The lead writer for Your Show of Shows -- starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca -- died Monday. Mel Tolken -- born Shmuel Tolchinsky -- was 94.

Tolken supervised a writers' room that variously included Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart and Neil Simon.

When the writers slowed, Tolken was known to shout, "Gentlemen, we've got to get something done! Jews all over America will be watching Saturday night!"