tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post2859089540932845247..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Sitcom Room 2By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28534480605970235412007-11-07T19:49:00.000-08:002007-11-07T19:49:00.000-08:00I just wanted to add my thanks to Ken and Dan. Th...I just wanted to add my thanks to Ken and Dan. The whole 33 hour ordeal ran so smoothly from start to finish that in retrospect it all seems like one very funny, mostly painless, and extremely educational fever dream.<BR/><BR/>As one of my teammates, the unflappable and indefatigable Laurie put it, "Books and seminars are fine, but there's no substitute for a good practicum." Ken and Dan have created a model that seems to perfectly simulate the experience of working in a writing room, and if that's your ambition, you couldn't ask for better preparation. From the network and studio notes, to the bad takeout, to the long hours, to the Red Vines and Diet Coke, to the frequently erased and re-erased outline on the whiteboard, to the occasional curveball, all the way up to the run-through (many thanks to the actors, who really gave their all) and the critique afterwards, this was a sitcom writer's work week in concentrate. If, going in, you weren't sure you wanted to follow this path, by the end you clearly knew the stakes, and were armed with a wealth of useful experience, helpful tips, and amusing anecdotes. But Ken's seemingly inexhaustible supply of Cosby sweaters will haunt your soul.<BR/><BR/>And heartfelt thanks to the other members of my team: Laurie, Brian, Andrew, and Jordan: I've never spent a funnier and more enjoyable 18 hours trapped in a poorly ventilated room filled with the scent of slowly rotting Chinese food and the sound of cargo jets landing just across the street. And on top of that, we got a pretty good scene out of it.<BR/><BR/>Definitely worth the time, money, effort, stress-positions, and sleep-deprivation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80992227989511051812007-11-07T09:01:00.000-08:002007-11-07T09:01:00.000-08:00^ Don't pick on Beaver Cleaver. Everybody has to g...^ Don't pick on Beaver Cleaver. Everybody has to grow up sometimes. : )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34202214917435517932007-11-06T22:43:00.000-08:002007-11-06T22:43:00.000-08:00OMG, Ken, are you wearing a Cosby sweater? Is this...OMG, Ken, are you wearing a Cosby sweater? Is this what labor strife does to one? Tell me it ain't so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17351745849028324342007-11-06T13:41:00.000-08:002007-11-06T13:41:00.000-08:00Thanks for everything, Ken, and thanks to Dan, too...Thanks for everything, Ken, and thanks to Dan, too. Well worth the price of admission and travel expenses -- it was an informal, challenging, practical exercise I found extremely valuable. I think it's the kind of experience that will either convince you to jump in or to seek another creative track -- maybe I'm just suggestible, but I'm jumping in. I'm not sure what more I can say that I haven't blogged already, but I would definitely recommend it to other writers...then warn them not to eat that hotel food.karigeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16313190790440833847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65367742683973073312007-11-06T10:35:00.000-08:002007-11-06T10:35:00.000-08:00It's possible that I missed it, Daisy, but I don't...It's possible that I missed it, Daisy, but I don't recall Mr. Levine mentioning his nomination for a Weblog Award. I remember him mentioning the Blogger's Choice Award but not the Weblog Award. Perhaps that is what you're thinking of.Jon Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02130944579317556923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38257471008065458892007-11-05T20:17:00.000-08:002007-11-05T20:17:00.000-08:00Ken, did you decide that bringing Sam Simon back i...Ken, did you decide that bringing Sam Simon back in for SR-2 was too much for the attendees with the strike about to be called?<BR/><BR/>I know I still wake up in a cold sweat hearing his voice tolling the sitcom's death knell.<BR/><BR/>Or maybe that's just residual effects of that Chinese "food" you and Dan brought us.R.A. Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851961356321735388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83321878062412761532007-11-05T17:51:00.000-08:002007-11-05T17:51:00.000-08:00My next post will be my report from the first day ...My next post will be my report from the first day of picketing.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26259622241740020332007-11-05T17:47:00.000-08:002007-11-05T17:47:00.000-08:00Hi, KenHow did the first day of strike go? any jui...Hi, Ken<BR/><BR/>How did the first day of strike go? any juicy news regarding another sitdown?MrCarlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18081465847843874816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29907383295441082542007-11-05T17:39:00.000-08:002007-11-05T17:39:00.000-08:00If I have to write in Renee Taylor do I have to in...If I have to write in <I>Renee Taylor</I> do I have to include <I>Joseph Bologna</I> too?Nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00133567118844054620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36887409006316095022007-11-05T15:26:00.000-08:002007-11-05T15:26:00.000-08:00Rarely do I delete comments but someone was using ...Rarely do I delete comments but someone was using this blog to campaign for himself for best weblog blog. I wish him well but campaign on his own blog.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90902661401373217212007-11-05T15:15:00.000-08:002007-11-05T15:15:00.000-08:00Mr. Swift: Actually, Mr. Levine didn't fail to men...Mr. Swift: Actually, Mr. Levine didn't fail to mention his nomination. Surprising that a regular reader of his blog wouldn't know that.<BR/><BR/>Oh, wait -- unless you're <B>not</B> a regular reader of his blog and instead are using someone else's blog to shamelessly promote yourself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85047778935245077312007-11-05T13:38:00.000-08:002007-11-05T13:38:00.000-08:00@ 6:54 am: No, that was Jeremy Gelbwacks. He's an ...@ 6:54 am: <BR/>No, that was Jeremy Gelbwacks. He's an IT guy now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16677289351153415402007-11-05T12:24:00.000-08:002007-11-05T12:24:00.000-08:00So...Phoef Sutton is a man?So...Phoef Sutton is a man?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5672282438683105832007-11-05T11:21:00.000-08:002007-11-05T11:21:00.000-08:00u r 1 sexay beastu r 1 sexay beast <3 <3 <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78787666502806549592007-11-05T10:53:00.000-08:002007-11-05T10:53:00.000-08:00Uh, wasn't the final scene of On the Waterfront wh...Uh, wasn't the final scene of On the Waterfront where the individual worker broke the power of the corrupt union? Doesn't seem like quite the apt comparison, unless your feelings on the strike are quite different from what I thought.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18301942636919080609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80040516171408111022007-11-05T10:51:00.000-08:002007-11-05T10:51:00.000-08:00Mr. Levine, I have an idea of a possible bargainin...Mr. Levine, I have an idea of a possible bargaining chip for the WGA please contact me at starkour@gmail.com for more infoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20323388743678777512007-11-05T09:55:00.000-08:002007-11-05T09:55:00.000-08:00via HuffingtonPost:"In a show of solidarity with h...via HuffingtonPost:<BR/><BR/>"In a show of solidarity with his fellow scribes, the Daily Show host has told his writing staff that he will cover all their salaries for the next two weeks, according to a well-placed source. He has also vowed to do the same for writers on The Colbert Report. A Comedy Central spokesman referred my inquiry about this to Stewart's personal publicist, who has yet to respond.<BR/><BR/>Stewart's intention, says the source, is to ensure his writers will face no financial hardship should the strike, which kicked off at 3 a.m. local time, conclude within that timeframe."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8891911794325771472007-11-05T08:50:00.000-08:002007-11-05T08:50:00.000-08:00Ken, good luck in the struggle against those capit...Ken, good luck in the struggle against those capitalist running dogs. (Just trying to get in the right frame of mind...)VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23612812055058449822007-11-05T08:40:00.000-08:002007-11-05T08:40:00.000-08:00"Now I must put on my Norma Rae costume and storm ..."Now I must put on my Norma Rae costume and storm the Fox lot."<BR/><BR/>Is that so it'll look like there are women comedy writers? : O<BR/><BR/>Good luck Ken!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22183851392486228102007-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:002007-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:00I was entertained by the writing in today's post.Y...I was entertained by the writing in today's post.<BR/><BR/>You are so busted.zadighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02180913684828382740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67528650995586230572007-11-05T08:29:00.000-08:002007-11-05T08:29:00.000-08:00Just read the first person account of the weekend,...Just read the first person account of the weekend, its sounds brilliant, I wish I could go.<BR/><BR/>I'd be interested to hear the reasons behind your choices of recommended sitcom viewing though. Seems an odd mix.Hennellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13430212186691940463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17001173322579800102007-11-05T07:41:00.000-08:002007-11-05T07:41:00.000-08:00best wishes from a union drudge musician. we need...best wishes from a union drudge musician. we need your fine talents as writers for the real purpose of TV. a vehicle to deliver my jingles.<BR/><BR/>hang tough. best of luck.<BR/>i ain't working 'till ya'll start working.The Minstrel Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00697821546165315014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78767674682971655082007-11-05T06:54:00.000-08:002007-11-05T06:54:00.000-08:00Wasn't Jeremy Licht one of the original "Partridge...Wasn't Jeremy Licht one of the original "Partridge Family" kids?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83772520904453445362007-11-05T03:59:00.000-08:002007-11-05T03:59:00.000-08:00Yeah, go strike Ken. You could probably use whatev...Yeah, go strike Ken. You could probably use whatever fresh air is left in L.A. ;)<BR/><BR/>Seriously though, good luck. Something's gotta give in all of this, hopefully in favor of the WGA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com