tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post2172504407602935459..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64085081082632397702014-05-08T18:48:12.124-07:002014-05-08T18:48:12.124-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14226066418111953761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5382089467172219782014-05-06T07:43:28.610-07:002014-05-06T07:43:28.610-07:00Friday Question:
I recently read an interview wit...Friday Question:<br /><br />I recently read an interview with Garret Morris in the AVClub, and he mentioned a show called Roll Out. Wikipedia states that it was created by Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart, and it was about an African America trucking unit in WW2, sort of a bookend with M*A*S*H. Morris mentions that the production was shut down due to some sort of interpersonal issue with some of the cast, while Wikipedia just mentions low ratings as the demise. Do you know anything about this show?T. Wadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91396163265000270322014-05-04T11:59:24.214-07:002014-05-04T11:59:24.214-07:00I actually first heard the Vatican Rag in the Gong...I actually first heard the Vatican Rag in the Gong Show Movie (hey I was 10). I had no idea what it was from, hell I thought those guys were actually singing it. A while later, I was singing "Genu-u-flect, Genu-u-flect, Genu-u-flect" (odd enough cause I'm a nice Jewish boy) and an older friend said, "Oh, you like Tom Lehrer" with a bit of proud surprise. When I said who, he gave me one of those "do I have something you'll like" looks (in a clean way) and played me the records. Thank god for Chuck Barris!<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck5U9SPSbqw<br /><br />Also highly recommend Marty Feldman's take on it. I can't imagine anyone getting away with his intro on American TV today.<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ0bqZw6B0Acrackblindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13088682009537848311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36810576732426166512014-05-03T11:23:37.433-07:002014-05-03T11:23:37.433-07:00Friday Question
I recently watched a TV show (...Friday Question<br /> I recently watched a TV show (since cancelled) about a female Texas Ranger. In one scene the video was flipped a couple of time so that her badge and gun were on the wrong side and then back again.<br /> Today I saw a Web.co commercial with golfer Jim Furyk and his wife where the close-ups of his wife were reversed so the part on her hair went from one side to the other.<br /> How do errors such as these get through?<br />Thanks<br />Richard B<br /><br />p.s. Some of your "prove you're not a robot" letters are incredibly hard to decipher. Does this mean I am a robot?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73610558365429273182014-05-03T02:06:58.294-07:002014-05-03T02:06:58.294-07:00How about a mention of Bob Hoskins, who was tremen...How about a mention of Bob Hoskins, who was tremendous in one of the best Frasier episodes? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91645171368362796902014-05-03T00:14:38.578-07:002014-05-03T00:14:38.578-07:00Thanks for the script answer, Ken. I've always...Thanks for the script answer, Ken. I've always wondered how script photocopies for virtually every movie got out. I prefer to read those as a teaching tool over book-published scripts due to the 1 page= 1 minute rule, but I did have some concerns about writer royalties.<br /><br />The thing that interests me is that scripts in collectible stores have a "Do not open, to protect value of this item" sticker on the seal. I question that, as they don't seem to be limited-run things like original comics or baseball cards. I just open them and read them.<br />Liggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14328404792944127002014-05-02T21:50:24.831-07:002014-05-02T21:50:24.831-07:00Hi Ken,
You have had a ton of success with a writ...Hi Ken,<br /><br />You have had a ton of success with a writing partner in your career. I know you have shared what to look for in a writing partner, but I wanted to know how to find one. Is there a special screenwriter classifieds section somewhere?<br />Thanks,<br />Jeremy Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56691535950593431092014-05-02T20:48:08.265-07:002014-05-02T20:48:08.265-07:00Here's something a little unique in the Tom Le...Here's something a little unique in the Tom Lehrer ouvere:<br /><br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3htMuJhz5YPaul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84170950908555992572014-05-02T19:05:00.015-07:002014-05-02T19:05:00.015-07:00And if I was as great a writer as my iPad is at sc...And if I was as great a writer as my iPad is at screwing up my writing, I'd probably be on TV by now...<br /><br />Or at least on NBC...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976758043152054556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73135536610082552432014-05-02T19:03:35.125-07:002014-05-02T19:03:35.125-07:00I'm sorry you don't get royalties from the...I'm sorry you don't get royalties from the script sales, but I just wanted to say that while you may have learned to write using Odd Couple and Mary Tyler Moore Show scripts,vi learned how to write using Frasier, Cheers and Home Improvement scripts. (I know, Home Improvement is one of my vices) <br /><br />So, I just wanted to say thanks for all the hard work, I learned a lot from those scripts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976758043152054556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52682301626642872152014-05-02T17:55:41.170-07:002014-05-02T17:55:41.170-07:00Ken, my question is, what are you up to now? I kno...Ken, my question is, what are you up to now? I know you're book came out recently (insert shameless plug here), but that aside, are you still actively pitching ideas? Would you still be a show runner or serve on a writing staff?Micahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06517754824493411838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25311634642657153952014-05-02T17:49:59.202-07:002014-05-02T17:49:59.202-07:00Please change "I'm sure" in my post ...Please change "I'm sure" in my post above to "I assume." I'm not "sure" about any of that!Room Written Creditsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84145977663854101482014-05-02T17:46:15.353-07:002014-05-02T17:46:15.353-07:00Friday Question: That WGA rule seems to fly in the...<i>Friday Question: That WGA rule seems to fly in the face of current reality, doesn't it? Shouldn't there be some way of giving ensemble credit? It's almost like saying that while the cast all contributes, we'll only mention one actor's name in the credits.</i><br /><br />I second this Friday question. (And love its spot on comparison to actors' credits. Well put!)<br /><br />Doesn't this questionable little behind-the-scenes cheat end up <i>literally</i> cheating all the other writers--who legitimately though uncredited also wrote any given episode of a show--out of their rightfully deserved residuals and/or award nominations, etc.? <br /><br />I'm sure there's an unspoken agreement between room writers that "You get credit for my work sometimes, I get credit for yours an equal amount of the time, and the number of credits and their associated $ all works out in the wash"; but it just doesn't seem... "right". You know? :/Room Written Creditsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40505081440784947742014-05-02T16:10:51.922-07:002014-05-02T16:10:51.922-07:00@Solarity Assuming you're not talking about si...@Solarity Assuming you're not talking about situations that are funny to everyone who's going through them, this is actually a bit of a peeve of mine in modern sitcoms. In CHEERS, whenever Sam and Diane, or even Carla and Diane, sad something really horrible (but funny) to the other, there was almost always a moment of <i>Bon homie</i>.<br /><br />This continued in the early years of Frasier, but slowly drifted out of huge show, as Niles's and Frasier's digs at each other were supposedly suddenly offensive to each other, and they stopped laughing. (Which made little sense to me.)<br /><br />If we're talking about the same thing, I think it might be a modern trend. It seems as though at some point somebody decided that it'd be funnier if recipients of wise-cracks between friends never saw the funny side. Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74299372841569924622014-05-02T16:09:54.631-07:002014-05-02T16:09:54.631-07:00Friday question:
Did you have a Plan B if you and...Friday question:<br /><br />Did you have a Plan B if you and David were not successful breaking into the writing business? Do you think you would continued working as a DJ indefinitely?Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83469504359274787292014-05-02T15:43:31.492-07:002014-05-02T15:43:31.492-07:00Ken, why is it so rare to see sitcom characters la...Ken, why is it so rare to see sitcom characters laugh at each others jokes. The writers clearly seek to cause the audience to roll on the floor with laughter but the other characters to whom the line is delivered usually don't even break a smile. Is character laughter some kind of unwritten rules violation?solarityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142631086947541154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37594662300766629942014-05-02T15:40:24.792-07:002014-05-02T15:40:24.792-07:00A Friday Question:
The New York Times just ran a ...A Friday Question:<br /><br />The New York Times just ran a story interviewing many of the participants on Hill Street Blues.<br /><br />New York Times URL shortened http://tinyurl.com/k74htba<br /><br />That no women were quoted for the story is a whole other question, however, my specific question is this:<br /><br />Actor Ed Mariano said that once the original writers of a show leave, "...the new writers come in and they are writing a caricature, the thing that made you really popular."<br /><br />It's the same complaint that audiences often make about long-running shows, and I wonder if you feel that there's any merit to Mariano's analysis of why it happens.<br /><br />Thank you.Kaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17573942636592678112014-05-02T15:03:50.374-07:002014-05-02T15:03:50.374-07:00An insightful review of Alan Alda's The Four S...An insightful review of Alan Alda's The Four Seasons:<br /><br />http://thedissolve.com/features/forgotbusters/544-the-agonizing-dullness-of-alan-aldas-the-four-seas/Eduardo Jencarellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873808287070632108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37153409435739034642014-05-02T14:26:55.560-07:002014-05-02T14:26:55.560-07:00Yes, because years of institutionally supported pe...Yes, because years of institutionally supported pedophila and rampant sexual abuse by priests, and years of covering up the abuse by the Church, is certainly nothing worth mentioning in regards to a song that satirizes the Catholic Church.<br /><br />But hey, we should never ever mention it again, right? Because that tactic has worked so well for the Church in the past....Aaron Sheckleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63473190186948283942014-05-02T13:43:29.242-07:002014-05-02T13:43:29.242-07:00Whenever Catholicism comes up as a topic, some com...Whenever Catholicism comes up as a topic, some commenter ALWAYS figures out a way to mention the sex abuse scandals. It's actually quite interesting to see how they manage to work it into the conversation. Heh. Anyway, I had never heard of Tom Lehrer. Thanks for the intro. :) Julie, Burlington, IowaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72285164947299378252014-05-02T13:33:30.494-07:002014-05-02T13:33:30.494-07:00Weird fact: in a widescreen high definition restor...Weird fact: in a widescreen high definition restored episode of Friends there's a scene between Monica and Phoebe and as the camera cuts to a close-up on Lisa Kudrow, the woman she's on the couch with is obviously not Courtney Cox. Having been originally framed for 4:3, I guess they didn't think that far ahead but why would this happen? Having a stand-in do a scene with one of the actors I mean.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66621292996112678832014-05-02T13:21:21.991-07:002014-05-02T13:21:21.991-07:00You mentioned that every Big Bang Theory script is...You mentioned that every Big Bang Theory script is "room-written." Can you describe what that process is like? <br /><br />I know that every writer's room is different, and often the room beats out an outline, but then one writer takes it home and writes the script. <br /><br />So when a script is fully room-written, does that mean that the entire staff sits there as someone types the script out scene-by-scene, all pitching dialogue and jokes?Erikanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58071988120961064242014-05-02T12:17:36.871-07:002014-05-02T12:17:36.871-07:00@EduardoJencarelli Thanks for clearing that up!
C...@EduardoJencarelli Thanks for clearing that up!<br /><br />Can anyone tell me: With regards to TBBT... Does that mean that nobody was assigned the script? My understanding of "room written" was that the story was broken and outlined as a room, someone was assigned the script. A few weeks later they came back and it was given another room pass. (More or less.)<br /><br />Is TBBT COMPLETELY "room written"? Even the action?Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38894343860874883752014-05-02T11:14:48.417-07:002014-05-02T11:14:48.417-07:00@Chris
I believe I can answer the FRIENDS part of...@Chris<br /><br />I believe I can answer the FRIENDS part of your question.<br /><br />In sitcoms, you never have two diretors sharing credit, unless there's a special situation which requires it.<br /><br />The episode you've mentioned aired late in season 7. At that point, they had to shoot scenes in advance without Matthew Perry, who was undergoing rehab at the time.<br /><br />I believe Gary Halvorson directed the episode's original material, while producer/director Kevin Bright came in at the last minute to shoot the required Matthew Perry scenes, when the actor became available.Eduardo Jencarellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873808287070632108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50905313089736549782014-05-02T10:29:24.677-07:002014-05-02T10:29:24.677-07:00The original recent feature story on Lehrer is at ...The original recent feature story on Lehrer is at www.buzzfeed.com/bensmith/tom-lehrer.<br /><br />I know about the "Remains of" CD compilation mentioned above (including the orchestrated version of "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" etc.), but to me the three essential albums are:<br /><br />The original 10-inch Lehrer Records LP <i>Songs by Tom Lehrer</i>, as discussed in the linked story (best to avoid his rerecorded 1960s versions of the same songs, with regrettable updates of a few lyrics, such as replacing "reefer" with "pot" in "Be Prepared")<br /><br />The 1959 live album <i>An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer</i> (there's an LP of studio versions of the same songs too, but the between-song patter is great)<br /><br /><i>That Was the Year that Was</i>, recorded at the hungry i, San Francisco, 1965 - mostly songs that originated on the TV series, including <i>The Vatican Rag</i> and <i>Pollution</i> <br /><br />My folks were obviously cool - we had all three records in the house, and they'd seen him in concert when I was too little to have known. gottacooknoreply@blogger.com