tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4146732712356886989..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My day at the DMVBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46517935576903122262015-01-29T19:51:13.357-08:002015-01-29T19:51:13.357-08:00Chris, in its first seaon (1966-67) Mission Imposs...Chris, in its first seaon (1966-67) Mission Impossible was doing 28 episodes. By the last season <br />(1972-73) it was down to 22, so late 60s was when the current # of episodes was set.Dana Gabbardhttp://socata.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58303222709199155432015-01-29T19:41:19.495-08:002015-01-29T19:41:19.495-08:00803 Cole Avenue in Hollywood, near Melrose/Vine. D...803 Cole Avenue in Hollywood, near Melrose/Vine. Did my renewal last April and like the previous time there it was a painless experience. And I don't even drive, just have the licenese for ID and if I need to drive while visiting my relatives in central Washington (where public transit is scarce).Dana Gabbardhttp://socata.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8802070991531147862015-01-29T13:11:58.621-08:002015-01-29T13:11:58.621-08:00When my kids were old enough, I 'made' the...When my kids were old enough, I 'made' them watch a few scenes on youtube of great comedy:<br />-Jim at the DMV was one.<br />-Password with Felix and Oscar.<br />-Ralph and Ed doing the crossword, and address a golf ball.<br />-Lucy doing a commercial and packing chocolate<br />-"This is an Arm and this is a rib" with Rob Petry.<br />-Coach teaching Sam about Geography<br />-Cliff talking to his son Theo about the real world.The Bumble Bee Pendanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782074071758250824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71992248042776677822015-01-29T02:29:48.863-08:002015-01-29T02:29:48.863-08:00MikeN said...
You have to give a thumbprint to get...MikeN said...<br />You have to give a thumbprint to get a driver's license?<br /><br />So they treat you as a criminal.<br /><br />Yeah, I recently got a misdemeanor charge expunged from when I was arrested for drinking when I was 20. Part of the deal is that my fingerprints taken by the police the night of my arrest will be destroyed. I asked what the point is, since the State Police already have them from when I got my license to carry a handgun, my employer has my thumbprints, my bank has my prints and probably 10 other banks have them.Charlesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54941343444623071062015-01-29T01:11:42.817-08:002015-01-29T01:11:42.817-08:00The Beverley Hillbillies were shooting 36 episodes...The Beverley Hillbillies were shooting 36 episodes per season until season 4, when they shot 30 episodes in colour;in season 7 they cut back to 26 episodes, the last season (9, 1970) saw 24 episodes.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13623956501060806952015-01-28T18:13:43.483-08:002015-01-28T18:13:43.483-08:00You have to give a thumbprint to get a driver'...You have to give a thumbprint to get a driver's license?<br /><br />So they treat you as a criminal.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20484980701053721502015-01-28T17:09:05.154-08:002015-01-28T17:09:05.154-08:00Having stood in line for a (certified) birth certi...Having stood in line for a (certified) birth certificate so I could stand in line to apply at the post office for a passport so I could stand in another line to pick up the passport, I am not impressed. And this was pre-9/11.<br />I believe they require a DNA sample now.Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39655453686141643102015-01-28T17:06:05.000-08:002015-01-28T17:06:05.000-08:00Anonymous Chris said...
Friday question: do you kn...<i>Anonymous Chris said...<br />Friday question: do you know exactly when network series dropped from 39 to 24 episodes per season?</i><br /><br />When? Mid-late '60s. Why? Rising production costs. Switching to color film was a big factor. Color was more expensive, although some series continued to shoot 30-odd episodes per season for awhile, even after color came in.<br /><br />The other thing was that networks realized that they didn't lose that much of the audience by airing more reruns. People might have griped about reruns, but they still watched them. Once they got used to them, anyway. When CBS premiered <i>The Amos 'n' Andy Show</i> in June 1951, their first season consisted of only 26 episodes, which was unusually low for 1951. That meant the series aired reruns from December 1951 until June 1952, when season two started up. You can go back and read newspaper TV columns from January 1952 and find columnists addressing irate viewers who were outraged that they were expected to spend six months watching episodes they'd already seen! At least one CBS station refused to carry the reruns, and simply dropped <i>Amos 'n' Andy</i> from its schedule during that period.<br /><br />In its last couple of years, <i>I Love Lucy</i> aired only 26 new episodes per season and filled out the remaining 13 weeks with reruns. (<i>Lucy</i> aired only 39 weeks per year, its time slot filled by another series during the summer.) That was an unusual new episode versus rerun ratio for the mid 1950s, but <i>Lucy</i> being as popular as it was, it could get away with it. They always insisted the reruns were to meet audience demands to see episodes again that they either missed the first time around, or thought were so good that they wanted to watch them a second time.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10055637328518427362015-01-28T16:12:31.920-08:002015-01-28T16:12:31.920-08:00I went there today for new tabs. I was in and out ...I went there today for new tabs. I was in and out in 20 minutes. Finding the damn place was the biggest problem.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4231393322401594892015-01-28T16:10:31.742-08:002015-01-28T16:10:31.742-08:00Very funny post, as always, Ken! But at least you ...Very funny post, as always, Ken! But at least you didn't discover the bureaucracy had classified you as a CAR. (Just ask McManus!) Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61260491423492520682015-01-28T15:42:39.877-08:002015-01-28T15:42:39.877-08:00How brilliant was it as an expositional device for...How brilliant was it as an expositional device for Reverend Jim to be required to literally characterize himself for his<br />driver's test application? <br />Just beautiful! <br />Would love to know how many takes it took for the other actors to get through that scene without totally losing it.Mark Solomonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84109870782168872802015-01-28T15:09:12.835-08:002015-01-28T15:09:12.835-08:00Why can't there be any sitcoms today as funny ...Why can't there be any sitcoms today as funny as Taxi?Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62393464929229666372015-01-28T13:21:56.350-08:002015-01-28T13:21:56.350-08:00Covarr: indeed. The DMV in Ithaca, NY has always b...Covarr: indeed. The DMV in Ithaca, NY has always been a pleasure to attend.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88034106610803863172015-01-28T12:19:34.833-08:002015-01-28T12:19:34.833-08:00Thousand Oaks DMV - the best there is.Thousand Oaks DMV - the best there is.CamrioKidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71669687435587647792015-01-28T11:35:25.929-08:002015-01-28T11:35:25.929-08:00IIRC, didn't Bud on "Married...With Child...IIRC, didn't Bud on "Married...With Children" briefly work at the DMV? They didn't do much with the concept other than using it for a few episodes' "B" stories, so it's not an entirely new idea. VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63892715907308730152015-01-28T11:26:54.862-08:002015-01-28T11:26:54.862-08:00New York actually does their DMV right -
1. They...New York actually does their DMV right - <br /><br />1. They let the County Clerks do DMV work, so instead of huge faceless offices, most of the offices are of a manageable size, and the clerks are sometimes someone you might actually know<br /><br />2. Almost 3/4 of their stuff can be done online, and if it can't be done online, you can print out 90% of the forms online. <br /><br />3. All of the local county clerk DMV offices have a great system: you first go on a line where the clerk checks your paperwork before you actually do anything - and then you get a deli type ticket that is classified to what you are doing - registration, license renewal, whatever. This way, your next clerk is ready for you an your transaction, and knows your paperwork is in order - again, HUGE saving in hassles. The only clerk dealing with unprepared idiots is the first one, so the rest of the clerks are in a MUCH better mood. <br /><br />4. Learner's permits are always in a special separate room. Again, keeps the kids and others off the main lines - more unclogging of the other positions. <br /><br />If you spend more than 45 minutes in one of those officies, it HAS to be something you didLouOCNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151395857835632917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50942061867701595542015-01-28T11:25:30.059-08:002015-01-28T11:25:30.059-08:00 Great situation comedy sketch! Great situation comedy sketch!Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81762464620843895942015-01-28T11:24:03.618-08:002015-01-28T11:24:03.618-08:00I also would just like to add that I don't kno...I also would just like to add that I don't know if procedures vary state-by-state, or even city-by-city, but my driving test was really a joke.<br /><br />I remember back when I got my license, it was the written (now computerized) test that really takes it out of you: 30 randomized questions you have to answer correctly, just to get an appointment to take the driving test (I had the take the written test twice), but it seems to me that the driving instructors want to see that you can handle all the rules of the road in addition to just remembering them in your mind... my driving test was essentially pull out of the parking lot, drive down the street, turn around on a circular residential road, drive back down the road, and pull back into the parking lot. That was it... I guess that explains a lot of why Tennesseans can't drive for squat, with such simplistic driving tests, they can pretty much give a license to anybody so long as they can pull out of a parking lot, turn around, and pull back in. I see drivers always do the opposite of what you're made to study in those drivers manuals: if the light turns yellow, people start speeding up; when people make left turns, they always cut the corner and nearly clip you; and I don't believe half of the people on the road understand the concept of right-of-way.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43583573651539251312015-01-28T11:06:24.426-08:002015-01-28T11:06:24.426-08:00In my town, at least, you can go to the city-count...In my town, at least, you can go to the city-county building to get your licenses renewed, without having to go to the DMV.<br /><br />I've got to say, though, the picture that Ken posted in this entry makes that particular DMV look <i>nice</i>... our DMV looks like you're inside a bunker.<br /><br />But, of course, I always loved this line that Jerry once said in an episode of SEINFELD: "Have you ever been to the Department of Motor Vehicles? It's like a lepper colony there!"Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47814911333384319642015-01-28T10:44:55.410-08:002015-01-28T10:44:55.410-08:00Bad as the DMV may be, it was much worse back when...Bad as the DMV may be, it was much worse back when you had to physically stand in lines while you waited.Hank Gillettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328364486555780403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59585353564536880332015-01-28T10:01:24.733-08:002015-01-28T10:01:24.733-08:00Re: The question of how many episodes per season. ...Re: The question of how many episodes per season. I've been watching Burns and Allen recently and in season 7, they produced 43 episodes, and for most of the others 40 per season. No wonder Gracie wanted to retire as much as she did.<br /><br />The "goddamn Army" guy in MASH, I believe was Bobby Troup, who wrote some music. LOLbensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15099489288672394292015-01-28T09:54:24.583-08:002015-01-28T09:54:24.583-08:00I'm in a suburb of St. Louis and if I go durin...I'm in a suburb of St. Louis and if I go during the two middle weeks of the year and go first thing in the morning (before 10am) and just need a plate or driver's license renewal...piece of cake. In/Out 20 minutes usually. If its a title transfer, God help me.<br /><br />Pam St. LouisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40733119273716036332015-01-28T09:46:38.568-08:002015-01-28T09:46:38.568-08:00Like most government services, you get what you pa...Like most government services, you get what you pay for. The necessary funds required to upgrade the experience interacting with any government office requires funds that 'we' Californians don't want to cough up. So equipment fails, employees are underpaid and unmotivated and the public suffers. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm glad that your experience wasn't worse. But since you're a writer, if it had been horrendous, you may have gotten a story out of it!Sharon Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90064753241464504032015-01-28T09:08:28.114-08:002015-01-28T09:08:28.114-08:00Thanks for reminding me why I love living in a sma...Thanks for reminding me why I love living in a small town. I can go into the DMV any time of day without an appointment, and be out of there within 20 minutes. I guess that's karma apologizing for the lack of shopping.Covarrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512077437345823232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86856238766767219952015-01-28T08:06:31.735-08:002015-01-28T08:06:31.735-08:00My best DMV employee was this guy that could have ...My best DMV employee was this guy that could have been the guy in the movie M*A*S*H, the one who said "Goddamn Army". <br />I walked up to this guy who said "What the hell do you want?"<br />"Title transfer"<br />"It's a nice day out side, you shouldn't be here"<br />"OK"<br />"Gimme your papers"<br />"OK"<br />"Here is your receipt, now get the hell out of here"<br />"OK!"blinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04284135060900752329noreply@blogger.com