Jay Sommers

Who was Jay Sommers?

Jay Sommers was a producer, director and comedy writer whose career spanned four decades. He wrote more than 90 television comedy episodes, produced 63, and had a major responsibility for creating the Green Acres television show. He also did the writing for and executive produced Petticoat Junction during its second and third seasons, and also worked for The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

In 1940, he got a break by being brought in to write for a Milton Berle radio show. He wrote for Eddie Cantor and Red Skelton on the radio, and for the radio comedy series Lum and Abner.

In 1950, he was the producer, writer and director for the Granby’s Green Acres radio show. Although it only ran for two months, it was highly similar to the highly successful Green Acres television show that he created 15 years later, where he was the main producer and writer.

His first television work was in 1955, as a writer for The Great Gildersleeve. He wrote three episodes of Hello, Larry toward the end of his life. He is credited for the story and screenplay for the movie Gordy, released 10 years after his death.