Pamela Fryman
Born
Pamela Gail Fryman

(1959-08-19)August 19, 1959 (age 64)
Philadelphia Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)Television director and producer
Years active1988–present

Pamela Gail Fryman (born August 19, 1959) is an American sitcom director and producer. She directed all but twelve episodes of the television series How I Met Your Mother.

Early life

Fryman was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]

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.[1] In 1993, producer Peter Noah, 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. These would be the first stepping stones toward a long and successful career.[1]

Before her directing career blossomed, Fryman pursued stage directing. On the set of Frasier, rehearsal resembled a play staging, which is exactly what creator and executive producer David Lee had in mind when he hired her.[2] Fryman directed 34 episodes of the show from seasons four through eight.

She also became main director on Just Shoot Me!, directing 94 out of the 148 episodes the show aired.

Fryman directed the majority of the episodes of How I Met Your Mother.[3] 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."[4] Though Fryman's original career plan did not include directing (she figured she would "follow in her father's footsteps in merchandising"),[1] 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.[5] In 2014, she officiated the wedding of How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, who played a side role in the show.[6]

She also directed 19 out of the 30 episodes that lasted How I Met Your Father.

She achieved the milestone of directing her 500th episode of television in 2016 with the third episode of the third season of The Odd Couple.[7]

Awards

Fryman has received recognition from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences also known as the (ATAS), the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Directors Guild of America, Goldderby.com, the Online Film & Television Association also known as the (OFTA), and the Women in Film organization.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Producer Actor Role
2001 The Gene Pool Yes No No Television Movie
2001 Count Me In Yes No No Television Movie
2003 The Snobs Yes No No Television Movie
2006 You've Reached the Elliotts Yes No No Television Movie
2006 Sex, Power, Love & Politics Yes No No Television Movie
2006 Inseparable Yes No No Television Movie
2007 The Minister of Divine Yes No No Television Movie
2009 The Karenskys Yes No No Television Movie
2009 CBS Fall Preview Yes No No Television special
2010 True Love Yes No No Television Movie
2010 Livin' on a Prayer Yes No No Television Movie
2010 Freshman Yes No No Television Movie
2011 The Assistants Yes No No Television Movie
2011 And They're Off No Yes No Feature Film; Producer
2012 Table for Three Yes No No Television Movie
2013 Divorce: A Love Story Yes No No Television Movie
2014 Save the Date Yes No No Television Movie
2014 Cuz-Bros Yes No No Television Movie
2014 Cabot College Yes Yes No Television Movie; also Executive Producer
2014 How I Met Your Dad No Yes No Television Movie; also Executive Producer
2015 The Perfect Stanleys Yes No No Television Movie
2015 The History of Us Yes No No Television Movie
2016 My Time Your Time Yes Yes No Television Movie; also Executive Producer
2016 Good Fortune Yes No No Television Movie
2017 Real Life Yes Yes No Television Movie; also Executive Producer
2018 Most Likely To Yes No No Television Movie
2018 History of Them Yes Yes No Television Movie; also Executive Producer
TBR Distefano Yes Yes No Television Movie; also Executive Producer
TBR Making Friends Yes Yes No Television Movie; also Executive Producer

Television

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Producer Actor Role
1990–1993 Santa Barbara Yes No Yes Whispy Figure 21 episodes (director); 177 episodes (also associate director)
Episode: "#1.916" (actor)
1994 Cafe Americain Yes No No Episode: "Oh, Brother"
1994 Muddling Through Yes No No 3 episodes
1994–1997 Friends Yes No No 2 episodes
1995 The Boys Are Back Yes No No Episode: "Bad Hair Day"
1995 Bringing Up Jack Yes No No Episode: "Close Personal Friends"
1995 The Single Guy Yes No No unknown episode
1995 Dweebs Yes No No 9 episodes
1995–1996 Bless This House Yes No No 3 episodes
1996 Ned and Stacey Yes No No Episode: "Friends and Lovers"
1996 Good Company Yes No No 2 episodes
1996 Caroline in the City Yes No No Episode: "Caroline and the Cereal"
1996 Hope & Gloria Yes No No 2 episodes
1996 Pearl Yes No No unknown episode
1996 Townies Yes No No 7 episodes
1996–1997 The Naked Truth Yes No No 3 episodes
1996–1997 Cybill Yes No No 4 episodes
1997 Fired Up Yes No No 2 episodes
1997 Suddenly Susan Yes No No 5 episodes
1997-1998 George and Leo Yes No No 4 episodes
1997–2001 Frasier Yes No No 34 episodes
1998 The Simple Life Yes No No Episode: "Pilot"
1998 Maggie Winters Yes No No Episode: "Pilot
1998 Encore! Encore! Yes No No Episode: "I Am Joe's Ego"
1998 The King of Queens Yes No No 3 episodes
1998–2003 Just Shoot Me! Yes Yes No 95 episodes (director); 46 episodes (also Executive Producer)
1999 Norm Yes No No Episode: "Drive, Norm Said" also known as "The Norm Show"
1999 Work with Me Yes No No Episode: "Pilot"
1999 Love & Money Yes No No Episode: "Pilot"
2000 Welcome to New York Yes No No unknown episode
2001 Three Sisters Yes No No 3 episodes
2001 Inside Schwartz Yes No No 2 episodes
2002 In-Laws Yes No No 2 episodes
2003 My Big Fat Greek Life Yes No No Episode: "The House Gift"
2003–2004 Happy Family Yes Yes No 22 episodes (director); 21 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2004–2005 Two and a Half Men Yes No No 20 episodes
2005–2014 How I Met Your Mother Yes Yes No 208 episodes (Executive Producer); 196 episodes (also director);
2006 Courting Alex Yes No No Episode: "A Tale of Two Kisses"
2009 Accidentally on Purpose Yes No No 2 episodes
2011 Mad Love Yes No No Episode: "Fireworks"
2011 How to Be a Gentleman Yes No No 2 episodes
2012 Friend Me Yes No No unknown episode
2013 Mom Yes No No Episode: "Pilot"
2014–2015 The McCarthys Yes Yes No 11 episodes (director); 11 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2015 Truth Be Told Yes Yes No 7 episodes (director); 7 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2016–2017 The Odd Couple Yes No No 3 episodes
2016–2018 Man with a Plan Yes No No 12 episodes
2017–2018 9JKL Yes Yes No 8 episodes (director); 8 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2017–2020 One Day at a Time Yes Yes No 11 episodes (director); Episode: "This Is It" (Executive Producer)
2018 Murphy Brown Yes Yes No Episode: "Pilot" (director); Episode: "Pilot" (also Executive Producer)
2019 Abby's Yes Yes No 5 episodes (director); also Executive Producer
2019–2020 Carol's Second Act Yes No No 8 episodes (director)
2019 Merry Happy Whatever Yes Yes No 4 episodes (director); also Executive Producer
2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" Yes No No Television special (director)
2021 Call Your Mother Yes Yes No 10 episodes (director); also Executive Producer
2021 Pretty Smart Yes Yes No 3 episodes (director); also executive producer
2022-2023 How I Met Your Father Yes Yes No 19 episodes (director); also executive producer
2023-2024 Night Court Yes Yes No 5 episodes (director); also executive producer

References

  1. ^ a b c d "DGA Quarterly Spring 2010 - Director Profile: Pamela Fryman". Archived from the original on February 28, 2011.
  2. ^ "DGA Magazine January 1999 - Fraiser".[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Neil Patrick Harris Directs Episode of 'How I Met Your Mother' Airing 1/18". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010. Though a series regular, this will mark Harris's directing debut, and a rarity for the show as Pamela Fryman has directed 92 of 'How I Met Your Mother's' 97 episodes.
  4. ^ Maria Elena Fernandez (October 19, 2008). "The set mom on 'How I Met Your Mother'". Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Dreams from the top". variety.com. Retrieved May 6, 2012. continuing to direct "How I Met Your Mother" is her fantasy realized."
  6. ^ "Neil Patrick Harris Marries David Burtka". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  7. ^ "Pam Fryman Directing 500th TV Episode". Deadline. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Pamela Fryman". IMDb. Retrieved June 2, 2018.

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