tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8497939777930292554..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58183728095790254102015-10-29T09:21:01.325-07:002015-10-29T09:21:01.325-07:00Somehow, I never tired of Niles "fainting&quo...Somehow, I never tired of Niles "fainting" at the sight of blood - beyond hilarious. And I wonder who, if anyone, could handle a scene like that today? Just great.Ottohttp://www.theottofiles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67021545193955187482015-10-28T15:12:58.318-07:002015-10-28T15:12:58.318-07:00Just wanted to thank you for answering my question...Just wanted to thank you for answering my question, sir.<br />I'm often put in the position where I see something so brilliant I wonder if I can ever write that good. But other times, its so funny, I want to try.ChicagoJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15963409952606722977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17724208422370906312015-10-27T07:31:25.181-07:002015-10-27T07:31:25.181-07:00I noticed last night that The Big Bang Theory isn&...I noticed last night that The Big Bang Theory isn't doing a Halloween episode this year. So this got me to thinking, what drives the decision of whether to do holiday themed episodes? Does the network like them and will request them? One of the writers has a great idea for a turkey getting stuck on someone's head?Jerrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38454626161135593182015-10-26T05:50:55.177-07:002015-10-26T05:50:55.177-07:00Another example of a character used sparingly, to ...Another example of a character used sparingly, to great effect, was Cliff's mom on Cheers. She was awesome in small doses, but I'm glad she wasn't in too many episodes or that would have ruined the charm. My favorite episode with her was when Sam spends the night at their home. And of course the Carson show. (Ken, what can you tell us about Frances Sternhagen?)Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23686245424564256462015-10-24T12:47:27.369-07:002015-10-24T12:47:27.369-07:00Was Kelsey Grammer's "Oh dear God!" ...Was Kelsey Grammer's "Oh dear God!" catchphrase on FRASIER an intentional creation? Obviously, it's funny when used sparingly and in context, and it only seems to appear once or twice a season. I just wonder, did the actor himself or the writers think it up, or did it just pop up spontaneously?Frank Beansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37994529766238853012015-10-24T10:57:27.773-07:002015-10-24T10:57:27.773-07:00Oopsie -- that should be "neither Penner nor ...Oopsie -- that should be "<i>neither</i> Penner nor Pearl..." But you probably got that. (I'm typing this at a library.)VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91595028135339029502015-10-24T10:55:41.864-07:002015-10-24T10:55:41.864-07:00This reminds me of something involving Jack Benny....<i>This reminds me of something involving Jack Benny. A radio comedian, Jack Pearl, did a show in which his big line was, "Vass you dere, Sharlie?" It would get a big laugh. Benny suggested that he skip it for a week or two and it would go over bigger. Pearl said, no, that's my big line. Well, his show died because it had just that gimmick.<br /><br />Benny noted that on his shows, he would only use running gags occasionally, or maybe twice or three times a year. The Maxwell didn't gasp each week. The tout didn't meet him at the track each week, nor did the train leave on track five.</i><br /><br />I've heard a similar anecdote involving Benny, but the other guy was Joe Penner of "Wanna buy a duck?" fame. Either way, Penner nor Pearl understood what Benny did -- that <i>character</i>, not catch phrases, sell radio (and later TV) comedy. It's one reason Benny -- whose generosity was far removed from his miserly on-air person -- paid his writers top dollar, and why they remained loyal to him for decades.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11736004114459956992015-10-24T10:33:37.549-07:002015-10-24T10:33:37.549-07:00@ Howard Hoffman - I believe that thing is there ...@ Howard Hoffman - I believe that thing is there to hold the iron's power cord; you're supposed to loop the cord over it so the cord doesn't drag across the clothes. It's quite functional, but it's also a throwback to when the power (and steam) at a commercial place would come done from the ceiling.Igornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60458761321463888232015-10-24T10:27:25.091-07:002015-10-24T10:27:25.091-07:00"Lots of new readers since then."
I..."Lots of new readers since then." <br /><br />I'm one.Igornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92194593436928967442015-10-24T07:11:33.479-07:002015-10-24T07:11:33.479-07:00I remember seeing that particular episode of Frasi...I remember seeing that particular episode of Frasier. It is one of my favorite memories of the show and impossible to describe to someone else. I had to catch my breath from laughing so hard. barriowolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03529526264443377334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91654640348885094872015-10-24T06:59:10.586-07:002015-10-24T06:59:10.586-07:00I feel I have read this comment before ... Is it n...I feel I have read this comment before ... Is it new?Aaronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74445036703826868592015-10-24T05:33:30.353-07:002015-10-24T05:33:30.353-07:00I felt that "Newhart" made a mistake in ...I felt that "Newhart" made a mistake in over-using the Larry, Daryl and Daryl trio. Those characters would've been funnier if used less often. Instead they became tedious in an "Oh, no, not them again!" way. Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76946539268192680992015-10-23T23:05:35.033-07:002015-10-23T23:05:35.033-07:00It is not a "best of" posting. It is al...It is not a "best of" posting. It is all new. I tell you when it's a re-post, and even when I do re-post, it's from three to six years ago. Lots of new readers since then.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49586159092244129272015-10-23T22:14:46.183-07:002015-10-23T22:14:46.183-07:00This reminds me of something involving Jack Benny....This reminds me of something involving Jack Benny. A radio comedian, Jack Pearl, did a show in which his big line was, "Vass you dere, Sharlie?" It would get a big laugh. Benny suggested that he skip it for a week or two and it would go over bigger. Pearl said, no, that's my big line. Well, his show died because it had just that gimmick.<br /><br />Benny noted that on his shows, he would only use running gags occasionally, or maybe twice or three times a year. The Maxwell didn't gasp each week. The tout didn't meet him at the track each week, nor did the train leave on track five.<br /><br />For example, Flagg is one of my all-time favorites, and the Winchester episode was just brilliant. But Flagg each week? Too much. Way too much.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8333152340150844852015-10-23T20:01:59.576-07:002015-10-23T20:01:59.576-07:00Terry, have you ever seen Psych?Terry, have you ever seen Psych?MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17421927018253874132015-10-23T19:02:11.220-07:002015-10-23T19:02:11.220-07:00Is this a "best of" posting? The questio...Is this a "best of" posting? The questions and answers seem familiar.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26565642022056844852015-10-23T18:15:34.862-07:002015-10-23T18:15:34.862-07:00The antenna-like thing is to keep the iron's p...The antenna-like thing is to keep the iron's power cord out of the way -- you clip the cord at the top, so it's always hanging down instead of hitting the board.Todd Everettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47709082793135102652015-10-23T16:13:44.578-07:002015-10-23T16:13:44.578-07:00I keep meaning to ask - what the hell is that ante...I keep meaning to ask - what the hell is that antenna-like thing Niles raises on the ironing board in that magnificent scene? I love how he dutifully raises it, even though he also seems to have no idea why.Howard Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377628524697677407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82743396619579206212015-10-23T13:58:56.334-07:002015-10-23T13:58:56.334-07:00@J.Allison - I'm far from being Ken, but I'...@J.Allison - I'm far from being Ken, but I'll agree with you about the decline of Modern Family. Although I did think last season was a decent rebound from a poor season 2 years ago, I think it's been in decline for a while. <br /><br />I know that family-centric shows can struggle as kids age, but it seems like they've done a poor job of staying character focused. They've actually done a decent (if sporadic) job of letting Haley grow and evolve, but they haven't served many of the rest well. Cam in particular comes across more as a grab-bag of cliches than a consistent character, but he's not the only one. I wonder if the schism between the producers is causing more issues as time passes.Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50801857770659195392015-10-23T13:21:12.627-07:002015-10-23T13:21:12.627-07:00From Milpitas, the heart of the television industr...From Milpitas, the heart of the television industry, a chance to make hundreds of dollars as a writer:<br /><br />https://outsource.com/job-request-view?id=95496266DBensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144515471557731622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23737714397112288542015-10-23T11:26:45.695-07:002015-10-23T11:26:45.695-07:00I gotta figure there were at least a few hundred s...I gotta figure there were at least a few hundred shows that were on <b>longer</b> than the hearing yesterday that were at least as bad as those 1,657. Just depends on whom one wants to mock, I guess.Igornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80233553695350659572015-10-23T11:19:11.657-07:002015-10-23T11:19:11.657-07:00Ken, any comment on this?
Washington Post: &quo...Ken, any comment on this? <br /><br />Washington Post: "The 1,657 TV shows that spent less time on the air than the Hillary Clinton Benghazi hearing" - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/23/the-1657-tv-shows-that-spent-less-time-on-the-air-than-the-hillary-clinton-benghazi-hearing/<br /><br />Igornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51292066184936052962015-10-23T10:13:37.877-07:002015-10-23T10:13:37.877-07:00Wow, talk about setting the bar high! Very few tel...Wow, talk about setting the bar high! Very few television writers have <i>ever</i> written anything as good as <i>Chuckles Bites the Dust</i>. If I were an aspiring writer and saw that and thought that was the standard I had to compete against, I’d probably curl up in a fetal position and stay there. Luckily, there are always things like <i>Two Broke Girls</i> to remind you that it can’t be <i>that</i> hard to write for television (if you have talent).Hank Gillettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328364486555780403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46055927046362710882015-10-23T10:13:18.682-07:002015-10-23T10:13:18.682-07:00Friday question:I was wondering how "Point Of...Friday question:I was wondering how "Point Of View" was filmed? Was the actor playing Private Rich wearing a helmet cam or something?Boomska316https://www.blogger.com/profile/07057030413893543908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90476664952258940002015-10-23T10:03:21.547-07:002015-10-23T10:03:21.547-07:00Nies channels Mr. Bean. Even in the grunting no ta...Nies channels Mr. Bean. Even in the grunting no talking aspect.Dalenoreply@blogger.com