tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1448925297052267509..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70626780887725656122015-09-30T18:07:44.083-07:002015-09-30T18:07:44.083-07:00Episode titles.
Especially among the more dedicat...Episode titles.<br /><br />Especially among the more dedicated of fans, those titles are known by rote and become shorthand for discussion. Yet not all shows display them at the start of episodes. Some, which have patterns to them (Lou Grant's history of all one word titles, or the Friends "the one with..." conceit) never displayed, best as I can recall. I watched MASH as many times as five a day during the prime time run when the syndication rules allowed such repetition, but I never knew in those pre-internet days what any of them were called.<br /><br />And thus the question, or series of questions. Who decides whether to display the title of an episode on a series- network, showrunner, someone else? How did you feel about it as a writer? And did the knowledge of its presence before an episode ever influence your writing to even the smallest extent?<br /><br /><br />Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07999541621680032978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81263820135726953752015-09-24T07:06:18.897-07:002015-09-24T07:06:18.897-07:00Ken, I have a question. It might be too broad, but...Ken, I have a question. It might be too broad, but maybe not. I live in NYC and have always wanted to get into television production, but have no clue how. I'm not a writer, camera operator, makeup/hair stylist, etc, but am quite capable and whenever I walk by sets I see tons of people who must be pa's and other types of jobs one can learn. I don't know anyone in the business or any idea where one would start. What would you suggest? Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14302572802076409245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46405491275362248162015-09-21T08:37:42.820-07:002015-09-21T08:37:42.820-07:00Possible Friday question....
Many sitcoms utilize...Possible Friday question....<br /><br />Many sitcoms utilize the "unseen" character -- characters talked about so frequently they have a life of their own but whom we never see. Vera Peterson, Maris Crane, Stanley Walker, Lars Lindstrom, etc. are the ultimate examples. My question is do writers purposely set out to make these characters visual enigmas or is it something that happens over time because you have created a character that perhaps defies casting? (I have to admit that I always imagined Julie Haggarty for some reason as Maris.)MellaBluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13760044599524760013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80222859130034627182015-09-19T10:02:23.973-07:002015-09-19T10:02:23.973-07:00Ken
Ha ha! You are far too modest considering y...Ken<br /> <br />Ha ha! You are far too modest considering your accomplishments, but your answer is exactly what I would have guessed. Being "drawn into the story, not looking for puzzle clues" is precisely what I want when watching a sitcom. That's not to say that there is not very delicious subtlety in many scenes in CHEERS that give one the opportunity to ponder motivations and wonder where the story is going. I do find Johnny Walker's thoughts very appealing, however---"that the characters don't belong to any one person." <br /><br />I have enjoyed other sitcoms and gotten many laughs over the years, but I have never cared about the characters the way I did those in CHEERS; no other characters from a sitcom have seemed so real.<br /><br />Thank you so much for your very thorough answer, Ken!<br />Diane Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69318201612775135402015-09-19T09:08:28.942-07:002015-09-19T09:08:28.942-07:00If you want to get lost in reading for a couple of...If you want to get lost in reading for a couple of hours, go ahead and read through the entire AV Club reviews of each of Cheers' season one and two. The critiques are quite detailed and in my opinion, brilliant.Catnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90938784517391757362015-09-19T08:49:45.819-07:002015-09-19T08:49:45.819-07:00Couple of Friday questions:
- Why did Community ge...Couple of Friday questions:<br />- Why did Community get so few awards? (compared, for example, to The Mindy Project)<br />- Six seasons and a movie: how feasible is it to make a movie from a sitcom?<br />- In Frasier, was the agent Bebe's name chosen to suggest she was the new Lilith, an in joke or because it sounded right?<br />- How has / will the move towards streaming whole series from organisations other than the usual broadcast networks change the industry?<br />JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09475536270807856327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28865747631591785042015-09-19T08:15:32.554-07:002015-09-19T08:15:32.554-07:00Diane,
I read the article and enjoyed it. They w...Diane,<br /><br />I read the article and enjoyed it. They way over-analyzed the episode. My favorite moment was being praised for the ORDINARY PEOPLE joke keeping in our subtle theme of hiding or whatever. There was no subtle theme. There was no symbolism. We weren't writing MAD MEN. <br /><br />As for why Sam decided not to sleep with Rebecca -- uh, he explains why. And when Diane tells him Rebecca has returned to the bar his first impulse is to hide from her in the storage closet. She clearly spooked him with her Russian bullshit and uptight nature. And "players" who aren't desperate to get any woman into bed figure out pretty quickly that if they have a nut on their hands it's not worth the carnal pleasure. Sam could afford to be choosy and was. Simple as that. <br /><br />As a general rule, you won't find a lot of hidden symbolism in our writing. We tend to find that pretentious. I want you drawn into the story, not playing a game of looking for puzzle clues. <br /><br />That said, writing anything that someone deems worthy of analyzing is very flattering so I invite anyone to interpret away.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30212757331637147262015-09-19T06:56:53.628-07:002015-09-19T06:56:53.628-07:00My idea? If a batter hits his third straight foul ...<i>My idea? If a batter hits his third straight foul ball after strike two, he's automatically out. If a batter gets ball 1, 2 or 3, the consecutive foul ball count resets to zero. That would make it less tiring on the pitcher.</i><br /><br />Somewheere in baseball Valhalla, Rich Ashburn and Luke Appling are giving your suggestion the thumbs down (or using a more, uh, colorful gesture). Both were renowned for their ability to foul off numerous pitches before coming up with a key hit (or coaxing a walk). In addition. some of the best batter-pitcher matchups I've ever seen have been set up by confrontations that lasted 10 pitches or more. If it's in the late innings with runners on base in a close game, the build-up of tension is remarkable, and the crowd gets into it. That's one part of baseball I wold hate to sacrifice merely to "speed up" the game.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18891858220668466472015-09-19T06:36:09.923-07:002015-09-19T06:36:09.923-07:00Fascinating, Johnny Walker! I personally cannot i...Fascinating, Johnny Walker! I personally cannot imagine a writer (surely the major creator of the character) "talking about characters with the same uncertainty as regular viewers", but you give an example of a writer who does exactly that! <br /><br />This was not, of course, the first time I had heard (or read) a group of people discussing a character as if the writer's thoughts were redundant, and it always puzzled me. If the author is dead, I could see how it could be debated endlessly, but if he is living, it is still difficult for me to grasp the concept that the interpretation by the actor, the show runner, the editor, or the viewer could have the same validity as what the writer intended. You are a writer so I must assume that it does not bother you when people interpret one of your characters differently than you intended. It's an interesting new insight for me, which is what I love about this blog.<br /><br />Maybe Ken will give us his thoughts on the subject. One of the debaters on the AV Blog said he thought that Julia Duffey's character in that episode was "Diane lite", and Sam having experienced the real thing in Diane, could not be satisfied with a substitute, so that is why he didn't sleep with her. Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58013486672106706772015-09-19T05:40:53.130-07:002015-09-19T05:40:53.130-07:00Do you know what else is slowing the pace of baseb...Do you know what else is slowing the pace of baseball? Too many foul balls hit by a batter after his count has reached strike two. Many times, he'll hit three fouls in a row before something happens. This can not only lead to a 10-pitch-or-more at-bat, but can also add to a pitcher's pitch count.<br /><br />My idea? If a batter hits his third straight foul ball after strike two, he's automatically out. If a batter gets ball 1, 2 or 3, the consecutive foul ball count resets to zero. That would make it less tiring on the pitcher.byrdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12432149550964672010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44882290189250583472015-09-19T03:12:47.516-07:002015-09-19T03:12:47.516-07:00I haven't read the AV Club link yet, but I per...I haven't read the AV Club link yet, but I personally like to think that the characters don't belong to any one person. Sometimes there's something specific intended by the author, and it can be very interesting to hear that intention, but even so I think the interpretation is open to everyone. To sound pretentious for a moment: I think art belongs to the viewer, not the artist.<br /><br />There's lots of examples of artists who insist their work is supposed to be interpreted one way, but the public thinks of (and enjoys) it in another. <br /><br />With sitcoms in particular you have lots of different voices, too: The scriptwriters, the show runner, the actor, the director, the editor. <br /><br />The writer intended it one way, the actor decided to interpret it another, the show runner decides to edit it another way. Who is right?<br /><br />With this in mind I can see how people can argue about a character's motivations. (I personally like how Matt Weiner considers himself the first "viewer" of his work: Talking about characters with the same uncertainty as regular viewers.)Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7993827294679191432015-09-19T00:14:52.265-07:002015-09-19T00:14:52.265-07:00It would be good if a Baseball game would run unde...It would be good if a Baseball game would run under 90 minutes. I went to an exhibition game several years ago in Vancouver and we were in and out in under 90min, but we still can't get a Major League team; lucky we have Single A (short season).Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89544657545995045412015-09-18T23:06:02.963-07:002015-09-18T23:06:02.963-07:00Would you have liked to be in the writer's roo...Would you have liked to be in the writer's room when they decided to put The Doobie Brothers on the show "What's Happening". ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04218380772754326295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48442638595733080332015-09-18T19:24:51.197-07:002015-09-18T19:24:51.197-07:00Your idea about reducing baseball commercial break...Your idea about reducing baseball commercial breaks is pure genius.cjdahl60https://www.blogger.com/profile/18410008032151744992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45238528218309941302015-09-18T17:42:45.872-07:002015-09-18T17:42:45.872-07:00Ken
I can't believe it, but I did find the li...Ken<br /><br />I can't believe it, but I did find the link! (See below) This particular post discusses 2 episodes: "Coach's Daughter" and "Any Friend of Diane's". I thought it was very interesting. Thanks! <br />Diane<br /><br />http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/cheers-coachs-daughterany-friend-of-dianes-65700Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49030637041215919022015-09-18T17:15:12.588-07:002015-09-18T17:15:12.588-07:00Ken
I'm so sorry! I got there accidentally a...Ken<br /><br />I'm so sorry! I got there accidentally and now I can't find it. All i can tell you is it was a Tumblr blog and I think it said something like: tumblrblog.com/cheers. Also, I think I got the link from the Chambers and Malone blog, but I can't find it there either. I think you know the person who does that blog so maybe she could help you.<br /><br />Thank you so much for responding!<br /><br />DianeDiane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35388757854681107692015-09-18T17:09:27.711-07:002015-09-18T17:09:27.711-07:00@Mike ROLL OUT! was from the 1973-74 season, so if...@Mike ROLL OUT! was from the 1973-74 season, so if you watch any episode from Season 2 of M*A*S*H, you'll hear the similarities in the laugh track.<br /><br />As for Emily Blunt, I think people should just leave her alone.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11244328099041624182015-09-18T17:01:41.250-07:002015-09-18T17:01:41.250-07:00Friday Question for you:
I've read a lot of a...Friday Question for you:<br /><br />I've read a lot of authors (usually genre fiction) talk about how they can't read books that are "about" whatever they're working on so they won't "borrow" an idea from someone else accidentally. So (for a really bad, obvious example) if someone's writing a noir mystery in LA, they won't read LA Confidential. Do you ever follow similar restrictions when you're working on a script? No rom-coms if you're writing a rom-com?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07159294212873576818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55907549445012938562015-09-18T16:14:49.642-07:002015-09-18T16:14:49.642-07:00Diane,
What is the link to the debate? I'll ...Diane,<br /><br />What is the link to the debate? I'll have a better idea after I read it. Thanks.<br />KenBy Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47745025180823700932015-09-18T16:08:49.695-07:002015-09-18T16:08:49.695-07:00Friday Question: I happened on a CHEERS blog that...Friday Question: I happened on a CHEERS blog that was having a discussion about the first season episode entitled, "Any Friend of Diane's". The debaters sounded smart and knowledgable about television, but they were discussing Sam's reason (in that episode) for not having sex with Diane's college friend, played by Julia Duffey. What struck me was that everything they said implied that this was something they could analyze and figure out (they did not accept what Sam had said was his reason--that she bored him). Not one word was said about what the author (you and your partner) had in mind. Now I understand that they cannot pick up the phone and call you to ask what your idea was, but the entire tone was as if there was no one who could have the final word on the subject---no one (like a writer) who could say definitively what he expected or intended the audience to think was Sam's real reason.<br /><br />My question is: What do you think of that? Do you, as the author, hope people will come to a conclusion that is consistent with what you had in mind? Does it bother you if it is misinterpreted?Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50588617904866131832015-09-18T16:08:24.426-07:002015-09-18T16:08:24.426-07:00Well, I was going to ask @Joseph Scarbrough the ma...Well, I was going to ask @Joseph Scarbrough the make & model of the laugh track in the Roll Out clip, but instead I found this news item where <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/sep/18/emily-blunt-apologises-for-poking-fun-at-her-american-citizenship" rel="nofollow">Fox News has accused Emily Blunt</a> of alienating half the country.<br />There's a connection: Jimmy Kimmel asked her the meaning of MLB. I got as far as Mother-Lovin'... From the picture, I'm not impressed by the state of the toilets in the White House.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66063029875104354772015-09-18T14:04:21.889-07:002015-09-18T14:04:21.889-07:00"Wowza. Comedians had so much shit to say abo..."Wowza. Comedians had so much shit to say about Brian Williams, but they suuuure got quiet when comedian Steve Rannazzisi got caught lying about his adventures during 9/11 for around 10 years"<br /><br />Because there's a difference between a newscaster and a comedian?<br /><br />In other news, Rodney Dangerfield's wife doesn't really sit AROUND the house.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514127184704002111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45192371112006008762015-09-18T14:03:25.087-07:002015-09-18T14:03:25.087-07:00"1:30 is not enough time to get a hot dog.&qu..."1:30 is not enough time to get a hot dog."<br /><br />You feel that (a) the people in the park are the concern here, and (b) 2:30 IS enough time to get a hot dog?Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514127184704002111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77082454827274621102015-09-18T13:55:31.130-07:002015-09-18T13:55:31.130-07:00What next? Will Bob Newhart admit he wasn't r...What next? Will Bob Newhart admit he wasn't really a security guard at the Empire State Building the day King Kong fell off it?Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5471307654794001052015-09-18T12:24:23.866-07:002015-09-18T12:24:23.866-07:00I'm with Marty McKee. I'd never heard of ...I'm with Marty McKee. I'd never heard of Steve Rannazzisi until this "scandal" was uncovered. That's one reason for the relative silence compared to "Bri-Wi." Also, there's a big difference between a comedian making up a story (which could, in some circumstances, be called "part of the act") and a journalist doing it.Dave Creekhttp://www.davecreek.netnoreply@blogger.com