tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5893124402169907203..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63091157297545946972019-03-14T02:51:05.088-07:002019-03-14T02:51:05.088-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08024219217203906136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92098102276960500482019-03-13T12:07:10.687-07:002019-03-13T12:07:10.687-07:00My favorite brawl commentary, if I'm rememberi...My favorite brawl commentary, if I'm remembering it correctly, was from Skip Caray doing an Atlanta Braves broadcast where there was a brawl with my Houston Astros that started small and just kept escalating. At one point, Caray told his partner (maybe Pete Van Wieren?) something like "Ok, if this makes it up here, you get (Astros color guy) Larry Dierker and I'll take Milo (Hamilton)."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18759022859258570742019-03-11T22:29:49.927-07:002019-03-11T22:29:49.927-07:00Ps: I just realized both questions I've asked ...Ps: I just realized both questions I've asked now have to do with whether a favorite moment in a show was the work of writers or ad-lib.<br /><br />I swear it's a coincidence. I respect writers nearly to the point of reverence - Larry Gelbart is my hero.Ben Varkentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14860341359362967093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61636016768532533002019-03-11T22:20:20.359-07:002019-03-11T22:20:20.359-07:00I always liked the little touch of Diane's &qu...I always liked the little touch of Diane's "Norman" a beat after everybody else's "NORM!" on Cheers. Writers inspiration or actor's?Ben Varkentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14860341359362967093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68708552016894796122019-03-11T17:26:55.194-07:002019-03-11T17:26:55.194-07:00Phfft! No basebrawl holds a candle to the Padres/B...Phfft! No basebrawl holds a candle to the Padres/Braves battle in Atlanta during the 1984 season. That sucker lasted innings! Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01282017861110563132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89400387012181023662019-03-11T06:50:59.663-07:002019-03-11T06:50:59.663-07:00Like many others here, I largely stopped going to ...Like many others here, I largely stopped going to most movie theaters because as they were carved up into smaller spaces the viewing angle deteriorated, as has audience behavior. I do, however, belong to a local film club that does good-quality screenings in a well-designed theater, and also a repertory cinema in central London where the midweek matinees are reasonably cheap and, again, both the theaters and the screenings are well-designed. This particular theater also occasionally does overnight binges of trilogies and stuff, and it has an FAQ full of tips for getting the best out of them. My favorite tip is that you should come wearing pajamas. They even encourage you to bring your own food.<br /><br />I can also recommend the Virginia Theater in Champaign-Urbana, IL, a theater so excellent that Roger Ebert's film festival still takes place there every year. Great theater, superb audience.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72898544920629197282019-03-10T16:46:53.556-07:002019-03-10T16:46:53.556-07:00I just came across the movie Critical Condition on...I just came across the movie Critical Condition on television. I checked the credits,thinking it was directed by Sidney Lumet.I was surprised when I saw David's and your name listed as co-screenwriters with John and Denis Hamill. I don't recall your mentioning this film on the blog. Was your work here similar to Jewel and the Nile? Were you ever on the set? It was directed by Michael Apted,who did the 7-Up films,Coal Miner's Daughter and Continental Divide-my favorite John Belushi movie. Do you have any positive memories of working on it? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742947642971265958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6821723111229005782019-03-10T16:02:37.961-07:002019-03-10T16:02:37.961-07:00Friday Question: The MASH episode "The Life Y...Friday Question: The MASH episode "The Life You Save" (Season 9, Ep. 20) has a sequence where Father Mulcahy and Hawkeye have a discussion in front of a towering pile of garbage that is almost cartoonishly high. It must be at least twelve feet. In between lines of dialogue Mulcahy and Hawkeye take turns bracing the pile to keep it from avalanching down on them. This is such an usual setting for a scene that I have to wonder, were the writers feeling unusually grumpy or vengeful that day? I know this was after you left the show but I was wondering if you might have any insights into this peculiar scene?Cedricstudiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06281239965682009232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86681090409543274842019-03-09T15:05:59.952-08:002019-03-09T15:05:59.952-08:00Daylight Savings, we don't need no stinking da...Daylight Savings, we don't need no stinking daylight savings ! Aloha.Madame Smockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08187182786576898476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35712223827798324222019-03-09T06:36:04.799-08:002019-03-09T06:36:04.799-08:00I used to see three or four flicks a week by payin...I used to see three or four flicks a week by paying four bucks at the multiplex matinee and moving from auditorium to auditorium. Now I agree with J Larrick. The big screen lost any magic when the image became grainy, many of the special effects obvious, and the sound deafening. Also the nauseating smell of whatever oil is dumped on the popcorn. And then there's the double-digit price of being subjected to all this. However, I haven't been in a movie theater in many years, so my criticisms may no longer be warranted.Keith Nicholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700768085010210020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69998500136859224552019-03-09T03:05:17.817-08:002019-03-09T03:05:17.817-08:00What may keep the theatrical experience available ...What may keep the theatrical experience available to appropriate films that may have a limited audience is a phenomenon I've experienced since we moved to the less affluent and less culturally cutting edge suburbs. Theaters now show some films only once or twice a week. So the big blockbuster will be on four screens most of the time, but on Tuesday at 11 am, some art film will be shown just once, to be replaced by the blockbuster again in the next time slot. We were able to see The Favourite that way, at a very odd hour. If the distributor can make money that way, they'll do it. If a film is worth seeing on the big screen (hint: a certain Oscar winning actress's nipples are a lot larger on a screen than on your laptop), this can happen.\<br />Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10368008306921435562019-03-09T00:21:29.360-08:002019-03-09T00:21:29.360-08:00I don't get this idea that without the Oscars,...I don't get this idea that without the Oscars, various movies wouldn't be made. Why would a studio make a movie just for the Oscars?MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64727146253271800182019-03-08T22:11:33.131-08:002019-03-08T22:11:33.131-08:00Baseball is the only pro sport I follow. And I am...Baseball is the only pro sport I follow. And I am not a fan of brawls. Millionaires beating up on millionaires is not my idea of a fun evening. The problem, unfortunately is what you alluded to -- fans, the press and even MLB love brawls. The clip you showed had the MLB logo prominently displayed in the corner. Even though the announcers said there were boos in the crowd during the fight all I heard was constant crowd noise accentuated by cheers every time a new fight broke out. I would wager that if you looked at stills from MLB brawls and took a wide angle approach so that you could see the spectators, most of them would have smiles on their faces or would be cheering. Disgraceful!<br /><br />There is a simple solution if the powers that be want to stop massive fights in MLB. Fine or eject any player that either comes out of the bullpen, off the bench or engages in a fight in which they were not the instigator or recipient. If in the clip the fight had been relegated to just the batter and pitcher and no one else it would have been over in 30 seconds and the batter would have been thrown out. And if you had ejected everyone that charged the mound you would not have had enough remaining players to play the game which would have resulted in a double forfeit. If either team had missed the playoffs because of this 1/2 game in the standings they would think twice before making asses of themselves on the diamond. Allowing everyone to take the field because they are "protecting their team" or because it is an "unwritten rule" accomplishes nothing and only amplifies the problem.<br /><br />And that's another thing that MLB players need to get away from -- the "unwritten rules of baseball". You know why they're unwritten? Because most of them are stupid. Don't talk to a pitcher who is throwing a no hitter, don't bunt for a base hit if the opposing pitcher is pitching a no hitter, don't steal a base if you are ahead by six or more runs, hit either the next batter or the same batter his next time up if he hit a home run, etc. etc. Do you know how asinine any of these would be if they were in the official rule book? It's disgraceful that these pampered privileged players have to swear to a code of "unwritten rules" to support their manhood.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65009474100365818912019-03-08T22:05:19.410-08:002019-03-08T22:05:19.410-08:00I was watching the Gene Reynolds interview for the...I was watching the Gene Reynolds interview for the Archive of American Television. I could not believe what I heard about Fox bullying him into signing away his profit participation in MASH. He said word got around town that he had been 'taken'. Then he left the show to join MTM.<br /><br />What did you know at the time regarding Geny Reynolds leaving MASH?<br /><br />My thought is that Alan Alda was requesting a piece of the show and the only way that was going to happen was if Fox could buyout one of the current profit participants. <br /><br />https://youtu.be/N5PiIJ2d4cg?t=577<br /><br />Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428768957017762182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43466819540610876682019-03-08T18:07:20.947-08:002019-03-08T18:07:20.947-08:00I don't need a theater full of strangers too e...I don't need a theater full of strangers too enjoy a good story. No one gets 100 ppl together in a big room to read a great book. Just enjoy it at home on whatever screen you like best, then discuss with your friends afterwords.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12381715966272212634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41358270528282999082019-03-08T15:20:56.718-08:002019-03-08T15:20:56.718-08:00@David I know, how pathetic is that?@David I know, how pathetic is that?Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67752410047153006452019-03-08T14:32:37.455-08:002019-03-08T14:32:37.455-08:00I subscribe to three streaming services, Amazon Pr...I subscribe to three streaming services, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Britbox. As I get older, I find I can no longer hear my Korean-made television very well, and prefer watching TV shows on the computer with headphones. Also, I can watch the complete FRASIER, MONTY PYTHON, BLACKADDER and other great stuff anytime I want. The movies I like are dialogue-driven rather than skyscraper-exploding and this is perfectly adequate for them, too. In effect, we're back to the nickelodeons of 125 years ago, one viewer-one screen. <br /><br />I was seriously upset by the news that Tom Seaver has dementia, and I'm grateful for the chance to come here and unwind. Tom Terrific and the Miracle Mets were heroes of my youth. Did you ever meet him, Ken? Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49245269569343166742019-03-08T13:45:44.297-08:002019-03-08T13:45:44.297-08:00I was at that game. Sat in the right field bleach...I was at that game. Sat in the right field bleachers, it got frightening when that fight broke out close to the stands-for my perspective it looked liked everyone was right next to the stands and I imagined fans getting involved. The lady I took to the game would later rib me about me taking her to a knockdown drag-out brawl. <br /><br />Back when Camden Yards was new and the O's were selling out every night. <br /><br />Been a long time since I've seen a movie in a real theater. Too old, the prices scare me off- I figure I can wait. Jeff Boicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14600946876122022978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40233228424909889632019-03-08T13:18:24.221-08:002019-03-08T13:18:24.221-08:00Hey Ken,
I was able to get a showrunner with an A...Hey Ken,<br /><br />I was able to get a showrunner with an ABC sitcom pilot in contention this year to read my sample script without an agent, she said she'll consider me for the staff writer position if the show gets picked up. Only one problem, I'm Canadian. If a show agrees to hire someone, what are the chances they'll sponsor someone for a work visa? Also, are staff writers usually the last positions that they hire after the show is picked up? In the event that I do get hired, I want to make sure there's enough time for the visa to arrive.<br /><br />Best,<br />MitchMitch H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84279298418414765932019-03-08T13:16:41.825-08:002019-03-08T13:16:41.825-08:00The most criminally under-rated straight man, of c...The most criminally under-rated straight man, of course, is Bob Newhart, who somehow was overlooked by the television academy until his guest-starring role on The Big Bang Theory.David Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71665601439436150272019-03-08T11:07:20.862-08:002019-03-08T11:07:20.862-08:00Friday question: When you and Issacs wrote sitcoms...Friday question: When you and Issacs wrote sitcoms, did you have Assistant writers too? If not, how were you able to write the dialogue so quickly for 20+ episodes? Jen from Jerseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66407794721817782232019-03-08T11:05:01.058-08:002019-03-08T11:05:01.058-08:00That was a fascinating clip of that brawl. What ca...That was a fascinating clip of that brawl. What caused me to grin from ear to ear as I watched it was seeing the old Mariner teammates, and hearing all of those names that are so much a part of the teams history. As you are as well Ken. Good old Norm, Jay, Chris, Lou, and so many others that were rolling around in the grass. <br />I am amused to think that Chris Bosio was a threat to anyone, he wasn't exactly a power pitcher was he? :)<br /><br />CliffCliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04181746634309884183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36352296124140890292019-03-08T10:53:40.198-08:002019-03-08T10:53:40.198-08:00What are the odds that Bill Hasselman will deliver...What are the odds that Bill Hasselman will deliver an intro speech for Mussina at this year's HOF induction? Tednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32855061338023517312019-03-08T10:40:01.397-08:002019-03-08T10:40:01.397-08:00"Losing the beauty of the theater experience&..."Losing the beauty of the theater experience" strikes me as a coastal urban concern to which I can't really relate. I grew up in a small town in middle America with one crappy theater that had absolutely no character at all. The floors were always sticky, the seats were dirty and often broken, and the sound was monaural on intercom-quality speakers. But most importantly, it took us at least a month after release before films would finally come to our city on 35mm prints that were already worn out. When I finally got to see Who Framed Roger Rabbit, I vividly remember the first 20 minutes being marred by a horrendous green line straight down the middle of the picture. Apparently the theater that had been previously using that print had something break off in the gate and scratch the entire first reel. Nothing we could do about it. Our parents were not about to drive us to the closest "big city" theater 45 miles away.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25472987071916621822019-03-08T10:28:14.472-08:002019-03-08T10:28:14.472-08:00I have another Friday Question: I loved the discus...I have another Friday Question: I loved the discussion on Barney Miller's Hash and it made me remember how amazing it is that even after Barney not only survived but even gotten better after Abe Vigoda and Jack Doo were gone and that's no diss to them they were incredible in their roles and if this was any other show it would probably tank without them but the ensemble was so incredible that the show didn't fall apart. Same on the other shows you did like Cheers and MASH that also improved with cast changes. This wasn't the case with The Office for example. Why is that?Kendall Rivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16401646799797849078noreply@blogger.com