tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3462357470975202449..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday questions: Inside dish on MASH and pilot adviceBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27980579222260064622011-04-13T05:17:15.275-07:002011-04-13T05:17:15.275-07:00I was reading a sort of anonymous Q&A with a g...I was reading a sort of anonymous Q&A with a guy who said he has been a TV writer since the 70s, and he mentioned that (at the time of the Q&A) he was involved with 3 Chuck Lorre shows. <br /><br />Is that really possible? Is it like having 3 part-time jobs and getting 3 part-time salaries?Josehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15798142916995695619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69684046058637074342011-04-10T21:32:09.924-07:002011-04-10T21:32:09.924-07:00Barney Rosensweig, the producer of "Cagney an...Barney Rosensweig, the producer of "Cagney and Lacey", tried to sell the networks on the idea of a C&L series for several years. CBS finally agreed to take it as a two-hour movie, but insisted on Loretta Swit as Cagney. Rosensweig protested that Swit was unavailable for a series should the movie be successful. But CBS had a deal with Swit to be in a movie-of-the-week, so they prevailed and told Rosensweig, "If it goes to series, you can recast."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32915764019491167342011-04-10T12:08:46.858-07:002011-04-10T12:08:46.858-07:00To my knowledge reading about MASH, only Wayne Rog...To my knowledge reading about MASH, only Wayne Rogers and McLean Stevenson broke contracts. Each had 5-year deals. Larry Gelbart explains this in his YouTube interview. They decided if McLean was so unhappy in the show, it wasn't worth trying to hold him to the contract.<br /><br />Larry Linville did not break a contract, he left after his expired after season 5.<br /><br />As for MASH not letting Loretta leave, my guess was the show didn't want to recast a new character that late in the run. Alan Alda had said Season 10 would be the last, then was convinced to do a shortened Season 11 to set up the finale. But Swit never should have signed a multi-year deal if she had other possibles in the running. Seems like she protected herself with a contract, then wanted to back out.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849337371348013916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2806152290020379152011-04-09T09:50:14.682-07:002011-04-09T09:50:14.682-07:00Oh, and to minimize the weird images some of you m...Oh, and to minimize the weird images some of you may be forming, Willie Nelson did not have the Ingrid Bergman role--that was, more plausibly, Amy Irving.Nonorinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1415976821336171212011-04-09T09:45:00.127-07:002011-04-09T09:45:00.127-07:00Gottacook: It's standard for a remake to give...Gottacook: It's standard for a remake to give story credit to the writer of the original film, no matter how much has been changed. A notable example of this is the Willie Nelson vehicle HONEYSUCKLE ROSE, in which all the names under the "story by" credit are Swedish--because it is actually a remake of an early Ingrid Bergman movie, INTERMEZZO.Nonorinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38387430591139496002011-04-09T06:19:31.624-07:002011-04-09T06:19:31.624-07:00Hi, Ken. When an episode calls for physical comedy...Hi, Ken. When an episode calls for physical comedy an actor may not be crazy about--like a gag involving kissing someone of the same gender, or someone with a less-than-flattering body having to walk around in a swimsuit--how is it broached with the actor? Is it more of a, "Hey, we have this idea, are you okay with it? If not, we'll do something else," or "Here's the script. Have fun"?Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83099121592516749622011-04-09T03:07:00.832-07:002011-04-09T03:07:00.832-07:00I was in my late teens when MASH started and one t...I was in my late teens when MASH started and one thing I really recall is that neither myself nor anyone of my buddies thought that Swit was "hot" or sexy, that went to other sitcoms actresses. Even Hawkeye was sexier! And til today Swit is not called forth as one of the "hot" sexy actresses from television pasts in any nostalgia poll or such lists. She really could not have been played that sexy, as she was also to be the target of humor in the series, the uptight army officer who really wants to break the rules to suit herself with Burns. Of course, she becomes humanized as years go by, and it seems right then, they need her to be looking more potential as a "love interest" for Hawkeye. A change in plans.<br /><br />The casting department obviously went for someone who would invoke the lips of original actress Kellerman and the name - not the tall, svelte bodytype. But that's always the issue of overstating a detail that becomes a caricature problem later. To me she was more fishlike. Sure she was a fine enough actress for tv but the idea she was improved by giving her tighter fitting clothes and styled hair really misses the point as to what her potential was ever going to be. She would have been right for moving on to Cagney and Lacy, or in that direction and it would have made more sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61301634531288097062011-04-08T21:59:57.974-07:002011-04-08T21:59:57.974-07:00Here's my question for ya, Jo-Jo: It's al...Here's my question for ya, Jo-Jo: It's almost 10 pm, but for the M's it's way past midnight...I've been listening to the game all night, as opposed to watching it, and YOU ARE NOT ON MY RADIO. Why? I have nothing against Dave Valle and Rick, but I thought you were going to do some radio, too. Tomorrow? I noticed that the Giants raised their World Series Championship flag today. And the Mariners raised their traditional white flag tonight. 12-1 now, not that I'm paying attention any longer. Assuming the M's don't score 11 more runs (this month!), they are now on a pace to lose 116 this year. It's still early, but 116 is not out of the question, is it?Home Run Baker's Chocolatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65402256847865231692011-04-08T20:59:02.181-07:002011-04-08T20:59:02.181-07:00Ken - entire run of Cheers is on netflix streaming...Ken - entire run of Cheers is on netflix streaming. Tell the world, Ken...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02277031794120012634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28872100097009849722011-04-08T19:37:53.456-07:002011-04-08T19:37:53.456-07:00Glad to see you back with the M's. Was Dave Ni...Glad to see you back with the M's. Was Dave Niehaus the inspiration for Big Wave Dave?<br />My son has unaccountably become a fan of John Candy. Where can we get a DVD copy of VolunteersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62149215005513437242011-04-08T15:46:48.890-07:002011-04-08T15:46:48.890-07:00Excellent questions, guys. Thanks, Ken.Excellent questions, guys. Thanks, Ken.Max Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706524941272103444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16051107240372835572011-04-08T14:55:12.518-07:002011-04-08T14:55:12.518-07:00Ken,
Thank you very much for answering my questio...Ken,<br /><br />Thank you very much for answering my question! It is always nice to hear the inside scoop from a person who knows it well!<br /><br />CappyRockets and Turtleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853335008301410665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72777061684241379282011-04-08T14:24:38.779-07:002011-04-08T14:24:38.779-07:00I saw "Story by Steve Gordon" (just befo...I saw "Story by Steve Gordon" (just before the screenplay credit) in newspaper ads for the current remake of <i>Arthur</i>. Wouldn't Gordon, if he were still alive, be unhappy about this? Or is having his name attached to this picture strictly a matter of WGA rules, unrelated to what he might or might not have to say about it? (I realize that the credits for <i>Arthur 2 on the Rocks</i> might shed some light on this but don't really want to look it up.)gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2465801690750163222011-04-08T11:57:01.194-07:002011-04-08T11:57:01.194-07:00BigTed said...
"So in addition to the fact ...BigTed said... <br /><br />"So in addition to the fact that virtually every actress on TV has to be model-beautiful, we now see detectives and lawyers and surgeons with cleavage-revealing tops."<br /><br />Actually, there is a lot less cleavage on TV now than there was two seasons ago. That might explain why I'm watching less TV now.mcpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20234620967461486882011-04-08T11:51:39.359-07:002011-04-08T11:51:39.359-07:00Do you know if hour-long drama pilots go through t...Do you know if hour-long drama pilots go through the same level of scrutiny or (especially) changes that half-hour comedies do? I'm thinking of shows with lots of effects, makeup, stunts, large cast, etc. for which the pilot must be expensive to produce. Shows like Heroes and CSI spring to mind. I'm also wondering if HBO and Showtime, or free cable channels like AMC, handle these things differently. Do big names with track records like JJ Abrams have the power to make hands-off deals with the network for complete control?Ryan Eiblinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04016825620238876896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91863214999713542502011-04-08T11:33:53.863-07:002011-04-08T11:33:53.863-07:00Having lost their last four games, the Mariners be...Having lost their last four games, the Mariners better go. Let's hope home field and your presence helps them out, Ken. I'll be tuned in.<br /><br />On the Swit question, it seems that all the moaning about the heat, cold, vermin, and bloody bodies brought about by the war would have been better served if she wasn't wearing glossy lipstick and hot pants. Maybe I expect too much.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3120250259964280692011-04-08T11:29:48.303-07:002011-04-08T11:29:48.303-07:00Completely separate question I just have to ask - ...Completely separate question I just have to ask - we love Community, but each episode can be so weird - claymation character, zombie halloween, etc. How much leeway does a show like that have? I keep expecting to seee them go to Vegas or something...Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64218595227812934692011-04-08T09:43:02.404-07:002011-04-08T09:43:02.404-07:00It seems to me that the networks have gone farther...It seems to me that the networks have gone farther in the last couple of years in insisting that female characters look hot, regardless of how it fits their job. So in addition to the fact that virtually every actress on TV has to be model-beautiful, we now see detectives and lawyers and surgeons with cleavage-revealing tops and Farrah Fawcett hairstyles.<br /><br />Not that I'm complaining (which I suppose is the point), but I doubt those outfits would go over so well among real-life professionals.BigTednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84735591882167825682011-04-08T08:44:46.120-07:002011-04-08T08:44:46.120-07:00@Azatenym
Loretta did the Cagney and Lacey during...@Azatenym<br /><br />Loretta did the Cagney and Lacey during a hiatus of <i>M*A*S*H</i> (in other words, after one season had wrapped up production, and before the next one went into production).<br /><br />But yes, during that time, she actually did want to leave <i>M*A*S*H</i> to do the series version of C&L, however, from what I understand, CBS had a firm hold on her with her contract, and wouldn't let her leave... which makes me wonder... why were they okay with McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers and Larry Linville leaving (nervous about Gary Burghoff), but refused to let Loretta leave?Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67272980084079424102011-04-08T08:00:50.671-07:002011-04-08T08:00:50.671-07:00Go Mariners! I'll be there!Go Mariners! I'll be there!Sanfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00136898074524160070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29290488833273673452011-04-08T07:07:52.314-07:002011-04-08T07:07:52.314-07:00Ken,
Best wishes for tonight. Beware the juggern...Ken,<br /><br />Best wishes for tonight. Beware the juggernaut also known as the Cleveland Indians!<br /><br />Also, please ask the Mariner pitchers to not throw curveballs to Matt LaPorta, as that would be mean & he couldn't hit one anyway if he used a redwood tree for a bat.iainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50379546054436496492011-04-08T06:28:15.705-07:002011-04-08T06:28:15.705-07:00Today's entry, dealing as it does with Loretta...Today's entry, dealing as it does with Loretta Swit and pilots, reminds me of something that has long puzzled me. You may not be the one to explain it, but you are the one soliciting questions, so I will go ahead and try it on you:<br /><br />Why did Loretta Swit make the CAGNEY AND LACEY pilot when M*A*S*H was still in production and would, as it turned out, run another couple of years? I must point out here that this was definitely a pilot, something meant to spawn a series--not something intended as a one-shot movie, that someone later saw had series potential, as in the cases of PRESCRIPTION: MURDER and THE MARCUS-NELSON MURDERS, which led to COLUMBO and KOJAK, respectively. Also, I remind everyone that Swit had the rather essential role of Cagney, so she presumably did intend to be part of the series if it sold.<br /><br />Was there an expectation at the time that M*A*S*H would soon be canceled (it had already run three times longer than the Korean War)? Was Swit wanting to leave? Or did she merely think it was never a bad idea to have multiple choices?<br /><br />Thank you for your attention.Azatenymnoreply@blogger.com