tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1877047251273807424..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Agnes Moorhead AS EndoraBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75483669208756152002009-10-09T18:25:42.535-07:002009-10-09T18:25:42.535-07:00Just a follow up note about "laying the pipe&...Just a follow up note about "laying the pipe". I finally found where I has seen it, at Mark Rothman's blog.<br /><br />cb was correct, even though I said it didn't sound familiar.Alan Coilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09049940361953267636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17749676718592391572009-10-09T10:19:39.078-07:002009-10-09T10:19:39.078-07:00American TV shows don't have expiration dates ...American TV shows don't have expiration dates because the networks and/or studios that own them want to squeeze every last bit of profit out of them.<br /><br />Why don't the Brits want to do that? I don't know. Might as well ask why do they have national health insurance.<br /><br />mings: multiple Chinese dynasties.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26381268750151095322009-10-08T17:34:11.111-07:002009-10-08T17:34:11.111-07:00I agree with Toby in wondering why some shows don&...I agree with Toby in wondering why some shows don't take that British approach and just do limited series that have "expiration" dates from day one. I quite enjoyed watching Harper's Island this summer and knew that I wasn't committing to seasons and seasons of show but just a fun, summer diversion. <br /><br />The trend towards "out there" plots is really kind of wearying to me, and I often wonder how many of those shows we'll even remember a few years from now.Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17933349506129495734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10482887273938838012009-10-06T22:01:06.232-07:002009-10-06T22:01:06.232-07:00As a matter of clarification to that last post, I&...As a matter of clarification to that last post, I'm referring to actors that come on for one episode or a limited number, not actors who are hired to become ensemble players themselves. Sorry I didn't add that previously.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22995777712980739002009-10-06T21:57:54.494-07:002009-10-06T21:57:54.494-07:00We hear that stars of programs, especially ensembl...We hear that stars of programs, especially ensemble casts, start working like “well oiled machines” after a while. I’m just wondering how do actors, either unknowns or big stars, that come onto series like these fit in? Isn’t it difficult for them? Don’t they feel like outsiders? Do unknowns seem to fit in better than well known actors, or vice versa?DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8015463839939338172009-10-06T21:05:46.318-07:002009-10-06T21:05:46.318-07:00Ken:
Since "Frasier" seems to be a hot ...Ken:<br /><br />Since "Frasier" seems to be a hot topic - my question dates back to the beginning of season 4 of Cheers - after Diane leaves Frasier at the alter at the end of season 3 --- what was the thought process in keeping the Frasier character around past the first ep of season 4 when he comes back to say Diane left him. He certainly was expendable at that point. Glad you kept him, but wondering what led to that.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08738521841664238748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38381989593019833622009-10-05T14:30:21.603-07:002009-10-05T14:30:21.603-07:00Thanks for the comment on premise fatigue. Toby, I...Thanks for the comment on premise fatigue. Toby, I feel American network TV primetime fiction programming has a conflict between the underlying financial structure and the storytelling style that has emerged over the past 15-20 years. Show used to consist of standalone episodes, with little continuity even if a show lasted decades. Now programs are very much about character growth, life changes, etc. but the need for 20+ episode seasons and being open ended undercuts that. <br /><br />BTW, about that show ABC had about bumbling crooks trying to rob Mick Jagger--it had an aborted second season and they had decided to instead try to rob Kelly Ripa and then Ray Romano. You can't make up stuff like that!Dana Gabbardhttp://socata.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7372611881073396322009-10-04T11:23:50.336-07:002009-10-04T11:23:50.336-07:00The performer I always felt deserved an "...a...The performer I always felt deserved an "...and..." credit but never got one was Amber Tamblyn, who played the title character on "Joan of Arcadia." Here are the words that appeared onscreen during that show's opening credits:<br /><br />Joan of Arcadia<br />Starring Joe Mantegna<br />Mary Steenburgen<br />Amber Tamblyn<br />Jason Ritter<br />Michael Welch<br />Created by Barbara Hall<br /><br />I didn't mind that she didn't get top billing - Mantegna and Steenburgen are stars, and Tamblyn was an unknown. But since she was playing the show's central character (and her face dominated the opening credits sequence), wouldn't you think her agent could have negotiated billing that acknowledged that fact?Tim Dunleavyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01881671137563687203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30975717923319739392009-10-02T19:49:49.490-07:002009-10-02T19:49:49.490-07:00Hi, Ken. One of my all-time favorite sitcom moment...Hi, Ken. One of my all-time favorite sitcom moments is in the Cheers episode in the last season where Sam reveals to Carla that he wears a toupee. <br /><br />And it got me thinking: What happens when an actor on a TV show starts to lose his hair? Especially one who's the lead and/or considered a sex symbol? Is he given the option of having it written into the show, or does the network force Rogaine or plugs on him?<br /><br />And how often does this issue come up? Given all the 20/30-something actors on TV, I'd think it'd be a fairly regular occurrence, yet no one's hairline ever seems to change.Pete C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21517290728096826532009-10-02T19:22:27.351-07:002009-10-02T19:22:27.351-07:00"Mary Stella said...
I haven't quite jum..."Mary Stella said... <br />I haven't quite jumped onto the Flash Forward bandwagon, but I have a least one foot on the riser.<br />That said, in the pilot, a kangaroo hopped down the wrecked city street. At the commercial break, the announcer said, 'Remember the kangaroo, it could be important.' That annoyed me."<br /><br />Well why are you watching commercials? That's so last century. DVR EVERYTHING, and never watch ANYTHING live. Fast-forward through all commercial breaks. That's what I do.<br /><br />The stupid "The kangaroo is important" announcement is just the network being insecure. They want the viewer thoroughly hooked right away. Too many serialized, LOST-influenced shows never even made it through their first seasons. So they slam you over the head with gratuitous stuff.<br /><br />Like there was a chance in hell anyone would forget that kangaroo, my single favorite moment in the pilot.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31585332143548311722009-10-02T17:35:59.097-07:002009-10-02T17:35:59.097-07:00Hey Ken, here's another laugh track question:
...Hey Ken, here's another laugh track question:<br /><br />I'm not much of a Jay Leno fan, but I'll TiVo him if there's a guest I really like. And I could swear that his new 10 p.m. show uses a laugh track -- or at least heavily sweetens the audience's laughter. The laughs seem too loud, too sudden, and sometimes weirdly timed, especially during the monologue. <br /><br />I could be wrong about this, but to me it sounds much less natural than on Leno's "Tonight Show."<br /><br />So my question is: Do talk shows or variety shows filmed in front of an audience regularly soup up the laughs? And if so, doesn't it defeat the "live" feeling of the show by making it seem artificial?Ben K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27117491798507374222009-10-02T14:20:32.621-07:002009-10-02T14:20:32.621-07:00The greatest solution to the equal billing problem...The greatest solution to the equal billing problem is in the opening credits of BOEING BOEING, with Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis' names emblazoned on a plane propeller. As it spins, the names continually switch places from top to bottom, I presume for equal amounts of time.jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25565554495784990542009-10-02T14:04:21.595-07:002009-10-02T14:04:21.595-07:00I think it was Freddy Fields who came up with the ...I think it was Freddy Fields who came up with the Towering Inferno billing...<br /><br />Mark BennettAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1867183115506997232009-10-02T13:35:06.386-07:002009-10-02T13:35:06.386-07:00As far as Lucy and the 'Rickey Goes to Hollywo...As far as Lucy and the 'Rickey Goes to Hollywood' arc is concerned, pretty much most of the guest stars were either a) Friends of the Armazs or b) Plugging the hell out of a movie - Holden plugged A COUNTRY GIRL, and Wayne plugged the hell out of BLOOD ALLEY. <br /><br />As far as line counting is concerned, NObody was worst than Shatner on Trek after Nimoy started becoming the 'hot star' on the show.<br /><br />And my favorite example of credits is the idea that initially, Ronny Howard got better credit position than Don Knotts - and deserved it, as he was a bigger star at the time.LouOCNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151395857835632917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15889520317884855812009-10-02T13:05:08.031-07:002009-10-02T13:05:08.031-07:00Demetria V. said...
"I dread sitcom episode...Demetria V. said... <br /><br /><i>"I dread sitcom episodes where celebrities are written in as "themselves" using the premise that they're just passing through the sitcom neighborhood or they're making a selfless visit to help out one of the characters who's a fan of no distinction."</i>...<br /><br />I LOVE LUCY survived on that gimmick an entire season and a half when they came up with a story arc whereby Ricky went to Hollywood for an audition for MGM, and took Lucy, Ethel and Fred with him. The weekly parade of big 50's stars at the time, including John Wayne, William Holden, Tennessee Ernie Ford (during a stop-off in Tennessee on their trip west), Cornell Wilde, Rock Hudson, Van Johnson, Richard Widmark, and (as if they hadn't already gone over the top) Harpo Marx in the famous "mirror image" bit episode, got to be a bit contrived after a while (although I still laugh at the William Holden episode where Lucy accidentally sets her artifical nose on fire with the cigarette lighter when she tries to disguise herself from Holden as the woman who caused a waitress to dump a salad on him at the Brown Derby). I'm assuming someone owed someone else a lot of favors to get a lineup like that.Tom Quigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959628996361620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26115227413591211492009-10-02T12:17:50.800-07:002009-10-02T12:17:50.800-07:00The classic example of a show that floundered once...The classic example of a show that floundered once it's initial premise had been played out was TWIN PEAKS after Laura Palmers' killer was revealed. I've read that it was the network that forced the revelation. David Lynch wanted the mystery to last five seasons or more!Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12716039442866197572009-10-02T10:16:22.526-07:002009-10-02T10:16:22.526-07:00cb -- thanks for 'laying the pipe', althou...cb -- thanks for 'laying the pipe', although that didn't look familiar.<br /><br />Julian -- no, not exposition. That's what it is, not what they call it in the writing room.Alan Coilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09049940361953267636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55446208489442962482009-10-02T08:53:46.909-07:002009-10-02T08:53:46.909-07:00Whatever happened to a GREAT (but short-lived) lau...Whatever happened to a GREAT (but short-lived) laugh track-less social sitcom called "United States?" Was it like "Police Squad" and too hip for the room at the time?<br />Michael NeffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78946773145331468852009-10-02T08:11:13.049-07:002009-10-02T08:11:13.049-07:00Alan Coil, perhaps the word you are looking for is...Alan Coil, perhaps the word you are looking for is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposition_(literary_technique)" rel="nofollow">exposition</a>, as used just now by Tod HunterJulianhttp://somethinkodd.com/oddthinkingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1244956706422666362009-10-02T08:03:42.072-07:002009-10-02T08:03:42.072-07:00The billing for "The Towering Inferno" i...The billing for "The Towering Inferno" is a masterpiece of jigsawing major stars together. The poster had a little mountain of names with Newman, McQueen, William Holden, Faye Dunaway and producer Irwin Allen all jockeying for position, along with co-production companies 20th Century-Fox and Warner Bros. (You can see it here using cut-and-paste: http://www.impawards.com/1974/towering_inferno.html)<br /><br />The movie also betrayed this kind of negotiation, with McQueen's and Newman's close-ups equal down to the frame and ludicrous situations like architect Newman already knowing how to use plastic explosives so he wouldn't have to be taught by fireman McQueen -- a bit of exposition/information that would have been helpful at that point in the movie.Tod Hunterhttp://tod-hunter.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1339979535719362812009-10-02T07:55:04.879-07:002009-10-02T07:55:04.879-07:00Someone beat me to the punch about "Outrageou...Someone beat me to the punch about "Outrageous Fortune"; I believe the Mississippi River was used as the dividing line (but since the river flows through the Twin Cities, I wonder who got top billing in <i>that</i> market?)<br /><br /><i>I dread sitcom episodes where celebrities are written in as "themselves" using the premise that they're just passing through the sitcom neighborhood or they're making a selfless visit to help out one of the characters who's a fan of no distinction.</i><br /><br />It really only works on fantasy shows, where Sabrina or Samantha can summon people at will. (I presume that's one of the downsides of being famous; you're getting ready to have some lunch when you suddenly find yourself in the home of people who look like doubles of Melissa Joan Hart, Beth Broderick or Elizabeth Montgomery.)<br /><br />wv: "immicat" -- protecting your feline against H1N1.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50756569417279597192009-10-02T07:22:55.424-07:002009-10-02T07:22:55.424-07:00I haven't quite jumped onto the Flash Forward ...I haven't quite jumped onto the Flash Forward bandwagon, but I have a least one foot on the riser.<br /><br />That said, in the pilot, a kangaroo hopped down the wrecked city street. At the commercial break, the announcer said, "Remember the kangaroo, it could be important."<br /><br />That annoyed me. Part of the entertainment factor is figuring out what things might or might not mean or what could be significant or be a red herring. (Wonder if it was a red kangaroo.)<br /><br />Is there an official phrase in the biz for giving big hints to the audience in case we're too dense to figure that a long shot of a kangaroo hopping where it has no place being might be significant?Mary Stellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02186261066656584772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82554297229592938432009-10-02T06:31:51.477-07:002009-10-02T06:31:51.477-07:00I had heard that Jerry Mathers & Tony Dow had ...I had heard that Jerry Mathers & Tony Dow had quashed a remake of the show where the main players were going to be gay. I think they objected to what it was going to be called: "Leave it, it's Beaver"YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7331384087721017102009-10-02T05:53:09.617-07:002009-10-02T05:53:09.617-07:00Actually, Shelley Long and Bette Midler had someth...Actually, Shelley Long and Bette Midler had something of a rerun of the Newman-McQueen thing on the posters for the movie OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, one of them was listed first in some areas of the country, the other in, well, others (did their agents divide up the top billing geographically?--by the way, the actual movie is a real hoot)<br /><br />As for INFERNO, McQueen, who had lost the part of Rocky Graziano in SOMEBODY UP THEIR LIKES ME to Newman back in the 50's, went through the script and actually counted the number of lines that Newman had and then demanded that his part be re-written so that he had an equal number. I believe that this would be considered "diva" behavior if a woman had done such a thing . . .Matt Pattonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40042379021939348372009-10-02T05:32:41.340-07:002009-10-02T05:32:41.340-07:00"We once received a spec of WINGS where the t..."We once received a spec of WINGS where the teaser was seen through the eyes of a fly in the room. Shockingly, it didn’t sell. "<br /><br />I don't know how that episode would have been, but The Dick Van Dyke Show once did an episode that was seen through the eyes of a goldfish. It was a very good episode.MartAnoreply@blogger.com