Comedy Legacy: Schlatter Doc Hits Digital Screens

A new documentary about television pioneer George Schlatter will reach North American audiences on December 8.

Freestyle Digital Media, the distribution arm of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, secured the video-on-demand rights to the film, titled Sock It To Me: The Legend of George Schlatter. The company negotiated the deal directly with the filmmakers and Schlatter Productions.

The profile explores the work of the 96-year-old producer, who created Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In for NBC in 1968. That variety show launched the careers of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin and helped shape the format of late-night television, including Saturday Night Live. Schlatter also created and produced the reality series Real People starting in 1979. Byron Allen served as a regular co-host on that program during his first television job at age 18.

Director Chris Coronado, who has served as creative director at George Schlatter Productions since 2016, wrote and helmed the project. He produced the film alongside Greg Myers and Dayna Winston. The movie relies on archival footage and interviews with prominent figures in the industry. Interviewees include Tom Hanks, Martin Short, Billy Crystal, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Lionel Richie, Lisa Ann Walter, Berry Gordy, and Byron Allen.

Schlatter explained that he had long declined requests to write his own autobiography, preferring to let others tell his story. He noted that when collaborators clarified the format would be a documentary rather than a written memoir, he agreed to proceed. "They then explained to me that it wouldn't be an autobiography, so here we are," he said.

He described the partnership with Allen's company as a full circle moment, citing the 1970s connection between their families and careers. "You bet your sweet bippy I'm excited for audiences to see it and remind them of the power of laughter!" Schlatter said.