tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5611719975841365394..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78629040274564576412013-03-18T02:15:44.530-07:002013-03-18T02:15:44.530-07:00Thanks for answering my question!Thanks for answering my question!Helenanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28401854030407652902013-03-15T19:57:22.913-07:002013-03-15T19:57:22.913-07:00Another Friday question following up on Michael...Another Friday question following up on Michael's from The Ides...<br /><br />Ted Danson never stops working. He must be a pro's pro, ready to work, and easy for the cast and directors to get along with. True? Where does he rank on your list of Best Actor Teammates? Thanks!Ed in Clevelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27691919822113167682013-03-15T16:19:39.059-07:002013-03-15T16:19:39.059-07:00Coach is my favorite "Cheers" character....Coach is my favorite "Cheers" character. It's a close race between Coach and Norm, but Coach gets the nod. I loved him with an capital L. Jake Mabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908036270824377919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32912603876845905092013-03-15T14:12:28.949-07:002013-03-15T14:12:28.949-07:00I used to practice writing "teasers" for...I used to practice writing "teasers" for Cheers.<br />My fav was when Cliff tried to convince Norm that a 12 oz glass could actually hold 12.05 ounces of beer because of the "tensile strength" of the rim of the glass.<br /><br />Predictably it did not go well for Cliff...chuckcdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64841917526854806142013-03-15T13:59:30.044-07:002013-03-15T13:59:30.044-07:00I remember some of the Buffy/Angel writers talking...I remember some of the Buffy/Angel writers talking about a pointless argument that took up most of one day. Apparently it dragged on for so long, and became so heated, that it <i>still</i> makes people groan when it's brought up.<br /><br />The argument? A disagreement about who would win in a fight, a caveman or an astronaut.<br /><br />Also, regarding dumb lines, I remember hearing that The Simpsons writers had a similar competition for Homer. I think the competition ended when one of the writers made Homer plead, "Save me, Jebus!", in time of need.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87431536142829740872013-03-15T13:55:09.361-07:002013-03-15T13:55:09.361-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72403486746507531342013-03-15T13:43:03.008-07:002013-03-15T13:43:03.008-07:00(Only an idiot would misspell imbecile.)(Only an idiot would misspell imbecile.)Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09980095483532599400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48927920082232276842013-03-15T13:40:41.868-07:002013-03-15T13:40:41.868-07:00My Friday question:
I was recently watching on Yo...My Friday question:<br /><br />I was recently watching on YouTube the auditions of several cast members for "Freaks & Geeks". During the auditions there is a person in the room laughing incessantly after each line is read - whether it was funny or not. Is this common practice during a reading? I would imagine the laugher must feel like an imebecile.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09980095483532599400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89364554430945013992013-03-15T12:01:35.246-07:002013-03-15T12:01:35.246-07:00I'm a firm believer that Dick Wolf of L&O ...I'm a firm believer that Dick Wolf of L&O fame successfully killed the "I'm and actor and I'm God's Gift......" Syndrome. <br /><br />He let actors go left and right over the years....and they could leave as they wished (albeit contract negotiations honored), too. <br /><br />I think that has made every actor I've ever met since that time be VERY grateful to have a job. Very few of them pull the 'I'm staying in my trailer till he(my co-star) leaves his trailer......It doesn't happen any more. Now the actors are the first in and van and they are waiting for a crew person or two to hop in. (They also will ride in the very back seat if they have to-no saving the front seats for "the Actor". <br /><br />I think it makes a huge difference in working 'with' someone as opposed to 'for' someone.<br /><br />I've been a NYC Union Wardrobe Supervisor for years and have seen the best and the worst behind those closed dressing room trailer doors. It's getting betterRoseannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393487748949411049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52931761384273434192013-03-15T10:40:48.690-07:002013-03-15T10:40:48.690-07:00RE: How involved is the casting process?
I worked...RE: How involved is the casting process?<br /><br />I worked on a movie in the early nineties that centered on a kid growing up with his widowed father. The art department wanted to have a photo of (dead) mom on the kid's night table.<br /><br />The director (someone you'd all know), looked at hundreds of head shots. He had 15 or twenty of them come in to meet him. (Obviously, nothing to read.)<br /><br />He had <i>callbacks</i> ferchrissakes!<br /><br />Yeah, it's involved.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00648438549121320566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43480729522002345452013-03-15T10:27:49.474-07:002013-03-15T10:27:49.474-07:00Friday question:
This week on Two and a Half Men...Friday question: <br /><br />This week on Two and a Half Men Ashton Kutcher, after a wild party, says: "Uh. This looks like Charlie Sheen's house".<br /><br />The studio audience went crazy.<br /><br />Why do you think breaking the fourth wall and going a little surreal like that usually gets such a warm response from the audience?Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25803875859707179502013-03-15T10:21:45.629-07:002013-03-15T10:21:45.629-07:00"Now, however, for every part, no matter how ...<i>"Now, however, for every part, no matter how small, the producers have to put five candidates on tape and the network selects the winner. Don't blame my dad. This happened long after he retired."</i><br /><br />Is there ANY show on television today where the network DOESN'T call all the shots and make all the decisions? I mean, I'll be real honest with you Ken: I admire your work as a writer, and you always post really great insight into television on your blog, which is why I continue to follow it; though your anecdotes about networks pulling all the strings on programs is always making me reconsider my desire to break into television myself. I GET that networks like to have a say in goes into the production and all, but I really would not settle for a network basically taking MY OWN SHOW away from me, and massacring it before my eyes just so they can shape it into the show that THEY THINK they want.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65491885707123287992013-03-15T10:19:48.976-07:002013-03-15T10:19:48.976-07:00Question for a future Friday Questions:
In a prev...Question for a future Friday Questions:<br /><br />In a previous Friday Q&A you said, "If an actor has a bad reputation you have to consider the “is he worth it?” factor. Some actors are difficult but magic on the screen." <br /><br />Ken, if there is one criticism of your blog, it's that there's an invisible line that you can't cross while you're still working in the industry -- some things you still can't say. Please assure me that all those things are written in your will and will be released upon your passing so I can finally read all the stuff you WANTED to say but couldn't.David Dashttp://daviddas.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60063490515834583772013-03-15T09:54:22.407-07:002013-03-15T09:54:22.407-07:00Ken, thanks for the answer! I honestly hadn't ...Ken, thanks for the answer! I honestly hadn't thought of the expository function (ew - that doesn't sound healthy).<br /><br />And what you say about a grapevine of information on actors holds true for other writers and directors, too, I'm guessing. That's a basic life lesson for everyone: Don't be a pain in the ass. Charles H. Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82078453380768813592013-03-15T09:53:40.646-07:002013-03-15T09:53:40.646-07:00I'm reminded of Elaine on Seinfeld discovering...I'm reminded of Elaine on Seinfeld discovering "difficult patient" written on her medical chart. tbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62477483681910389712013-03-15T08:08:24.295-07:002013-03-15T08:08:24.295-07:00I have an AFTERMASH question for you. I feel one r...I have an AFTERMASH question for you. I feel one reason that show didn't succeed whereas the program it was spin off from did, is that while both obviously took place in the 1950s, MASH didn't remind you of it as much. Because it didn't take place stateside, and the characters all wore army green, MASH might has well been World War II or Vietnam. AFTERMASH, though, seemed very much a period show, very much rooted in the 1950s, and not the nostalgic-HAPPY DAYS 1950s either. As a result, was it harder to write and produce such a show, and do you agree that's why it didn't click with audiences?Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26536661404067785752013-03-15T07:52:20.425-07:002013-03-15T07:52:20.425-07:00You wrote, if you’re a dream, that intell makes th...You wrote, <i>if you’re a dream, that intell makes the circuit too.</i><br /><br />Q: What makes an actor a "dream"?<br /><br />Btw, this is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6ICOyOnEY" rel="nofollow"><b>one of my favorite CHEERS openings</b></a>.Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11772310179223546476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42808541081162958072013-03-15T07:33:19.151-07:002013-03-15T07:33:19.151-07:00It's my understanding (borne out by viewing ex...It's my understanding (borne out by viewing experience) that when a show goes to syndication, they take an editing cleaver and remove chunks to better fit in more commercials.<br /><br />I always assumed such opening teaser segments were primarily there as sacrificial goats to these syndication cutters. They could be removed without damaging the main plot.Murrayhttp://www.murraylindsay.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15381618654202266252013-03-15T07:31:24.700-07:002013-03-15T07:31:24.700-07:00I appreciated your traditional 'Beware the Ide...I appreciated your traditional 'Beware the Ides of March' intro for today.<br /><br />However, I prefer the more contemporary 'Happy Back-Stabbers Day!' salutation.KGHansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04515959923662501284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36815697146471212192013-03-15T07:28:21.097-07:002013-03-15T07:28:21.097-07:00ingesFdLove these "inside baseball" insi...ingesFdLove these "inside baseball" insights you bring us, Ken.Mike Botulahttp://www.mikebotula.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83173619940989071462013-03-15T07:19:36.945-07:002013-03-15T07:19:36.945-07:00Speaking of Jerry Belson, one of the things that w...Speaking of Jerry Belson, one of the things that was interesting about "The Odd Couple" and its switch from a single camera to three camera/studio audience format in Season 1 was that Al Molinaro's Murry the Cop character got notably dumber. When the show was done without a studio audience Murray was naive for a police officer, but he wasn't in the memorably dumb range. By the middle of Season 2, the writers apparently had found a dumber Murray as a good way to not only get expository stuff to the studio audience, but also to goose the live audience's laughs a bit via a series of easy gags.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72203715892372745612013-03-15T07:06:52.314-07:002013-03-15T07:06:52.314-07:00Thank you for taking the time to do this every wee...Thank you for taking the time to do this every week, Ken! I do have a question actually, following on from Michael's comment above - as a showrunner how much stock do you put in the so-called "showkiller curse"? Some actors get stuck with the nickname but is there any truth in that being part of the equation when casting? Or is the "showkiller" title purely a fabrication of the media?Patrickhttp://www.twitter.com/pswayne7noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46389238183472003632013-03-15T06:48:15.892-07:002013-03-15T06:48:15.892-07:00Very interesting, Ken.
Did you see this in the O...Very interesting, Ken. <br /><br />Did you see this in the Onion;<br />http://www.theonion.com/articles/sometimes-i-wonder-what-life-would-be-like-if-i-ha,31642/<br /><br />It's a subject you've written about a few times so you might be interested. I'd imagine it must have been run past a lawyer, although I still don't know how they can get away with publishing it.Macnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39824869476207792582013-03-15T06:38:43.194-07:002013-03-15T06:38:43.194-07:00I read online that Joel Hodgson was considered for... I read online that Joel Hodgson was considered for the Woody role on Cheers. I always had the sense it was written with Woody Harrelson in mind, maybe it was the name thing,but Joel Hodgson also could have potrayed a naive, kinda hazy guy from the midwest.Were you involved in that casting decision?Hey nobody could've done it better than Woody, just curios about how that casting came about.Anonymoushttp://profile.yahoo.com/D7ZP6YXT7AQILNEC2DQ3NZ5W7A/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45645950111332667072013-03-15T06:37:04.407-07:002013-03-15T06:37:04.407-07:00My first glimpse of CHEERS was in the pilot, and i...My first glimpse of CHEERS was in the pilot, and it hooked me forever on the show. (yes, I was one of those 20 people who saw the first episode.) It also combines the dumb character with the tease, so it fits well here. <br /><br />(Ringing phone.) <br />COACH: Cheers. (Pause, puts hand over phone. Yells.) Is there an Ernie Pantuzzo here?"<br /><br />SAM: That's you, Coach.<br /><br />COACH (into phone): Speaking.<br /><br />I knew I'd love that show right then. Dana Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350344882342624735noreply@blogger.com