tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8797630339753052976..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: 12th year anniversaryBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80905416113825365722017-11-20T18:21:31.218-08:002017-11-20T18:21:31.218-08:00Missed your blog last week while at a convention, ...Missed your blog last week while at a convention, so late catching up and wishing you a happy anniversary. I was bitten by the radio bug when I was about 12, and that's now 56 years ago. I worked in local radio and TV off and on for decades, and am now an elected official here in Washington State (yes I remember your time with the Mariners). I've been reading your blog for 4 years, and I've also scanned the archives for radio stories, which is what I crave. Mike Lonergannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13455704645265994232017-11-19T14:21:25.136-08:002017-11-19T14:21:25.136-08:00I worked with a small time producer (Decourcey?)in...I worked with a small time producer (Decourcey?)in seattle in the early 80's gofering and got a local emmay for computer animation and there was yet another "Ken Levine" involved in the film industry wannabes. Then there was some talk of that Ken getting a script made and then I moved and many generic compute jobs later noticed a reference to a blog, and through, wait really the guy made it? But I think just bad memory and coincidences and one of those names. But I've really enjoyed your stories, congrats on boosting a internet literary form that glowed so bright with millions of single post blogs but a few like yours are a weboshhere treasure!Samuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06255700565947978423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82875925671332436152017-11-18T06:52:03.811-08:002017-11-18T06:52:03.811-08:00Still here. Still reading. Still waiting for you t...Still here. Still reading. Still waiting for you to share some behind the scenes stories on BioShock.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3628689047773324812017-11-17T19:04:22.058-08:002017-11-17T19:04:22.058-08:00Hi Ken...sorry for the late response. Catching up ...Hi Ken...sorry for the late response. Catching up on your blog. 55 from North Orange county. Found out about the blog 12 years ago when Don Barrett from LARadio.com when he said you need to follow this tasty blog. I have ever since. My favorite subjects are radio and yes baseball. Love hearing your tales of the broadcast booth (Yes I bought the book and read it several times). Whatever you do...thank you. Will always read no matter the subject. Stu Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14097000913495185851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20412324334613765912017-11-17T17:47:06.207-08:002017-11-17T17:47:06.207-08:00I'm 61 and having spent my first 20 years in t...I'm 61 and having spent my first 20 years in the workforce in radio news, I totally see your point on what has happened to the industry. I also like baseball stories. I found out about your blog a couple years ago while reading News from ME. Astroworfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922179318663444820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80410195934005209332017-11-17T17:40:16.561-08:002017-11-17T17:40:16.561-08:00I've been reading you for a couple years, than...I've been reading you for a couple years, thanks to a heads-up from Mark Evanier's blog. I totally relate to your take on what has become of radio. When I started doing radio news, there were at least a dozen local stations within a half-hour drive, all with their own news departments. The stations are now owned by 3 different groups, with only one real news department--that belongs to the only independent station left. I spent 20 years in news then left, but kept my hand in the game as a part-time board-op for Cardinal baseball games. I like your baseball stuff, too.Astroworfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922179318663444820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56035235471054433312017-11-17T06:04:26.114-08:002017-11-17T06:04:26.114-08:00Hi, Ken. Sorry for the late response. Early 50’s, ...Hi, Ken. Sorry for the late response. Early 50’s, live about an hour west of Philadelphia, born and raised on the Jersey Shore. Found your blog after Evanier mentioned it some years ago. Your blog is now a part of my daily routine, and I really enjoy your podcasts as well. MASH, Cheers and Frasier were among my favorite shows, so that was the initial attraction. When I was a video producer in the corporate world, your insight into the writing process (especially the embracing of changes) was a big help to me, and I wish I had that kind of guidance earlier in my career. Writing was, for me, the most difficult, yet the most satisfying part of my job. I did some radio in college and grew up with WABC, so I enjoy the radio stories. Now, I’m a full-time freelance sports camera operator, so your baseball stories resonate as well. I always think about you when I work at Camden Yards. And I thought it was so cool that you answered my Friday Question!! Thank you for taking the time to share your stories and insight. I hope I get the chance to meet you in person, shake your hand and say thanks. Bob Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79228721290576951862017-11-16T16:28:48.751-08:002017-11-16T16:28:48.751-08:00Happy Anniversary, Ken.
Thank you for writing thi...Happy Anniversary, Ken.<br /><br />Thank you for writing this blog. I've been reading it for years now. Probably eight. I'm a 47 year-old guy in NYC. I check in most days of the week. I just type "K" in the address bar, and the computer automatically does the rest. Unfortunately, I don't recall how I first came across it. Could have been Jane Espenson's blog... I'm interested in in the behind-the-scenes stuff. Not gossip so much as craft. I've always been impressed with the level of writing on M*A*S*H, Cheers, and Frasier. So while I'm happy to read anything you care to write about, it's your reflections on those shows that keep me coming back. In fact, all my favorite shows seem to share some lineage with writers and directors, like you can trace a direct line from the Mary Tyler Moore Show up through Modern Family. (If we add cast, we can add the Dick Van Dyke Show, too.) So I figure there must be some secret knowledge being passed on from staff to staff. Thank you for sharing some of it with us. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22194232821760196842017-11-16T16:15:28.752-08:002017-11-16T16:15:28.752-08:00Karen from Toronto, age 39. My background is in st...Karen from Toronto, age 39. My background is in stand-up comedy, but want to move more into writing. I found your blog about six months ago, after I Googled some kind of "how to" or "why do they do that" TV question. I subscribed to your podcast (at regular speed) sometime after that. <br /><br />I feel like reading and listening to your stories helps me get little industry lessons as I go about my day. I like hearing true stories from the trenches, and the Friday questions that ask things I'd never thought of. Thanks for sharing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44563887334402908452017-11-16T12:29:11.828-08:002017-11-16T12:29:11.828-08:00Matt from Seattle, age 50. I don't remember ho...Matt from Seattle, age 50. I don't remember how I found the blog or when, but know it was before Dave Neihaus died, because I remember after hearing the news I went to the blog looking for what you would have to say about him. So at least 7 years, probably more.<br /><br />I loved you as the Mariner's announcer and I miss the humor you brought to the broadcasts. <br /><br />I really enjoy most of your posts. I like discussions about writing technique and the creative process. I like stories about how Hollywood and radio work. I love interesting stories about funny things that you saw in pitch rooms or on sets or in the broadcast booth. And maybe I'm the exception, but I enjoy your takes on baseball.Matt from Seattlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90798773342829973402017-11-16T10:25:15.928-08:002017-11-16T10:25:15.928-08:00Dear Ken Levine,
Late with the anniversary gree...Dear Ken Levine,<br /> Late with the anniversary greetings but I have enjoyed your blog for a while.<br /> I am a 53 year old librarian who started reading your blob probably about ten years ago after Jane Espenson quit writing her blog and I wanted to find something else. Even though I am not a professional writer, I am fascinated with the process. I used to not watch much television but the shows I did watch were often written by you. ;-) I also enjoy your stories about growing up in California even though I grew up in Florida but now live in the midwest. So I also went to Disney a lot as a child but World not Land. I even enjoy the baseball stories since I grew up near a spring training site even though we never went to the games, but I would see players around town.<br /> Thank you for writing the blog. I am sorry that I do not catch the podcast. I am not being facetious but I wonder how people have time because at work, I cannot have the noise, and at home, I want to be interacting with the family. I usually walk or ride my bike to work and need to have my ears open unlike the kids with their earbuds who lack "situational awareness." <br />Thanks again for 12 years of inspiration, entertainment and history!<br />Kathryn, a librarianUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13221426929488707526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79053800019590598742017-11-16T10:00:04.090-08:002017-11-16T10:00:04.090-08:00Dear Ken Levine,
Late with the anniversary gree...Dear Ken Levine,<br /> Late with the anniversary greetings but I have enjoyed your blog for a while.<br /> I am a 53 year old librarian who started reading your blob probably about ten years ago after Jane Espenson quit writing her blog and I wanted to find something else. Even though I am not a professional writer, I am fascinated with the process. I used to not watch much television but the shows I did watch were often written by you. ;-) I also enjoy your stories about growing up in California even though I grew up in Florida but now live in the midwest. So I also went to Disney a lot as a child but World not Land. I even enjoy the baseball stories since I grew up near a spring training site even though we never went to the games, but I would see players around town.<br /> Thank you for writing the blog. I am sorry that I do not catch the podcast. I am not being facetious but I wonder how people have time because at work, I cannot have the noise, and at home, I want to be interacting with the family. I usually walk or ride my bike to work and need to have my ears open unlike the kids with their earbuds who lack "situational awareness." <br />Thanks again for 12 years of inspiration, entertainment and history!<br />Kathryn, a librarianUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13221426929488707526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68946987940228530402017-11-16T04:32:31.549-08:002017-11-16T04:32:31.549-08:00Good morning, Ken,
I am a 44 year old from Arkans...Good morning, Ken,<br /><br />I am a 44 year old from Arkansas. I've only been reading for about 6 months. I first found it after your 2nd appearance on Kevin Smith & Matt Mira's "Talk Salad" podcast, when I came over to hear the second part on your podcast. (I think you've nearly doubled their number of podcasts, by the way.) I really enjoy the behind the scenes Hollywood stuff -- but am really interested in almost anything about someone explaining how they do their job, what the difficulties and things are that no one else knows about about being a ______ -- and you have so many different ones. And, you are simply an entertaining and incisive writer.Larsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48382940597015160072017-11-16T03:16:00.783-08:002017-11-16T03:16:00.783-08:00Hi all. Coming late to this one - I've been in...Hi all. Coming late to this one - I've been in Cyprus for a wedding. Oh the showbiz life I lead!<br />Dave, age 61. Been reading pretty much since the beginning, after following a recommendation from Mark Evanier's blog, which I found after googling Rod Hull and Emu. I like reading the comments as much as the articles (sorry Ken). Less keen to listen to the podcasts as they require a good half-hour investment of time rather than just dipping in as for the written articles, but I love the backstage stories. Also less interested in baseball, being from the old country where cricket is the summer game.<br />I post as Loosehead as that was my position back in the days when I could play rugby. Apparently I had the right shaped head.<br />Now retired, after being dicked around by my employer for a few years after I told them I had prostate cancer. Apparently software can only be written by young, fit, healthy men who go to the pub after work every night, but I'm not bitter, oh my no. Good riddance.<br />Cancer now in remission, though like most sufferers, more damage was done by the treatment than the disease. Absolutely loving retirement, and I can't think why I didn't do it sooner. Love the blog, reading it is a big part of my day, and here's to another 12 years.Looseheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87251993179944906522017-11-16T02:42:07.235-08:002017-11-16T02:42:07.235-08:00Gee Whiz! I'm sort of late to commenting becau...Gee Whiz! I'm sort of late to commenting because I can't remember how long I have been coming here. It has been quite awhile now (at least 6 years) I do know I foundd your blog from a link at Mark Evanier's blog. Pretty sure I just stumbled on his. I have to be honest with you in that I am not a baseball fan, but that is ok with me if it is with you as all the other things you write about are so darn entertaining. From your snarky reviews of awards shows, inside knowledge of writing for tv, your travel tips and etc. The list goes on and on. You go well with my morning cup of coffee and I want to thank you for sharing all your memories and thoughts with us.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61612175624249247692017-11-15T22:55:48.474-08:002017-11-15T22:55:48.474-08:00Hi, Ken,
I’m originally from WV. I’m a 22-year-ol...Hi, Ken,<br /><br />I’m originally from WV. I’m a 22-year-old graduate student. I think I’ve been reading your blog for 2 1/2 years now. I found it, I think, just googling MASH stuff. I like your posts about MASH, writing, and reflections on current television and film trends. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07315242099244252385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89440110460784738392017-11-15T21:08:59.466-08:002017-11-15T21:08:59.466-08:00I'm Kim and right now I'm living in Bowlin...I'm Kim and right now I'm living in Bowling Green, KY. I started reading your blog in 2007 or 2008 - somewhere in there. I found your blog linked elsewhere when I was trying to learn how to write screenplays. I found many blogs about writing/screenplays, but yours is the only one I still read. I'm 51 and I enjoy almost everything you write about - it's always fun when you share behind the scenes stuff from shows you've worked on. Congrats on 12 years! :)<br />lucidkimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03900089908992985561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78704046522964098042017-11-15T19:35:20.031-08:002017-11-15T19:35:20.031-08:00Hi, Ken! I'm Jeff from Green Bay, Wisconsin. B...Hi, Ken! I'm Jeff from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Been here a long while, though not all 12 years. Not sure where I came in. I enjoy the comedy insights and the baseball, and pretty much everything else. Keep on keepin' on, sir!Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13646237153772376766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25710862803011858992017-11-15T17:51:32.049-08:002017-11-15T17:51:32.049-08:00From Henderson, Nevada. i think I've been rea...From Henderson, Nevada. i think I've been reading around six years. I found you while looking for information about M*A*S*H. My favorite posts are the ones concerning sitcoms and their stars, baseball, and life in the 60s (I'm 64). My least favorite are about writing classes and plays that you can only see if you are in a specific city or area. I probably only read about two posts a week all the way through.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70166686182325947502017-11-15T15:59:35.604-08:002017-11-15T15:59:35.604-08:00I'm that other David Goodman. Washington DC Su...I'm that other David Goodman. Washington DC Suburbs - male in my early 40s, and I do remember your stint with the Orioles.<br /><br />I've been reading your blog for about 10 years - I came in looking for your TV discussions, but am also a Baseball fan as well. I mostly read for behind the scenes stories, both in TV Production and Baseball Announcing. I'm a little less interested in "growing up in LA stories" but I'm not really averse to them either. It's probably my east coast bias...<br /><br />I do listen to the podcast, and track your posts through the Feedly RSS reader site.goodman.dlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10070276378311938150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71479059866794967022017-11-15T15:50:30.898-08:002017-11-15T15:50:30.898-08:00Another Canadian here, this one from Toronto.
I...Another Canadian here, this one from Toronto. <br /><br />I like any post of yours that's a story. TV, baseball, politics -- if it's got some narrative thrust to it, I generally enjoy it. More hit-or-miss are the prescriptive columns: how to fix terrestrial radio, or network TV. <br /><br />Oh, and posting photos of Natalie Wood or Suzanne Pleshette is always in excellent taste.<br /><br /> Arthur Meenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32003224514974229372017-11-15T13:36:17.790-08:002017-11-15T13:36:17.790-08:00Hi Ken, it's Kate here in Saskatchewan. Settle...Hi Ken, it's Kate here in Saskatchewan. Settled snow and cold at the moment, sunshiny blue-sky day. I live in a bungalow in a farmyard about a half-hour from the village where I and some three or four generations before me on both sides of my family grew up. So I'm home -- literally at my kitchen table, and close to my home town and some of the extended family that still lives out here. I watch film and TV but avoid commercials and stories and scenes of horror, violence, long boring car chases and fist&foot fights, science fiction in general, and sports. Apparently I like little-old-grandma entertainment. But I was a regular watcher of sitcoms in the '70s when I was in my teens and I like to hear what it was like for you behind the scenes of the shows my little sister and I watched. -Kate, near WadenaBlondi Blathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656970490122824720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16663210140732883462017-11-15T12:18:38.440-08:002017-11-15T12:18:38.440-08:00Hi Ken,
Congrats on anniversary. I am Cathal from...Hi Ken,<br /><br />Congrats on anniversary. I am Cathal from Dublin in Ireland. I am in my mid-thirties and been following blog for about two years now. I came here after searching online for behind the scenes info about my favourite show <i>Frasier</i>. It lead me to ask a Friday question which you answered.<br /><br />Many thanks for the hours of entertainment and knowledge you have shared with us. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03337441085041478667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32654907592466502162017-11-15T10:29:30.671-08:002017-11-15T10:29:30.671-08:00I have been a loyal reader of you blog for many ye...I have been a loyal reader of you blog for many years.<br />Thank you and happy Anniversary<br />Alice in DenverUncle Alnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32562755591910457462017-11-15T10:03:35.965-08:002017-11-15T10:03:35.965-08:00Congrats on 12 years! I found your blog when you ...Congrats on 12 years! I found your blog when you were selected by TIME as one of the top 25 blogs of 2011 (or was it 2012?), and I've been reading ever since. I live in Denver, Colorado, work full-time in marketing... a busy mom raising two awesome kids (14 & 11 yrs) with a wonderful hubby, and enjoying my mid-40s. I love Cheers and MASH, and I don't know anything about the industry... so I've learned a ton reading your blog, and get to laugh. Keep it up! Your fans appreciate it!Goldendreamsnoreply@blogger.com