tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5508940283645653453..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10096993438647765532018-06-06T03:06:38.318-07:002018-06-06T03:06:38.318-07:00FRIDAY QUESTION:
Ken, this a writing question. I ...FRIDAY QUESTION:<br /><br />Ken, this a writing question. I have been enjoying watching,The Larry Sanders Show, again on Crave TV, here in Canada. I would like your opinion on the writing, specifically, the couch interviews Larry conducts. Do you think some of them are improvised?<br /><br />The reason I ask, is that I have watched the episode, "Larry's Sitcom, a few times, and the segment with Jeanie Garth is loopy as Hell. In a good way I mean. She tells this story about being a vegetarian, and it rivals anything that Gracie Allen ever did (that I have heard) I can't make up my mind on wheather it was just off the cuff, or if Ms. Garth is a better actress than I thought she was. If she is that good, why isn't she still on TV?Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6516979222371386652018-06-03T23:25:09.214-07:002018-06-03T23:25:09.214-07:00
Miller is great and his affection for Vin is obvi...<br />Miller is great and his affection for Vin is obvious. He also does a fine Vin impression in Spanish and Japanese: <br /><br />https://youtu.be/Sqe8uq9BWVc<br /><br />Tom Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633335890646323119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57289574742777778092018-06-02T19:42:27.416-07:002018-06-02T19:42:27.416-07:00I'd vote for the mid-80s cast--Carvey, Hartman...I'd vote for the mid-80s cast--Carvey, Hartman, Miller, Lovitz, Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn.Kevin FitzMauricenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30055599809371977752018-06-02T18:57:29.691-07:002018-06-02T18:57:29.691-07:00I also love Brockmeyer. The latest episode had me ...I also love Brockmeyer. The latest episode had me wondering who the racist retiring PBP man might have been modeled after. JoeyHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12710864245535772665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81055248767747658342018-06-02T12:50:12.473-07:002018-06-02T12:50:12.473-07:00Re: 1). McKean & Shearer were part of a comedy...Re: 1). McKean & Shearer were part of a comedy group called "The Credibility Gap" in the early 70's. And Christopher Guest usually uses people with improv backgrounds. Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hara, for example, are alumni of Second City. Very few of his actors have NO training in improvisation.<br />M.B. Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82506889864513379412018-06-02T12:06:03.437-07:002018-06-02T12:06:03.437-07:00Phillies broadcast legend Harry Kalas used to reco...Phillies broadcast legend Harry Kalas used to record phone greetings for others, using his trademark line, "outta here!" One person he did it for was Bruce Springsteen, and after Harry's death, Bruce performed the closing shows at the Spectrum, the 76ers and Flyers arena across the street from the former Veterans Stadium site (next to Citizens Bank Park). He introduced one song with Harry's call, and the sellout crowd went wild.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82142865237380736672018-06-02T07:46:11.641-07:002018-06-02T07:46:11.641-07:00Love the story about Vin's phone call. Suppose...Love the story about Vin's phone call. Supposedly, he has said that he doesn't mind impressions if they aren't being unkind, and of course everybody who impersonates him does so with a lot of love. As I do. My impression is about as good as Miller's.<br /><br />Which brings me to something that I remember Duane Kuiper said in an interview: that Miller does "Obscene Vin," and it's the only time he's heard Miller swear--or for that matter, Vin.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89169053538177780362018-06-02T03:35:32.080-07:002018-06-02T03:35:32.080-07:00Ken, I just discovered your blog and it's fasc...Ken, I just discovered your blog and it's fascinating stuff, so two questions.<br /><br />1) Given what you said of "improvised" scripts, what is your opinion of the Christopher Guest/Mike McKean/Harry Shearer movies like Best in Show? <br />2) I watched M*A*S*H on BBC 2 in the UK, sans laughtrack, and loved it, so for me the laughtrack spoils the show. Was the laughtrack a studio dictat, or was there discussion of not having one at the time? Mike Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70663731994631939082018-06-01T21:58:20.106-07:002018-06-01T21:58:20.106-07:00Saying that Apatow's movies are "very fun...Saying that Apatow's movies are "very funny" is funnier than all of his movies combined.Jokeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1926110760050246372018-06-01T21:52:05.537-07:002018-06-01T21:52:05.537-07:00The Trapper in the 60 minute hospital series is sa...The Trapper in the 60 minute hospital series is said to be the Elliot Guild Trapper. I haven't read the original novel yet, so, I can't make a comment on that version of Trapper. Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87760269825771228992018-06-01T16:04:27.859-07:002018-06-01T16:04:27.859-07:00Ken -- Thanks for answering my question! -- BruceKen -- Thanks for answering my question! -- Brucebrucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04867539918269604287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33803797221946612492018-06-01T14:16:27.547-07:002018-06-01T14:16:27.547-07:00The funniest line in Infinty Wars was apparently i...The funniest line in Infinty Wars was apparently improvised, "but more importantly, why is Gamorra".Anthonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4864426463330792112018-06-01T13:16:50.148-07:002018-06-01T13:16:50.148-07:00Ken, as always appreciate you taking the time to a...Ken, as always appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. One point of clarification. I feel that so much of this improv cheapens what we IMPROVISORS do. It gives the impression that just anybody can wing it and be funny. Its basically saying that all my schooling and practice was in vain. But, since Ken also does improv he knows that its a skill and a craft and that its not as easy as it looks. "Bumble Bee" mentioned Bill Murray. I love Bill. And he's highly skilled at improv. As an alumnus of The Chicago Second City he had extensive training in both improv and writing. I have absolutely no problem with his ad-libs. And to beat a dead horse, I just saw SAUSAGE PARTY on DVD. Its not an Apatow film. But it is by his protege, Seth Rogen. I'm not a big S.R. fan, but based on all the hype I was expecting a hilarious movie. Sort of a modern PORKEY'S. i.e. Incredibly raunchy, yet also very funny. I chuckled a couple of times, but I didn't really laugh once. I'm not averse to "blue humor." It just wasn't funny! And as part of the Special Features, they showed the actors improvising lines during the recording sessions. They were cracking up each other, but my reaction was, "Are you Kidding?" Finally, when it comes to wanting actors to stick to the script one of the most ironic examples is SNL's Lorne Michaels. He's notorious for not wanting his casts ad-lib. Yet, the majority of his hires have been from Second City and the Groundlings. Both theaters known for improv. I guess his logic is that since its a LIVE show if something goes wrong they can fill time until the problem is fixed. Thanks again.<br />M.B.Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55851197571881137392018-06-01T12:49:40.204-07:002018-06-01T12:49:40.204-07:00Ken, ROSEANNE reruns have been pulled from some ou...Ken, ROSEANNE reruns have been pulled from some outlets, just as COSBY SHOW reruns were pulled recently. Do you have an opinion on how these actions affect the other people who worked on the shows? It seems to me like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.Mike Schryverhttp://otrcomedy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47954885996952267962018-06-01T12:44:53.640-07:002018-06-01T12:44:53.640-07:00Just a random question, you can' t beat the or...Just a random question, you can' t beat the original cast of Saturday Night Live, (Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, etc.) but what is the next best cast (era), do you think?Leilaninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18357272702104203612018-06-01T12:28:21.108-07:002018-06-01T12:28:21.108-07:00Hello yet again Ken. I'm chatty this week... ;...Hello yet again Ken. I'm chatty this week... ;-)<br /><br />As you said, Trapper John MD was mostly a drama... but it could still be funny when the writers wanted it to be. As I recall the show, TJ and his young sidekick had to deal with a not-horrible but somewhat Frank Burns-y clueless hospital administrator.<br /><br />One joke that sticks in my memory was when this admin was having a friendly chat with TJ about something, and mentioned he believed human anatomy would make a great basis for... a public amusement park. "Maybe a roller coaster ride could be designed based on the alimentary canal," he opined.<br /><br />TJ deadpanned back, "Yup. Wait 'til you get to the big finish."Steve Lanzi (formerly known as qdpsteve)https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=19336675&postID=5508940283645653453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3643138496313881592018-06-01T11:43:02.865-07:002018-06-01T11:43:02.865-07:00Improvisation is overrated. I think it was John Ke...Improvisation is overrated. I think it was John Kenneth Galbraith who said “the treasured note of spontaneity critics find in my writing comes in between the seventh and eighth draft.”<br />Kaleberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283840743310507878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56729972235296257442018-06-01T10:46:52.838-07:002018-06-01T10:46:52.838-07:00I heard an Armed Forces Radio broadcast from World...I heard an Armed Forces Radio broadcast from World War 2 once, which featured a sketch pairing ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy with legendary comedian W.C. Fields. At one point, Fields, failing to come in where he was supposed to, answers Bergen's query as to the problem with, "I had a page of ad-libs stuck in here and now I can't find it." The audience was delighted.<br /><br />Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, on their ROAD pictures, were notorious for ad-libbing and wandering far afield of the script. Their female co-star, Dorothy Lamour, was at first driven nearly to tears by this, waiting for cues that got completely lost in Crosby and Hope's tete-a-tetes. One of Hope's writers finally told her to stop waiting for cues. When she thought the boys had gone on long enough, he advised her, she should simply inject her scripted line and let Hope and Crosby worry about getting the conversation back to the script.Greggnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65234709867862687772018-06-01T10:31:18.758-07:002018-06-01T10:31:18.758-07:00Speaking of creator/developer credits and Trapper ...Speaking of creator/developer credits and Trapper John M.D. in consecutive weeks, could you shed a little light on the lawsuit that was filed before that show started? Brinkley famously argued that TJMD was a spinoff of the MASH movie, not the M*A*S*H sitcom, and the court wound up agreeing. But I've never been clear on exactly whom Fox was trying to avoid paying by making that argument. Gelbart? Reynolds? You and David? Any insight?<br /><br />@Glenn Elbe: Just after he retired from his talk show, David Letterman made his annual trip to Indianapolis for the Indy 500. One of his first post-retirement interviews wound up being with a local station, WXIN. After collaring Letterman in the pits and convincing him to go on camera, the reporter started his interview with: "Can you give me your name and spell it for me, please?" Dave's mouth was agape for about a half-second, then realized he was being had and laughed loudly. You could tell it thrilled the reporter that he got a laugh out of Dave.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14628379359500515652018-06-01T10:27:42.913-07:002018-06-01T10:27:42.913-07:00I don't remember TRAPPER JOHN very well, but i...I don't remember TRAPPER JOHN very well, but it ran from 1979 to 1986, so it must have been popular.<br /><br />Wikipedia recounts an interesting legal battle concerning TRAPPER JOHN, which I will copy below:<br /><br />Legally, the show is considered a spin-off of the original motion picture, MASH, rather than the television series M*A*S*H. This is due to a court case in which the producers of the television series sought royalty payments on the grounds that Trapper John, M.D. was a spin-off of their series. The court found, however, that the series was a spin-off of the original movie – itself an adaptation of Richard Hooker's MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. As a result, the producers of the M*A*S*H series did not receive any royalties from Trapper John, M.D., with the common threads being 20th Century Fox Television as producers of both the M*A*S*H television series and Trapper John, M.D., and the movie studio in general producing both series and the film MASH.David C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67495929463557268692018-06-01T10:10:04.975-07:002018-06-01T10:10:04.975-07:00Friday question- what is your experience of trying...Friday question- what is your experience of trying to pitch films/shows that were completely different to anything you'd done before?<br /><br />I read an old George Romero interview where he talked of pitching multiple ideas across multiple genres to producers often to be rejected but told to come back if he wanted to make another zombie film. How much would your CV count for you/against if you wanted to get a big budget zombie film made? Has the reverse happened, a film producer or showrunner asking you to write for something that might be successful but just wasn't a genre/style you wanted to be involved in? I hear World War Z had an awful lot of rewrites...Jim, UKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19808765919521222802018-06-01T09:44:34.053-07:002018-06-01T09:44:34.053-07:00While TRAPPER JOHN, MD had little to do with MASH ...While TRAPPER JOHN, MD had little to do with MASH after the premiere episode, it did provide enough of a hook to encourage viewers to sample the show. Also Trapper's coworker, Gonzo Gates, had served as a MASH doctor in Vietnam, so there was another hook there. If the show had just been Pernell Roberts playing a doctor, it may not have lasted more than one season.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00483417885845331990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38007943387037430222018-06-01T09:37:39.619-07:002018-06-01T09:37:39.619-07:00One nice thing about being both writer and directo...One nice thing about being both writer and director, as Judd Apatow frequently is, is that you know your own script well enough to know when ad-libs and improv are appropriate and when they aren't. There's the additional benefit that there's fewer concerns with regards to how much is allowed to be changed. From what I've read (someone correct me if I'm wrong), this can vary wildly depending on the contractual obligations to the producers, the studio, and the screenwriter.<br /><br />Last year, when I was directing a play I co-wrote, I told my cast that they were free to some level of improvisation for the first few weeks of rehearsals. If they wanted to try new lines and jokes that weren't in the original script, they were welcome to as long as it was just a line or two at a time, didn't veer too far off the course of the story or out of character, and could cue properly back into the script as written. As a first-time writer, I didn't want to be so presumptuous as to think my writing was perfect, so I was definitely open to input. And as director, I was open to ignore that input if it wasn't good.<br /><br />Then a few weeks out, I locked the show so to speak, told the cast that any changes I'd already approved could stay, but no more new ad-libs or suggestions. Absolutely necessary for tightening up line memorization and delivery at that point.<br /><br />It kinda makes me wonder just how much improv Judd Apatow actually allows, and how often he asks the actors to stick to the script as-written. Clearly, based on his consistent critical and box office success, he has found a balance that works. But, as you mentioned, it does lead to loose flowing movies and long runtimes. I'm curious to see how he'd do with less improv (not none, just less), and tighter editing.Covarrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512077437345823232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50757084289793873512018-06-01T09:36:57.918-07:002018-06-01T09:36:57.918-07:00What are some longest laughs from the studio audie...What are some longest laughs from the studio audience that came from a Levine and Isaacs script?Brian Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06485075283223444305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44185428442716290952018-06-01T09:35:24.954-07:002018-06-01T09:35:24.954-07:00Bringing two questions together - I'd love to ...Bringing two questions together - I'd love to know how much of what Hank Azaria does on Brockmeier is off-script. I love the character but not the rest of the show and when Azaria does the character outside the show as he has done on ESPN I fall down laughing.Rays profilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13375762252351537791noreply@blogger.com