tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7475589210096275969..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Written by Treva SilvermanBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86230122001531863132012-03-01T05:30:59.437-08:002012-03-01T05:30:59.437-08:00Checking out old "Monkees" clips re: unt...Checking out old "Monkees" clips re: untimely death of Jones. Just discovered this post searching "Treva Silverman." Saw 30 Rock rerun a few nights ago. Apres Jack's heart attack, he must attend big all American Gueiss (sp) picnic. <br />I'm SURE 30 Rock writers never saw this ep of MTM, sweet brunette in the big city TV newsroom. EVER. Nice blog. <br />This fool is FAR from anonymous; however, Blogger hates my fool's face. Jeannie Weller Cooper southsideatlantamemories.typepad.com FB- Panama City Beach:Creature from the Grand LagoonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78203571201607128272012-02-06T17:07:35.319-08:002012-02-06T17:07:35.319-08:00I know I'm in the minority on this, but as wel...I know I'm in the minority on this, but as well-written as those scenes are, I found so much of that show just plain irritating. I've loved actresses like Cloris Leachman and Betty White in other things, but I disliked almost all the female characters on that show - Phyllis, Sue Ellen, and Georgette all left me completely cold. And Ted Baxter was, I think, the first TV character I ever truly hated. <br /><br />Going back and watching the first few shows - as I did after this post - just brings back how annoying I found it. The MTM folks have complained, I think, that Murphy Brown copied a lot of what they did and then claimed it was ground-breaking, but what I loved about MB was that she wasn't timid and shaky; she was as arrogant and confident as they come - and she was smart and still having to make her way in a man's world. That said, the show did not hold up well during much of its run.<br /><br />The fact is I like watching smart comedy. Stupid characters don't make me laugh at their stupidity; they make me angry at the writers.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87586502554705597272012-02-05T23:15:31.340-08:002012-02-05T23:15:31.340-08:00Thanks for these samples. I'd love to see more...Thanks for these samples. I'd love to see more. The MTM show was one of the greatest sitcoms ever, not to mention one of the most influential, and Treva Silverman was a central figure in creating its style.Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63109447955906504762012-02-05T22:12:24.517-08:002012-02-05T22:12:24.517-08:00One thing I was surprised at, rewatching the show,...One thing I was surprised at, rewatching the show, is that it hired many women writers early on (as one might expect) and then abruptly stopped. The original female writers, like Charlotte Brown, went off to other shows (where she ran <i>Rhoda</i>). <br /><br />By the time Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels took over, the only writers they hired were guys who shared a variety background with them, like David Lloyd and Bob Ellison (exceptional hires, of course). Apart from Silverman doing two episodes in season 5, it was basically an all-male writing staff from then on, and so was <i>Taxi</i> in some seasons, and so was <i>The Simpsons</i> for a long time. Not that they weren't great writing staffs, but MTM's attempt to give a break to woman writers seemed to fade away a bit.<br /><br />Sometimes I think it might account for some of the difference in perspective between early and later "Mary" episodes; with Rhoda and Phyllis gone, and with an all-male staff, it subtly shitfted toward being a more guy-oriented show (there certainly were a ton more Ted episode).Jaime J. Weinmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15128500411119962998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35455491965561033112012-02-05T19:53:01.742-08:002012-02-05T19:53:01.742-08:00This kind of writing is what "Two Broke Girl...This kind of writing is what "Two Broke Girls" desperately needs. TBG has characters with potential, but way too often falls back on cheap smutty jokes for laughs instead of humor based on character.-beenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25265079722714656422012-02-05T19:37:19.491-08:002012-02-05T19:37:19.491-08:00One thing that stands out is that there's no c...One thing that stands out is that there's no contrived premise in either of the pieces. The sequence that each describes could be something that happens in real life, except for the fact that the dialogue is flawlessly extended beyond any real-life breaking point. Wonderful stuff.estivhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12736355730705116526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13123455930214031292012-02-05T17:18:34.827-08:002012-02-05T17:18:34.827-08:00Thanks so much for this post about Treva Silverman...Thanks so much for this post about Treva Silverman. I've loved the Mary Tyler Moore show for years (and still catch the reruns every weekday night on METV) and have always wanted to know Treva's story (of course I was too lazy to google information for myself). And Sue, I plan to check out the link in your comment.Kathleennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76776075117350562772012-02-05T17:00:11.846-08:002012-02-05T17:00:11.846-08:00@Mike, Being young and foreign :)@Mike, Being young and foreign :)Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31025896824223630502012-02-05T16:57:31.323-08:002012-02-05T16:57:31.323-08:00Haha. The second one made me laugh out loud.Haha. The second one made me laugh out loud.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6215383352551453332012-02-05T13:16:39.065-08:002012-02-05T13:16:39.065-08:00I wonder if Treva Silverman was responsible for on...I wonder if Treva Silverman was responsible for one of my favorite Rhoda lines. After Mary stumbles through the door carrying two bags of groceries, the bags tear and the food scatters all over the floor. Mary goes into the kitchen as Rhoda enters and sees the mess:<br /><br />"It looks like somebody mugged Betty Crocker."RCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251247613686669877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65978153123934112302012-02-05T13:15:14.522-08:002012-02-05T13:15:14.522-08:00There is a video interview with Treva Silverman at...There is a video interview with Treva Silverman at the Archive of American Television talking about her work and experiences. <br /><br />http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/treva-silvermanSuenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35160289299436269022012-02-05T12:21:13.260-08:002012-02-05T12:21:13.260-08:00Again, great stuff. Does Treva Silverman still wri...Again, great stuff. Does Treva Silverman still write for TV? We could use her nowadaysKirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91952454711143656612012-02-05T11:43:08.004-08:002012-02-05T11:43:08.004-08:00Ken, for Friday questions:
Have you ever (or wri...Ken, for Friday questions: <br /><br />Have you ever (or writers you know) had problems with actors because of different political believes? <br /><br />Like maybe there was a scene that promoted liberal values and an actor didn't like it because he or she was a conservative? And vice versa, of course.<br /><br />Greetings, KaanKGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700108971261541448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37749536457493707602012-02-05T09:50:58.612-08:002012-02-05T09:50:58.612-08:00I was 12 years old when The Mary Tyler Moore Show ...I was 12 years old when The Mary Tyler Moore Show went off the air. Yet I think everything I know about comedy today I learned from watching it.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46649143492896801782012-02-05T09:42:07.697-08:002012-02-05T09:42:07.697-08:00My late adviser was diagnosed as diabetic. One da...My late adviser was diagnosed as diabetic. One day, I bought a Three Musketeers bar and had taken one bite when I saw him coming. I realized he would suffer and I ... swallowed the rest whole. I've never felt quite the same way about Three Musketeers since.<br /><br />What is really striking about the scripts is how well they prove the point that great comedy really is in the characters. The dialogue is funny, yes, but knowing the characters, they are very funny.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45835918670404481552012-02-05T08:51:10.065-08:002012-02-05T08:51:10.065-08:00I've seen that cholocate scene a dozen times. ...I've seen that cholocate scene a dozen times. But reading it for the first time--I never realized how much it sounds like phone sex.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02753360146107174303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77591893956668444142012-02-05T08:23:09.205-08:002012-02-05T08:23:09.205-08:00"For those not familiar with the show, Mary&#...<i>"For those not familiar with the show, Mary's friends are Rhoda (Valerie Harper), Phyllis (Cloris Leachman), and her boss is Lou Grant (Ed Asner)."</i><br /><br />I appreciate this explanation for those folks but have to wonder what they are doing here. :)Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14222454130248126891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69532971907455300742012-02-05T07:44:48.423-08:002012-02-05T07:44:48.423-08:00Thank you for showcasing Ms. Silverman's wonde...Thank you for showcasing Ms. Silverman's wonderful work. It's nice to be reminded what smart comedy is.dgwphotographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17457021093344362212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54369796864376203762012-02-05T07:24:00.838-08:002012-02-05T07:24:00.838-08:00The MTM Show always struck a perfect tone, whether...The MTM Show always struck a perfect tone, whether it was in the workplace or in Mary Richards' personal life. Treva did an amazing job in bringing the female POV to the latter without resorting to cheap laughs. The writers were all fluent in being funny AND warm. The show reflected that.Howard Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377628524697677407noreply@blogger.com