tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1410602495210486307..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82812717776400674672022-08-30T08:57:10.255-07:002022-08-30T08:57:10.255-07:00If you're using the "idiot, jerk" de...If you're using the "idiot, jerk" definition of nimrod, why would you use that pejorative to describe people just trying to have a nice vacation?JoeyHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12710864245535772665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74175877650505967082022-08-28T10:23:26.305-07:002022-08-28T10:23:26.305-07:00Friday Q: For the Frasier episode “The Show Where ...Friday Q: For the Frasier episode “The Show Where Lilith Comes Back”, which you and David wrote, Bebe Neuwirth received hearty laughter and applause when her voice is first heard calling into Frasier’s show. Was Bebe’s appearance kept secret from the studio audience to prompt a genuine reaction of surprise?Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27547546866168999722022-08-27T18:04:52.886-07:002022-08-27T18:04:52.886-07:00NBC just announced it's getting rid of its 10p...NBC just announced it's getting rid of its 10pm time slot. What are your thoughts on one of the original three finally throwing in the towel?DanMnzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14793250372495588926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65232245641669803732022-08-27T13:02:17.865-07:002022-08-27T13:02:17.865-07:00.
Friday Questions
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As....<br /><br /><br />Friday Questions<br />------------------------<br /><br /><br />As a baseball man yourself, who were/are some of the play-by-play and/or color analysts you consider the most "fun" (as opposed to most technically proficient) to listen to ??<br /><br /><br />.<br /><br />msdemoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01925950306739697218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33757684887738360162022-08-27T07:56:00.795-07:002022-08-27T07:56:00.795-07:00I watch a lotta MST3K and its sister show Rifftrax...I watch a lotta MST3K and its sister show Rifftrax. The other day I watched the Rifftrax episode where they ragged on the movie Birdemic. You haven’t seen pointless, meandering shots until you’ve seen Birdemic. <br /><br />https://youtu.be/G4VOL1J8-F4Brandon in Virginianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33709689870806305552022-08-26T16:51:24.282-07:002022-08-26T16:51:24.282-07:00"David and I turned to each other and said, &...<i>"David and I turned to each other and said, 'I think we can get someone better.'"</i><br /><br />A playwright friend of mine once, many years ago, wrote a play in which he based one of the characters on me. I auditioned for the role of Me, and they cast someone else! (What really pissed me off was that I had turned down the role of the emcee in a stage production of <i>Cabaret</i> to do my friend's play. The emcee role was handed to me on a plate without an audition by a director who'd worked with me before and wanted me in that role. <b>DOH!</b>)<br /><br /><i>"Ken, what's your take on shows/movies that have long, slow parts?"</i><br /><br />You're asking this of Ken, a man notorious for looking at ten second spots and saying "I'd cut eight seconds from that"? Ken hated <i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i>.<br /><br /><i>"Gary said...<br />If you want to see slow-moving scenes, watch Hitchcock's VERTIGO again, and try to see it through a young person's eyes. I know Alfred was the master of suspense, but wow it is SLOW.</i><br /><br />Well I had a young person's eyes when I saw <i>Vertigo</i> the first time. I was 14, and I <b>LOVED</b> it. But then, it's been a while since I've seen it, the better part of three weeks. I watch it on average about twice a year because I never tire of that masterpiece. I've bought it 4 times : VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray and now my 4k HDR UHD copy. It's up there with <i>Citizen Kane</i>, as one of the greatest movies ever made, and I would not cut one frame of it, which means Ken would <b>NOT</b> be allowed near the editing bay.<br /><br />On the other hand, I'd cut easily ten minutes from David Lynch's <i>Eraserhead</i>.<br /><br /><i>"Jay said...<br />Friday question for you: what's your opinion of the current trend for TV shows to have single-word (and often bland) titles?"</i><br /><br /><i>Psycho, Vertigo, Frenzy, Notorious, Suspicion, Rebecca, Downhill, Champagne, Blackmail, Murder, Sabotage, Saboteur, Lifeboat, Spellbound, Rope, Marnie, Topaz.</i> It seems Sir Alfred Hitchcock did all right with one-word titles, though having both <i>Sabotage</i> and <i>Saboteur</i> in his filmography does cause confusion. For a while he was going to title <i>Family Plot</i> as <i>Deceit</i>, which I think would have been a better title. I wonder if he titled a movie <i>Amnesia</i>, and then forgot he made it?D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58798376936096810622022-08-26T16:48:36.066-07:002022-08-26T16:48:36.066-07:00Regarding "Frasier": That was from the h...Regarding "Frasier": That was from the hilarious "Mixed Doubles" episode in the fourth season in which Daphne briefly dates a Niles double whom she met with Roz's help at a singles' bar, much to Niles's horror.<br /><br />Kevin Farrell was superb in the guest role.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3229856687112770332022-08-26T14:28:52.557-07:002022-08-26T14:28:52.557-07:00My Friday question - NBC is considering giving up ...My Friday question - NBC is considering giving up the 10:00 p.m. hour to local affiliates to run the news. Fox already does this. I think it is a terrible idea. My local affiliate already has plans to expand the already 2 hour 5:00 p.m. local news to 3 in September and put it in place of Ellen. In your opinion, is it solely economics, or can't they find good scripts for new shows, or both?JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13376748020962332059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63006658318524904662022-08-26T13:42:32.472-07:002022-08-26T13:42:32.472-07:00If you watch Chicago Fire, half the shots are just...If you watch Chicago Fire, half the shots are just reaction shots. Some discussion, then they show the actor staring at the other actor, then that actor staring at the other. Back and forth like that for sooo many segments during the 1 hour. Had to stop watching. <br /><br />Mitchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19750289912335060802022-08-26T13:10:12.591-07:002022-08-26T13:10:12.591-07:00Hi Ken,
Friday question for you: what's your o...Hi Ken,<br />Friday question for you: what's your opinion of the current trend for TV shows to have single-word (and often bland) titles? I'm talking "See", "The Boys", and "You". I'm seeing this more and more, and as a TV fan, I think it's lazy and kind of dumb. Won't these plainly-titled shows get lost in the gaggle of content that exists nowadays? Wouldn't show creators and/or the network executives want their shows to stand out to attract attention from potential viewers? I know there's a show on one of the streamers that's called "Cheer", and when I first saw it mentioned in the trades I assumed the article's author made a typo when talking about "Cheers". What's next, shows named "Friend" or "A Golden Girl"? Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60433032363328738332022-08-26T13:05:38.460-07:002022-08-26T13:05:38.460-07:00It's been said about Frasier, and I think the ...It's been said about Frasier, and I think the same thing, that when we first meet him on CHEERS, he was more like Niles. I'll add somewhat naive as well. And that he evolved as a character through his time on CHEERS due to his experience there, esp. getting left at the alter by Diane (bar experience-related) and spending so long with more salt-of-the-earth type people. He could be a darker personality, more prone to anger, though not excessively. Great writing (and acting) helps.<br /><br />Once he arrived in Seattle on FRASIER, you could see not only qualities he and Niles had in common, but the differences as well. And Martin's presence kept some of the less elite elements of Frasier's Boston compadres around as well. Mibbitmakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17649369314906738690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49720183280449114202022-08-26T12:54:04.922-07:002022-08-26T12:54:04.922-07:00Re "slow parts" in TV shows: How many ti...Re "slow parts" in TV shows: How many times do they have to remake that scene in cop shows where the officers yell "Hey, you!" to a criminal suspect from half a block down the street, just so he can run away and they can chase him for two minutes? That's the point where I start clicking the 30-second-skip button on my TiVo remote.Ted.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38994793136882378752022-08-26T11:12:40.335-07:002022-08-26T11:12:40.335-07:00For me, the New Mexico desert was part of the reas...For me, the New Mexico desert was part of the reason I liked BREAKING BAD and BCS so much. Bring it on!<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15536134428211485652022-08-26T11:01:03.504-07:002022-08-26T11:01:03.504-07:00Re: Finding a better actor. I worked with Eugene T...Re: Finding a better actor. I worked with Eugene Troobnick at Yale Rep and he told the story of a casting director who was looking for a 'Eugene Troobnick' type. In fact the casting director was speaking to Troobnick's agent. He said how lucky they were cuz Troob was his talent. That's when they said they weren't sure if Troob was right one for the role.Roseannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393487748949411049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3991487384807882222022-08-26T10:59:00.885-07:002022-08-26T10:59:00.885-07:00Re: Finding a better actor. I worked with Eugene T...Re: Finding a better actor. I worked with Eugene Troobnick at Yale Rep and he told the story of a casting director who was looking for a 'Eugene Troobnick' type. In fact the casting director was speaking to Troobnick's agent. He said how lucky they were cuz Troob was his talent. That's when they said they weren't sure if Troob was right one for the role.Roseannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393487748949411049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70731016657349156532022-08-26T10:40:53.075-07:002022-08-26T10:40:53.075-07:00Like a lot of cinematic techniques, the effectiven...Like a lot of cinematic techniques, the effectiveness is pretty dependent on the skill and intent of the filmmaker, and the frequency he uses it. Shaky Cam used to convey a sense of hectic action and danger when used appropriately, until lesser talented filmmakers began to use it for every single action scene until every fight began to look like a series of unrelated film clips. A single scene with a lens flare, like that used occasionally in Firefly, could create the sense of "you're here in the action and this is really happening"; then JJ Abrams became enamored of the technique until that was all you could see when watching one of his movies. Even Spielberg was guilty of overusing his own "people looking with wonder at things offscreen" technique to enough of a degree that it became a subject of parody.<br /><br />I'm a big fan of both the New Mexican landscape and of Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul, so I might be a little more tolerant of the technique than some, but I agree that the words "get on with it" got uttered in my living room on occasion. That's not something that's ever happened when I watched a John Ford western. Ford definitely loved the west, and he was no stranger to panoramic views of the desert, but I don't believe he lapsed into self indulgence. <br /><br />Though I also suspect that, rather than as an artistic choice, some of the long scenes of desert terrain, or the focus on the minutiae of something like baking buns, might have been padding for an episode that didn't have quite enough story to fill out the time slot.Aaron Sheckleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38599140910447130522022-08-26T10:12:54.353-07:002022-08-26T10:12:54.353-07:00In Dr. Strangelove Stanley Kubrick had to dub in &...In Dr. Strangelove Stanley Kubrick had to dub in "Vegas" for "Dallas" in Slim Pickens's talk to his crew when he is explaining what is in their emergency kits because of the assassination.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87774564820693961362022-08-26T09:53:51.017-07:002022-08-26T09:53:51.017-07:00If you want to see slow-moving scenes, watch Hitch...If you want to see slow-moving scenes, watch Hitchcock's VERTIGO again, and try to see it through a young person's eyes. I know Alfred was the master of suspense, but wow it is SLOW.Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49382918700457738372022-08-26T09:38:46.405-07:002022-08-26T09:38:46.405-07:00Also worth checking out is the episode of Becker t...Also worth checking out is the episode of Becker that did eventually address 9/11, with the great Frances Sternhagen. Love that lady.Call Me Mikehttps://www.instagram.com/postercereal/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25648998496339406642022-08-26T09:24:18.046-07:002022-08-26T09:24:18.046-07:00The best "curlicue" I remember on Frasie...The best "curlicue" I remember on Frasier was when Niles was competing for a woman's affection with a guy who was to Niles what Niles was to Frasier and Niles told him off with, "Oh, be quiet! You ludicrous popinjay!"<br /><br /><br />As to the slowness of Gilligan's work, there were moments in BC and BBS when I thought they over did it, but I don't think I ever finished an episode and thought, "That was 45 seconds too long".<br /><br />My only major critique of BCS overall was the that the character who ID'd Saul in the mall went from being a mysterious guy as menacing as any Big Bad of our Golden Age of TV, from Mike Ermentraut to Richie Aprile, to a hapless and easily manipulated boob who stumbled across Saul by accident. But I digress....Jim, Cheers Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84557798491404858342022-08-26T09:02:28.557-07:002022-08-26T09:02:28.557-07:00re: Meandering shots
I like Malick's movies f...re: Meandering shots<br /><br />I like Malick's movies for the most part. I feel the shots are integral to what Malick is attempting to express, which is Man's folly and toil in the Garden. (Sorry to be so heavy)<br /><br />Denis Villeneuve's pacing, however drives me crazy at times...especially Blade Runner 2049. That is one s l o w movie.kitano0https://www.blogger.com/profile/06824983309821731821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76012065028800439052022-08-26T08:58:27.910-07:002022-08-26T08:58:27.910-07:00"when you are in the desert,
you look into i..."when you are in the desert, <br />you look into infinity....<br />it makes you feel small,<br />and in a strange way very big."<br /> David Lean<br />(then again, even he thought <br />'Lawerence' was too long...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43267781433182344862022-08-26T08:58:24.216-07:002022-08-26T08:58:24.216-07:00Perhaps ironically, one of my favorite Becker'...Perhaps ironically, one of my favorite Becker's involves John reluctantly helping a lost out-of-towner find her way to a particular subway stop, not realizing that it is by the World Trade Center where she has finally come to morn a loved one. kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216705763011665828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63450298968464590112022-08-26T08:43:04.236-07:002022-08-26T08:43:04.236-07:00Here's a link to the Becker episode https://pl...Here's a link to the <i>Becker</i> episode <a href="https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/series/becker/season/4/episode/get-me-out-of-here-2001-4-75" rel="nofollow">https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/series/becker/season/4/episode/get-me-out-of-here-2001-4-75</a>Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01459282375722752317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49617694875815239062022-08-26T08:40:21.119-07:002022-08-26T08:40:21.119-07:00I hope this isn't too heavy for this blog, but...I hope this isn't too heavy for this blog, but there's a remarkable audio record of an audience learning the news about JFK's assassination. It was at the beginning of a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert (filled with people who no doubt knew Kennedy and his family long before he became President ). The news was announced by the conductor, and they changed the program to Beethoven's funeral march from the Eroica Symphony. It's haunting to hear the reaction from the audience <br /><br />If you have time, just listen to the first minute.<br />https://youtu.be/6tv3ybdKA1kAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466932184113943306noreply@blogger.com