One of the first Hollywood contacts Marshall made was comedian Joey Bishop, who worked as a guest host for "The Tonight Show" and whom Marshall and his writing partner from college, Fred Freeman, met through another showbiz contact. When Marshall went to meet Bishop, he showed him his diploma from Northwestern University. Bishop asked what it was. "'My college diploma,'" Marshall replied. "'I thought you would be impressed by my writing degree.' 'Interesting,'" Marshall says Bishop replied. "'But write some jokes on the other side of it and then I'll really be impressed."
