tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8706867021655379656..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: How NOT to give notesBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16257959580757632672010-09-02T04:40:06.822-07:002010-09-02T04:40:06.822-07:00I'd really like to read this second part of yo...I'd really like to read this second part of your post, but...if you'd publish the first, maybe I would read it with better disposition. Everybody is with me ? Let's vote !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39197464184769167352010-09-02T03:43:12.372-07:002010-09-02T03:43:12.372-07:00Colosanto directed a second COLUMBO, too, ETUDE IN...Colosanto directed a second COLUMBO, too, ETUDE IN BLACK, with John Cassavetes as an orchestra conductor (and written by Bochco from a Levinson/Link story). Another goodie.jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79951769604089235852010-09-02T02:01:40.485-07:002010-09-02T02:01:40.485-07:00I've worked more in radio than TV, where you h...I've worked more in radio than TV, where you have to create comedy bits in recording studios and just hope that what you've created will strike other people as funny once you've finished it. My partner and I did occasionally run tests, though, to make sure the laughs were there before airing bits. We would grab any passing stranger out of the hall, play them the bit and watch their reaction. We called this the "M.T." We had everyone believing that it was a high honor to be chosen to help with an "M.T." We never told them that "M.T." stood for "Moron Test." <br /><br />BTW, a question for Friday: Kelsey Grammer has recently been through two failed sitcoms and is apparently facing an expensive divorce. I don't know if this is related to reports that he's been Tweeting about possibly doing a "Frasier" reunion, or a spinoff about Frasier and Niles' sons with the old cast doing cameos. I usually find reunion shows to be sad and depressing, but with that level of talent, maybe they could pull it off. What do you think of this idea, and if asked, would you want to be involved in it?Pat Reederhttp://www.comedy-wire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66260378243930591982010-09-01T21:53:35.418-07:002010-09-01T21:53:35.418-07:00#1 rule for me as an actor, if I don't think m...#1 rule for me as an actor, if I don't think my character would say what's on the page... I've obviously built the wrong character. That won't keep me from collaborating with the writer, but that line is part of the characters heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84151965973528836332010-09-01T16:39:06.168-07:002010-09-01T16:39:06.168-07:00The actor he's referring to regarding the Step...The actor he's referring to regarding the Stephen Bochco comment is Daniel J. Travanti. Ken used that example before in an October '07 post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37662651746868657792010-09-01T15:44:16.809-07:002010-09-01T15:44:16.809-07:00Nick was also a capable director.
He directed an...Nick was also a capable director. <br /><br />He directed an episode of Columbo, "Swan Song," with Johnny Cash. Did lots of tv shows, but that's the one where I saw his name on the credits when I had always thought of him as simply Coach.Max Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706524941272103444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44070480886734354992010-09-01T15:41:58.879-07:002010-09-01T15:41:58.879-07:00"every story beat .... has been discussed&quo..."every story beat .... has been discussed"<br /><br />You've spoken about story beats before, but this is the first time I've realised that I don't actually know what you mean. What is a story beat? How many beats an act? How many a half hour show? Is there some sort of story rhythm that you have to keep in your head when writing an episode of a sitcom? Do different shows have different beats? Or have I just missed something very obvious along the line.Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89763767929309544412010-09-01T13:25:31.578-07:002010-09-01T13:25:31.578-07:00The picture of Coach,reminds me of the terrible cu...The picture of Coach,reminds me of the terrible curse NBC has of characters dying in the middle of the runs of their shows.<br />Cheers, Hill Street Blues, and Night Court lost major characters at the same time. <br />Suddenly Susan and Night Radio both had characters passing about the same time as well. Not to mention SNL.Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69926472841954916962010-09-01T13:13:37.650-07:002010-09-01T13:13:37.650-07:00Re. actors & directors, I always loved that Sp...Re. actors & directors, I always loved that Spike Lee anecdote reportedly from one of his early movies. A young black actor asked him, "Spike, what's your vision here?" Lee answered, "My vision is, I pay you money, you act."Ralph Hitchenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07405787771198956545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85269300879000016662010-09-01T12:36:00.686-07:002010-09-01T12:36:00.686-07:00Thanks for an excellent post, Ken.
There's a c...Thanks for an excellent post, Ken.<br />There's a comedian in the UK (who used to have prime-time shows) who was notorious for constantly telling his writers how unfunny they were. The writers jumped ship at the first chance they got, and his shows' quality plummeted. He hasn't had a show on TV for several years now. <br />Be Nice!! It makes business sense.Macnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87308034274396409282010-09-01T12:15:40.662-07:002010-09-01T12:15:40.662-07:00David Schwartz said...
"Scooby Doo wouldn&#...<b>David Schwartz said...</b><br /><br /><i> "Scooby Doo wouldn't say that." </i>...<br /><br />Actually, in order to make his or her point, the person who spoke those words should probably have said "Rooby Doo rouldn't ray rat."...<br /><br />Scooby Doo pulling the star thing aside, the writing staff at HOME IMPROVEMENT used to kind of do a pre-emptive strike against network and studio notes by bringing a small audience into their midweek rehearsal and gauging their response to the story and jokes, then going to work immediately afterward on the re-write. The benefit is that you got some immediate reaction from outsiders, and whatever mental or written notes the writers made to themselves were still fresh. In addition, everyone could see what worked and what didn't, so the there was a lot less basis for debate. I'm surprised that more shows didn't make use of that practice.Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90834604423255829672010-09-01T12:01:32.023-07:002010-09-01T12:01:32.023-07:00During a rehearsal for a stageplay I co-wrote, we ...During a rehearsal for a stageplay I co-wrote, we had an actor snipe, "Who says stuff like that? I mean, who actually talks like that?"<br /><br />My wife, who was also in the play, piped up - "Your character does. Just shut up and do the lines."<br /><br />You can see why I stay married to this woman.Mr. Snrubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13343511203178580690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88471721816162571382010-09-01T11:59:06.073-07:002010-09-01T11:59:06.073-07:00Dear Mr. Levine - unable to find part 1; please re...Dear Mr. Levine - unable to find part 1; please refund my money from your blog.Note Givernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45879381658544387292010-09-01T11:58:12.221-07:002010-09-01T11:58:12.221-07:00Excellent post - it made me laugh :)Excellent post - it made me laugh :)Karmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636891081724669511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10441145813654784802010-09-01T09:50:30.261-07:002010-09-01T09:50:30.261-07:00just a note-
its funnier if you post part one fir...just a note-<br /><br />its funnier if you post part one first. we took a poll.daniel in cherry hillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56199075855284143322010-09-01T09:24:17.314-07:002010-09-01T09:24:17.314-07:00Ken, everything you said is spot on. Truthfully, ...Ken, everything you said is spot on. Truthfully, it all seems like common sense to treat people with a sense of decency. Everyone is almost always trying their best and when people disrespect their efforts or don't take the same care with their comments that you've taken with your writing, the moron jokes are definitely justified! Nobody has to act like Ari Gold to make their point. On a side note, I wrote animation for years and I actually heard the comment, "Scooby Doo wouldn't say that." Honest!David Schwartzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ2W6VoCrSwnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38720746435974204682010-09-01T09:18:20.266-07:002010-09-01T09:18:20.266-07:00It's not a rerun. I post these via a timer so...It's not a rerun. I post these via a timer so I don't have to get up every morning at 6. But I screwed up the dates. Part one is tomorrow.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56325752757531223912010-09-01T09:05:29.797-07:002010-09-01T09:05:29.797-07:00I can't wait for Part 4 tomorrow.I can't wait for Part 4 tomorrow.Simon H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68443111815983092522010-09-01T09:04:50.644-07:002010-09-01T09:04:50.644-07:00Isn't this a rerun? I remember it from way bac...Isn't this a rerun? I remember it from way back when.<br />-MWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43967840176458979372010-09-01T08:45:05.679-07:002010-09-01T08:45:05.679-07:00Ken, I'm happy to read the blog exactly as wri...Ken, I'm happy to read the blog exactly as written, but I need a little help here with the numbering of the parts. If part 1 of the rant had a lot to do with the Emmys, the connection may be too subtle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1770777002635744502010-09-01T08:26:58.079-07:002010-09-01T08:26:58.079-07:00Note to Ken: Part One is invisible.Note to Ken: Part One is invisible.Sal Monellanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30878086895706553572010-09-01T08:22:49.143-07:002010-09-01T08:22:49.143-07:00Like some notes, this is completely irrelevant to ...Like some notes, this is completely irrelevant to the topic at hand, but do readers here know that they can subscribe to the Dodger Talk podcast through iTunes? <br /><br />Sometimes I like the 21st century.Charles H. Bryanhttp://twitter.com/charleshbryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20419598812709393482010-09-01T07:25:36.927-07:002010-09-01T07:25:36.927-07:00Then I guess you're grateful that Edward Norto...Then I guess you're grateful that Edward Norton never became a regular on a sitcom.joecabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16862252671814767307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85311845177261224182010-09-01T07:04:05.171-07:002010-09-01T07:04:05.171-07:00Is this the opposite of History of the World Part ...Is this the opposite of History of the World Part I?<br /><br />I don't see the "Part I" of this on the blog.Rockgolfnoreply@blogger.com