In addition to The Partners, Earl Barret has worked as a writer, producer and/or director on numerous television shows including Sea Hunt, My Three Sons, The Andy Griffith Show, My Favorite Martian, Get Smart, I Spy, Batman, Bewitched, The Wild Wild West, My Mother the Car, Julia, The Governor and J.J., Sanford and Son, The Sandy Duncan Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Holmes and Yoyo, Welcome Back Kotter and Too Close For Comfort.
Q. How did you become involved with The Partners?
A. Through my writing partner, Arne Sultan. He had been the executive producer on Get Smart and Don Adams brought him a script he had written for a television show. Arne and I reworked and rewrote that script and it became the pilot episode of The Partners.
Q. Some people have said that Don Adams could be a difficult man to work with while others have had nothing but praise. What was your experience?
A. All of my experiences with Don were very positive. But then I never played golf with him.
Q. Before it was used for one of the leading characters in The Partners, the name George Robinson appeared in a throwaway line in the Get Smart episode “Aboard the Orient Express” which you co-wrote. Is there any significance to that name that you could share with us?
A. No significance. I just like the name. The Edward is silent.
Q. What about Lennie Crooke? The “Crooke” part seems obvious but was Lennie named after anyone in particular? [Get Smart honcho] Leonard Stern, perhaps?
A. Bite your tongue. You’re right about the “Crooke” part.
Q. In the episode “The 217 in 402”, Lennie meets a police woman named Mulligan and they seem to hit it off. Were there any plans to bring her back as a regular or recurring love interest?
A. Only off screen.
Q. You have stated that, with The Partners having tested highest in the history of NBC, Fred Silverman of CBS rescheduled All in the Family against it because he was afraid that it would be a 40 share show. How did you hear of the move and what was the reaction in the Partners camp when the news came through?
A. The people on our level had no reaction at all. I have no idea what they might have been thinking at NBC higher up the food chain.
Q. NBC seems to have had a lot of faith in The Partners up until that point. Was there ever any discussion about trying to save the show – either by changing timeslots yourselves, or even retooling to include more social commentary in line with the times and with Don’s original concept?
A. NBC, Universal, and Don were always in agreement. The Partners was funny: leave it alone.
The Partners 