tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4438611724302933912..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Bonus QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4404850547193144862015-07-31T02:19:38.024-07:002015-07-31T02:19:38.024-07:00I see my stalker is still posting under my name. T...I see my stalker is still posting under my name. Thanks for deleting his post, whatever it said (I didn't see it before you removed it).<br /><br />And to my stalker: keep living the dream!The Real Dealnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40189724669832772292015-07-30T22:19:01.059-07:002015-07-30T22:19:01.059-07:00This Cosby discussion is OVER. It has turned ugly...This Cosby discussion is OVER. It has turned ugly and I won't have it. Any more Cosby comments here will be deleted. If this keeps up I will change the comment feature to where I have to approve all comments before they are posted. That means your comment could sit for hours or days before I get to it. Is that what you want? PLAY NICE KIDS. I mean it!By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12518124166415058602015-07-30T21:22:31.934-07:002015-07-30T21:22:31.934-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71770674644295013132015-07-30T21:17:04.283-07:002015-07-30T21:17:04.283-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Hamid.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57000136802208804622015-07-30T20:41:38.912-07:002015-07-30T20:41:38.912-07:00Regarding actors who have to eat in a scene: In He...Regarding actors who have to eat in a scene: In <i>Hello Dolly</i> on Broadway, Carol Channing had to eat like crazy. Part of the joke of the scene was that she was cramming a good meal down her face as fast as possible before the farce-situation blew up in her face and she'd be deprived of the food. I remember finding hilarious the rhythm she established of that fork going down to plate, stabbing bit of food, and then up into her mouth, repeat <i>ad infinitum</i>, seemingly as fast as she could move her arm. Supposedly it was a whole meal of steak, potatoes and vegetables. It was actually cotton candy, colored and shaped to look like steak, potatoes and vegies, so it basically disappeared when it hit her tongue.<br /><br />I attended a taping of <i>Murphy Brown</i> once that had one pre-taped scene. For the show's button, Murphy looks out her window at the neighbor, guest star Tom Poston, with whom she'd been battling over some home improvements she wanted to make, and sees him on his new deck, an improvement he'd denied her, sunning himself nude. It had been shot in the studio, and <i>Could</i> have been shot with the audience there, but I think we were all really fine, really <i><b>really</b></i> fine, with Tom shooting his nude scene privately first. I assure you, when they ran it on the monitor for us, they got the laugh they wanted, and then some.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25167045432113310552015-07-30T20:11:52.764-07:002015-07-30T20:11:52.764-07:00Good question about pre-recorded scenes on sitcoms...Good question about pre-recorded scenes on sitcoms -- especially since I'll be at the filming of the third-season opener of "Mom" at Warners tomorrow night. At the ep I attended last year (the one the aired the week after Kevin Pollak's character Alvin died), the only pre-recorded scene that didn't involve a juvenile (who by state law are prohibited from working "live" in the evening) was an Allison Janney dream sequence where her Bonnie is reunited with Alvin on a beach (think "From Here To Eternity"), only to have his ex (portrayed by Beverly D'Angelo) run over by a train speeding out of nowhere. (Hey, it was Bonnie's dream.)VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40654345187317921492015-07-30T19:00:39.508-07:002015-07-30T19:00:39.508-07:00Diane D. many people get money from Cosby's TV...Diane D. many people get money from Cosby's TV series (he had more than one), is it fair they are punished financially because you don't morally approve of him? And while he has a major cut for the Cosby Show, shows such as I Spy and The Bill Cosby Show he was just an actor.michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17812924049258701715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91913454470824542042015-07-30T18:48:52.224-07:002015-07-30T18:48:52.224-07:00S. Robinson: The problem with redeeming the serie...S. Robinson: The problem with redeeming the series (The Bill Cosby Show) is that the "man" benefits financially, and that would be a betrayal of his victims. They don't deserve that. Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78527618511841339012015-07-30T17:49:03.471-07:002015-07-30T17:49:03.471-07:00@Smitty: That's a good point. Keep pressing it...@Smitty: That's a good point. Keep pressing it and you may get an answer. My guess is that, for all the moaning about interference, most producers & writers are chasing the money.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3245268850440831742015-07-30T16:14:04.415-07:002015-07-30T16:14:04.415-07:00It's so disappointing when our heroes let us d...It's so disappointing when our heroes let us down.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37467386338463180372015-07-30T15:29:20.769-07:002015-07-30T15:29:20.769-07:00The bit about George Wendt drinking beer reminded ...The bit about George Wendt drinking beer reminded me of seeing Christina Applegate on Kimmel last night. There's a scene in the new Vacation movie where she chugs a whole pitcher of beer. She said that they actually CGI'd the beer. She still had to sell the swallowing action, though.Alan Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34485697588661724482015-07-30T15:13:03.452-07:002015-07-30T15:13:03.452-07:00The comments regarding food remind me of that Alka...The comments regarding food remind me of that Alka-Seltzer commercial "Mama Mia, that's a spicy meatball". It's available on YouTube. Still funny after all these years. iamr4manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03886388328762709050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34572330034546331142015-07-30T15:12:05.762-07:002015-07-30T15:12:05.762-07:00DBA, you are right but there is civil action that ...DBA, you are right but there is civil action that can be taken (much like the OJ case). You admit there is one case and that is what I am waiting on. I am not in a hurry for instant judgment, just judgment one way or another.<br />I think there should be more attention to changing the laws so rape can join murder as crimes with no statue of limitations. <br /><br />Anonymous, read my post. I didn't say I thought he was innocent I am just waiting for him to be proven guilty by a court of law rather than the media.<br /><br />Peter<br />That sealed deposition had Cosby admit to getting a party drug of the era (there is even a Shel Silverstein song about quaaludes). He comes off as a creep and scum but nothing he admitted to was rape (which is why he was not charged with rape after).<br /><br />But this is not about Cosby the man but Cosby the comedian. I would hate to think how much of entertainment and other accomplishments of Man would be rejected based on a moral code for the human behind it.michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17812924049258701715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57279044458437049482015-07-30T15:06:46.541-07:002015-07-30T15:06:46.541-07:00"My heart goes out to actors doing food relat..."My heart goes out to actors doing food related commercials. They DO have take big bites of those juicy Big Macs take after take after take."<br /><br />Reminds me of the two old Alka-Seltzer commercials: one of an actor blowing take after take filming a "Speecy, spicy" meatball commercial; the other of a man in obvious digestive discomfort sitting on the edge of his bed moaning to his wife, "I can't believe I ate the whole thing."MikeK.Pa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53121091499145629532015-07-30T14:47:54.254-07:002015-07-30T14:47:54.254-07:00Michael
The fact that Cosby admitted in a sealed ...Michael<br /><br />The fact that Cosby admitted in a sealed deposition which he never thought would be revealed to the public that he drugged a woman for sex and used the death from cancer of another woman's father as a way to get close to her for sex might have something to do with people's disgust at this grotesque man.<br /><br />While he was condemning Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphyfor swearing, Cosby was raping young women. While he was selling the image of a squeaky clean family sitcom, he was drugging young women. While he was telling rappers to pull up their pants, he was manipulating emotionally vulnerable women suffering a bereavement to get them into bed.<br /><br /><br />I haven't let any of this change my opinion about the man or his show. I've always found him and his shitty sitcom unfunny. But I guess the fact it was "clean" is all that matters for repressed prudes.Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12985034944225284652015-07-30T14:40:40.381-07:002015-07-30T14:40:40.381-07:00@michael: I was taught in school that the American...@michael: I was taught in school that the American justice system said you were innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<br /><br />Common misconception. No, you are not innocent. You are presumed innocent for legal purposes. This means the State must prove your guilt. The burden is on the State. That is far different from everyone has to believe someone is innocent in the public forum. Someone can shoot another person on television in front of millions of people and those viewers can decide the shooter is guilty of the crime. But when that person goes to trial they are presumed innocent in the eyes of the law until evidence is presented and a judge or jury has decided.<br />It is very hard to believe given the number of women who have come forward that Cosby is innocent. But it is possible. If and when he is prosecuted, he receives the benefit of presumed innocence. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39769997643780558042015-07-30T13:02:14.725-07:002015-07-30T13:02:14.725-07:00Michael, do you understand that for all but one of...Michael, do you understand that for all but one of the accusers, the statute of limitations has far passed? So while he is accused of near 40 incidents of wrongdoing, it's literally impossible for there to be a guilty verdict for all but one? That's why it is still worthy of discussion. We have to judge for ourselves for all the others. Read the story in New York magazine. Then see what you think.DBAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16255826740937863162015-07-30T12:18:19.451-07:002015-07-30T12:18:19.451-07:00Louis CK and FX have a basic agreement: LCK gets c...Louis CK and FX have a basic agreement: LCK gets complete creative control, FX's budget for his show is peanuts (in show biz terms) and as long as the show gets eyeballs/retains its quality, FX leaves LCK alone. Do you think most showrunners would take trade no network inference for a reduced budget?Smittynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54185985003220044392015-07-30T11:12:52.218-07:002015-07-30T11:12:52.218-07:00I worked once as an extra where food was served in...I worked once as an extra where food was served in a soup kitchen scene. The food had been cooked before hand but was stone cold by the time we got it. We did a lot of "pushing the food around", and lifting empty forkfuls to our mouths. In one set up we lined up cafeteria style and food was dumped onto our plates as we made our way down the line. Before the director went for another take, we had to reverse back down the line so that food could be removed from our plates and put back into the serving trays. It got gross after take number 3.Glen K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55333603630661879722015-07-30T10:52:31.529-07:002015-07-30T10:52:31.529-07:00One of the sad part about Bill Cosby story is how ...One of the sad part about Bill Cosby story is how quick we have been to grab our pitchforks and torches and storm the castle like some bad monster movie. I was taught in school that the American justice system said you were innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But Fatty Arbuckle probably had a great laugh over that.<br />There are court cases coming and I have my tar and feathers heating over in the corner, but I am waiting until I hear a guilty verdict before I start burning his work.michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17812924049258701715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45805388795757924722015-07-30T10:19:33.438-07:002015-07-30T10:19:33.438-07:00Above posters: I understand what you mean by censo...Above posters: I understand what you mean by censoring books, shows, etc. but, in my opinion,once we learn a bit about an author or star that is extremely negative our perception and support changes. I remember reading The Education Of Little Tree many years ago. It was a touching story of a Native American boy being forced to change by compulsory education laws. I then learned that the author, Forest Carter who had proclaimed to be Cherokee was not and he in fact was a White Supremist. I would never have supported the author. let alone read the book, had I known this beforehand. It`s okay to back away from something objectionable. Mini protest if you will.mmryan314https://www.blogger.com/profile/03956737239500293977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11984284165915768202015-07-30T09:07:21.755-07:002015-07-30T09:07:21.755-07:00CANDA: Second, the Theo-Cliff scene from the pilot...CANDA: Second, the Theo-Cliff scene from the pilot of "The Cosby Show", where the Dad teaches the son the value of money (using the Monopoly dollars) is worth showing to anyone writing comedy. If this is an example of "trigger warnings", it's unfortunate. There are few well-written family comedies, and the scenes from the shows you list, don't sound like they have many in them.<br /><br />****<br /><br />SER: Bill Cosby is probably an awful human being, but THE COSBY SHOW (especially its first season) doesn't deserve the vanish. I can understand people not wanting to look at the man (although he doesn't seem to resemble the "dirty old" unshaven man in sweats he is now, which is somewhat ironic because it was the younger Cosby who committed these acts). I wonder if they'll be a point when the series can be redeemed (along with FAT ALBERT). Not just for its entertainment value but there are a very small number of black sitcoms that are critically acclaimed (or would be taught in schools). I grew up loving SANFORD AND SON, GOOD TIMES, and THE JEFFERSONS but neither would probably be taught in a college screenwriting class.<br /><br />***<br /><br />CANDA: This also goes to the heart of the controversy over "Huckleberry Finn" and the poetry of Ezra Pound. Even Gatsby, now, is being given trigger warnings in college. I worry about this self-censorship.<br /><br />SER: I thought it made more sense for HUCK FINN to be taught in college than in high school. I was taught the book in both places, and the college experience was better: More blunt and accurate discussions of the racial history at the time. In high school, it's just a tedious walk on eggshells. Now, we can argue that it's *good* to crack those eggshells in high school, but my high school teacher taught HUCK FINN as a standard picaresque novel -- no real depth (but this was South Carolina). I think HUCK FINN is far more complex than is given credit and warrants a college class audience. Coincidentally, I'd say that GATSBY is more suited for high school kids. Despite having "adult" characters, the conflicts are far more relatable to teenagers -- probably because the characters *behave* like teenagers.<br /><br />To your point, though, HUCK FINN isn't a racist book. It actually attacks racism. GATSBY is slightly less progressive -- there's a lot of casual racism and anti-semitism, but that should be confronted when taught. I know there have been some complaints about the violence against women (Tom breaking Myrtle's nose), but that is clearly depicted as a negative act.<br /><br />Ezra Pound falls into the Cosby camp, in a way: A terrible person but that's not what their work is about. I wish we could more effectively separate the author from the art.<br />Stephen Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670422634319094941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18539271102023406932015-07-30T09:02:38.390-07:002015-07-30T09:02:38.390-07:00One more thing: I agree with Canda's comments ...One more thing: I agree with Canda's comments regarding the "Cosby Show" pilot. I think that scene in particular (and the episode overall) is probably the best thing Bill Cosby ever did -- and the fact that we know now what we know about him shouldn't diminish its quality or its impact.Rashad Khanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2054705768424550112015-07-30T08:54:38.895-07:002015-07-30T08:54:38.895-07:00That should have read: "...you mentioned SHOW...That should have read: "...you mentioned SHOWING the pilot episode...". I didn't realize until today that I had left out that word. Apologies, hope that clears up any confusion, and thanks for answering the question, Ken!Rashad Khannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44161869726016800822015-07-30T08:23:55.034-07:002015-07-30T08:23:55.034-07:00Just on the Betamax topic, one thing I'd heard...Just on the Betamax topic, one thing I'd heard looong ago is that Betamax tapes (for home recording) were shorter than VHS, and in particular not long enough to hold an entire sporting event. So people would record a baseball game and the last inning would be missing.<br /><br />But also porn, yeah. Porn is what drives all technological advances.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514127184704002111noreply@blogger.com