First job as a staff writer on "The Odd Couple"; eventually became head writer

Met future writing partner Marc Mandel at Hollywood's Comedy Store in the early 1970s

Gave the nickname "Babaloo" to Mandel as an allusion to a character in Philip Roth's novel "Portnoy's Complaint"

Worked as a supervising producer on "Happy Days"

Co-created and produced "Laverne and Shirley"

Began collaborating with Mandel on writing for "Laverne and Shirley"

First TV credit as an executive producer on "Busting Loose", a short-lived sitcom starring Adam Arkin; also wrote episodes

First TV credit as a director on "Angie", a short-lived sitcom created by Garry Marshall

First TV credit as a creator (with Garry Marshall) on "Makin' It", a short-lived sitcom starring David Naughton; also co-executive produced

Approached by producer Brian Grazer with the story idea for "Night Shift"

First feature credit for the screenplay of Ron Howard's "Night Shift"; first collaboration with Grazer and Howard

Collaborated with Dan Aykroyd on screenplay for John Landis' "Spies Like Us" starring Aykroyd and Chevy Chase

First collaboration with Billy Crystal on the screenplay of "City Slickers"

First film with executive producer credit, Billy Crystal's "Mr. Saturday Night"

Co-wrote (with Garry Marshall) first stage play entitled "Wrong Turn at Lungfish" which opened off-Broadway after successful runs in Los Angeles and in Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre; NYC production starred George C. Scott, Jami Gertz, and Tony Danza

Co-wrote sequel "City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold"

Contributed to the script for the Billy Crystal vehicle "Forget Paris"

Worked on screenplay for the Crytal-Robin Williams comedy "Father's Day"

With partner Babaloo Mandel, wrote "EDtv", directed by Ron Howard