Director Ladies: Mary Lou Belli | From Steve Martin to Ms. Pat

80s TV Ladies

“The thing I loved about the theater was ‘the puzzle’. And in television, it was a new puzzle every week. And I LOVED that.” – Mary Lou Belli, on the joy of directing.
In a career spanning five decades, Emmy Award-winning director Mary Lou has directed episodes of Charles In Charge, Major Dad, The Hughleys, Girlfriends, Monk, The Game, Heart of Dixie, Devious Maids, Station 19, Black Lightening, NCIS: New Orleans, Sweet Magnolias and The Ms. Pat Show. She is the co-author of four books: Director’s Tell the Story, The Sitcom Career Book, Acting For Young Actors and The NEW Sitcom Career Book.
She has also opened doors for the next generation of women directors through diversity programs at ABC and CBS, and teaching and mentoring young directors through DGA, AFI, Women in Film, Film Fatale, Women in Media and Alliance of Women Directors. Ms. Belli reflects on her transition into directing, and how the landscape of opportunities has changed for women in Hollywood over the past four decades.
THE CONVERSATION

• STARTING SMALL: After graduating college at Penn State, Mary Lou still “looked 14 years old” -- so she went to New York where she immediately got roles playing children on stage and in films.
• Domestic Life – learning about “perfection, refinement and improvement” with Steve Martin and Martin Mull.
• Teaching “Anne Shirley” (Megan Follows, Anne of Green Gables) how to drive on the back lot at Universal Studios!
• How Jack Riley – Mr. Carlin from The Bob Newhart Show – lit the fire that led to Mary Lou becoming a director.
• Getting her start as a director at Betty Garrett’s Theater West in Los Angeles.
• Being mentored by Debbie Allen, Nancy Malone, Lee Shallat-Chemel, Linda Day, Joan Darling.
• MARY LOU IN CHARGE: Directing Ellen Travolta and Scott Baio on Charles in Charge.
• How identifying women as minorities opened up the playing field – and how affirmative action overwhelmingly helps open up career pathways.
• How being “the only woman in the room” leads to a lack of opportunity – but with MORE women in the room, generosity of opportunity follows.
• Running into CCH Pounder at Trader Joe’s!

So join Susan and Sharon – and Mary Lou – as they talk road trips, Estelle Getty, Sydney Pollack, Emmy nominations, “Don’t Touch My Hair”, the joy of Scott Bakula – and the wisdom of passing out Xerox copies of your good reviews!
AUDIOGRAPHY
Find out more at her website, MaryLouBelli.com.
Buy Mary Lou Belli’s books at Bookshop.org.
Watch The Ms. Pat Show on BET. On Amazon Video.
Listen to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast Wiser Than Me.
SPECIAL PATREON-ONLY EPISODE! – Listen to a live watch-thru of Lifetime’s Ladies of the 80’s: A Diva’s Christmas with Susan, Sharon, Melissa and 90’s TV Baby Serita Fontanesi! Don't miss it on Patreon (Try it for FREE for 7 days!).
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