tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3720005566620151289..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Who is allowed in the Writers Room? By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45393190215857299342014-02-01T15:00:39.039-08:002014-02-01T15:00:39.039-08:00I read “Forever Dobie” by Dwayne Hickman. Hickman ...I read “Forever Dobie” by Dwayne Hickman. Hickman was the star of the 1959 television show “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis”. In the late 1970s, he became a network executive for CBS, where he was given supervision over the production of various CBS shows.<br /><br />Hickman writes: “I’d read a script and make some notes regarding changes that I felt would improve the overall tone of the piece… My usual notes were general and tended to deal with the overall piece as opposed to small details that didn’t matter. For example, if it was a comedy and a little flat, I’d tell the producer to try to make it funnier. If it was a drama, I’d suggest that he increase the jeopardy and the suspense.”<br /><br />In other words, Hickman got paid big bucks to tell the producers of comedy shows to “be more funny” and the producers of drama shows to “be more dramatic”. Few people are up to such awesome responsibility, which I guess is why it is so hard to get a job as a network executive.Hank Gillettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328364486555780403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36972912100804425022014-01-30T13:57:13.112-08:002014-01-30T13:57:13.112-08:00"That was the series done in Orlando that fea..."That was the series done in Orlando that featured, among others – Britney Spears."<br /><br />Geez, you might want to mention some of those "others": Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and Keri Russell. Their casting director had a pretty good eye for talent.T.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17847744868968851680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83094709217311230152014-01-28T23:42:04.316-08:002014-01-28T23:42:04.316-08:00I imagine the situation is much like the gf in Spi...I imagine the situation is much like the gf in Spinal Tap.<br /><br />So many bands suffer the Yoko factor.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09092985199027690430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26546303286129386432014-01-28T18:17:21.264-08:002014-01-28T18:17:21.264-08:00Great post, thanks Ken!
One question: Where's...Great post, thanks Ken!<br /><br />One question: Where's the photo from? (Isn't that Phoef Sutton sitting there?) That's a LOT of people in the writers room, isn't it?<br /><br />I'd love to sit in and watch something being constructed, but I'm sure the process is long and arduous when you're trying to break stories.<br /><br />I can imagine how unsettling someone coming in would be. Like a stranger sitting in on your Thanksgiving Dinner. That said, if they pitched something genuinely funny, why wouldn't that be welcome...? (What was it Carl Reiner said... ;) Or is the problem that warm-up guys pitch generally bad stuff, and break the flow of the room?Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2472228844155702422014-01-28T04:01:08.073-08:002014-01-28T04:01:08.073-08:00Friday question: Every so often, a TV show will ru...Friday question: Every so often, a TV show will run a "live" episode. "Hot in Cleveland" is kicking off this season with one and, of course, at one time, much of TV was "live". <br /><br />Have you ever directed a live episode or been on set for one?Brian Phillipshttp://rockinradio.com/now_playing.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63486728772182853962014-01-27T23:36:03.701-08:002014-01-27T23:36:03.701-08:00I remember that episode of Gilligan.
S1E8 Goodbye ...I remember that episode of Gilligan.<br />S1E8 Goodbye Island. Gilligan finds tree sap that makes perfect glue. He and Skipper get glued to boat. Very funny sight gags. Filmed on real ocean beach. <br />Then Gilligan finds the glue is only temporary and tries to warn before they set off in ocean. They don't believe him till the boat falls apart in front of them on the beach.<br />Two big set pieces filmed on beach.<br />It was worth it for the laughs.Waynenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32489211583327065022014-01-27T20:15:48.194-08:002014-01-27T20:15:48.194-08:00Friday question.
Love the Blog and it ALWAYS make...Friday question.<br /><br />Love the Blog and it ALWAYS makes me smile. Yes it makes me smile or giggle every time.<br /><br />Question:<br />I have noticed that your blog posts seem to follow a familiar pattern. <br /><br />Something like this:<br />Intro (general info)<br />Inside Scoop (details from the trenches)<br />Little Joke<br />Middle Exposition (marking time, biz story time, setup)<br />BAM - BIG JOKE<br />Last Story or Observation<br />End Credit or zinger one liner<br /><br />So... is this deliberate? Is this the off the cuff organization of a genius comedic writer? What gives?<br /><br />Ok more than one question... :)<br />Angry Gamernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14822713471066409612014-01-27T19:04:02.476-08:002014-01-27T19:04:02.476-08:00Re: the story about John Rich and "Gilligan&#...Re: the story about John Rich and "Gilligan's Island"...<br /><br />It makes perfect sense to me that on a brand-new series you'd want to start production with scripts that give your new cast a great deal of opportunity to interact, get into their characters, and become comfortable with each other rather than with scripts that are going to require you to give most of your attention to special effects and technical stuff. Completely logical. Not that "logical" has ever had anything to do with how TV executives think.<br /><br />It was probably one of the same scripts, but Sherwood Schwartz, the fella responsible for foisting "Gilligan" and "The Brady Bunch" on the world, told about "the last straw" between Rich and CBS was when Rich insisted on filming on location at Zuma Beach rather than at the lagoon CBS had built for the show. The script in question had to do with the castaways trying to repair their wrecked boat, and the show climaxed with a scene in which the unfortunate vessel falls to pieces. Rich had it literally flying apart, board by board, piece by piece, accompanied by cartoony sound effects, rather than simply collapsing. CBS saw no reason the script couldn't be shot on their backlot at the lagoon. Rich's argument was that, first of all, the lagoon wasn't big enough to handle a scene as big as the one he was shooting and, second, it was established in the (first season) opening credits that the ship was wrecked on a large stretch of open beach. Schwartz insisted on letting Rich film it his way, but right after filming was completed, CBS ordered Rich off the series. Rich, who had known Schwartz for many years, chose to depart rather than cause Schwartz any further trouble with the network.<br /><br />And I'm pretty sure you can saw that Rich's directorial career survived losing his gig on "Gilligan's Island."Carlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30484830033366395232014-01-27T17:39:22.085-08:002014-01-27T17:39:22.085-08:00I can't even browse the internet when being wa...I can't even browse the internet when being watched at work let alone be productive.thesamechrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90994517705726162272014-01-27T15:39:59.855-08:002014-01-27T15:39:59.855-08:00I was part of the team that did the rewrite of the...I was part of the team that did the rewrite of the Indiana Jones show at Disneyworld. We were behind the big window on the tour. I thought it was hysterical. It reminded me of that Star Trek episode on the overpopulated planet.<br /><br />The team was six writers and three stuntmen. Funny thing, by the time it was done, we stuntmen had written 90% of the show. The Mutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09149977320388415139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71057116456743265482014-01-27T14:31:49.421-08:002014-01-27T14:31:49.421-08:00Friday Question...
Ken... You do know that Natali...Friday Question...<br /><br />Ken... You do know that Natalie Woods' sports car is up for sale soon, don't you? Are you going to try to buy it, or are you not as big a Natalie fan as you thought you were?<br /><br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2546924/Restored-Mercedes-Roadster-owned-tragic-Hollywood-star-Natalie-Wood-expected-fetch-1-75million-auction.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22111209803273364622014-01-27T13:34:13.867-08:002014-01-27T13:34:13.867-08:00I worked on the Universal lot where the tram would...I worked on the Universal lot where the tram would come by the writers room every ten minutes or so. The people couldn't exactly see into the writers room, but we were on the part of the tour where the tour guide would say, "Tens of thousands of scripts are written every year and only .05 percent of them get made. You have a better chance of wining the lottery than selling a script." Kinda depressing for a writer t hear every ten minutes.DeAnnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33056200553384474962014-01-27T13:33:16.876-08:002014-01-27T13:33:16.876-08:00I worked on the Universal lot where the tram would...I worked on the Universal lot where the tram would come by the writers room every ten minutes or so. The people couldn't exactly see into the writers room, but we were on the part of the tour where the tour guide would say, "Tens of thousands of scripts are written every year and only .5 percent of them get made. You have a better chance of wining the lottery than selling a script." Kinda depressing for a writer t hear every ten minutes.DeAnnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21365962774864562392014-01-27T13:31:06.700-08:002014-01-27T13:31:06.700-08:00Yeah, can understand about not having outsiders wa...Yeah, can understand about not having outsiders watching you work. Had friends that worked at a radio station in Cleveland and it had a ground level window which anyone could stop,look in and watch the DJ do their thing. Being located across from the Greyhound bus station you got a boatload of "colorful" characters stopping by [wienie waggers, drunks, idiots that would just stand there and pound on the window, etc.] Used to have a curtain but management took it down. I think it may have been where the "morning zoo" name took root because everyone felt they were in a zoo exhibit. I wasn't much help because I used to run outside and do insane stuff trying to get my friends to crack up while they were on-air. Tables were turned when I ended up working at a station that had a giant window that looked out into the lobby and people could wander in off the street [before everyone became all security crazy] and watch us. We had a curtain we could shut but the big shots wanted it left open so the public could see what went on at a radio station. That sort of ended when one of the DJs took someone that came in back to the station manager's office, opened the door and told him that the gentleman wanted to watch HIM work just like he could watch the DJ work. They let them start closing the curtain after that.YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62435705759119331692014-01-27T11:24:07.050-08:002014-01-27T11:24:07.050-08:00CBS did fire John Rich off of GILLIGAN'S ISLAN...CBS did fire John Rich off of GILLIGAN'S ISLAND. When the series went into production after the pilot sold, Rich and Sherwood Schwartz were at CBS, where Rich was given a particular script and told that wad the GILLIGAN episode CBS wanted shot first. Rich refused, pointing out that the script in question was technically complex and would be better left till the early production kinks that every series has were smoothed out. He selected a different script and insisted that it was a better choice because it was a much simpler shoot and gave the show's characters much opportunity to interact, something a new cast needs. Rich got his way, but was fired by CBS after directing only three episodes of the series (including the one CBS wanted filmed first).<br /><br />Trivia: Rich hated the lagoon that CBS built for the series because he thought it looked more like a small private lake than something that opened out onto the Pacific Ocean.Kanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14353157336710578222014-01-27T11:01:34.860-08:002014-01-27T11:01:34.860-08:00Actually the Mouse Club offices were in a one-sto...Actually the Mouse Club offices were in a one-story bungalow and the writer's room was a huge conference room, with a number of long tables, one of which I usually lied upon as we pitched ideas. The window wasn't that bad.<br /><br />My office however was much closer to the tram "On the left are the offices of the New Mickey Mouse Club and on the right is the giant asparagus used in Honey I Shrunk the Kids" was my portion. The widow over the set was off high and behind and people would stand there watching run throughs where they couldn't hear anything but had to wonder why we were all wearing heavy sweaters and jackets in the middle of summer in Orlando.<br /><br />On the other hand if you wanted off-color and politically and socially incorrect humor where kids 8-13 were the objects of the joke, the Mouse Club was the place to be.GeeRabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16174671817754361413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30407660689623420192014-01-27T10:30:18.736-08:002014-01-27T10:30:18.736-08:00So I'm guessing Annie didn't pick her prof...So I'm guessing Annie didn't pick her profession because of her great experience at Take Your Daughter to Work Day.Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14709611298645178122014-01-27T09:28:23.291-08:002014-01-27T09:28:23.291-08:00Have you ever worked in the Writers Room of a dram...Have you ever worked in the Writers Room of a drama? My writing partner and I always comment on when we read stories of people coming out of comedy writing rooms, they're all sorts of back stabbing and competition and neurosis, but when we read stories of people in drama writing rooms, they sound more, well, fun. Do you think it has something to do with that recent study that says most comedians have some level of psychological disorders?Steve the Creephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10265147408563991491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26714174037390805072014-01-27T08:42:39.392-08:002014-01-27T08:42:39.392-08:00A (perhaps most trivial) question for some upcomin...A (perhaps most trivial) question for some upcoming Friday:<br /><br />Ken, in the Cheers outline you linked to, I noticed that Woody says there weren't any private schools in his town of Hanover (Indiana). And that the nearest one was in "Shelbyville".<br /><br />Then some years later, we get the The Simpsons (in the town of Springfield, in some state that is notoriously <i>unstated</i>) with their own nearby town of "Shelbyville".<br /><br />No, I am not asking if this means that the Springfield in The Simpsons is, in fact, Springfield, IN.<br /><br />Rather - Google maps tells me that there are many towns closer to Hanover than is Shelbyville - which is about 70 miles away.. <br /><br />And so, perhaps "Shelbyville" was picked because it <b>sounds</b> funny?<br /><br />Funnier than towns that are <i>closer</i> to Hanover, such as Madison, Nabb. Underwood, North Vernon, Butlerville, Sellersburg, La Grange, and Seymour?Igornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70634685845065699472014-01-27T06:50:02.277-08:002014-01-27T06:50:02.277-08:00Yes indeed, originally there were giant picture wi...Yes indeed, originally there were giant picture windows looking out on to the soundstages of the New Mickey Mouse Club, a Disney Channel show called "Adventures in Wonderland" (which was an amazing set), pretty much any movie that was filming -- and the post production offices.<br /><br />That was quite an era. Sometimes, there was a way to block out the windows (I recall that happening when either Stallone or some other stars were shooting there).<br /><br />You could also sometimes see me and my co-workers at numerous audio, film and video recording and edit sessions. <br /><br />It was the oddest thing to be on the other side of the glass. Every few minutes, a group of people would appear at the window, stare for a while, then move on to the next part of the tour. <br /><br />Watching us in recording and edit sessions wasn't very exciting, except that they might catch a glimpse of Regis Philbin or somebody else they recognized on the monitors. <br /><br />Like so many things, after a while we got used to the people entering, watching and leaving. What I loved to do is to wait until they started to leave and then suddenly wave enthusiastically at the folks, as if it was part of the show.<br /><br />They always waved back and I guess it was kind of fun. And highly surreal.Greg Ehrbarhttp://cartoonresearch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-130969535959001692014-01-27T06:24:45.205-08:002014-01-27T06:24:45.205-08:00I'm fairly sure you've touched on it befor... I'm fairly sure you've touched on it before, but reading this entry made me wonder about it, and I always enjoy your take on this sort of thing.<br /><br />I know there's been legal issues in the past with harrassment in the writing room. Where's the line between 'get over it' and 'the (male) writers need to stop being such asshats'?<br /><br />What advice would you give to both male and female writers to keep the room the way you said in this entry it needs to be and still be comfortable for all involved?<br />Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202427531137840740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54764057731841810992014-01-27T06:23:58.300-08:002014-01-27T06:23:58.300-08:00Ken,
I know exactly what you mean. For many years...Ken,<br /><br />I know exactly what you mean. For many years I worked in the local newspaper business. There is a "activity" suggested to local cub scout dens whereby the guys can go to a local newspaper to see how the news is put together. Since both the publishers I worked for liked the notion of positive community relations, we would "gratefully" show the kids around.<br /><br />One day, I did something stupid. I took them into the dark room (yes, it was that long ago) and showed them how print a picture. I said that the paper didn't react to red light and that's how we could see.I also pointed out that when the red light was on it drowned out red colors in the darkroom, pointing out a sign that could no longer be read because the the words were printed with red ink.<br /><br />The kids loved it. The den mothers loved it. My publisher loved it. My reward was that I was now the cub scout guy. Man, that routine got old fast.<br /><br />As an older reporter said, rookie mistake.Jim Snoreply@blogger.com