David Lloyd, R. I. P.

Matthew Greenberg - Worst Episode Ever – David Lloyd, writer for ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ – and the man who killed Chuckles the Clown – dies - True/Slant: "Tomorrow, when you read the obits about veteran television comedy writer David Lloyd, who died after a long illness, they’ll surely mention “Chuckles Bites the Dust” in the first paragraph.

David Lloyd’s first television writing gig was in 1963 for “The Tonight Show” — his last was for “Frasier” in 2001. In between, he had his hands on just about every legendary sitcom (and occassional drama) you can think of that didn’t come out of the Norman Lear factory — “Phyllis,” “Rhoda,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Lou Grant,” “Taxi,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and more.

But it was his work on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” — and that one Chuckles episode in particular — that will be his fitting epitaph."

A nice tribute can be found here. Thanks to Todd Mason for passing this news along.