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Meet the woman behind ‘That Guy’
RMIT University lecturer and research student Marilyn Tofler is over the moon with
the feedback for “Whatever Happened to That Guy”, the Foxtel show she co-
created and co-wrote with Peter Moon.
The show is running on Fridays at 9.30pm on Foxtel’s Comedy Channel to positive
show. This could change Aussie TV for ever.” The Sunday Age gave it four stars at
its Pick of the Week.
Ms Tofler lectures in Screenwriting and is undertaking a PhD on “Satire
Screenwriting for the Female Voice”, under the supervision of Dr Lisa Dethridge.
She is the first screenwriter at RMIT to be funded by a prestigious Australian
Postgraduate Award.
“It is no coincidence that the show is an Australian version of ‘Curb Your
Enthusiasm’ by Larry David, the former writer and executive producer of ‘Seinfeld’,”
Ms Tofler said.
“In 1997, during a professional internship, I worked as a story analyst for the NBC
Story and Development Department, reading and analysing, among others,
Seinfeld scripts. The ‘George’ character in Seinfeld was based upon none other
than Larry David, who I met on the set of Seinfeld.
“I was inspired to create a similar show for Australian audiences. Ten years later I
met Peter Moon and the next day Foxtel executive, Peter Rose, mentioned that he
would love an Australian version of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.
“I immediately thought how funny it would be to have Peter Moon playing a faded
star, attempting to get his career back on track but trailing far behind
contemporaries such as Magda Szubanski and Eric Bana – himself basically.
“Foxtel liked the idea and commissioned the first series of eight episodes.”
Dr Dethridge congratulated Ms Tofler on her achievement. “Marilyn studied
screenwriting at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is pleased that,
since then, RMIT has developed a tremendous graduate screenwriting program so
that our best and brightest writers do not necessarily need to train abroad.”
Ms Tofler has worked as a script assessor for Village Roadshow, ABC Television
(Comedy) and Film Victoria and for Arts Victoria’s Industry Development Program.
For interviews or comment: Marilyn Tofler, 0403 884 327.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, David Glanz, (03)
9925 2807 or 0438 547 723.
7 July, 2009
NEWS 
