Friends, Taxi stars toast James Burrows, hit-making sitcom director

You don't have to thank James Burrows, given that Jennifer Aniston, Ted Danson and Jim Parsons are lavishing him with praise and gratitude.

But if you're a TV viewer who ever got a giggle or chortle or belly laugh out of Friends,Cheersor The Big Bang Theory,you may also want to tip your hat to the director, the acknowledged master of the three-camera sitcom.

Burrows steps into the spotlight to receive his due in NBC's Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows,airing Sunday.

The special features 40-plus actors from the above shows and Taxi,Frasier, Will & Grace,and Mike & Molly all beneficiaries of the Burrows touch.

"I call Steven Spielberg the Jimmy Burrows of feature film," said Will & Gracestar Sean Hayes, an executive producer for the special.

He hit the 1,000-episode milestone on the upcoming NBC series, Crowded.The soft-spoken Burrows, 75, declines to embrace the "genius" label some have tagged him with.

But the 10-time Emmy winneracknowledges he's a good fit with the multi-camera format taped in front of a studio audience. "I'm a theatre rat. I was born in the business," said the son of writer-director Abe Burrows, whose Broadway credits included Guys and DollsandHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

John Irwin, co-producer of the special, said it was suprisinglyeasy to bring together almost all of the well-known cast members from seven different shows.

"I don't know if there is any force of nature that these people would have come together for the way they did," Irwin said."It's a testament to how much people love this guy."