Documentary on Laugh-In Creator George Schlatter Gets North American Digital Deal
A documentary about the producer behind Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In has found a buyer for North American viewers. Freestyle Digital Media has acquired the video-on-demand rights to Sock It To Me: The Legend of George Schlatter, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film will debut on digital platforms from Dec. 8.
Video on demand, or VOD, means viewers rent or buy a film through online services and cable menus instead of seeing it in cinemas. North American rights cover the United States and Canada. Freestyle is the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group. The Hollywood Reporter says Freestyle negotiated the deal directly with the filmmakers and George Schlatter Productions.
The subject is a long-running figure in American television. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In launched on NBC in 1968 and became one of the best-known comedy shows of its era, with its quick-fire sketches and catchphrases. George Schlatter, who is 96, created it. The film chronicles his six-decade career as a producer, director and writer, according to Freestyle's film listing. It runs 93 minutes.
The documentary mixes archival footage with interviews. Those interviewed include Goldie Hawn, Tom Hanks, Lily Tomlin, Martin Short, Billy Crystal, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Lionel Richie, Lisa Ann Walter, Berry Gordy and Byron Allen. Chris Coronado wrote and directed the film. He also produced it with Greg Myers and Dayna Winston. Coronado has served as creative director at George Schlatter Productions since 2016, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film had its premiere on April 13 at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, with a screening at the TCL Chinese Theatre that began at 6:25 p.m., according to KTLA.
What stands out here is the route. A film that premiered at a regional festival in the spring reaches home screens through a digital distributor months later, with a set date in December. For a documentary, that is a common path. Festival screenings build early attention, and a streaming or rental release then reaches viewers who never got to a festival.
For viewers in North America, the practical question is where to watch. The release is set for digital platforms on Dec. 8. Viewers who want to follow the title can check Freestyle's listing for updates.
