tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4339832330878161245..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81607654025023067572020-06-27T12:25:43.915-07:002020-06-27T12:25:43.915-07:00FRIDAY QUESTION: I recently watched Shelley Long&#...FRIDAY QUESTION: I recently watched Shelley Long's 1983 Emmy Award acceptance speech. She was eloquent, gracious, and beautiful. She spoke just like Diane Chambers; in fact, that speech could have been delivered by Diane Chambers without changing a word. So my question is, how similar was Shelley Long to the character she played?Richard Pridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14934266183635027035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22263484279409321332017-07-27T13:34:49.483-07:002017-07-27T13:34:49.483-07:00Ken,
There are thee minutes missing from "On...Ken,<br /><br />There are thee minutes missing from "One for the Road" on DVD. I know you didn't write the episode, but do you have any idea why that is? It's a shame we don't have an uncut finale of one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.<br /><br />This message board thread lists the edits and even transcribes what is missing: http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/cheers-series-finale-the-lost-footage.686397/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16858998382573935509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18764062321658065602017-07-26T21:14:10.397-07:002017-07-26T21:14:10.397-07:00Friday Question -
I always enjoyed the Cheers re...Friday Question - <br /><br />I always enjoyed the Cheers reunion episodes on Frasier for their nostalgia. Was there ever any talk about bringing Ted Danson or Shelley Long back again in the mid/later seasons? I know Shelley appeared 3 times, but obviously 2 of those were basically dream sequences. Since there was Cliff's retirement party in the 9th season of Frasier, it would've been cool to see what Sam or Diane were also up to in the early 2000s. Did the network ask for it, or were those 2 main Cheers characters always intended to have just one big Frasier reunion episode; and that's it?Anthonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34181339533863699272017-07-24T20:31:04.045-07:002017-07-24T20:31:04.045-07:00I want a limited M*A*S*H reunion: thirty years lat...I want a limited M*A*S*H reunion: thirty years later, Hawkeye and BJ bump into each other in an airport bar and awkwardly talk as we learn that they didn't stay in touch, and slowly catch up with each other before someone has to run to catch his flight.<br /><br />Then Hawkeye calls for his bill, and we finally see the bartender - and Ted Danson hands it to him. Fade to black.David Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26538876523624694842017-07-23T15:56:33.867-07:002017-07-23T15:56:33.867-07:00"cadavra said...
But would you entertain the ...<i>"cadavra said...<br />But would you entertain the idea of a CHEERS revival with an entirely new cast, with perhaps an occasional guest visit by, say, Norm or Carla?"</i><br /><br />... and directed by David Lynch, with some episodes not just devoid of story, but downright incomprehensible? And a tree with a throbbing brain playing Woody? And most of it taking place in another city and not in a bar?D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60492938800937552332017-07-22T18:32:09.685-07:002017-07-22T18:32:09.685-07:00I like that Cheers "We will rock you" cl...I like that Cheers "We will rock you" clip, but I have always thought it would be funnier if Woody called out the first verse to it and then the crowd joins in with the "We Will Rock You" chorus. <br /><br />I agree on no reunion with the same actors. Maybe a reboot with new actors, but it would need some kind of angle so it wouldn't be just more "bar stories"<br /><br /><br /><br />Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00760229533287495672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49850777883177663902017-07-22T16:20:13.194-07:002017-07-22T16:20:13.194-07:00I'd hate to imagine a Cheers remake with every...I'd hate to imagine a Cheers remake with everyone sitting around the bar fiddling with their cell phones. Come to think of it, that kind of thing would kill a Friends update just as quickly. Maybe they can do epistolary comebacks on Twitter or Facebook.<br />Kaleberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283840743310507878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39264993744323468252017-07-22T15:37:27.876-07:002017-07-22T15:37:27.876-07:00I've been binge watching "Raising Hope,&q...I've been binge watching "Raising Hope," and I'm so impressed with Martha Plimpton and Garret Dillahunt. They're brilliant at physical comedy!Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18263644759216112802017-07-22T15:33:06.140-07:002017-07-22T15:33:06.140-07:00@Breadbaker Thanks for sharing. @Breadbaker Thanks for sharing. Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32210867694149188042017-07-22T14:37:08.346-07:002017-07-22T14:37:08.346-07:00@Johnny Walker, Van Dyke himself said the experien...@Johnny Walker, Van Dyke himself said the experience was great but the show wasn't. Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71622687637725603502017-07-21T22:52:03.926-07:002017-07-21T22:52:03.926-07:00When it comes to great themes, I go back a ways. R...When it comes to great themes, I go back a ways. Rawhide, The Rebel, The Ballad of Paladin,and The Legend of Jed Clampett are a few of my favorites. Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4907405444844575722017-07-21T22:49:03.981-07:002017-07-21T22:49:03.981-07:00I think the "Flip Wilson Show" theme is ...I think the "Flip Wilson Show" theme is a gem. (Faithful modernisation: https://youtu.be/NUC69MFidPU)<br /><br />Physical comedians or actors? No one can top the late John Ritter.Liggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2552778796689266672017-07-21T20:43:08.810-07:002017-07-21T20:43:08.810-07:00Makes me wonder what you think of the modern day D...Makes me wonder what you think of the modern day Dick Van Dyke Show special that Carl Reiner did, Ken? I've personally been too afraid to watch it. Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25557915391317289942017-07-21T19:48:49.331-07:002017-07-21T19:48:49.331-07:00>>But David Hyde Pierce is a master.<<...>>But David Hyde Pierce is a master.<< That's 100% true. But y'know who kinda reminds me of someone in the same mold, besides Tony Shalhoub? Hamish Linklater in 'The New Adventures of Old Christine.'ScottyBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83768827078142049982017-07-21T19:44:37.770-07:002017-07-21T19:44:37.770-07:00>>But would you entertain the idea of a CHEE...>>But would you entertain the idea of a CHEERS revival with an entirely new cast, with perhaps an occasional guest visit by, say, Norm or Carla?<< Oh God, please no, Ken. This is how 'The Flintstones' and 'Scooby Doo' movies end up getting made.ScottyBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81545144152700109652017-07-21T19:42:51.596-07:002017-07-21T19:42:51.596-07:00>>Some shows have memorable tunes that peopl...>>Some shows have memorable tunes that people recognize instantly; others have to be Googled.<<<br /><br />I'm a ginormous fan of opening-title theme songs, but none more than were originally full-length songs shortened to adapt to the opening-title theme. The 'Cheers' theme by Gary Portnoy and Andrew Gold's 'Thank You For Being a Friend' (Golden Girls) and while I liked it because I just just out of my tweens and kids my age kinda liked that kinda Top 40 pop fluff, 'Making Our Dreams Come True' (Laverne & Shirley.) But especially, the themes that were great on their own as long-form songs: The Rockford Files, Hill Street Blues, Sanford & Son (The Greatest American Hero might be debatable, but there ya go). Still, for my money, nobody could beat Earle Hagen and Persky/Denoff when it came to the killer opening-credit theme song.ScottyBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81590732905146691202017-07-21T19:23:06.453-07:002017-07-21T19:23:06.453-07:00Michael Richards was the flashiest, but Julia L-D ...Michael Richards was the flashiest, but Julia L-D and Jason Alexander are both very good physical comedians. <br /><br />* * *<br /><br />I know for certain if there were a new Cheers series, I'd be checking it out. And desperately hoping that it lived up to the (very, very heavy) expectations.<br /><br />If it never happens? It's all right -- the legacy is safe. <br /><br />But Satchel Paige came back at age 59 and pitched three shutout innings for Kansas City. Sometimes an unexpected out-of-retirement cameo can lead to a little slice of magic... Arthur Meenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2815301922996178262017-07-21T18:33:35.297-07:002017-07-21T18:33:35.297-07:00My most recent favorite theme music and credits se...My most recent favorite theme music and credits sequence is the opening of "The Good Fight." (Love the horns and vocals and I never get tired of seeing that exploding decanter!). And when it comes to physical comedians, though she is never "big", Julia Louise Dreyfuss can have me in tears just standing up! The way she physically inhabits her characters is a marvel to me, especially on her series "The New Adventures of Old Christine." You see the beginnings of it on Seinfeld, but she really nails it on Christine, I could watch it with the sound off and she would still crack me up.Astroboynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22137337541818951152017-07-21T16:54:51.244-07:002017-07-21T16:54:51.244-07:00But would you entertain the idea of a CHEERS reviv...But would you entertain the idea of a CHEERS revival with an entirely new cast, with perhaps an occasional guest visit by, say, Norm or Carla?cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42834520506866611862017-07-21T16:51:33.864-07:002017-07-21T16:51:33.864-07:00Re: Joe Eszterhas:
"That actress was so naïv...Re: Joe Eszterhas:<br /><br /><i>"That actress was so naïve, she slept with the writer."</i><br /><br />-- attributed to multiple sourcesTodd Everettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22277952241512914752017-07-21T16:20:40.848-07:002017-07-21T16:20:40.848-07:00reacting to the Red Sox finally winning the World ...<i>reacting to the Red Sox finally winning the World Series</i><br /><br />Which had to be second-best after knocking off the Yankees in four-straight after losing the first three - talk about sweet redemption.Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18830739754177250882017-07-21T16:18:03.977-07:002017-07-21T16:18:03.977-07:00The reference to "Suicide Is Painless" g...The reference to "Suicide Is Painless" getting tweaked over the year rings a bell, and might for you too, Ken (as a DJ).<br /><br />I seem to recall that for a whole season an instrument was badly out-of-tune for the opener - a woodwind? <br /><br />Do you remember that?Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72496346073627262742017-07-21T16:12:06.759-07:002017-07-21T16:12:06.759-07:00What a fun cold open that was! Reminds me that I h...What a fun cold open that was! Reminds me that I have a lot of Alley-Era shows that I haven't yet watched.<br /><br />Mention of Hugh Laurie reminds me of the opener to the Wooster and Jeeves series from Britain. <br /><br />First five minutes is of a Wooster waking up in the drunk tank and being led to The Magistrate. Five minutes, no lines, just facial expressions, until the Magistrate demands an answer. <br /><br />The rest of that episode involves Wooster going back to "his rooms", being accosted by Jeeves, who has arrived to answer Wooster's employment ad, and soon gets his hoped-for answer:<br /><br />"You're Retained!"<br /><br />At that point I gave the DVD set to a friend - I should get it back.Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22206360108556408792017-07-21T15:54:51.928-07:002017-07-21T15:54:51.928-07:00I've had a vague notion of a CHEERS reboot whe...I've had a vague notion of a CHEERS reboot where Woody's kids end up owning the bar with Frederick Crane hanging around in kind of the Frasier role with maybe a couple of Carla's kids hanging around with rare cameos and guest shots from the original cast. But I have no illusions it'd be any good. It had 11 virtually perfect seasons. We can't ask for more than that.Eric Lydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09787174730867647969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15334030798120067402017-07-21T15:50:54.744-07:002017-07-21T15:50:54.744-07:00I would have no interest in a Cheers mini-series o...I would have no interest in a Cheers mini-series or the equivalent, and I still watch Cheers episodes.My all-time favorite sitcom.<br /><br />Even a couple of the Frasier episodes with Cheers cast members seem old. The guys, actually. The shows with Diane and Lilith hold up well.<br /><br />Reminds me of a line from a Kinks song decades ago about "celluloid heroes" in Hollywood. And because Cheers was shot live, it still has the feeling of a live performance.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Max Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706524941272103444noreply@blogger.com