tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4894789449671371920..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16953593919610086512020-03-23T11:10:46.280-07:002020-03-23T11:10:46.280-07:00I've got an odd FRIDAY QUESTION -
With everyb...I've got an odd FRIDAY QUESTION -<br /><br />With everybody hunkered down to avoid the Trump Flu, is traffic going up on the archives? Or is it just old weirdos like me reading through?<br /><br />Just curious.-3-https://www.blogger.com/profile/18201804552651989442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45169946928873042332013-02-19T14:52:42.832-08:002013-02-19T14:52:42.832-08:00Hey Ken,
I read your posts everyday and find them...Hey Ken,<br /><br />I read your posts everyday and find them invaluable beyond belief (Sorry, had to get the unecessary flattery out of the way). Anyways, I've been working on developing a TV show for over 2 years now and have been running into the same problem over and over again: THE FREAKING PILOT. Frankly, I hate writing them. They need to be endlessly expositional and, within the sitcom world (of which I'm trying to enter), trying to set up all of the characters and their quirks can really kill the comedic momentum. I was wondering if (1) There are any tips you can give about writing a sitcom pilot with an ensemble cast and no discernible main character (2) If it's possible to just go ahead and write the second episode of the series and go back later to write the pilot. <br /><br />Thanks for any and all help,<br />Ziplowdziplowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13269536100197084274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72575177040276190732013-02-11T17:16:14.881-08:002013-02-11T17:16:14.881-08:00I have a question:
I was watching Newsradio, and ...I have a question:<br /><br />I was watching Newsradio, and then for some reason, I wanted to watch some Frasier. And I noticed that aside from the little opening jingle and the ending theme, that Frasier had no musical soundtrack, unless it was related to an action on stage (Frasier playing the piano or listening to a recording). I also noticed too that the show had no exterior establishing shots. Newsradio, on the other hand, had both. The beginnings of some scenes would have that little piano motif, and then occasionally, they'd use a shot of the office to establish the time, or in the off chance they went outside of the office, to establish the location.<br /><br />So was there a specific reason why Frasier didn't use any of those conventions or trappings?Timnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37582776635935274832013-02-10T23:48:15.020-08:002013-02-10T23:48:15.020-08:00I read on Twitter there was a Community convention...I read on Twitter there was a Community convention this weekend, which included a panel from present and former Communtiy writers.<br /><br />What's your experience of these fan conventions and interacting with fans?Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92228991357598677972013-02-10T20:05:21.936-08:002013-02-10T20:05:21.936-08:00Thanks for your answer on Emmy chances of Frasier&...Thanks for your answer on Emmy chances of Frasier's pilot episode vs. Lilith's return episode.<br /><br />Along the same lines then, should Mary Tyler Moore's "Support Your Local Mother" really have beaten the All in the Family pilot ("Meet the Bunkers") in 1971? That didn't seem like an extraordinary MTM episode, from what I remember.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74478573269026328622013-02-09T11:21:04.284-08:002013-02-09T11:21:04.284-08:00"I was in this crowded elevator and this litt... "I was in this crowded elevator and this little old lady turned around<br />and stared in my face. 'Bob Hope,' she said. 'Say something cute.'<br /><br /> 'So of course I said, 'Avocado.' It's pretty hard to say something<br />cute unless you have your cute writers right beside you."<br /><br />--Bob Hope <br />Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1285776017640736792013-02-09T11:19:58.813-08:002013-02-09T11:19:58.813-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64379624478156666152013-02-08T21:40:38.061-08:002013-02-08T21:40:38.061-08:00Stu's comment brought up a new FQ. Do you thin...Stu's comment brought up a new FQ. Do you think networks will consider new anthology shows? Either with rotating casts and stories like "The Twilight Zone", or with a couple of constant characters but guest casts and settings like "Quantum Leap" and "Touched By An Angel"? The recent "Love Bites" was doomed by casting and scheduling snafus, but the episodes I saw intrigued me to the potential of the format, and the SAG must like the number of casting opportunities each episode needs.Liggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34691075785377708052013-02-08T19:40:41.849-08:002013-02-08T19:40:41.849-08:00A comment/question regarding that FRASIER/Lilith e...A comment/question regarding that FRASIER/Lilith episode. I also saw it again recently. The point where 'Lilith' commands 'Eddie' to leave was great. Frasier asks if Lilith's voice is more commanding than his and 'Martin' says something like "I took a step and a half away before I realized she was talking to the dog.' It was such a great line and so well delivered. I wondered if that line could have landed as well if it had been said by another character.<br />When writing a script do you sometimes have a joke, or a line, and put it into different characters mouth's to see where it might work best?scottmcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50995161024436768362013-02-08T19:23:36.751-08:002013-02-08T19:23:36.751-08:00Nothing to do with this post, but, Ken, I thought ...Nothing to do with this post, but, Ken, I thought you might find it interesting that the outgoing head of the CIA admitted on Meet the Press that "interrogation tactics" were indeed used to get information about the location of Bin Laden. So all those people who were outraged at your comment can now get off their high horse.Tim W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79890714686366361202013-02-08T17:31:59.847-08:002013-02-08T17:31:59.847-08:00Carol, I'm bored and have too much time on my ...Carol, I'm bored and have too much time on my hands:<br /><br />Ken is ONE degree away from Kevin Bacon. Kevin played a caller in Frasier (episode 9 of season 2)... which was written by Ken Levine and David Isaacs.<br /><br />#yesimasadnerdJohnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70508860139161929072013-02-08T17:31:07.797-08:002013-02-08T17:31:07.797-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79047808149547466822013-02-08T15:57:50.297-08:002013-02-08T15:57:50.297-08:00I just read the article on Deadline about Christin...I just read the article on Deadline about Christina Apple gate leaving Up All Night and all the changes in the show (I liked the original version and focus). I was reminded of the changes on Almost Perfect and wondered if you had an opinion (on any of the UAL stuff, not on AP).Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23713942191419968572013-02-08T14:44:18.922-08:002013-02-08T14:44:18.922-08:00I have a Friday question.
How many degrees away f...I have a Friday question.<br /><br />How many degrees away from Kevin Bacon are you? (Full disclosure - I'm two - I used to sing with Calista Flockhart before she was famous-High School-and she did some movie with Kevin Bacon.)<br /><br />Asking, because I wonder how many degrees from you I am removed. (Assuming blogs don't count.)Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202427531137840740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27380778964893066422013-02-08T13:08:46.205-08:002013-02-08T13:08:46.205-08:00Ken,
First, I love your blog. Thanks for doin...Ken,<br /><br /> First, I love your blog. Thanks for doing it.<br /> Question: I enjoy watching show DVDs because you get to see all the scenes they take out for syndication. Are there any particular syndication cuts you have noticed on shows you wrote that just drove you crazy?Houston Mitchellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41924389187400841862013-02-08T13:06:56.475-08:002013-02-08T13:06:56.475-08:00And the actual clip with Mickey and the Cheers gan...And the actual clip with Mickey and the Cheers gang has been posted on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwGBuch1alU" rel="nofollow">You Tube</a>.<br /><br />Dana Gabbardhttp://socata.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64061364794535993942013-02-08T12:09:15.675-08:002013-02-08T12:09:15.675-08:00Ken....do you think there can be too early a point...Ken....do you think there can be too early a point in a show's run to do a multi-part episode? WINGS did it for its third/fourth airing. Or is it simply on a case by case basis--here, they felt it was important to have to the time to fill in the backstory on Carol, the woman who wronged both Hackett brothers.Paul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67005698187916747502013-02-08T11:07:31.983-08:002013-02-08T11:07:31.983-08:00Here's the story about Desi and the writers, p...Here's the story about Desi and the writers, paraphrased from Bob Schiller himself (who told the story on my show a few years ago). In 1958, Desi had just sold Westinghouse on the concept of a weekly anthology show that would also incorporate about 5 Lucy-Desi hour shows per season (which became "The Lucy Desi Comedy Hours" in syndication). The rest of the season would be a mix of comedy and dramatic hour long shows featuring other actors a la "Playhouse 90". Desi would host the show, introducing each play at the beginning of the hour. But Westinghouse wanted Lucy in the show every week to insure an audience would tune in. Desi didn't want these prestigious programs to look like Lucy shows every week, so what to do? He went to his writers at the time, Schiller and Weiskopf (Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll had taken a leave of absence). They came up with the solution - Lucy would appear with Desi in a 3-minute commercial which they would write for Westinghouse at the end of each program. Westinghouse loved the idea, and Desi was so grateful, he told S&W they could have anything they wanted - cash, cars, women (knowing Desi's reputation, the latter was also probably true). Schiller chose a sports car, Weiskopf took the cash. And as Schiller tells it, he should have taken the cash because that car cost him more in repairs than the cash he would have received - it was never out of the repair shop!Stu Shostakhttp://www.stusshow.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67775266656691974172013-02-08T10:47:34.848-08:002013-02-08T10:47:34.848-08:00Well, Lou, Hope didn't have all of the same wr...Well, Lou, Hope didn't have all of the same writers as long as Benny and Ball did, so far as I know. But I know that they--and Burns--greatly respected their writers. The stories about how Hope treated his writers suggests that he must have paid well enough to keep them, because they sure wouldn't have been likely to stay out of love.<br /><br />Desi and his wife own a theater and are very active in their community. He doesn't seek attention or publicity, but just kind of goes his own way. But he's fun--a real agitator, and, I would say, like his parents, a perfectionist.<br /><br />There's a great Benny story about his writers. He usually had four. One time, he called over all four of them and said they hadn't been giving Mel Blanc a credit for doing the Maxwell and he wanted that in the script. They scrawled something like, "Mel Blanc was the sound of the Maxwell." Benny thanked them. As they were walking away, one of the four said, "Jack, you know, two of us could have handled that." Benny, as usual, collapsed in laughter.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90408863042148676532013-02-08T10:27:40.855-08:002013-02-08T10:27:40.855-08:00Chevy could at least have said, ""I have...Chevy could at least have said, ""I have to go now. My planet needs me."BigTednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48876289114179744822013-02-08T09:46:05.924-08:002013-02-08T09:46:05.924-08:00Thanks for answering my question today, Ken. Great...Thanks for answering my question today, Ken. Greatly appreciate it.Pete Grossmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11834758697041979182013-02-08T08:44:38.525-08:002013-02-08T08:44:38.525-08:00Lucy had the same writers forever
Hope had the sa...Lucy had the same writers forever<br /><br />Hope had the same writers forever<br /><br />Benny " " " " "<br /><br />Same with Burns and a few others - they knew where their bread was buttered.<br /><br />Now Red Skelton.........<br /><br />Also nice to see Desi Jr seems to be exactly like what his dad was...too bad stories seem to abound concerning Lucie acting quite the diva role...LouOCNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151395857835632917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44195216278748157792013-02-08T08:37:35.001-08:002013-02-08T08:37:35.001-08:00I have the pleasure of knowing Lucy's and Desi...I have the pleasure of knowing Lucy's and Desi's son, and the best way to describe is that he has a gruff exterior but as nice and sweet a guy as you'd want to meet, so I'm not surprised to read about how his parents treated those who worked for and with them. <br />Then you read the stories about Bob Hope's treatment of his writers and you see quite a pattern there, too.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65213926216062911352013-02-08T08:00:15.224-08:002013-02-08T08:00:15.224-08:00The stories abound about how good both Lucy and De...The stories abound about how good both Lucy and Desi were to both the people who worked at Desilu, and the fans. Desilu had annual picnics for everyone who worked there, down to the guy who swept the stage. Lots of home movies of those picnics survive, showing both of them right in there with everybody at the sack races, pie eating contests, etc. <br /><br />As recently as last, a nice story about Lucy surfaced. Grand Central Terminal is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, and their official photographer told how Lucy was there, as she was filing that bag lady movie, STONE PILLOW, she made. In between setups, they kept offering her to come into one of the offices, so she could relax, but she insisted on staying out there, signing autographs, posing for pictures with the public that was there. LouOCNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151395857835632917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57890583438976629112013-02-08T07:32:37.064-08:002013-02-08T07:32:37.064-08:00Friday Question- Cold Open
Cheers used to have th...Friday Question- Cold Open<br /><br />Cheers used to have the best Cold Opens and I was wondering what the philosophy was behind them. Obviously they never had anything to do with the show. Is it like the opening act act concert ?Ronnoreply@blogger.com