Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (abbreviated to ZAZ) was an American comedy filmmaking trio consisting of Jim Abrahams and brothers David and Jerry Zucker who specialized 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 one another 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.
Filmography
Film Year Title Directors Writers Executive Producers Notes 1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie Also cameos 1980 Airplane! 1984 Top Secret! Co-written with Martyn Burke; also cameos 1986 Ruthless People 1988 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Co-written with Pat Proft 1991 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear co-written with Pat Proft; David Zucker cameo 1992 Brain Donors 1994 Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult David Zucker cameo
Television Year Title Directors Writers Executive Producers Notes 1976 Big John, Little John Episode "Abracadbra"Big John, Little John - WGA Directory 1982 Police Squad! Episode "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)" (pilot); also series creators
Solo work
Jim Abrahams Year TitleDirectorWriterExecutive Producer Notes 1988 Big Business 1990 Cry-Baby Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael 1991 Hot Shots! 1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux 1994 An Introduction to the Ketogenic Diet Documentary short 1997 ...First Do No Harm TV movie 1998 Mafia! 2006 Scary Movie 4 2018 Voice of the Epilepsies Documentary film
David Zucker Year TitleDirectorWriterProducer Notes1987Our Planet TonightTV movie1993For Goodness SakeShort film1995A Walk in the Clouds1996High School HighFor Goodness Sake IIShort film1998BASEketballAlso executive music producer2000Absolutely True2002Phone Booth2003My Boss's DaughterAlso wrote early draft screenplayScary Movie 32006Scary Movie 42008An American CarolThe Onion MovieSuperhero Movie2013Scary Movie 5Also directed additional scenes2019Late Night BerlinEpisode "Folge 42"
Jerry Zucker Year Title Director Writer ProducerNotes1987Our Planet TonightTV movie 1990 Ghost 1993My Life 1995A Walk in the Clouds First Knight 1997My Best Friend's Wedding 2001 Rat Race 2002 Unconditional Love 2010 Fair Game 2011 Friends with Benefits 2012 Mental 2013Dear Dumb Diary2019Late Night BerlinEpisode "Folge 42"
References
External links
Finger Lickin' Funny, about the original Kentucky Fried Theater