tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1288887514284690765..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The sexual tension ticking clockBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18187782589722734452016-05-17T13:49:54.192-07:002016-05-17T13:49:54.192-07:00I think they actually used that line in "West...I think they actually used that line in "West Wing", "Do you want me to pass her a note in study hall?"Gerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12361836428885324631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68708278150927152932016-05-14T08:07:52.213-07:002016-05-14T08:07:52.213-07:00It's not surprising that writers will have a t...It's not surprising that writers will have a tough time maintaining sexual tension when in the "real world" there's almost none anyway. People expect to flop into bed for just about any reason, so when society eliminates whatever boundaries might have existed, that will be reflected in TV shows, movies, music, whatever.Dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23209754789913642952016-05-13T06:58:12.144-07:002016-05-13T06:58:12.144-07:00Thanks for posting the link to the article about J...Thanks for posting the link to the article about Jan Smithers. I think Newsweek layed it on a bit thick about how hard she was to find. She did a well-publicized personal appearance with several other WKRP cast members just 2 years ago and is scheduled to appear at an autograph show in LA in July.Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42869995778406592522016-05-12T17:29:52.426-07:002016-05-12T17:29:52.426-07:00Ken, what do you think about The Good Wife getting...Ken, what do you think about The Good Wife getting a spinoff?<br /><br />http://trekcore.com/blog/2016/05/good-wife-sequel-may-be-next-cbs-all-access-drama/Thomas Mossmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678349322403895276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51827116995982716942016-05-12T17:29:42.196-07:002016-05-12T17:29:42.196-07:00Community took a very odd romantic track. The sho...<i>Community</i> took a very odd romantic track. The show started with a central theme being Jeff trying to have sex with Britta. By the second season, that theme had mostly gone by the wayside, at which point Jeff and Britta have sex sort of out of nowhere. Then they purportedly decide not to do that anymore, except that near the end of the third season, it was revealed that they had been secretly having casual sex the entire year. After this became public to their friends, they decided to stop. The show was constantly subverting the will-they-won't-they expectations, although I'm not sure it really added much to the characters.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18761170660197726252016-05-12T16:52:52.234-07:002016-05-12T16:52:52.234-07:0099 and 8699 and 86Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55688249778223515712016-05-12T16:10:33.053-07:002016-05-12T16:10:33.053-07:00Pat Reeder: I was rooting for Rachel to end up wi...Pat Reeder: I was rooting for Rachel to end up with Gunther in the "Friends" finale.<br /><br />Ken, your brief comment about miniseries brought up a Friday Question. Is the age of the classic miniseries like "Roots" and "The Winds of War" long gone? Or is the format still alive today in a different look, like a 10- episode season like "Better Call Saul" our "Agent Carter" have had?Liggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61357357460947929862016-05-12T14:26:38.299-07:002016-05-12T14:26:38.299-07:00Casey Wilson should never be a romantic lead. It w...Casey Wilson should never be a romantic lead. It will never be believable, and no man could place himself in Casey's romantic partner's shoes, no matter what social justice warrior decision makers think they can do. You can't make the audience infatuated or charmed by someone, either by rote, or by shame, who's not attractive.<br /><br />If you could, we'd be seeing Rachel Dratch getting all of Julia Roberts' roles. She could do comedy better than Julia Roberts every time, but nobody would believe the Richard Gere character would go through everything he did to fuck Rachel Dratch. Because no Richard Gere-like character would.<br /><br />Probably the only famous person whose ever shame-fucked a woman who I know of is Ted Danson, but the exception proves the rule!<br /><br />–Ed SaidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88693945948911357612016-05-12T13:02:21.112-07:002016-05-12T13:02:21.112-07:00"Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" is ..."Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" is an imperfect but fun hour whodunit from Australia, set in the 1920s. Fisher is flamboyant, brilliant and reckless; she's also sexually liberated to the point of mating with a suspect, witness or bystander in almost every episode. Her opposite is the proper and reticent Inspector Robinson, slowly recovering from a divorce (married just before WWI; came home a different man). <br /><br />It's soon clear he's the major male relationship in her life, even though he's the only one she doesn't sleep with. She's likewise the key woman in his life -- despite a not-quite resolved feelings for his ex and a beautiful widow who's almost a romance. Each knows what the other is about; each knows a romance could ruin everything.<br /><br />The tension is that you're never sure if you want them together or not. Their two-act as a dour Steed and giddy Mrs. Peel works so well you'd be happy if they stayed there. She teases him relentlessly; they both know he won't take the bait. He can be judgmental in a way she wouldn't allow anyone else. Slowly they become confidantes on serious matters. Any disruption in the status quo is as scary as it is enticing.<br /><br />The third (and to date final) season is a bit wobbly. They make very conscious and extremely careful moves towards romance, but among other things she hasn't given up her one-off flings (and the writers have him upset in one episode and oblivious in another). <br /><br />The original tense truce could have been maintained for a longer time, perhaps tested by one or the other having an actual relationship. DBensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144515471557731622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46349213486641502732016-05-12T12:43:00.562-07:002016-05-12T12:43:00.562-07:00The Good Wife - well I didn't want her to end ...The Good Wife - well I didn't want her to end up with Jason because he was too smarmy. But good lord I didn't want her to be completely abandoned by everyone, either! Honestly, I think they went waaay wrong there. I think it would have been a beautiful finish to jump ahead a few years and show her and Diane kicking legal butt. <br /><br />You said, Ken, that networks still like romantic comedies, but it seems to me that the best of them weren't actually about the romance. As you said, when there is chemistry it is great. But even when it's been a show I liked, I find myself wondering, "Okay, but what happens next?" Because if you tie the whole thing around a romance, then you are doomed because eventually the characters have to pick a lane. But if the romance is just a side arc, the show has much more potential. Assuming, of course, it's a good show. McAlvienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30176653301032740932016-05-12T12:15:50.325-07:002016-05-12T12:15:50.325-07:00Friday question: why is it that British actors oft...Friday question: why is it that British actors often play American parts, making use of their American accents, but when there's a British role, casting directors exclusively go for British actors. Isn't it a hassle hiring foreign people? I'm guessing there's a few people in Hollywood who can convincingly pull off British accents.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77752780432253395812016-05-12T12:06:07.921-07:002016-05-12T12:06:07.921-07:00Ken, did you catch this new interview (video and p...Ken, did you catch this new interview (video and print) with that girl who went to your high school? Really wonderful to see her again, and to see that she's at peace.<br /><br />http://www.newsweek.com/jan-smithers-newsweek-teens-issue-457672<br />Tim Dunleavyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01881671137563687203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50962577888253767592016-05-12T11:23:30.255-07:002016-05-12T11:23:30.255-07:00This was the challenge that killed REMINGTON STEEL...This was the challenge that killed REMINGTON STEELE. By the third season Laura's reasons for saying no to sex got more and more absurd and petty. The fear with some was people would stop watching if the "will they or won't they" was solved. The producers wanted to marry them (see episode in season three with wedding) but Stephanie Zimbalist did not want to do it (pun intended). The thought that Remington who had never stayed in one place for more than two years and Laura Holt who had the two men in her life (Dad and live-in lover) leave her would not have any romantic conflict after sex and during marriage was unbelievable. For those who think you can't have a romantic comedy mystery with a married couple need to watch the "Thin Man" movies with Nick and Nora Charles.michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17812924049258701715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89532059317283236992016-05-12T10:58:12.829-07:002016-05-12T10:58:12.829-07:00turns out, Bridget didn't love Bernie....turns out, Bridget didn't love Bernie....Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16880646894752760905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75035809553219069222016-05-12T10:22:16.511-07:002016-05-12T10:22:16.511-07:00Wasn't Ted Bessell both Anne-Marie and Mary Ri...Wasn't Ted Bessell both Anne-Marie and Mary Richards' boyfriend? It's been a long time since I've seen <i>MTM</i>, but I think he was the only recurring boyfriend Mary had, in the later seasons. <br /><br />As for Mary and Lou, I saw first-run (spring 1977) the second-last episode of the series, where they decide to go out on a date, just to see what happens. (Written by David Lloyd, per Wiki.) That is one funny episode.<br /><br />I also saw first-run the <i>Moonlighting</i> episode that ends with the two leads getting together, splendidly edited to Ronnie Spector singing "Be My Baby." I don't recall following the series at all after that.<br /><br />In the <i>Good Wife</i> finale, all the best moments were wordless. In retrospect, I wish that the entire finale had consisted entirely of wordless moments - significant looks, ironic smiles, arched eyebrows, etc. - all set to appropriate instrumental music.gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10934604628344249332016-05-12T10:08:10.510-07:002016-05-12T10:08:10.510-07:00@Anon.: That "Ben & Leslie" story in...@Anon.: That "Ben & Leslie" story in PArks was just part of the long story, the growth of a goddess. The finale leads us to believe she'll go on to be President of the Galaxy, still consulting with her beautiful land mermaid friend.BAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90540891682563028322016-05-12T10:02:49.651-07:002016-05-12T10:02:49.651-07:00Not sure if it would work today but the "Frie...Not sure if it would work today but the "Friends" writers seemed to figure it out in a pretty good way. They did the will they/won't they thing with Ross and & Rachel for a year and a half, got them together for about a year, then split them up until the finale. In a way, fans got a little bit of everything. (Though I thought adding Emma to the show was mostly pointless.)Glennnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41792747136702071942016-05-12T10:01:35.930-07:002016-05-12T10:01:35.930-07:00The creators of NEWSRADIO (which I loved) say in t...The creators of NEWSRADIO (which I loved) say in the DVD commentary that they really wanted to *avoid* the whole will-they-won't-they thing, and that was exactly why they slammed Dave and Lisa into bed together immediately. They worked very well, I thought, for the show as a couple because both characters had the self-confidence to disagree. On THE BIG BANG THEORY, just when you thought Leonard and Penny might kill the show along came Amy Farrah Fowler, whose relationship with Sheldon is one of the most original on TV and organically managed the slow burn because it actually fit both characters and their backgrounds. <br /><br />I think THE GOOD WIFE really began to suffer in season 3 when Alicia and Will broke up, because their relationship then went flat for nearly two years.<br /><br />However, there are *some* modern romantic comedies that manage both immediate sex and romance: YOU'RE THE WORST is the most obvious. Although the characcters wind up in bed in the pilot, the development of their relationship hits every romantic beat, just from a wonderfully perverse angle. It's currently one of my favorite comedies. Also, EPISODES has done very well with a married fish-out-of-water couple who provide both conflict and romance. They, too, have sex in the pilot. :) And there's CATASTROPHE, which I didn't love, but which is trying to be a romantic comedy where the obstacles are the kinds of real-life issues couples have to live through every day.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43825688054742487852016-05-12T09:34:34.529-07:002016-05-12T09:34:34.529-07:00It's been a long time so I think Mary & Mr...It's been a long time so I think Mary & Mr. Grant had plenty of tension - never mind sexual:<br /><br />Grant: You've got SPUNK!<br />Mary: (nods accepting the compliment)<br />Grant: I HATE SPUNK!!<br /><br />I'd suppose (never having written anything for stage or screen) that there are so many varieties of tension that sex, attraction, romance, flirting, is not stricly necessary - but then I'm a boomer who mostly watches sports.<br /><br />I don't watch enough TV to know if anyone has tried a male lead getting BOTH Mary AND Anne-Marie - either serially or at the same time. Can anyone fill me in?Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87324409741690775572016-05-12T09:30:31.701-07:002016-05-12T09:30:31.701-07:00I can't believe you didn't mention "M...I can't believe you didn't mention "Moonlighting." If ever a show suffered from having to drag out the Will-they-or-won't-they tension, that show was the gold standard.Steve Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07460010481523481647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62013792748925250222016-05-12T09:23:59.370-07:002016-05-12T09:23:59.370-07:00My Friday Question,Ken,is about the shooting hours...My Friday Question,Ken,is about the shooting hours of a 60-minute drama compared to 30-minute formats.<br /><br />I've read that 1-hour TV shows can have 13,14,15 hour days for filming on a regular basis.The 30-minute shows fall into the 9-to-5 schedule & that's why cast & crew enjoy doing those types of series.<br /><br />(1.)Do shows such as M*A*S*H have shorter days when shooting the show? I'm watching reruns of Room 222 & like M*A*S*H it was a mixture of comedy & drama.So they are not what I would classify as a typical sitcom due to the drama being as vital as the humor in these shows.<br /><br />(2.)In the 60s when I grew up the hour shows put in many long hours just like today.<br />I'm curious why modern cameras & technology in general has not been able to shorten the filming process over the decades? powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11462146268479327244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12395906172601840722016-05-12T08:12:02.734-07:002016-05-12T08:12:02.734-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01138172915377217871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47474060933649250062016-05-12T07:30:49.496-07:002016-05-12T07:30:49.496-07:00In the awful TGW finale we don't know if Alici...In the awful TGW finale we don't know if Alicia and Jason stayed together because it was left ambiguous. I hated that several episodes ago, when Alicia was thinking of hiring him, someone told her that Jason was a sociopath and she should watch out for him. They just dropped that storyline like a hot potato. CarolMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357698369178272616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13572739529059053532016-05-12T07:29:52.668-07:002016-05-12T07:29:52.668-07:00The episode of "Friends" where Rachel fi...The episode of "Friends" where Rachel finally kisses Ross ("She's his lobster!") is one of the great moments of the series. But as it went on year after year, and watching it again in nightly reruns, it gets so tiresome seeing the writers struggle to find ways to break them up and get them back together again (or almost together, but not quite). There are certain episodes where they both became so whiny and unreasonable, I can't stand it and change the channel before I start having flashbacks to my first wife. I know everyone else thought the finale where Ross and Rachel finally get together for good was so romantic, but by then, I was yelling at the screen, "Run, Ross! Run fast, run far!!" Pat Reederhttp://www.hollywoodhifi.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32823907374122785542016-05-12T07:18:25.545-07:002016-05-12T07:18:25.545-07:00My favorite sex scene was Amy Farrah Fowler shakin...My favorite sex scene was Amy Farrah Fowler shaking hands with Zack.emilynoreply@blogger.com