tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3017974638108957451..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: "That's my name. Don't wear it out."By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19281604656751276332014-06-22T10:05:36.158-07:002014-06-22T10:05:36.158-07:00I've probably made this complaint before in yo...I've probably made this complaint before in your comments, but since you specifically brought up that moment here: the episode with Woody's damnable gift aired when I was a senior in high school. I watched it, and as the song ended, I thought, "Oh crap." Take a WILD GUESS what EVERY SINGLE FRIGGIN' PERSON SANG TO ME IN THE HALLWAY when I walked into school the next morning.<br /><br />To this very day, once in a while, someone will get a gleam in their eye and ask, "Hey, were you ever a fan of the show <i>Cheers</i>?" My permanent answer is, "Yes, I loved it, and if you sing The Kelly Song, I'll break your arm."<br /><br />(This threat never works, by the way.)<br />Kelly Sedingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10704114189919711467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60600206620760912942014-06-21T14:59:31.248-07:002014-06-21T14:59:31.248-07:00Greg, I always thought they read the signs so that...Greg, I always thought they read the signs so that when the cartoons went into foreign markets, the sign would be translated through conservation. But reading it for younger viewers could definitely be another reason.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47971414882268703782014-06-20T21:34:04.871-07:002014-06-20T21:34:04.871-07:00Greg: Thanks, I'd forgotten about Jack Benny....Greg: Thanks, I'd forgotten about Jack Benny. I didn't know about "The Flintstones." I thought the only thing animals ever said on that show was, "Eh, it's a living!" Pat Reedernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11775600615671868552014-06-20T06:35:13.437-07:002014-06-20T06:35:13.437-07:00Dw -- Also on Hanna-Barbera cartoon shows, someone...Dw -- Also on Hanna-Barbera cartoon shows, someone would read each and every sign, I would assume for the benefit of very young viewers.Greg Ehrbarhttp://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/category/animation-spin/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44070513495402947962014-06-20T01:04:54.798-07:002014-06-20T01:04:54.798-07:00Early Hanna Barbera cartoons were notorious for co...Early Hanna Barbera cartoons were notorious for constantly saying the characters' names in normal conversation. I enjoy cartoons like Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, and the Flintstones, but I have to use a mental block to not go crazy from the characters mentioning the person they are talking to four or five times a scene.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26256623130605579932014-06-19T19:11:51.214-07:002014-06-19T19:11:51.214-07:00WHAT?WHAT?emilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70366810768744601862014-06-19T17:28:54.541-07:002014-06-19T17:28:54.541-07:00I have ALWAYS loved the Kelly Song. I used to sin...I have ALWAYS loved the Kelly Song. I used to sing it to my college roommate. LOLBarbara C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13066983078171521691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87672674641090939562014-06-19T17:13:57.988-07:002014-06-19T17:13:57.988-07:00Pat -- Jack Benny's parrot, Polly, used to tel...Pat -- Jack Benny's parrot, Polly, used to tell secrets ("Palm Springs! Palm Springs!") There was also a Flintstones episode where Fred and Barney were going to sneak to a lodge convention in Frantic City (Sons of the Desert?) but a talking bird told on them.<br /><br />The sitcom I recall in which the first names were said the most was "<br />"The New Odd Couple" with Demond Wilson and Ron Glass. Almost every sentence began with "Oscar," "Felix," "Osc," or "Feel."<br /><br />I recently noted the strange way the Scooby Doo characters referred to singer Jerry Reed when he appeared in animated form on the show. They always used his full name ("Where are you, Jerry Reed?" "Are you in there, Jerry Reed?")<br /><br />On "Dark Shadows," which was notorious for flubs (because of its frantic schedule), names were often mixed up. One actor, speaking about a character named "Sam Evans," called him "Sam Adams."<br /><br />Some performers could make saying others' names work for them, no matter how much they repeated them -- like Mary Tyler Moore, Desi Arnaz and the aforementioned Jack Benny.Greg Ehrbarhttp://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/category/animation-spin/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2670248460018620802014-06-19T15:38:06.970-07:002014-06-19T15:38:06.970-07:00I would have thought the best use of name on Cheer...I would have thought the best use of name on Cheers was going to be a video of NORMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37436084956554796502014-06-19T15:20:25.250-07:002014-06-19T15:20:25.250-07:00Albert Brooks mocked Titanic's dialogue for ju...Albert Brooks mocked Titanic's dialogue for just this crutch. A fan put together this supercut to illustrate Brooks' (and Ken's) point.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRqK96LehXE&feature=youtu.be&t=33sJohn Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2966408992460623472014-06-19T14:54:51.443-07:002014-06-19T14:54:51.443-07:00Re: the parrot story I told in the first post. I ...Re: the parrot story I told in the first post. I wonder if any sitcom has ever done a story about the hilarity that ensues when someone babysits a friend's parrot and it spills the family secrets? I've seen that plot device done with baby monitors, wrongly delivered mail, etc., but don't recall ever seeing it with a parrot. Pat Reedernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19794301183639744972014-06-19T14:41:42.322-07:002014-06-19T14:41:42.322-07:00"...and don't call me Shirley.""...and don't call me Shirley."Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34391765601731502182014-06-19T14:37:14.652-07:002014-06-19T14:37:14.652-07:00"So Woody, where's my gift?""So Woody, where's my gift?"Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71287136040686202732014-06-19T14:27:34.568-07:002014-06-19T14:27:34.568-07:00As a follow-up to the use of name -- how many time...As a follow-up to the use of name -- how many times does the actor actually call the character by their real name and not the character's name. I was just reading (not sure if true) that James Stewart in 'It's A Wonderful Life' called his movie-wife by her real name in one scene. I have also seen this happen on TV shows (going waaaay back: on General Hospital John Stamos (Blackie) called Dr. Noah Drake "Rick" (played by Rick Springfield).<br /><br />I imagine it gets by the line producers, cast, etc. because everyone is used to calling the person that name anyways and hearing it.<br /><br />So that would be an argument on the side of David. <br /><br />Question: Does this happen often and require a lot of re-shoots/voice overs when it is caught?RGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34907675567889416682014-06-19T14:05:09.797-07:002014-06-19T14:05:09.797-07:00Working on a prose piece. The judicious use of a n...Working on a prose piece. The judicious use of a name here and there can save you a lot of "saids", especially if you have more than two characters talking:<br />"I'm honored."<br />"I'm sure you are."<br />"Quiet, Margot. The honor is ours, I assure you . . ."Donald Bensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49933288696820467042014-06-19T13:42:34.124-07:002014-06-19T13:42:34.124-07:00I think Stan Freberg said it best: "John, Ma...I think Stan Freberg said it best: "John, Marsha, John, Marsha, Oh John, Oooohh Marsha!"Stoneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40592522016057340002014-06-19T13:26:17.399-07:002014-06-19T13:26:17.399-07:00Jon88, that isn't necessarily a matter of not ...Jon88, that isn't necessarily a matter of not KNOWING each other's first names. It's a common enough practice in many social circles. Some people just refer to each other by surname only (if they bother saying the name outloud at all). It's just a thing with some people. Once it's established in a relationship, it generally sticks, and I don't just mean writing; I mean in real life.DBAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46656729594345753672014-06-19T10:58:29.076-07:002014-06-19T10:58:29.076-07:00was the person behind Kelly directed to look aroun...was the person behind Kelly directed to look around with her deadpan expression or was she an extra who nailed it?vicernienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41725504819219107312014-06-19T10:42:14.772-07:002014-06-19T10:42:14.772-07:00Even more tired and predictable than overuse of ch...Even more tired and predictable than overuse of characters' names on TV is the RULE (I don't think that's overstating it) that if a sentence is followed by a comma and the name (or nickname equivalent) of the person being talked to, then the part before the name MUST be restated. The speech must have the form "Statement, Person. Statement." Examples:<br /><br />That I do, Johnny. That I do.<br />Count on it, buddy. Count on it.<br />I don't know, Sarah. I don't know.<br />I'll never leave you, darling. I'll never leave you.<br /><br />It's so universal that I practically cheer out loud when, one time out of a thousand, that repetition is omitted.Rinaldonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70136389526587900642014-06-19T09:37:50.557-07:002014-06-19T09:37:50.557-07:00Friday Question: Ken, I'm interested to hear m...Friday Question: Ken, I'm interested to hear more about your experierce writing/rewriting your play. Specifically, since playwriting is so dependent on dialogue, have you found it challenging to sustain the story with only two characters? How do you keep it from being repetitive? Thanks.Coryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03724849277190530926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65221325604574705242014-06-19T09:14:03.898-07:002014-06-19T09:14:03.898-07:00But, what I am dying to know is, how did you get P...But, what I am dying to know is, how did you get Princess Diana to play the character standing behind Kelly?timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02595868172389276995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41231107518913027342014-06-19T08:55:06.404-07:002014-06-19T08:55:06.404-07:00It bothers me even more when characters call each ...It bothers me even more when characters call each other by their surnames. Richard Castle and Kate Beckett haven't learned each other's first name yet? GRRRRRR.Jon88https://www.blogger.com/profile/16908049871851563389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67731903100243936822014-06-19T07:09:51.314-07:002014-06-19T07:09:51.314-07:00Saw sort of a hidden reference to "it's l...Saw sort of a hidden reference to "it's like, y'know...", the short-lived late '90s ABC sitcom that tried painting itself as a Los Angeles equivalent of "Seinfeld" -- perhaps because it was created by a former "Seinfeld" writer, Peter Mehlman, whom I worked with (but frankly didn't know all that well) when we were on the staff of the <i>Diamondback</i>, the University of Maryland student newspaper, in the mid-'70s. Has he done any subsequent TV writing? Last I heard of him, he was writing for some libertarian website.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53150681788915254072014-06-19T07:04:06.595-07:002014-06-19T07:04:06.595-07:00Best use of a name had to be Seinfeld.
"Delo...Best use of a name had to be Seinfeld.<br /><br />"Delores!"<br />Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31506871267600705672014-06-19T06:52:24.620-07:002014-06-19T06:52:24.620-07:00That parrot story was hilarious!
As for given nam...That parrot story was hilarious! <br />As for given names, I never hear anyone's given name in "Louie" except Louie's, though I can pick out Sarah Silverman at the poker games. Doesn't matter, as the actress playing the girlfriend can be the mother in a different episode etc. There's some brilliant surrealism in the narrative that nobody's really caught on to yet (including me).<br />Scooter Schechtmannoreply@blogger.com