tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6894275505854035534..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48871267930370801062016-02-18T21:04:44.351-08:002016-02-18T21:04:44.351-08:00Cedric Maxwell has some kind of a screw loose. Whe...Cedric Maxwell has some kind of a screw loose. Whenever something crazy happens in the game he starts yelling about food - "oh, sandwiches!!!!" "Get him a sweet potato pie!!!" Nobody in Boston, even the other media guys, knows why the heck he does that.Yuppie Scumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37877845631787688732016-02-13T19:34:56.053-08:002016-02-13T19:34:56.053-08:00Not a question but a compliment. I always watch Ev...Not a question but a compliment. I always watch Everybody Loves Raymond episodes before bed. Last night I got to the episode where Ray tries to prove to Debra that he's good in an emergency. For the first time I noticed a familiar name as the director. Every time I watch them wrestling across the living room I crack up, even knowing what's coming. Nice work. Oh, yeah, I guess Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton did okay, too.Mike Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11973643901495588545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87660435347766660032016-02-13T07:36:02.493-08:002016-02-13T07:36:02.493-08:00The previous comment was in response to the articl...The previous comment was in response to the article suggested by Roseann. Sorry.Joe Blow IIInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66383056234737862542016-02-13T07:34:06.264-08:002016-02-13T07:34:06.264-08:00Sexual *discrimination* is rampant in every indust...Sexual *discrimination* is rampant in every industry in this country, none more so than film and television, but in those industries I am referring more to those who work "behind the camera". When it comes to film and television stars, of course beautiful, sexy women will get the roles (just as gorgeous men will). I don't see how this can be seen as sexism. A film is a work of art (many of dubious quality, granted) and most people love art that is beautiful, whether it is the men and women in movies, paintings, sculptures, or any other art form or allied art such as architecture. To see a beautiful woman moving gracefully about in a film is an enormous pleasure---not just for men but for women too (in a non-sexual way). Great physical beauty is a glorious gift, and I don't think women (or men) should be made to feel guilty for it. God knows, it also has it's downside. <br /><br />There was a television show that had a major female character who was extremely unattractive, and every time she was on the screen, it is all I could think about. It took me completely out of the story. In real life, I doubt I would have even noticed her looks (nor would I have noticed her looks if she had been a minor character or certainly if she was a character actor).<br /><br />To wrap up, I don't think it is sexism to have a writer describe a character as beautiful or sexy. The story may evolve into a sexist one, but that is a different issue. <br /><br /> Joe Blow IIInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22776369642528855522016-02-13T07:28:38.426-08:002016-02-13T07:28:38.426-08:00While watching "Grandfathered" the other...While watching "Grandfathered" the other night I noticed it's produced by ABC Studios, yet it runs on Fox. How does that happen? Did ABC pass on its own show and sell it to Fox?DonRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29733785797072907482016-02-12T23:19:03.383-08:002016-02-12T23:19:03.383-08:00I much prefer radio broadcasts of sports to TV. Ba...I much prefer radio broadcasts of sports to TV. Baseball was made for radio. Back before TV went to delay, I'd put a game on with the sound off and tune to the radio broadcast. Best of both worlds. The only TV announcer I really enjoyed was John Madden. If you listened, you could learn a *lot* about football from Coach Madden. <br /><br />In Portland, I listen to Brian 'Wheels' Wheeler and Antonio Harvey for Blazers games. They're both total homers, but they're enjoyable to listen to, and Mr. Harvey provides a lot of insight in how the game is and should be played. <br /><br />I'll see if I can catch Sean Grande on the Net. Blair Iveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428917942590969429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8687787021731469862016-02-12T21:11:40.474-08:002016-02-12T21:11:40.474-08:00Have you read this article and where do you fall o...Have you read this article and where do you fall on it?<br /><br />http://www.vox.com/2016/2/11/10966014/screenplays-sexist-women-descriptions-twitterRoseannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393487748949411049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26659993185905011722016-02-12T20:31:55.776-08:002016-02-12T20:31:55.776-08:00I had the honor of calling some college (Boston U....I had the honor of calling some college (Boston U.) hockey games with Sean Grande. I say "honor" because, even then, as raw as we both were, you could tell this is what Sean was supposed to be doing. Very proud to be able to say I shared a booth with him, waaaaay back when.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00740239938140454237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18763782776916442016-02-12T16:31:04.219-08:002016-02-12T16:31:04.219-08:00This isn't for posting - just FYI:
http://var...This isn't for posting - just FYI:<br /><br />http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/maya-rudolph-martin-short-variety-show-nbc-lorne-michaels-1201705072/<br /><br />The Phoenix rises!Canadian Dudenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79427894412972112102016-02-12T14:31:43.802-08:002016-02-12T14:31:43.802-08:00Victor,
This would have been '87 or so. Gre...Victor,<br /><br />This would have been '87 or so. Greg Papa was calling their games then. Greg is another terrific announcer.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58039167345337058892016-02-12T13:07:52.175-08:002016-02-12T13:07:52.175-08:00Thanks for answering my question; something that h...Thanks for answering my question; something that has been intriguing me for years finally put to rest.<br /><br />(And I can't believe someone who wrote for MASH, Cheers and Frasier answered a question asked by me! :) ) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03337441085041478667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86484813403125520632016-02-12T12:15:20.308-08:002016-02-12T12:15:20.308-08:00Ken, here's a question: what year did you fill...Ken, here's a question: what year did you fill in on the Warriors game? Been a fan for a long time, going back to hearing Bill King and Hank Greenwald call the action. I would stare at the radio as if it were TV...exciting and riveting!Victor Velasconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13435337565540192442016-02-12T11:47:22.665-08:002016-02-12T11:47:22.665-08:00Thanks much for a few names I'm not familiar w...Thanks much for a few names I'm not familiar with......LOVE hunting down the broadcasts (mostly on the net) to hear new (to me) announcers. One of the things that keeps me from signing up to NBA TV is the lack of being able to listen to the "hometown" announcers. They say they offer it during the regular season, but not really.....and none for playoff games. It wouldn't matter to most folks, but it takes ALOT of the enjoyment away imho.<br /><br />And it is interesting that your anecdote of announcing games to yourself for practice is one shared by not only many sports announcer, but many comedians as well.....both Martin Short and Billy Crystal talk about mimicking ENTIRE Carson shows as announcer, host AND guests; and in Short's case, TAPING it for critical review afterwards. Must be something in the blood.DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60231060261228404492016-02-12T10:41:51.921-08:002016-02-12T10:41:51.921-08:00Friday question:
When audience and critical feedba...Friday question:<br />When audience and critical feedback indicated that a character or plot line was beloved (or hated), how quickly could you incorporate that feedback into your writing? Is it harder for limited-run cable series where an entire season is shot before the first episode has aired, so they have no audience feedback at all during production?<br /><br /><br />I ask because I was an extra on a cable drama where the seasons are 10 episodes. In the first season, the big criticism that quickly emerged was that the show was focusing on Character A, when Character B was more intriguing and Character C was more entertaining. It was awkward because I had already seen the finale being shot, so I knew B was going to continue being a marginal character, and C wasn't even in last couple of episodes. Even if the producers realized the critics were right, it was too late to change anything.<br /><br />Not surprisingly when it was renewed for a second season, C came back, and B was suddenly a much more important character. I feel like if the showrunners had seen that criticism in the middle of first season production instead of at the end of it, they could have addressed it a year earlier.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63436236935188458942016-02-12T10:10:06.186-08:002016-02-12T10:10:06.186-08:00It's nice you mentioned Kevin Calabro, who had...It's nice you mentioned Kevin Calabro, who had the unenviable task of succeeding Bob blackburn, the original "Voice of the Sonics" and ended up as beloved as his predecessor if not more, twice. <br /><br />Did you ever discuss with Rick Rizzs his struggles replacing Ernie Harwell, which did not go well, and then Dave Niehaus, which obviously has gone better?Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65469177910917971692016-02-12T09:57:02.058-08:002016-02-12T09:57:02.058-08:00Carson, they're already milking BBT by renewin...Carson, they're already milking BBT by renewing it for, I think another two years already? This deep into the run, that's ridiculous and it's already getting stale. But theoretically, they can keep it going spread over more seasons, they don't need more new within one seasons. Even the reruns perform better than some new stuff. Crappy new show gets cancelled, you can bet they're slotting in an extra repeat of BBT in its place. The cast renegotiated for GIANT per-episode salaries. The money conscious way to milk it would not be to produce more episodes within a year. Plus, stars and staffs at this point are accustomed to a certain schedule and number of breaks.DBAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89911256520862063032016-02-12T09:18:08.383-08:002016-02-12T09:18:08.383-08:00Ken, on the 39-episode talk from Thursday, since y...Ken, on the 39-episode talk from Thursday, since you and David broke into writing at a time when many of the writers from the 1950s (or even back into the 39-week radio series), did you ever get around to talking to them about what that type of work was like, or the transition in the 1970s from the more 'generic' type stories to more topical ones that, post "All In the Family" also were opened up to far more situations than writers had been allowed to touch in the past?J Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15175515543694122729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30187504114803119402016-02-12T08:22:31.478-08:002016-02-12T08:22:31.478-08:00The question about the old days of series doing 39...The question about the old days of series doing 39 episodes a year brought up a question for me. With the networks spending a lot of money on rights fees and struggling to find hit series, why do they order a much smaller amount of episodes now? I would think a show like The Big Bang Theory would be churning out at least close to 30 a year. It's a hit. Milk it for what it's worth and ultimately everyone makes more money.Carsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07030655278020563466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67724504276825516992016-02-12T08:02:51.982-08:002016-02-12T08:02:51.982-08:00Hi Ken
A Friday Question
If you where an up and ...Hi Ken<br /><br />A Friday Question<br /><br />If you where an up and coming writer today what existing show would you choose to spec?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.<br /><br />DavidDavidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41584588763977104102016-02-12T07:39:05.398-08:002016-02-12T07:39:05.398-08:00Also, I didn't know it was the birthday of the...Also, I didn't know it was the birthday of the Lincoln Car Company's founder. Happy Birthday, sir.Mitchell Hundredhttp://twitter.com/sackobooksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5574476470026252522016-02-12T07:32:21.308-08:002016-02-12T07:32:21.308-08:00It's become not uncommon for TV shows (at leas...It's become not uncommon for TV shows (at least a few of the ones I've seen) to incorporate overt product placement into their plots. But a lot of the time this can come across as either <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT1xpTDbR8o" rel="nofollow">blatantly ham-fisted adspeak</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36wUmJGzvA" rel="nofollow">derisive to the product</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9hepxidZyo" rel="nofollow">and concept as a whole</a>. Would you do this on one of your shows, and if so, could you do it in a way that avoided both of these pitfalls?Mitchell Hundredhttp://twitter.com/sackobooksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3937584761961678482016-02-12T07:20:57.408-08:002016-02-12T07:20:57.408-08:00John Sadak and I went to the same college. Nice sh...John Sadak and I went to the same college. Nice shout-out.Terrence Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365112876091271689noreply@blogger.com