Pamela Gail Fryman (born 1959) is an American
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''D ...
and
producer. She directed all but twelve episodes of the television series ''
How I Met Your Mother
''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and his ...
''.
Early life
Fryman was born and grew up in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
.
Career
Fryman got her first job on ''The John Davidson Show'' as an assistant to the talent coordinator, and went on to be a booth production assistant and secretary on ''
Santa Barbara'', eventually moving up to assistant director (AD), and director.
In 1993, producer
Peter Noah
Peter Noah is an American television writer and producer. He served as an executive producer and regular writer for the NBC drama ''The West Wing''. Noah first became involved with the series as a consulting producer and regular writer for the f ...
, with whom she had worked on the game show ''
Dream House'', gave Fryman a chance to direct an episode of the short-lived sitcom ''
Café Americain
''Café Americain'' is an American television sitcom starring Valerie Bertinelli that aired on NBC from September 18, 1993, to February 8, 1994, with two leftover episodes shown on May 28, 1994. It was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, ...
''. These would be the first stepping stones toward a long and successful career.
Before her directing career blossomed, Fryman pursued stage directing. On the set of ''
Frasier
''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons. It premiered on September 16, 1993, and ended on May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Case ...
'', rehearsal resembled a play staging, which is exactly what creator and executive producer
David Lee had in mind when he hired her.
Fryman directed 34 episodes of the show from seasons four through eight.
Fryman directed the majority of the episodes of ''
How I Met Your Mother
''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and his ...
''. Show creator
Craig Thomas praised her communication skills, saying, "She makes everyone feel they've been heard and respected and she can connect with anyone."
[
]
Though Fryman's original career plan did not include directing (she figured she would "follow in her father's footsteps in merchandising"),
she has grown to realize that directing is her forte and passion. In
''Variety'' magazine, Fryman said that continuing to direct ''How I Met Your Mother'' is her fantasy realized. In 2014, she officiated the wedding of ''How I Met Your Mother'' star
Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host. Primarily known for his comedic television roles and dramatic and musical stage roles, he has received multiple accolades throughout ...
and
David Burtka
David Michael Burtka (born May 29, 1975) is an American actor and professional chef. He is known for his acting roles in theatre and television shows such as '' How I Met Your Mother'' and ''The Play About the Baby''. After his role on ''How I Met ...
, who played a side role in the show.
Awards
Fryman has received recognition from the
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), also colloquially known as the Television Academy, is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the television industry in the United States. It is a 501(c)(6) non-prof ...
also known as the (ATAS), the
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is an American professional service organization founded in 1955 for "the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, edu ...
, the
Directors Guild of America
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is an entertainment guild that represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry and abroad. Founded as the Screen Directors Guild in 1936, the group merge ...
, Goldderby.com, the Online Film & Television Association also known as the (OFTA), and the
Women in Film organization.
* 1990 Won -
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team is an award presented annually by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).
It was first awarded at the 1st ...
(''
Santa Barbara'')
* 1991 Won -
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team is an award presented annually by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).
It was first awarded at the 1st ...
(''Santa Barbara'')
* 1998 Nominated -
Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("
Halloween (Part 1)") (''
Frasier
''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons. It premiered on September 16, 1993, and ended on May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Case ...
'')
* 1999 Nominated -
Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("
Two Girls for Every Boy") (''
Just Shoot Me!
''Just Shoot Me!'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from March 4, 1997, to November 26, 2003, with a total of 145 half-hour episodes spanning seven seasons. The show was created by Steven Levitan, the show's executive ...
'')
* 2000 Nominated -
Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("
The Flight Before Christmas") (''Frasier'')
* 2001 Nominated -
Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("
And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon (Part 1 & 2)") (''Frasier'')
* 2009 Nominated -
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series is an annual award given to the best television comedy series of the year. From 1960 to 1964, this category was combined with the Comedy Specials (one time programs) category so that both type ...
(''How I Met Your Mother'')
* 2011 Nominated - Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Direction in a Comedy Series (''How I Met Your Mother'')
* 2011 Nominated -
("
Subway Wars
"Subway Wars" is the fourth episode of the How I Met Your Mother (season 6), sixth season of the CBS sitcom ''How I Met Your Mother'', and the 116th episode overall. "Subway Wars" was nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series at the ...
") (''How I Met Your Mother'')
* 2011 Won -
Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award, Dorothy Arzner Directors Award
* 2020 Nominated -
(''
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"'') (shared with Andy Fisher)
Filmography
Film
Television
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fryman, Pamela
Living people
American television directors
Television producers from Pennsylvania
American women television producers
Daytime Emmy Award winners
American women television directors
Businesspeople from Philadelphia
21st-century American women
1959 births