tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post2850776798895092669..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: On the other hand...By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78604877102512188752016-07-04T11:30:27.021-07:002016-07-04T11:30:27.021-07:00I know that one long-time writer for Leno's To...I know that one long-time writer for Leno's Tonight Show got the job by faxing in topical jokes every weekday for about two years.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590754415950614036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46232075359568665842016-07-01T18:54:54.742-07:002016-07-01T18:54:54.742-07:00Anonymous said:
"No need to kiss Colbert'...Anonymous said:<br />"No need to kiss Colbert's ass. If you're funny on YouTube, Colbert will come to you, with his lips pursed, making kissy noises. Be independent to start off. Don't try to fit into a dying collective."<br /><br />As I made pretty clear before, I think this is a reasonable route for someone who is interested in writing for a mainstream comedy show right now. If you just want to do your own thing, it goes without saying that you should not apply to be an employee in a multi-million dollar enterprise.<br /><br />Getting noticed online side-by-side with 100s of millions of other videos is a lot less likely to get Stephen Colbert's attention than actually applying to his show, even if you're one of thousands of applicants. Lonely Island and Derrick Comedy both ended up with a lot of mainstream success, but they also put lots of time into conceiving and shooting their videos, considerably more than it would take to make a packet.<br /><br />The most cheaply produced successful comedy videos I can think of on YouTube were Piotr Walczuk's amazing vocal impression videos. He has had a lot of success and is about to be in the case of the MAD TV reboot. But that role is coming NINE YEARS after he was first noticed on YouTube, and long after he moved to LA and built up a resume in a more traditional manner.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77934385172294086872016-07-01T06:23:36.756-07:002016-07-01T06:23:36.756-07:00DJ. TV sitcom writer. Baseball announcer. Author. ...DJ. TV sitcom writer. Baseball announcer. Author. Playwright. <br />Also cartoonist? <br />I think my head just exploded. Robb Hydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02831323114636549778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70742961684740771492016-07-01T00:33:07.451-07:002016-07-01T00:33:07.451-07:00Andy Rose Said:
"trying to get in a respected...Andy Rose Said:<br />"trying to get in a respected improv comedy troupe"<br /><br />Uh-huh. Kind of like trying to get into a respected mime troupe.<br /><br />"or writing and mounting your own show hoping somebody in the industry notices it or financing and making your own comedy film... or getting your parents to pay for Harvard and cutting all your classes to work for the Lampoon."<br /><br />You're dating yourself, old man. All you have to do is make hilarious YouTube videos. You can do that at home, alone in your mom's basement in Buttefuk, Wisconsin and make a name for yourself. I've watched it happen from scratch quite a few times. No need to do all that crap you just mentioned, and hasn't been the case in a long time. Save thousands in improv class money and buy a camera. If you're talented, you'll find a way to make the funny. No need to kiss Colbert's ass. If you're funny on YouTube, Colbert will come to you, with his lips pursed, making kissy noises.<br /><br />Be independent to start off. Don't try to fit into a dying collective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90902983759821561952016-06-30T19:15:53.333-07:002016-06-30T19:15:53.333-07:00This is why the packet request from Colbert didn&#...This is why the packet request from Colbert didn't seem all that unreasonable to me. If your career goal is to write for a mainstream comedy show, doing Colbert would be like getting called up straight to the Yankees. (Or at least the Dodgers.) Spending some spare hours writing this pitch is a lot less expensive and time consuming than the things that usually lead to jobs like these: moving to New York or LA on your own dime, trying to get in a respected improv comedy troupe or writing and mounting your own show hoping somebody in the industry notices it or financing and making your own comedy film... or getting your parents to pay for Harvard and cutting all your classes to work for the Lampoon.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60805002891813469432016-06-30T18:13:35.553-07:002016-06-30T18:13:35.553-07:00Off-Topic Kid reports in with a LIVE update:
Pres...Off-Topic Kid reports in with a LIVE update:<br /><br />Presently streaming this abomination ABC is calling Greatest Hits:1980-1985.....had to write this down from show's opening theme before I forgot it EXACTLY....."sadly John Lennon got shot (tempo slows EVER so slightly.....then EXPLODES into).....but Christie Brinkley was so hot"......<br /><br />.....I FUCKIN' KID YOU NOT!!!<br /><br />And first artist featured was Kenny Loggins ("The Soundtrack King???) with his first #1....."Footloose".DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14688342720045113442016-06-30T15:20:11.235-07:002016-06-30T15:20:11.235-07:00Curious, was there a caption for this cartoon? Imp...Curious, was there a caption for this cartoon? Impressive. I have a hard time drawing stick figures.MikeK.Pa.,noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12468531338059958892016-06-30T14:07:18.014-07:002016-06-30T14:07:18.014-07:00So, which is sleazier:
Wringing free work out of c...So, which is sleazier:<br />Wringing free work out of creatives in the guise of a tryout?<br />Or persuading hopefuls they'll be paid in "exposure"? DBensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144515471557731622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28256461611505480282016-06-30T11:47:38.644-07:002016-06-30T11:47:38.644-07:00It looked professional enough for me! Do you ever ...It looked professional enough for me! Do you ever feel inclined to do more please share with us. I'd like to see a "courtroom" drawing of the Real Don Steele unloading on Sinatra or Jan Smithers at a pep rally, something like that from your memoir.BAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83865096588917330732016-06-30T10:08:59.763-07:002016-06-30T10:08:59.763-07:00Interesting to hear this story, Ken. Nowadays when...Interesting to hear this story, Ken. Nowadays when Costume Designer interview for a theatre play they are asked to bring in designs for the show they are interviewing for. Well, that's a double edged sword: Do they spend the time researching, sketching, finessing (at least 2 weeks work) their designs when they don't even have the job? Or do they just dash off a couple of mediocre sketches which will not tell their interviewer who they really and what they can really do. I've even heard that some interviewers ask to keep the sketches -without hiring the person who did them!!!??? <br /><br />What an interesting technic......Roseannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393487748949411049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59516614740693754652016-06-30T09:37:43.422-07:002016-06-30T09:37:43.422-07:00Carol and VP81995,
I will address that article ea...Carol and VP81995,<br /><br />I will address that article early next week. I have many things to say about it. Stay tuned. By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23169047942742439422016-06-30T09:29:22.537-07:002016-06-30T09:29:22.537-07:00OK, but what does your sketch of Natalie Wood look...OK, but what does your sketch of Natalie Wood look like?Dixon Steelenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41633956272930181242016-06-30T09:06:17.514-07:002016-06-30T09:06:17.514-07:00***FRIDAY QUESTION***
John Charles Walters - What...***FRIDAY QUESTION***<br /><br />John Charles Walters - What's the story behind "Good Night Mr. Walters" at the end of "Taxi." Is JCW a real person? Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107309396839340695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39373146748264483922016-06-30T08:59:14.418-07:002016-06-30T08:59:14.418-07:00Ha! I just clicked on your site and thought "...Ha! I just clicked on your site and thought "Wow, there's a Hirschfeld I'm not familiar with." And then I clicked on the image. Yes, pretty good "influence" there, Ken! (PS, I own a Hirschfeld litho and am a big fan. Of him AND you!)ninja3000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88738162160587222402016-06-30T08:13:27.871-07:002016-06-30T08:13:27.871-07:00More of Ken's mastery of pen and ink can be se...More of Ken's mastery of pen and ink can be seen here:<br /><a href="http://megenerationbook.com/The_Me_Generation_-_By_Me/Me_Generation_Gallery.html" rel="nofollow">The ME GENERATION BY ME Gallery</a>Howard Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377628524697677407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84065085230041368812016-06-30T08:10:42.902-07:002016-06-30T08:10:42.902-07:00@VP81955
I literally just came here to post that...@VP81955 <br /><br />I literally just came here to post that exact same article. Ken, I'm really interested in hearing your take on that. (and if this becomes a whole post, can I take partial credit?)<br /><br />Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202427531137840740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89082680614837214862016-06-30T07:47:44.855-07:002016-06-30T07:47:44.855-07:00Good stuff, Ken. Good stuff, Ken. Glennnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75795468807307659612016-06-30T07:21:32.772-07:002016-06-30T07:21:32.772-07:00Excellent cartoon. I can see Richard Dreyfuss, Os...Excellent cartoon. I can see Richard Dreyfuss, Oscar winner, Ron Howard, Oscar winner, Wolfman Jack, SeaBea winner, Harrison Ford, um, ah, has he? Anything? Come on help me out here. I see Paul Le mat, who has disappeared, I liked him. Charles Martin Smith, who looks a lot like Ernie Douglas now, a good actor. I'm pretty sure that's Bo Hopkins telling Dreyfuss to rob those pinball machines. Excellent Ken, you are a very talented man.<br /><br />So tomorrow is July 1st and I would like to wish the other Canadians who come here a very Happy Canada Day. Everything is closed on Friday so I'm sure you'll be lining up at the beer store today when I get there, so I'll see yea then.Stephen Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15382570443203706976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90647988364791957252016-06-30T06:57:04.971-07:002016-06-30T06:57:04.971-07:00It was bad enough when critics mistook studio laug...It was bad enough when critics mistook studio laughter for "canned" laughter -- now they're saying studio laughter has no place in sitcoms. Killjoys!<br /><br />https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jun/29/can-it-why-studio-laughter-has-no-place-in-modern-sitcomsVP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77368659031653811922016-06-30T06:50:55.625-07:002016-06-30T06:50:55.625-07:00Can I share what actors HATE?
Being given commerc...Can I share what actors HATE?<br /><br />Being given commercial copy that is usually bad, then after doing it once or twice, the auditioners ask the actor to improvise the scene under the given circumstances, creating their own dialog.<br /><br />This would lead the actor to suspect the writers are trying to get some ideas to salvage the copy under a deadline, by using the services of the actor without payment.<br /><br />I've heard stories where the suspicion panned out to be true. Dialog an auditioning actor created was used on a commercial he was not ultimately casted in.<br /><br />Will SAG ever do anything about this???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2017690096081195652016-06-30T06:47:39.105-07:002016-06-30T06:47:39.105-07:00Perhaps every so often you could draw a sketch ins...Perhaps every so often you could draw a sketch instead of posting a random photo at the top of a blog post? Something to illustrate your point (literally and figuratively)?slgchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05947656936483533667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76854002093894228582016-06-30T06:09:56.250-07:002016-06-30T06:09:56.250-07:00So when does the book of Ken Levine cartoons come ...So when does the book of Ken Levine cartoons come out? Nice work!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10896165980216477144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45400053577758502372016-06-30T06:03:57.809-07:002016-06-30T06:03:57.809-07:00Have you ever thought about trying to do cartoons ...Have you ever thought about trying to do cartoons now? Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202427531137840740noreply@blogger.com