tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post2544301543731973388..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Answering your TV questions...By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73106777012440259482010-07-23T11:36:51.220-07:002010-07-23T11:36:51.220-07:00I love sitcoms and Frasier is the absolute best. M...I love sitcoms and Frasier is the absolute best. My husband got me the complete series for Christmas and we are watching a couple of episodes a day. Is there any other series that makes you laugh out loud even though by now you know the script by heart???? I doubt it. I really liked Friends but if I see a rerun now I usually change the channel. With Frasier, changing the channel is absolutely out of the question. The writing and the acting are superb. After each single episode I find myself telling my husband: "Niles is a genius." No other TV series ever came close to Frasier. Since I don't want Frasier to be forgotten I thought it would be nice if they made a Frasier movie. I've had a great idea about how it would go. Could I pitch the idea to you? or is there anybody else you could suggest?<br />Thanks. by the way I'm also a huge fan of Wings and Cheers.Alessandra Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89979514310776096442010-07-23T00:57:24.823-07:002010-07-23T00:57:24.823-07:00I never liked the setup for Bar Wars VI, thought i...I never liked the setup for Bar Wars VI, thought it was too far-fetched and hokey, but the payoff was one of the more memorable moments. It was hysterical.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647110750736598771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92200351178314900722010-07-18T15:54:10.424-07:002010-07-18T15:54:10.424-07:00Ken, I saw this article in my Sunday Chicago Tribu...Ken, I saw this article in my Sunday Chicago Tribune about Felicia day's internet series "The Guild"http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/07/guild-felicia-day.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+chicagotribune/thewatcher+(chicagotribune.com+-+The+Watcher+television+blog). The writer asked three questions at the beginning:<br />Will the Internet save or kill TV?<br />Is the entertainment Industry sexist?<br />What's the future of scripted entertainment and will Hollywood change it's ways fast enough to embrace it?<br />Out of curiousity I watched a few episodes of "The Guild" on Youtube and found them pretty funny. But as I was reading this I instantly wonder what you thought about this. I would love to hear your reactions given your experience in the field.brickbenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02976216085653924376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39620234900263466602010-07-18T15:43:43.156-07:002010-07-18T15:43:43.156-07:00You're a real writer so I know you'll want...You're a real writer so I know you'll want to know. It is correctly called Daylight Saving Time, no "s."<br /><br />Easy to remember as you save time the way you'd save money and you'd never think Money Savings Time.<br /><br />Thank you and I love the blog and have for many years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23955364844931399952010-07-17T21:28:29.290-07:002010-07-17T21:28:29.290-07:00DO the cast while filming an episode ever say this...DO the cast while filming an episode ever say this part of the script makes no sense?<br />For example during BattleStar Galactica in the last season, the humans want Xena to identify the final five, but she says they will come to her. Then about 20 minutes later, she says she will keep killing hostages until they hand them over. Shouldn't someone on the cast have said, hey wait a minute, how can they hand them over if she won't identify them?MIkeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38131329560687134102010-07-17T18:27:17.215-07:002010-07-17T18:27:17.215-07:00Watching CHEERS season 8 and was just wondering ho...Watching CHEERS season 8 and was just wondering how Rebecca's favorite song was chosen... was it picked with the idea that the Righteous Brothers would be available, or was it someone else's favorite song?Tim Susmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354987680992285327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47177362030025953312010-07-17T07:22:57.515-07:002010-07-17T07:22:57.515-07:00Corner Gas was a successful sitcom written and fil...Corner Gas was a successful sitcom written and filmed entirely in Canada. I know it has been syndicated to an obscure cable network. Any of my U.S. brethren ever seen it? What are your thoughts? Does the humour only play in Canada?Dave Scharfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634065562686415414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91506747742624732442010-07-17T02:03:58.439-07:002010-07-17T02:03:58.439-07:00i was just watching "out of sight, out of min...i was just watching "out of sight, out of mind" the other day and was wondering for the first time, how much did alan alda actually see under these bandages?<br /><br />WV: "changshe" -- wasn't that an actual korean word on MASH?ritanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7635842512977982592010-07-17T01:12:26.863-07:002010-07-17T01:12:26.863-07:00Hey JustSomeGuyWithTooLongOfAName
From time to ti...Hey <b>JustSomeGuyWithTooLongOfAName</b><br /><br />From time to time Ken has written about having a writing partner, if you search the archives I think you'll find some interesting stuff.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://tinyurl.com/KenLevinePartner" rel="nofollow">Here</a> for previous posts.l.a.guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44846354671601920942010-07-17T00:38:31.943-07:002010-07-17T00:38:31.943-07:00I believe I saw every episode aired of both CONRAD...I believe I saw every episode aired of both CONRAD BLOOM and GOOD MORNING MIAMI. I enjoyed the shows, and it doesn't hurt that Mark is also very hot.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3388546017243519902010-07-16T23:11:41.679-07:002010-07-16T23:11:41.679-07:00When did Major Winchester get promoted to colonel?...When did Major Winchester get promoted to colonel?Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46246915553383481722010-07-16T22:17:22.163-07:002010-07-16T22:17:22.163-07:00Speaking of Mark Feuerstein, and of Fonzie: On the...Speaking of Mark Feuerstein, and of Fonzie: On the most recent episode of "Royal Pains," they showed a Photoshopped picture of Feurstein with Henry Winkler (who plays his father) as they would have looked about 25 years ago. I saw it and thought, "What's that kid doing with the Fonz?"BigTednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62581030388824718402010-07-16T20:13:06.706-07:002010-07-16T20:13:06.706-07:00Bob Gassel: "They certainly left the characte...Bob Gassel: "They certainly left the character's future open-ended, so they could do whatever they want with him. Perhaps he's now a national star like Dr. Phil..."<br /><br />Or back on the East Coast, teaching psychology at a university. Just saying.Rashad Khannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9263929199955144252010-07-16T20:09:30.770-07:002010-07-16T20:09:30.770-07:00Years ago, when FRASIER was still on the air (and ...Years ago, when FRASIER was still on the air (and didn't annoy the hell out of me), I had an idea to spin his son, Frederick, off on his own series about life at a prep school for "gifted" children. Frasier would make the occasional appearance, of course, as would Lilith.<br /><br />The only way a David Crane-centric series would work, though, is if Jane Leeves and David Hyde Pierce were regulars -- and somehow, w/ Pierce's pronouncement that he'd never do another series, I just don't see it happening.Rashad Khannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20760009675448722082010-07-16T19:47:42.656-07:002010-07-16T19:47:42.656-07:00Possible questions:
I just listened to a Slate Cu...Possible questions:<br /><br />I just listened to a Slate Culture Gabfest podcast that discussed the dustup between the Jezebel website and the Daily Show about the lack of women writers (a criticism I've also read directed at other talk shows). It can be found at http://www.slate.com/id/2259790<br /><br />Ken, have you noticed the same patterns in scripted shows, and, if so, why do you think it exists? Are there some great female comedy writers that you've worked with (who maybe haven't received the recognition that they deserve)?Charles H. Bryanhttp://twitter.com/charleshbryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3935286426661820882010-07-16T14:55:52.720-07:002010-07-16T14:55:52.720-07:00I only knew Mark Feuerstein from West Wing, but a ...I only knew Mark Feuerstein from West Wing, but a glance at his IMDB profile shows he's had a busy career.Tim W.http://www.wearingfilm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17220364609743421742010-07-16T13:42:55.889-07:002010-07-16T13:42:55.889-07:00Is there a tripwire moment when the showrunner/wri...Is there a tripwire moment when the showrunner/writers agree that a previously unpleasant character (Hot Lips, Col. Winchester, Cliff (well not so much Cliff)) is going to be rehabilitated and become one of the guys? Or is it something that just sneaks up? A viewer of the first season of MASH who skipped ahead would be dumbfounded by the way that Maj. Houlihan is portrayed in the final season. Same with Col. Winchester who initially is a fairly unpleasant addition. As for Cliff, he's a lot less annoying at the end of the series then he was on the beginning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22339210296812155442010-07-16T13:37:11.864-07:002010-07-16T13:37:11.864-07:00Ken,
I just saw the Mad Men marathon, and one of ...Ken,<br /><br />I just saw the Mad Men marathon, and one of the writers was David Isaacs. I assume it's your old partner.<br /><br />That makes me wonder, how hard is it to go from a partnership to writng by yourself. Are there writers who will only work with their partners, or can they switch back and forth. Does having a partner change the way you write? I'm not saying it's bad, just different.Jim Stickfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13700482693518664262010-07-16T13:15:18.786-07:002010-07-16T13:15:18.786-07:00Kelsey Grammer just tweeted a show idea about the ...<i>Kelsey Grammer just tweeted a show idea about the Crane brothers' sons with guest appearances of Frasier characters.</i><br /><br />On a DVD I watched just last night, Joe Flaherty described the first time NBC approached SCTV about doing the show on NBC. To appeal to a younger crowd, Tartikoff wanted them to do new characters, spun off the old ones. "I can still do Bobby Bittman, right?" asked Eugene Levy. "No, but you could do his nephew," Tartikoff replied. <br /><br />VW: "romax" Cinemax spin-off for women.Chris Riesbeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09361434968521805027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33297830172837693712010-07-16T12:25:28.174-07:002010-07-16T12:25:28.174-07:00Since it is obvious that Kelsey Grammer wants anot...Since it is obvious that Kelsey Grammer wants another network series (how many has he tried since "Fraiser" went off the air?), why doesn't he give his signature character another go-around.<br /><br />They certainly left the character's future open-ended, so they could do whatever they want with him. Perhaps he's now a national star like Dr. Phil...<br /><br />The old "Fraiser" regulars aren't necessary, but could make occasional appearances.Bob Gasselnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53510389444380408052010-07-16T11:06:48.636-07:002010-07-16T11:06:48.636-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26577474048542480532010-07-16T11:05:21.780-07:002010-07-16T11:05:21.780-07:00Ken, you're pumping these blogs out too fast f...Ken, you're pumping these blogs out too fast for me to keep up! Slow down! :-)<br /><br />Regarding CONRAD BLOOM, it may have been a better vehicle for Mr. Feuerstein's career had it lasted, but it seemed like it just never settled into a groove that vieweres could get comfortable with -- which is too bad, because there were a lot of talented people working both in front of and behind the camera. Besides Mark, I recall Linda Lavin, Steve Landesberg and Valerie Mahaffey in the pilot, who sadly was replaced by SNL's Victoria Jackson once the series went on the schedule. I worked on the pilot and one other episode and almost got a shot at being in the pilot. The producers found they needed to re-shoot a scene but had already sent one of the extras who was needed home. I volunteered my services, but two things kept them from using me: (1) I wasn't a SAG member (although I was doing extra work at the time), and (more importantly, as it turned out) (2) I didn't fit the policeman's uniform the character had to wear... I don't know what they finally did, since by that point I was also responsible for getting the audience out of the studio when the main filming was finished.<br /><br />BTW, off-topic (well not really, since it also deals with someone we probably all would like to have seen more of over the years) but Jackie Swanson (aka "Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly") if you're reading today: I caught the tail end of an episode of THE GOLDEN GIRLS several days ago where you played an attorney representing Dorothy and Stan who had been charged with being slumlords at an apartment building Stan owned. Didn't see the whole episode unfortunately, but will try to catch it again the next time it airs. Didn't know you had ever done a GOLDEN GIRLS!<br /><br />wv: hanyin -- a word that I'm sure "Aunt Bee" would be convinced was a euphemism for something ("Haven't you ever heard the term 'throbbing hanyin'?" "Yes, but I thought it was referring to some species of South American Beetle killing its prey... It throbs it to death.")...Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57563071593173779722010-07-16T10:52:28.643-07:002010-07-16T10:52:28.643-07:00The Frasier idea sounds a lot like that Mary &...The Frasier idea sounds a lot like that Mary & Rhoda tv-movie from a few years ago. It's an excellent example of why it's more important to have a solid story than just a clever idea.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02753360146107174303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46710718049943401922010-07-16T10:46:21.312-07:002010-07-16T10:46:21.312-07:00Mark Feuerstein is married? Thanks for ruining my...Mark Feuerstein is married? Thanks for ruining my day, Levine.Peri Menopausalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19383809515719582972010-07-16T10:38:33.323-07:002010-07-16T10:38:33.323-07:00I'll throw this question out there again --
M...I'll throw this question out there again --<br /><br />Me and my writing partner are starting to get some traction in the industry and since you have had such a long and successful career with your writing partner, could you shed some light on the more technical aspects of your relationship? Stuff like, what is your agreement for solo projects? Do split everything 50-50?just some guy trying to writehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404386659136188555noreply@blogger.com