tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5062313588546781201..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29463320396668594022019-07-16T02:29:10.895-07:002019-07-16T02:29:10.895-07:00Yours was Gary Owen, mine was Ted Danson. I was a ...Yours was Gary Owen, mine was Ted Danson. I was a lowly college kid on assignment to interview an alumnus while I was out in L.A. on a trip. Ted had me to his office at Paramount in the Lasky building and he couldn’t have been nicer. My Mom was with me and he was great with her too. He also gave me the single best advice I ever got on this business: “Bryan, in this business a lot of people will tell you what you want to hear all the time, how great you are. Be careful to surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth all the time. Because if you’re becoming an asshole, you need to know.” A year later, when I switched schools and moved to L.A. he had me to the CHEERS set for a taping and I got to walk around down in the bar after. It was awesome. Several times after that when I ran into him, he was always kind and showed genuine interest in how things were going. Before I interviewed him, I had not watched CHEERS much. After that, I became a lifelong fan of Ted Danson and CHEERS.Bryan Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03942472363470824138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7074912962248603482015-04-28T03:01:32.780-07:002015-04-28T03:01:32.780-07:00Do you feel like current shows are paying for the ...Do you feel like current shows are paying for the sins of the past generations? I see quite a few shows that, even if they're still raved about, are held up as cautionary tales of things not to do. Shows like Moonlighting (be wary of advancing will-they-won't-they relationships,) Twin Peaks (don't give too much away,) and Murphy Brown (don't be so topical the reruns fall flat,) among others. Do you feel like executives might pass on shows out of fear of repeating the past or are they willing to give them a chance?Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71924493181646392082015-04-27T07:39:35.424-07:002015-04-27T07:39:35.424-07:00Friday Question: It was a stroke of genius casting...Friday Question: It was a stroke of genius casting David Ogden Stiers for the role of the pseudo-father to Niles and Frasier ("Fathers and Sons"). It was a perfect fit, a kinder-and-gentler Winchester (but just as sophisticated and cultured). Whose idea was that? Was Stiers hand-picked for the role? Or was he one of several actors considered? - IsabelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24837615491565029932015-04-26T13:09:09.306-07:002015-04-26T13:09:09.306-07:00BTW, there are lots of albums I could listen to ov...<i>BTW, there are lots of albums I could listen to over and over, especially early Elvis Costello and Marshall Crenshaw.</i><br /><br />Add the Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe Rockpile-era albums to the mix, as well as the first few from Joe Jackson -- "Fools In Love" is a particular fave. (He toured with Crenshaw in the early '80s, and some of his band members later wound up backing Marshall.)<br />VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10157792985098705542015-04-25T14:20:54.143-07:002015-04-25T14:20:54.143-07:00Love this blog. The advice and the stories. Keep &...Love this blog. The advice and the stories. Keep 'em coming. Just curious if you'd seen this short film from a few years ago. Its called "Script Cops".<br /><br />https://indieflix.com/indie-films/script-cops-32440/Ed Dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13098170583126966512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46169137295443972692015-04-25T13:05:07.061-07:002015-04-25T13:05:07.061-07:00Joseph: Appreciate your words, but all our thanks ...Joseph: Appreciate your words, but all our thanks belong with Mr. Levine for providing us with this enriching, wonderfully entertaining and educational blog.Jeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53678870575924619362015-04-25T11:45:08.184-07:002015-04-25T11:45:08.184-07:00Jeff Maxwell, mingling with the fans again! It'...Jeff Maxwell, mingling with the fans again! It's wonderful how you are always enlightening us M*A*S*Hers with your behind-the-scenes experiences and anecdotes; I thank you for that!Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24537257165039256992015-04-25T11:25:27.481-07:002015-04-25T11:25:27.481-07:00More nurse fun...
The hot brunette trailing behin...More nurse fun...<br /><br />The hot brunette trailing behind the first hot brunette is Gwen Farrell. Now known as Gwen Adair. She became a boxing referee, then a ringside judge. Shot a documentary about her. The hot blond next to Gwen is Sheila Lauretson (I think that's how she spelled it) who also appeared in a number of scenes as Trapper's date. I believe she married a country western singer/actor whose name escapes me. A lot of people wanted to marry her. Behind Sheila is Marcia...somebody, and then somebody else.<br /><br />Thank you Ginko Biloba.Jeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63060980327094144622015-04-25T08:16:09.746-07:002015-04-25T08:16:09.746-07:00In My Life is my all-time favorite song. Thanks fo...In My Life is my all-time favorite song. Thanks for that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65104590267977717682015-04-25T03:21:40.766-07:002015-04-25T03:21:40.766-07:00I blurted out a happy little "Oh?!" of s...I blurted out a happy little "Oh?!" of surprise when I read that songlist; from the first time I heard it as a little girl back in '77, "Year of the Cat" has always been my favourite song (especially the longer album version). People see me with my lifelong Goth look and assume my favourite song would be some dreary dirge, but no! Never judge a book by its spookyass cover.<br /><br />A very close second place would go to "Life On Mars?" by Bowie.<br /><br />Cheers, thanks a lot,<br /><br />StormStormnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23627649272144518862015-04-24T19:24:35.384-07:002015-04-24T19:24:35.384-07:00Wrong post I know, but a while back we were discus...Wrong post I know, but a while back we were discussing extras in the background and how sometimes they actually draw attention to themselves. I was watching THE ODD COUPLE episode "Speak for Yourself", and whenever Felix and Oscar were at the restaurant, every other patron in the background were sitting there watching everything thing Felix and Oscar were doing. Talk about breaking reality.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22220004949268116952015-04-24T18:40:55.061-07:002015-04-24T18:40:55.061-07:00The Cheers episode in question was the first time ...The Cheers episode in question was the first time I heard the term "pond scum" when describing the daughter's fiance.<br /><br />Loved Caroline No on the Live Double album. Loved Carl Wilson. You can hear him singing background on Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John. Amazing harmonies. Surf's Up was a great album too.<br />Janice B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72877577290984664992015-04-24T18:23:14.953-07:002015-04-24T18:23:14.953-07:00Years ago, when I was doing morning radio, the mid...Years ago, when I was doing morning radio, the midday guy was always running late. I felt like a real schmuck bidding the listeners so long, then having to come back on the air, say, "Well, I'm still here!" and continue for another 15 minutes until he showed up. <br /><br />He used a very recognizable "radio voice," very deep and gruff, sort of like Wolfman Jack, and I just spoke in my normal voice, but I did a lot of impressions. So one day after I said goodbye and again discovered he wasn't there yet, I just went back on the air and started doing his show in his voice, as him. I rumbled, "Hi, this is XXXX, with the midday show!!" I kept this up for about 20 minutes until he showed up and gave me a classic stink-eye through the glass. Fortunately, he thought it was funny, and we turned it into a bit. I came out of the record as him, then he interrupted me and accused me of being an imposter. We argued back and forth in the same voice about which one was the real one, until I finally admitted it wasn't me and shifted into my regular voice. I don't think he was ever late again after that. <br /><br />BTW, there are lots of albums I could listen to over and over, especially early Elvis Costello and Marshall Crenshaw. But I'm going to say "Necessary Evil" by Laura Ainsworth, because it's an incredible album that I've heard at least 500 times and never grow tired of; because the vocals, songs and jazz musicians on it are amazing; and honestly, not at all because the singer is my wife. Pat Reederhttp://www.hollywoodhifi.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69143742999783996362015-04-24T17:11:02.398-07:002015-04-24T17:11:02.398-07:00Ken, Friday Question:
Did you have "toilet&q...Ken, Friday Question:<br /><br />Did you have "toilet" records? For example, if I needed some time away from the board for business, my reliably long enough cuts were Cocaine (Clapton) and, of course, Alice's Restaurant. Yours?<br />Thanks, KeithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29323345376066878092015-04-24T16:45:29.495-07:002015-04-24T16:45:29.495-07:00The Long & Winding Road
yeah, yeah, yeah, yea...The Long & Winding Road <br />yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahFred Vnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55290772164306547592015-04-24T15:19:41.878-07:002015-04-24T15:19:41.878-07:00I remember an early episode of "Cheers" ...I remember an early episode of "Cheers" that centered around Coach's daughter marrying a man whom nobody liked because she didn't think she was attractive enough to get another marriage proposal. (She was, according to the summary of the episode on imdb.com, "an insecure spinster.") And a few years later, there was an episode where Diane imagined the owner of a forgotten coat as a dashing world traveler, but when he arrived to claim it, he was, well, less than dashing. <br /><br />Obviously, for stories like that to be plausible, the actors who play such roles need to have a "certain look," shall we say. But how do you go about casting such roles without stepping on actors' toes? Have you witnessed or heard about insulting treatment or descriptions of actors in such situations?LA Nuts book (Joe Dungan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12242768849546457072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36238368833026685292015-04-24T15:17:13.345-07:002015-04-24T15:17:13.345-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.LA Nuts book (Joe Dungan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12242768849546457072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62247512429557996492015-04-24T13:01:54.378-07:002015-04-24T13:01:54.378-07:00Apropos of nothing, Patricia Heaton's shoesApropos of nothing, <a href="http://www.dustbury.com/archives/20280" rel="nofollow">Patricia Heaton's shoes</a>Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57356418361008932592015-04-24T11:39:45.474-07:002015-04-24T11:39:45.474-07:00My song that I just can't get enough of? Gotta...My song that I just can't get enough of? Gotta go back to 1974 when I first heard "Georgia Porcupine" by George Fischoff. One station played it for a couple of weeks and then dropped it. It only spent 5 weeks on the Billboard charts and only got as high as #93. Even going to record stores [remember them?] and looking through their gigantic book that they had of almost every record ever made that you could order it from if they didn't have it in stock.....didn't have it listed. Wasn't until 15 years later when I was doing a cable show that I mentioned it to the director and he popped off and said "Oh, I have a copy of that, do you want it?" That's like asking a guy who just wandered in after spending 15 days in the desert if he'd like a glass of water. I got it and it wasn't until 1995 when stumbling around the internet I found a few more copies that I promptly ordered. Anyways for what it's worth and if you've never heard it before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTLghloU55wYEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19732030389635366062015-04-24T11:37:04.284-07:002015-04-24T11:37:04.284-07:00Damn, this is a crumby day for tragic news. I just...Damn, this is a crumby day for tragic news. I just read that Richard Corliss, one of the best film critics ever, has passed away, and I usually don't have time for critics (UK film critics are the worst snobs) but Corliss was a class act.Hamidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31523263615081011352015-04-24T11:29:56.257-07:002015-04-24T11:29:56.257-07:00We obviously don't know the reasons for this t...We obviously don't know the reasons for this tragedy yet but looking at his IMDB profile, he hadn't acted since ELR,which was 10 years ago,and we've heard many times before about the devastating effects of not only having been a child celebrity but the shock of going from a "showbiz" life to a "normal" one. <br /><br />We've been here many times before. Some child stars are lucky and make it through unscathed, like Jodie Foster. But the list of those who couldn't make the transition into adult actor or to a life outside of entertainment is so much longer. Whatever demons Sawyer Sweeten was battling, it's heartbreaking that he felt no other way out. I remember my shock when Jonathan Brandis took his own life. He was apparently despondent over the state of his career, having gone from being a teen star getting fanmail every day to relative obscurity. That is the toxic nature of child stardom and it's just sad to see history repeat itself so often.Hamidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46021019840349537282015-04-24T10:50:15.193-07:002015-04-24T10:50:15.193-07:00Ken, I'm extremely sorry to hear about Sawyer ...Ken, I'm extremely sorry to hear about Sawyer Sweeten's death. As someone who identifies with the Barone family it has hit me hard.<br /><br />But I'm sure to you and anyone that knew this dear boy it is much harder.<br /><br />sorry for the loss.The Bumble Bee Pendanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782074071758250824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38993589362679434902015-04-24T09:51:33.871-07:002015-04-24T09:51:33.871-07:00"The guy who never said anything and didn'..."The guy who never said anything and didn't offer much in a back and forth?"<br /><br />Irish cycling commentator Sean Kelly is well known for that sort of thing. Well at least among people who follow cycling. More than one of his co-commentators have noted his occasional tendency to reply with just a nod of the head.Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9703233385096611922015-04-24T09:46:56.644-07:002015-04-24T09:46:56.644-07:00Ken - Amy Schumer zero's in on your oft commen...Ken - Amy Schumer zero's in on your oft commented "But would you want to fuck her?<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XPpsI8mWKmgPete Grossmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78931363236152739212015-04-24T09:03:12.880-07:002015-04-24T09:03:12.880-07:00Ken, I just read the very sad news that Everybody ...Ken, I just read the very sad news that Everybody Loves Raymond actor Sawyer Sweeten has committed suicide. I've never really watched the show but I know you've mentioned having directed a few episodes, so I imagine you must be shocked at this news.<br /><br />It's always tragic when someone of any age takes their own life, but it's always especially heartbreaking when it's someone as young as he was. RIPHamidnoreply@blogger.com