John Royal leads off.
I have a question about “Becker” (which I still believe to be one of the funniest shows ever). Why didn’t Becker wear a lab coat? Every doctor I’ve ever had has worn either a lab coat or scrubs. And how is working with Ted Danson?
Especially in private practice, there’s no law that a doctor has to wear a lab coat. Becker was a great doctor who also did things his own way. Not wearing a lab coat was more in his character.
To answer your second question: Of all the actors I've ever worked with, Ted is my favorite. So a "thumbs up" on that.
Brother Herbert asks:
Reading the Q&A about when filming for M*A*S*H started and wrapped, you mentioned having a "stable of top notch directors" and it got me wondering: How were/are directors assigned to helm episodes? Is it more or less a rotation depending on availability and specific needs for an episode?
All of the above. Because directors were given a few days to prep, plan their schedule, arrange for particular things required in their episode, etc., they couldn’t direct back-to-back episodes.
Our primary director was Executive Producer, Burt Metcalfe. And we had several directors we’d used and liked and depending on their availability we folded them into the schedule. We also tried to bring on a couple of new directors each year.
Additionally, some of the actors directed. Alan directed several episodes, Harry Morgan did one a year, and Mike Farrell also got behind the camera.
Occasionally we would marry a particular episode with a director we felt would be strong for that subject matter. Case in point was getting Charles Dubin to direct our “Point of View” episode. It still pisses me off that he didn’t win an Emmy for that. He did an absolutely masterful job.
From Sparks:
Have you ever done product placement in one of your shows? Been asked to? How about dropping in a name of a business you like as a free plug?
I mentioned this several times in the blog and on the podcast, but for the movie VOLUNTEERS we do a scene where Rita Wilson drinks a Coca Cola, but that was only because it was organic to the story. Later, Coca Cola owned the studio and we were accused of pandering. But that was eight or nine years after we wrote the scene.
As a show runner, I’ve never been approached to insert a product for payment or a favor. Nor would I entertain it.
And finally, from curious Craig:
Friday Question about an actor prepping ancillary skills for a role. I just read that Riz Ahmed spent seven months learning how to play drums for an upcoming movie. I suppose that makes sense if he's the main character and his drumming is a main plot of the film. What about when it's only a smaller part? I've heard lots of stories about actors learning skills before shooting began...I can't think of many right now except Cary Elwes and the grueling sword training he had for The Princess Bride (in which his swordsmanship was just a few scenes in the film). Who decides (studio, the actor, the director) how seriously the actor needs to learn this stuff, and is the actor paid for it all even if it's several months of training before shooting starts?
Sometimes the director will request it, but most often it’s the actor taking it upon himself to really prepare for the role. I don't know who pays for it. But the dedication that some actors have to their craft is simply amazing. And hey, it’s always handy to have fencing skills.
27 comments :
Hi Ken, here's a Friday Question for you, something that's always intrigued and/or nagged me about some sitcoms as they evolve. And that's about the change of pace that happens in a lot of shows toward the end of their runs – MASH, Barney Miller, WKRP, Frasier all... slowed... things... down. It seems to be partly the writing, partly editing/production, partly even the laugh track/audience reaction being toned down. But for me anyway, it creates something that just feels less funny, less compelling. I know with MASH it was a conscious decision to be less purely comedic, but with other shows, is it a deliberate choice, or an accidental outcome of different people taking over writing and producing?
Follow-up Friday question: when an actor directs himself or herself in an episode, how does that work? In particular, how is it different from when a non-actor is directing? Does the actor watch a lot of rehearsal tape to see what to do differently? Or is the directing mostly getting specific camera shots and not so much coaching performances out of actors?
Most doctors I've seen in private practice have not worn lab coats. At this point, I think lab coats are the exception.
Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin trained with swords throughout the entire filming of Princess Bride. To give them as much time as possible, the sword fight was filmed last. And their fight does a good job of showing off their skills.
I could be wrong, but I believe both David Ogden Stiers and Jamie Farr directed at least one episode of M*A*S*H as well. I'm a little surprised that Jamie never tried his hand at writing for the show, considering in addition to being an actor, he was also a writer as well - granted, most of his writing credits include mostly game shows, but he also wrote for episodic series, such as Hanna-Barbera's THE AMAZING CHAN AND THE CHAN CLAN.
Alan Alda is the complete package: actor, writer, producer, directed - he contributed a number of really great episodes of the series, either as a writer ("The Long-John Flap"), a director ("Dear Ma"), or both ("Dear Sis"). Unfortunately, I can't really say the same for Mike Farrell . . . his outing as a writer/director, "War Co-Respondent" was a trainwreck; Gene Reynolds already gave us an episode about B.J. wrestling with temptation seasons earlier with "Hanky Panky," why did we need another one that felt far more forced and awkward?
I think there's another reason actors get into the habit of training for a role, which is that early in their career they learn to bullshit their way through auditions. One example I've heard of is a casting call for actors who can ride horses. A bunch of people try out despite never having been near a horse in their lives, then have to frantically learn to ride horseback after they get offered the part.
You may have answered this before but my ADHD brain doesn't remember.....I've noticed recently [and this goes back for decades] but it seems that when the credits at the beginning of a TV show/movie roll the director is always listed last. Any reason for this or is it just something that has always been done and Hollywood just doesn't like breaking with tradition?
Met Ted Danson during CHEERS last season. Mayday was total coolness.
Point of View aired again this week on ME. Such a great episode.
Yes, Greg Evigan was trained and licensed to drive a big rig for BJ and the BEAR. Bears agent insisted the monkey could drive too and NBC was open to the idea. Rumor has it, he killed it on the driving portion but failed miserably on the written test. Just a bunch of monkey scribbles...
Friday Question: I worked in the TV movie biz for 30 years but one question I never asked was: When actors go on publicity junkets or spend a weekend doing publicity photoshoots are those sessions/trips included in their massive salaries or are they paid extra for their time and trouble?
Any input would be appreciated.
Ben is right. I''ve been in practice for 30 years and haven't worn a lab coat since I finished training. I rarely see them now, except for surgeons and anesthesiologists, when they have scrubs on and it's cold.
FQ: You have fencing skills? Part of mine blew down during a storm, can you help fix my fence?
I think tv and movie doctors stopped wearing lab coats after Denise Richards was seen wearing one playing a nuclear physicist in a Bond movie. Really, how much cred is left after that?
Before Ken mentioned fencing skills, I thought of that Frasier episode in which Niles has a sword fight with Maris's fencing instructor, and David Hyde-Pierce HAD to have training from his earlier acting career.
I'm also reminded of one of many funny Russell Baker columns, where he talks about magazines and refers to The New York Review of Books as the place where Olivia De Havilland is critical of Basil Rathbone's footwork in swordfights in Robin Hood. And of course Rathbone was a great fencer.
I never saw even one episode of Becker.
I think I was feeling similar to the way I did when the Mary Tyler Moore Show came out: Why did Laura leave Rob?? What about poor Ritchie?
Good news is now I can watch the whole series fresh.
Mike did a really good job with Death Takes A Holiday. That was an amazing episode. I will agree that War Correspondent was a terrible episode. I always wondered what his thinking was when he wrote that. Did he want BJ to get the girl instead of Hawkeye? Why. He was happily married. And they did the temptation episode a few seasons ago. Everything about that episode seemed forced. He did do a movie with SStJ at the same time as the episode. So, well, who knows.
"Of all the actors I've ever worked with, Ted is my favorite."
It's likely that Ted Danson already knew this, but it still seems like one of the best compliments - perhaps THE best - that an actor - or anyone in any profession - could receive. And I'm assuming that you also hold his qualities as a person in similar esteem.
And, considering the high caliber of actor you've worked with over the years, the compliment shines even more.
Oh, just for the record: my doctor (technically she's a Physician's Assistant) doesn't wear a lab coat either. And that's part of a much larger clinic, not private practice.
Also I have an FQ, Ken, since you mentioned the different actors who directed episodes of MASH.
Alan Alda, in particular, seems to have been highly involved behind the camera. How did he balance all of that behind the scenes work with his on-camera job?
Thanks!!
Re training for skills, actress Nancy Allen, cast as Robocop's partner, practiced shooting extensively with a 9 millimeter firearm at the LA Police Academy. In an early simulation, where trainees had to decide when to shoot, to the amusement of cops present, Nancy shot a man with a knife because she thought he might hurt a dog. The production paid for her training, but not for extra hours spent. (Fun Fact: This Bronx-born actress's father was a career NYPD cop.)
"...it’s always handy to have fencing skills."
Or the ability to play the xylophone. A fellow started a pretty good movie career with that.
Sound of Metal, the movie in which Riz Ahmed both learned to drum and American Sign Language, is quite good.
I learned to play the Xylophone for YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Not that hard coming from a piano background, since it's laid out the same, but it was definitely one of those "we COULD fake it with the sound booth, but it wouldn't be convincing" things.
Just wanted to say thanks for recommending the new Bee Gees doc on HBOMax. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Also my husband is an ER doc, and he says in his hospital, in the ER, lab coats are entirely optional and only 20-25% of the people wear them. He hasn't worn one for 20 years.
Ken, since Ted Danson is apparently not one to rest on his laurels, or anywhere else for that matter, he's already back on TV with a new NBC sitcom, Mr. Mayor. Can we look forward to a review?
Hi Ken,
I was watching "The Sneeze", an episode you directed from Everybody Loves Raymond. During the scene in the bedroom, the boom Mike is briefly seen. How does this get missed? Or is it a question of the scene went so well it's not worth reshooting.
Dave from WI
With all the Strum und Drang surrounding that President Who Shall Not Be Mentioned Any More, there was still a bright spot on TV this week: the final shows of "Jeopardy"s Alex Trebek. How wonderful to see his classy demeanor one last time...
@Janet My doctor is technically a Physician's Assistant as well, however, she does wear a lab coat either way.
I have a Friday question - it looks like you were on the staff when the episode "Life Time" was made. One soldier needed enough tissue to repair his aorta. Another soldier had a mortal head wound, but wasn't dead yet. Do you know who wrote Father Mulcahy's prayer? He prayed for the mortally wounded soldier to die in time to save the other one. That seems like one of the saddest moments in the show, though it's probably more famous for the ticking clock in the corner of the screen.
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