Comedy Legend George Schlatter Doc Nabbed by Freestyle Digital Media

Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has picked up the North American VOD rights to Sock It To Me: The Legend of George Schlatter.

The feature documentary about Schlatter, the creator of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, the groundbreaking comedy variety hour that launched on NBC in 1968, will debut on digital platforms from Dec. 8. Laugh In launched the careers of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin and gave birth to late-night television, including Saturday Night Live.

Recalling a seven-decade career as a prolific TV producer and director, Sock It To Me uses archival footage and interviews with stars like Hawn, Tom Hanks, Tomlin, Martin Short, Billy Crystal, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Lionel Richie, Lisa Ann Walter, Berry Gordy and Byron Allen to explore how Schlatter, now 96, changed TV comedy.

“People have been asking me to write an autobiography, and I’ve always said have somebody else write it. They then explained to me that it wouldn’t be an autobiography, so here we are,” Schlatter said in a statement. “It’s a full circle moment to work with Byron Allen’s company to get this documentary out into the world. You bet your sweet bippy I’m excited for audiences to see it and remind them of the power of laughter!”

Written and directed by Chris Coronado, Sock It To Me was produced by Coronado, Greg Myers and Dayna Winston. Since 2016, Coronado has served as creative director at George Schlatter Productions, overseeing the creative development and production of documentary and entertainment projects.

Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire Sock It To Me directly with the filmmakers and George Schlatter Productions.