tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8729098899011048891..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: I got my first fashion question...EVERBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74385009273441064842010-01-30T17:57:44.078-08:002010-01-30T17:57:44.078-08:00During opening credits, why do sometimes only one ...During opening credits, why do sometimes only one actor also has their character's name listed?Travisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51209109915104381272010-01-29T19:58:43.057-08:002010-01-29T19:58:43.057-08:00I notice alot of consultants listed in the M*A*S*H...I notice alot of consultants listed in the M*A*S*H credits. What's the difference between an Executive Script Consultant, Creative Consultant and Story Consultant?Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43466011608247639372010-01-29T17:19:07.774-08:002010-01-29T17:19:07.774-08:00What's your take on the prevalence of narratio...What's your take on the prevalence of narration at the end of everything now? I blame "Sex & the City" for bringing the tactic back into fashion, but it's been used on shows going back to "The Wonder Years" or even "Dragnet", if you want to go back farther. <br /><br />On some shows it works (I'm looking at you, "Modern Family"), but most of the time it just seems like a lazy writer telling you what the show meant. Am I the only one bugged by this?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686350869833778696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12238601295018165992010-01-29T16:48:05.202-08:002010-01-29T16:48:05.202-08:00I like Copeland's question.
Mine is more gene...I like Copeland's question.<br /><br />Mine is more general. Are actors who gain success in a certain role usually typecast by their own choice (Comedy's easy for me, so I'll stick with them) or is it done to them (David Hyde Pierce as a romantic lead? C'mon, he's a comic!)?Refnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23110128171315444152010-01-29T13:48:18.091-08:002010-01-29T13:48:18.091-08:00Given the recent passing of Pernell Roberts, I won...Given the recent passing of Pernell Roberts, I wonder when Trapper John, M.D. and M*A*S*H were on at the same time, if there was ever talk of having a 20-odd-years-older version of a M*A*S*H character guest on Trapper John?Edward Copelandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12463676135131274426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18315560083848902782010-01-29T12:25:22.930-08:002010-01-29T12:25:22.930-08:00I have a question. I've seen similar comments...I have a question. I've seen similar comments elsewhere (he doesn't know how to read a script). How *do* you a read a script? What is the difference between people who do it well and the people who don't?<br /><br />(I'm not being argumentative or challenging. I want to improve my skills and I'm a tyro. Maybe I can learn something to improve my writing as well.)Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02753360146107174303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45283329504633926512010-01-29T11:57:27.909-08:002010-01-29T11:57:27.909-08:00It's tough to know who's opinion to trust....It's tough to know who's opinion to trust. but sometimes it can be very clear who not to listen to. We once had a feature exec. tell us that he didn't think a particular scene was funny...the producers, (to their credit) knowing we had a background in sketch comedy, asked us to read the scene to the room. We performed the scene from our seats and the exec watched as everyone laughed hysterically. He then said, "well, sure the scene is funny when you read it like that." We said, "Uh, yeah, and imagine real actors reading it"! Our experience is that some people can read comedy and hear the funny in their head...and some can't, period. You'll never know ahead of time, because everyone thinks they can! Great site, Ken! Cheers, BobBob and Rob Professional American Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13273869278815498283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80025841313575871712010-01-29T11:39:15.853-08:002010-01-29T11:39:15.853-08:00My favorite Special Appearance By credit was Edwar...My favorite Special Appearance By credit was Edward Herriman's, on Gilmour Girls. It appeared on every episode... even the many in which Herriman did not appear.<br /><br />wv: ansmsin - what you and your partner are committing by playing your bondage games in churchNat Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071882426424901455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22586721133776098022010-01-29T11:25:19.570-08:002010-01-29T11:25:19.570-08:00Do you know Michael Wilbon? Do you trust his opini...Do you know Michael Wilbon? Do you trust his opinion?<br /><br />Now that I've set you up for a possible "gotcha", ignore the second question. In fact, you can ignore both questions if you like.<br /><br />Thursday was Alan Alda's 74 birthday. He was mentioned on Pardon the Interruption, and Wilbon said MASH was among the top 5 television sit/coms of all time.<br /><br />I don't really have a question, do I?Alan Coilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09049940361953267636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3322508572612065222010-01-29T10:48:47.344-08:002010-01-29T10:48:47.344-08:00Jesse,
You'd never sell it unless George Cloo...Jesse,<br /><br />You'd never sell it unless George Clooney is attached to play me. So there's NO chance.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9574912054565734302010-01-29T10:41:21.141-08:002010-01-29T10:41:21.141-08:00I have an idea for a script. Its about a TV write...I have an idea for a script. Its about a TV writer / radio sportscaster who does an internet blog on comedy writing...hmmmmm<br /><br />Surprised no one has come up with that idea before.JESSEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43645675358312249982010-01-29T09:55:17.667-08:002010-01-29T09:55:17.667-08:00I think you meant "not too shabby" (with...I think you meant "not too shabby" (with two O's)... it's nice to see that the greats make these little mistakes to. Er, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72177538095380457092010-01-29T09:02:58.011-08:002010-01-29T09:02:58.011-08:00I remember reading that Neil Simon's third wif...I remember reading that Neil Simon's third wife made him sign a pre-nup saying that he could not write about their marriage, and I don't think he has ... especially now that he has a fourth wife. Her name is Elaine Joyce, the widow of Bobby Van and a game show host and player. It turns out, according to one obit, that she once dated J.D. Salinger. Now, THAT'S a play Simon should write!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23613080482069493432010-01-29T08:00:40.838-08:002010-01-29T08:00:40.838-08:00I took a comedy writing class from Danny Simon (Go...I took a comedy writing class from Danny Simon (God bless him!) when he was still alive which he held in the rec room of his condo in Sherman Oaks, and he verified what everyone is saying about THE ODD COUPLE. The benefit on Danny's side was that he invested in the play when Neil took it to Broadway and then sold the movie rights, both of which ended up making a pile of money for Danny. <br /><br />Wonderful man, BTW... He not only called me right back when I phoned him and left a message inquiring about the class, but he also sent me a Christmas card that year.Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61028903407902092142010-01-29T07:39:14.487-08:002010-01-29T07:39:14.487-08:00Neil Simon's pages on the writing of "The...Neil Simon's pages on the writing of "The Odd Couple" in REWRITES are among the best in a theatrical memoir ever. His struggle with that play's third act is right up there with, and similar to Moss Hart's problems with "Once in a Lifetime" (about which he wrote so eloquently in his own memoir). Ever writer should read it. A great play almost never made it to Broadway. And Oliver Smith sneering at Mike Nichols is one of those little details that make it such a vivid and enjoyable read.Brigadudenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35664996551748651172010-01-28T23:29:18.591-08:002010-01-28T23:29:18.591-08:00THE ODD COUPLE is based on Neil Simon’s brother Da...<i>THE ODD COUPLE is based on Neil Simon’s brother Danny moving in with another divorcee. But until Danny said it was okay, Neil did not write that play.</i><br /><br />Thanks, Ken! "Rewrites" is sitting in front of me as I work, batting the corners of its pages longingly at me, and this gives me something to look forward to.Rory L. Aronskyhttp://scrapsofliteracy.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59362791972405686122010-01-28T22:34:12.299-08:002010-01-28T22:34:12.299-08:00From one Larry to another, Ken isn't exactly c...From one Larry to another, Ken isn't exactly correct about who has the rights to certain ideas. The law is actually pretty tricky (even if in the big leagues they usually play it safe by buying up rights). Generally speaking, you can base your script on a general idea since you can't copyright ideas. It's only specific expression that you can't take without permission. Neil Simon certainly didn't need permission from his brother to write about his situation. (Actually, his brother had the idea for a play and took a crack at it, and after he gave up he gave Neil his blessing.)<br /><br />The article you see is the person's property, but not the general ideas within. If you read about something in the news that sounds interesting, even about someone's life, you can write something about it without permission. (Though these days there's also the right of publicity, and false light, which have nothing to do with copyright but may be a cause for specific people to sue if they feel you've based something on them.) However, the closer you get to the specific expression of the original tale, the more likely you'll be found liable in a court. Can people sue even if you don't violate copyright? Yes. Anyone can sue about anything, any time, anywhere. But that doesn't mean they'll prevail. No one owns ideas.<br /><br />People are afraid of being sued so they don't take chances. It's up to you how risky you want to play it. If the original article is just a general jumping-off point, you're free to express yourself as you choose. (Lord knows there are certain sitcom plots that have been recycled hundreds of times--you don't see lawsuits over the latest iteration of The Old Flame, or The High School Reunion, or The Cabin In The Woods.)<br /><br />I should add if you're lucky enough to sell your script, the production company will ask you to sign something indemnifying them against any copyright violation. On the other hand, by the time something is shot (if it ever gets that far), it'll probably have been rewritten so many times no one will recognize it anyway.Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86391533939645746052010-01-28T19:42:38.381-08:002010-01-28T19:42:38.381-08:00How do you recommend someone who is just starting ...How do you recommend someone who is just starting out to break into the business? I wrote extensively and acted in radio, stage and teevee when I was at school home in , and have since moved to LA in the hopes that someday I may be able to feed myself with a job that in no way involves old food, vomit or feces. THe problem is, basically none of my old experience counts for anything because it was not only Canadian, it was in French. Any tips you can give me would be great, because I'm down to my last dime (and package of ramen noodles) and am this close to packing it all up and becoming a dentist.Marie-Clairenoreply@blogger.com