network in the United States between 1962 and 1989. The first special was produced in 1962, featuring Burnett and Julie Andrews. Carol + 2 premiered on March 22, 1966, with Carol joined by actor Zero Mostel and the legendary Lucille Ball. The program was such a critical and ratings success that CBS rebroadcast it on January 15, 1967.
Cliff Edwards and His BuckaroosCliff Edwards and His Buckaroos · 1941
Cliff Edwards and His Buckaroos
4.31941
MovieMusicWestern
In this musical short, Cliff Edwards and his cowhands run a struggling dude ranch. When a pretty girl arrives, Cliff believes she is an heiress.
The Phil Silvers ShowThe Phil Silvers Show · 1955
The Phil Silvers Show
7.11955
SeriesComedy
The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich, was a sitcom which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko of the United States Army. The series was created and largely written by Nat Hiken, and won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series. The show is sometimes titled Sergeant Bilko or simply Bilko in reruns, and is very often referred to by these names, both on-screen and by viewers. The show's success transformed Silvers from a journeyman comedian into a star, and writer-producer Hiken from a highly-regarded behind-the-scenes comedy writer into a publicly recognized creator.
Car 54, Where Are You?Car 54, Where Are You? · 1961
Car 54, Where Are You?
7.31961
SeriesComedy
The misadventures of two of New York's finest in the 53rd precinct in the Bronx. Toody, the short, stocky and dim-witted one, either saves the day or messes things up, much to the chagrin of Muldoon, the tall, lanky and smart one.

Filmography

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