Ken records an exclusive directors commentary for an episode of TV sitcom Frasier. Filled with inside stories and useful industry information, Ken takes you behind the scenes, walking you through the process of directing a hit comedy sitcom. Simply listen to the episode, or watch the episode live along with the podcast, to take full advantage of his witty expertise. “Roz and the Schnoz”, season 5, episode 21.
Awesome! So glad to hear another one of these. I loved the Cheers one as well. Call me a bit nerdy but I usually love commentaries, so I am glad that you are doing these for shows whose DVDs I wish had more special features.
ReplyDeleteIn the light of the New York Times interview with the Arrested Development team, it might be interesting for you to revisit this item a few years back. http://kenlevine.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/writing-room-etiquette.html
ReplyDeleteYou'll see I was the first commenter and was roundly abused by other commenters for what I saw as calling out workplace bullying. I wonder if your view of the anecdote has evolved.
I worked downtown when Frazier shot it's on location show in Seattle (it's 100th episode). I watched one scene get shot and met David Hyde-Pierce. I heard that filming the episode was a story in it's self.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, you can cover that sometime in a post.
You're right, Sean. Someone should have spoken up at the time and said in forty years that would be considered inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteKen: IMO Sean quite reasonably asked if you thought differently *now*, not 40 years ago.
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Ken, you've found a way to get me to listen to the podcast.
ReplyDeleteYes, but I resent the question. Because I'm expected to answer that way.
ReplyDeleteI stand with Ken! #StandWithKen
ReplyDeleteOff the subject, but for laughs, there's a great new "Bad Lip Reading" of the recent Royal Wedding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKV6h_5XFbk
I honestly think you misinterpreted what I was saying. I did not 'expect' any particular answer - or I wouldn't have asked the question. As a regular reader of your blog, I was genuinely interested in what your thoughts might be on the issue and whether they've changed.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for taking me up on this idea. I'm really enjoying these commentary tracks. Synched it up with the DVD, and watched/listened that way. Entertaining, and I learned a few things!
ReplyDeleteAs you might have already been told, your commentary track synchs up quite nicely with the Pink Floyd Dark Side album.
ReplyDeleteKen..Great commentary. I agree that watching now after Mahoney's death, there is a bittersweetness to it but through your writing/directing, Martin Crane is a part of pop culture for years to come. You brought out each actor's best and the audience thanks you.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed watching Frasier on Netflix. From first show on, when I watched during the first run of the show, I liked Roz, right away. Watching the the show again, I found the character, temperamental and cranky. It's just kind of funny how takes can change after years. I still marvel at the concept of making you root for people you would normally dislike referring to the Crane brothers.
ReplyDeleteThe view out Frasier's window is of Downtown Seattle from Queen Anne Hill. I've been meaning to freeze frame an episode of the show and line up the buildings to find the exact spot this is taken from, but I suspect this has already been done and posted somewhere.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say thanks for doing this Ken. I enjoyed this and the Cheers one quite a bit. I too, usually listen to commentary tracks.
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