Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker

Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (abbreviated to ZAZ) was an American comedy filmmaking trio consisting of Jim Abrahams and brothers David and Jerry Zucker who specialised in writing slapstick comedy films during the 1980s. Members of the team have often collaborated with writer Pat Proft.

History

David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker knew each other as children while growing up in Shorewood, Wisconsin and while attending Shorewood High School, which is sometimes referenced in their work. While attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the trio founded a small theater known as The Kentucky Fried Theater in 1971 which led to their sketch comedy film The Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977. This was followed by the trio's breakout hit Airplane! in 1980, which remains a revered comedic milestone. Subsequent collaborations include Top Secret!, Ruthless People, and The Naked Gun.

All of their projects relied heavily on parodies, visual gags and breaking of the fourth wall, and established a strong 1980s cult following. The notable stylistic exception is Ruthless People, a more traditional farce that was directed by the trio but unlike their other productions, not written by them. The trio's status as a three-person team of co-directors is highly unusual, although some of their later projects were directed by David Zucker working solo and with Jerry Zucker and Abrahams credited only as producers and/or writers.

The trio split up in the 1990s for fiscal and creative reasons, stating that there were "too many guys sitting in the same chair". They also said that they had been treated unfairly by the studios that produced their films, claiming that they failed to see any profits from Ruthless People. Nevertheless, the three still maintained a close friendship until Abrahams died in 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Directors	Writers	Producers	Notes
1976	Big John, Little John	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No	Episode "Abracadbra"<ref>Big John, Little John - WGA Directory</ref>
1982	Police Squad!	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Partial	Episode "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)" (pilot); also series creators

Film

Year	Title	Directors	Writers	Executive Producers	Notes
1977	The Kentucky Fried Movie	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No	Also cameos
1980	Airplane!	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Also cameos
1984	Top Secret!	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Co-written with Martin Burke; also cameos
1986	Ruthless People	Template:Yes	Template:No	Template:No
1988	The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!	Template:Partial	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Co-written with Pat Proft
1991	The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear	Template:Partial	Template:Partial	Template:Partial	co-written with Pat Proft; David Zucker cameo
1992	Brain Donors	Template:No	Template:No	Template:Yes
1994	Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult	Template:No	Template:Partial	Template:Partial	David Zucker cameo

External links

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• Finger Lickin' Funny, about the original Kentucky Fried Theater