"Seeking Comedy" has a question following my discussion of Maya Rudolph:
Are there people out there that you could shine a light on that we should check out? Instead of giving more focus to people who are overrated, let's hear about who you love!
Way too many to list. But a few standouts – John Mulaney, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, David Hyde-Pierce, playwright/humorist Paul Rudnick, Robert & Michelle King, Woody Harrelson (other than playing Archie Bunker), Ben Platt, sportscaster Jason Benetti, Rachel Maddow, Ted Danson, Mike Schur, Alex Trebek, sportscaster Sean Grande, Lin-Manual Miranda, Andrew Rannells, Jake Tapper, Tom Hanks, sportscaster Michelle Tofoya, Aaron Sorkin, Elaine May, and singer Nicole Atkins.
And now I expect a flurry of comments from readers who absolutely hate every one of them.
From chris dellecese:
Noticed that Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are producing and starring in something on Apple TV, what is your experience when stars also try to produce?
How much work do they actually do?
How involved are they?
And is it a good thing?
Sometimes it’s a partner you don’t need, it’s a Faustian contract you have to sign in order to get the star. And you just have to determine whether their creative input is worth the trouble.
In most cases I would say it is.
Stars like Alan Alda and Kelsey Grammer can really enhance a project.
But here’s the thing: Stars don’t have to have actual “producer” credit to insert themselves into the creative process. They can balk at everything and make your life miserable, with or without a producing credit.
Some stars take producing very seriously and others see it as a vanity credit and more money for doing nothing. And some stars take the reins completely, rewrite every script, run roughshod over the director and the end result is usually abject failure. And when that happens, guess who the star blames? Hint: Not himself.
Graeme wonders:
MASH had a laugh track but not every joke featured the same level of laughs, i.e. some jokes got louder or longer laughs than others. Who decides how big of a laugh each joke should get?
The showrunner. In the case of MASH, we wanted to eliminate the laugh track entirely but CBS insisted on it. So you’ll notice the laughs are very muted, even the big laughs.
There are showrunners for some multi-camera shows who go full-throttle on that laugh track, trying to mask jokes that suck, and the end result is viewers flee in droves. As well they should.
And finally, from Brian:
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason has a pretty distinct writing style. Sometimes, at some point in her scripts, a character will start ranting about something.
Are there any writers (save ones you've worked with) that you can tell who has written it without having seen the credits?
This is my week for answering questions by listing people.
A number of writers have very distinctive styles. Off the top of my head (knowing I’m accidentally leaving off a bunch): Aaron Sorkin, David Milch, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Richard Rosenstock, David E. Kelley, Mike Judge, Mel Brooks, Steven King, William Goldman, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, Richard Curtis, Paddy Chayefsky, Preston Sturges, Paul Thomas Anderson, Nicole Holofcener, Billy Wilder, Larry Gelbart, and Neil Simon to name but a few.
What’s your Friday Question?
36 comments :
Who's this "Tom Hanks" you mentioned?
FQ followup: In your list of writers, I noticed you didn't mention any sitcom writers.
Is this because sitcom writing is so group oriented, that even with someone primarily writing a lot of episodes, there is still the writers' room aspect to each show, and often the actors have a little say as well in what goes in?
I would add Iliza Schlesinger to the list of those to check out. She's intelligent, original and laugh-out-loud funny!
Yes to John Mulaney! He did a monologue on SNL that involved robot tests, which reminds of this site. Also Lobster Diner.
I hate Tom Hanks.
I was waiting for this post to say "I hate Tom Hanks".
I hate Tom Hanks because he didn't deserve both his Oscars. Anthony Hopkins / Laurence Fishburne and Morgan Freeman deserved it for the 2 years he won.
'Forrest Gump' is so over rated. It won beating 'Shawshank Redemption' !!??
He was awarded AFI Life Achievement Award in 2002 before : Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington?
Denzel was given only this year.
Here is the list : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI_Life_Achievement_Award
So Tom Hanks got it 17 years before Denzel !!!
Why?
I get it that, in your country where every celebrity is flawed, he stands out. They keep using his name with the word "credibility" like in some Simpsons episode.
But character equals giving so many awards for mediocre performances?
And some of the greatest actors Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall never got AFI award till date.
I believe he is so highly regarded for his movie roles.
1. The AIDS patient - which Hollywood readily gives awards for.
2. The American history movie - where he is present at every major event. A movie that a certain generation adores.
3. The movie about a war that America won and he is martyred in that.
4. A movie about survival - he survives - triumph of humanity.
All these characters has made him look larger than life for the American moviegoers.
It's because he won so many awards which didn't deserve or got it before other greats and so much adulation is bestowed upon him, which makes me hate him.
Sorry Ken for this post, I know he was the star of your movie - but I never liked him.
Producing credits for those slipping into oblivion. Desperate for some name, importance. Something to throw their weight around.
Reese "Do you know who I am?" Witherspoon gets paid millions of dollars by Apple. Life sucks.
* Stephen King.
Aaron Sorkin mentioned twice?
Why shine a light on him? He was nasty to you.
@The Bumble Bee Pendant
I think he meant Otm Shank, India's answer to Brian Dennehy.
Wheeeee! Jennifer Aniston is producing a movie. I am so excited.
Next is the "Friends" movie. All of them are out of work and limelight. Apple throws a few millions and they will come running back.
In spite of all the denials, show them the check and Marta Kauffman and David Crane will haul their ass to make the movie.
If you want to get really depressed search "Preston Sturges" on the Netflix streaming service.... Sigh.
FRIDAY QUESTION, but not for you: I'm always glad to hear from you about people or projects that you like and/or have influenced you. What people or projects have had the same effect on your daughter?
Over the weekend I was binge watching "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." One of the episodes was one of their "ripped from the headlines" stories. It seemed to be alluding to Casey Kasem's situation. i.e. Jean Kasem VS Casey's children from his previous marriage.
Science fiction often uses allegory to discuss current events. And of course, comedies such as "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," et al, regularly parody/satirize real people and situations. So...
FRIDAY QUESTION: If one wants to write something inspired by a real person or event, how much leeway does one have in forming a character or situation? Obviously, you have to do more than change the names "...to protect the innocent." L&O runs its disclaimer that the story is not based on a real person or event. (I can't remember the exact wording) Is that enough?
I know you're not a lawyer, but any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.
M.B.
What about Susan Harris?
I think it's fair to say that some well-known actors have become important producers, and are heavily involved in getting movies or TV shows made. They include Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Drew Barrymore, Danny DeVito, Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Sandra Bullock, and, yes, Reese Witherspoon.
As for comedy writers and performers with distinctive styles, how about Albert Brooks in the movie "Lost in America"? His character's rants to this boss and his wife are right up there with Preston Sturges.
Here's a potential Friday question. You've worked on a couple shows now with much-discussed but never seen characters -- Vera Peterson, Maris Crane. I'm wondering how and why that decision gets made. Is it a case of painting yourself into a corner in terms of description (who could ever look like Maris is described)? Is it just easier?
1. Some AFI potential nominees may be declining the honor. 2. David Mamet was likely among the writers accidentally overlooked. 3. As for identifiable writer styles, it is fun to watch a C-level post-1960s comedy film and consider for whom it was originally written, or by which other films it was “inspired.”4. There is a new Preston Sturges book out- co-authored by his youngest son- chronicling his last years
"And you just have to determine whether their creative input is worth the trouble."
I still smile whenever I remember your hilarious anecdote about a meeting you and David had with former porn star Traci Lords for a potential sitcom and she lectured you about what constitutes comedy.
I just googled it for anyone who wants to read it.
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2006/12/traci-lords-family-show.html?m=1
Never understood why the MASH laugh track wasn't eliminated once the show went into syndication...it would be a distant memory by now, instead of dating the show.
Tom Hanks, star of Volunteers. Classic movie. (but not a true representation of Peace Corps)
Dhruv, you leave out Tom Hanks's other great roles, like Turner and Hooch.
You think Sean Penn could do that one? Granted, Denzel could too.
Give it to Ed Norton, and he probably commits suicide.
Jake Tapper if you mention him on Twitter, is likely to respond. He does so for any blue checks that criticize him, with angry DMs. He is even monitoring this while he's on the air.
Ken did you see - Zombieland: Double Tap?
FQ : Do you think sequels of comedy movies are a good idea?
From the few scenes and the trailer - I don't like this one.
Emma Stone is grating as hell with the same crack whore laugh and bug eyed looks. That shit is getting on my friends' nerves too, so I am not the only one. She needs to change track and fast or else she will become annoying like Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence and other one trick ponies.
I don't even notice the laugh track. I don't think it adds or detracts from the program.
Actually, I like all the comedy-strong people you listed in the first question, temporarily excepting the two or three whose work I don't know. You can bet I'll check them out ASAP. I was also grateful that after listing David Hyde-Pierce in the first answer, you complimented Kelsey Grammer in another answer. I do love Hyde-Pierce but felt a lot of people ignored Grammer's gifts regularly while embracing the 'newer' guy. (I also adored the late John Mahoney from the first time I saw him in "House of Blue Leaves" and felt he never got the acclaim he deserved for his years of solid, committed work as Martin Crane.
I also agree with you about the 'distinctive voices' you cited in the final question.
BTW, it was just yesterday that a student showed me a video of John Mullaney doing "There's a Horse Loose in the Hospital" which is freaking brilliant. Bring me more Mullaney!
On October 25,1976 the Chuckles Bites The Dust episode aired. Season 6 Episode 7. Written by David Lloyd.
A more somber Friday Question: Luke Perry died of a stroke this spring, with only a few episodes left in "Riverdale"'s season. The producers chose to send his Fred Andrews character "on a business trip" for those episodes, and then announce Fred's death offscreen in this season's premiere and center that episode on his funeral. Given that there's a big difference in tone between a CW teen soap and a sitcom, if you were working on a TV comedy now, what would be the best way to address the death of a key cast member and their character if it was in the current season? (I remember Nicholas Colasanto passed away during "Cheers", but as it was between seasons, the characters referring to Coach's passing in the premiere was probably the most sensitive.)
I wish I could have been the "chuckle track" editor for MASH. It's a weird fantasy, I know, but if only just to stick the laugh track in crazy spots, to fuck with the network.
I just read something that's made my day. Apparently the rapist in chief has to wear adult diapers because he's incontinent from years of popping stimulants. Ordinarily I wouldn't laugh at someone who has that condition, but this is a man who did a cruel impression of a journalist with cerebral palsy to get laughs from his supporters.
Trump is literally full of shit.
https://www.politicalflare.com/2019/09/insider-claims-trump-wears-adult-diapers-due-to-incontinence-from-repeated-stimulant-abuse/
Tom Hanks is the Spencer Tracy of this generation.
Plays pretty much the same role all the time, but is good at it.
The actor to contrast him with, who is much more versatile, but never got the same level of acclaim is Michael Keaton.
Since we are now naming people we like and don't send us running for the remote to change the channel when they appear - Kyle Chandler, Craig Ferguson, Craig T. Nelson, Connie Britton, Nathan Fillion.
Forgot one - Ron Livingston. If you haven't seen "Loudermilk" you should check out "Loudermilk". It is hard to find. Also, it is x-rated at times but hysterical. Different than most shows I've seen in a long time.
Late to the party but everyone should check out BBC's 2 2014-2016 seasons of "Happy Valley" by Susan Wainwright starring Sarah Lancashire as a middle-aged cop with serious domestic issues. Some stunning writing, direction, and acting, and it's even funny where it needs to be. It consistently got 9 million viewers a week. A third season is on the cards.
Peter, the cerebral palsy thing did not happen. The journalist in question isn't even capable of moving his arms in the manner Trump was supposedly mocking him.
The reality is that Trump does this to demonstrate various people as flustered, including Ted Cruz in the same speech, and it had nothing to do with the reporter's handicap. There is even video of Trump with Larry King decades ago where he does the same thing talking about himself.
Friday question...
I'll watch a pilot just to see how they set up the premise...even if I'm not that interested in the show. What are your thoughts on pilots and have you seen any this year that you liked or disliked?
Friday question:
Was there ever thought given to use scenic footage of Seattle and music throughout FRASIER episodes, in the same way that shots of Boston & music bridges punctuated each CHEERS episode? (Of course the clever title cards worked just fine instead.)
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