tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3653347582671870351..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: How does a regular Joe Schmo pitch a pilot to a network?By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48477769091921788992010-06-03T12:33:52.314-07:002010-06-03T12:33:52.314-07:00It is possible to write and produce your own indep...It is possible to write and produce your own independent pilot outside the system and release it online -- in fact, that's what I just did. You can check out the trailer here: http://www.viewjosh.comNathanhttp://www.viewjosh.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66840609142983013272010-05-28T10:19:52.344-07:002010-05-28T10:19:52.344-07:00thanks michael and ben. that all makes sense!thanks michael and ben. that all makes sense!tesollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388738123516540207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85899032229846306882010-05-27T14:01:05.679-07:002010-05-27T14:01:05.679-07:00The writers of 24 are planning to write a feature ...The writers of 24 are planning to write a feature film version, but is it easy for TV writers to suddenly knock out a great feature script? I've heard television is a writer's business, but in film the director has the last say.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10071959018952980986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59093082187177304122010-05-25T07:33:18.273-07:002010-05-25T07:33:18.273-07:00Tesolly: The British place much more value on qual...Tesolly: The British place much more value on quality over quantity. Not that quality can't be done with a ten-year stretch of 20 episodes a year, but it's rare. The Brits would rather do something really, really well in a short burst rather than risk burning out a good idea and overstaying the welcome. Call it a cultural difference.Michael in Vancouvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-374686394163192582010-05-25T01:41:18.376-07:002010-05-25T01:41:18.376-07:00Tesolly,
I think you'll find that UK comedies...Tesolly,<br /><br />I think you'll find that UK comedies (and dramas) are normally written by just the single writer, or sometimes two two partners, as opposed to a team of writers as in the case in US. To expect one person to pump out 24 episodes in a year is one big ask, in my opinion.Ben In Melbournenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10936512124838624372010-05-24T16:03:35.876-07:002010-05-24T16:03:35.876-07:00A Question:
Ken,
Do you or your readers know why...A Question:<br /><br />Ken,<br /><br />Do you or your readers know why U.K sitcoms only seem to have 6 episodes per season (The Office, Peep Show, Outnumbered) in comparison to the 24 or so that American sitcoms have (Two and a Half men, The Office, Community, Frasier etc etc)?<br /><br />Thanks, Tomtesollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388738123516540207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53212112387406503672010-05-24T07:57:47.922-07:002010-05-24T07:57:47.922-07:00And on the topic of unsolicited scripts: I believe...And on the topic of unsolicited scripts: I believe inspection would demonstrate that every production company in Hollywood employs a non-creative person in their mailroom whose job is *specifically* to note unsolicited incoming scripts in the mail, and shred them before they can pollute the building.<br /><br />Generally, as a matter of law, being able to demonstrate an established business practice with a contemporaneously kept log is sufficient as a defense in such cases.<br /><br />So if you've ever sent a script to a studio cold, your name and address are probably in a logbook somewhere. ;-)<br /><br />Foleatch: what they use your script to nourish, after it's done composting.Baylinkhttp://baylink.pitas.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72889004379193732722010-05-24T07:54:09.908-07:002010-05-24T07:54:09.908-07:00Ken: David is indeed an excellent actor; so much b...Ken: David is indeed an excellent actor; so much better at staying on the knife edge between love and hate.<br /><br />And I'm always impressed with people who can carry a non-native accent so well that when you hear them pressing, you can't imagine it's them; he was like that, as are James Marsters from Buffy, Hugh Laurie from House, and Yvonne Strahovski from Chuck.<br /><br />Heidi:<br /><br />> I always have like a million killer t.v./movie/commercial ideas. Alas, they do no good coming from a cubicle in Georgia. <br /><br />*One* word: Dilbert.Baylinkhttp://photo.imageinc.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92188589933503029982010-05-23T08:18:28.706-07:002010-05-23T08:18:28.706-07:00I've always like the M*A*S*H episodoes with th...I've always like the M*A*S*H episodoes with the psyciatrist Dr. Sidney Freedman. I have always wondered if psyciatrists were actually stationed in Korea or even that popular in culture in the time of the war, or was this a relection of the time of the wrting in the 1970s?bettydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75934694513380674882010-05-22T11:43:02.972-07:002010-05-22T11:43:02.972-07:00I've seen interviews with the producers of Sta...I've seen interviews with the producers of Star Trek where they talked about the fact that they were just about the only producers that accepted and read non-solicited submissions. So, it is possible that they saw Michael's friend's idea, although I imagine they would have paid for it if they had.Mike Schryverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09640003242579411990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61148143942026577012010-05-22T10:18:06.773-07:002010-05-22T10:18:06.773-07:00"Yeah, 96 episodes is short of 100 which is t..."Yeah, 96 episodes is short of 100 which is the magic syndication number."<br /><br />And yet, like Newsradio (another show with only 90-some-odd episodes), it plays in syndication (and on cable).<br /><br />And lots of shows don't get to wrap up their plot lines before being canceled, even ones that run longer than 4 seasons.<br /><br />The point is that 96 episodes is plenty of time to find an audience, if the audience isn't there after that amount time, they're not coming (plus, in my opinion, Earl was an inconsistent show)Ryan Paigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12171317748419259984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31488785775339685372010-05-22T05:33:09.377-07:002010-05-22T05:33:09.377-07:00Oh, and Michael in Vancouver: The example of your...Oh, and Michael in Vancouver: The example of your friend reminds me of someone who wrote to John August's site, to complain that the producers of GREY'S ANATOMY had swiped the plot of her spec script. Her proof: her script had been about two of the regular characters being romantically involved, and that week the two characters had become romantically involved. August dismissed this by pointing out that the show was about "young doctors hooking up," so the fact that both she and the regular writers had come up with scripts about young doctors hooking up meant absolutely nothing.<br /><br />I do not remember any stunningly original ideas on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. The episodes were pretty much all built around standard science fiction ideas, and logical development of the premises on which the series was built. So, it is easy to believe that two people could separately come up with the same idea for a story for that series. It is much easier to believe that, than to believe that Paramount would have risked an expensive lawsuit and a lot of bad publicity for the sake of an idea it could have bought from your friend for a few thousand dollars. If you are still having trouble accepting that, please look up "Occam's Razor."Trinity Mosesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54327165706269658402010-05-22T05:17:37.838-07:002010-05-22T05:17:37.838-07:00Michael in Vancouver: The answer to your question...Michael in Vancouver: The answer to your question is "none." Producers and studios do not read unsolicited manuscripts, precisely in order to protect themselves against the sort of claims you describe.Trinity Mosesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74614215039015302892010-05-21T20:06:38.209-07:002010-05-21T20:06:38.209-07:00The query about how does a regular joe pitch a scr...The query about how does a regular joe pitch a script relates to my question. Once in a while you hear about some mechanic or bartender who sues a studio and says "I wrote Avatar" or "I created Lost" or whatever. Their stories always seem to lack credibility. They wrote an idea or a script, mailed it to Steven Spielberg, and lo and behold, their idea is "stolen". But regular Joes DO mail in scripts, and maybe sometimes they're good. And I have to wonder, are there ever cases where a spec script comes in, somebody says, "That's pretty good," and finds "inspiration" in it?<br /><br />When I was in high school, a friend wrote in to Star Trek Next Gen with a story idea. We'll never know if it was coincidence, but his plot appeared the next season. Fortunately he didn't care about credit or money -- he just thought it was awesome. But since then I've wondered how many TV shows and movies are professional re-writes of unsolicited ideas.Michael in Vancouvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46845395800797073332010-05-21T18:33:08.424-07:002010-05-21T18:33:08.424-07:00What is a commercial block? In my household, we on...What is a commercial block? In my household, we only watch television shows on DVD or on DVR.<br /><br />Oddly enough, I have not noticed the interruption problem that you mention.<br /><br />WV: rednene - a rare event that portends problems with Hawaiian weather.bevonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81293644822769327462010-05-21T18:06:07.073-07:002010-05-21T18:06:07.073-07:00About Cliff's accent on Cheers, some of the ac...About Cliff's accent on Cheers, some of the accents were a little too authentic. <br /><br />There was a season 10 episode when Cheers reopened after the fire, and I had to use the closed caption feature to find out what Bernard said when he entered Cheers. He said, "Phone company!"Max Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706524941272103444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12464423331274852252010-05-21T17:47:46.222-07:002010-05-21T17:47:46.222-07:00My question:
Ken, have you ever been called upon ...My question:<br /><br />Ken, have you ever been called upon to spontaneously entertain at a party, a la Rob Petrie?Janicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73884291473102539932010-05-21T16:13:09.406-07:002010-05-21T16:13:09.406-07:00What is ironic about Stephen Collins being in both...What is ironic about Stephen Collins being in both TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEY and TATTINGERS?<br /><br />I mean, I have tried hard to see the irony here, but I am completely missing it. Neither by the actual definition of the word, or by Alanis Morrisette's, can I see anything resembling irony here. Can you please point it out for me?Abie the Fish Peddlernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41131661335472391452010-05-21T14:07:10.106-07:002010-05-21T14:07:10.106-07:00Typo -> You listed "GLEE" as a "...Typo -> You listed "GLEE" as a "good show".Troynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45933075991002012932010-05-21T12:30:26.716-07:002010-05-21T12:30:26.716-07:00Yeah, 96 episodes is short of 100 which is the mag...Yeah, 96 episodes is short of 100 which is the magic syndication number. They also didn't bring the whole plot to a conclusion.<br /><br />Also, Studio 60 was a flawed show but one with a lot of promise that deserved a little bit of a better chance. They did agree to air the whole season, fortunately. <br /><br />Heidi, just get involved in the film industry anyway you can. Practice writing or whatever.sophomorecritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14320637485303592977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73230256298876886472010-05-21T11:32:07.306-07:002010-05-21T11:32:07.306-07:00Wow Ken, thanks so much for answering my question ...Wow Ken, thanks so much for answering my question even if the truth does suck big monkey balls. <br /><br />My idea is for a non-scripted reality show that I could really only see being on SPIKE or something anyways. <br /><br />I always have like a million killer t.v./movie/commercial ideas. Alas, they do no good coming from a cubicle in Georgia. <br /><br />But seriously, you're a helluva writer and just an all around classy dude.Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614326327687523688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88593436120088783632010-05-21T10:55:33.000-07:002010-05-21T10:55:33.000-07:00I hate to pile this right on the heels of another ...I hate to pile this right on the heels of another Cliff question but it's always gotten at me. In the early Cheers, Cliff was a bore who knew a lot of accurate information. Later, he was a bore who made up a lot of stuff. I've always wondered if this was a conscious change, or whether some later writers just never picked up on the fact that Cliff had known what he was talking about.Nat Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071882426424901455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73832149023915636202010-05-21T10:42:36.796-07:002010-05-21T10:42:36.796-07:00Re pitching: I work (shortly not to be) at a major...Re pitching: I work (shortly not to be) at a major UK TV producer. A couple of years ago they invited backroom staff to submit ideas, then pitch them to company heads of drama, comedy, etc., with a view to getting the idea on <i>their</i> pitch list.<br />My sitcom was accepted for the pitch-to-heads, and I gave it my best. The head of comedy hadn't read it, and told me why my script wasn't as good as the sitcom he had written and was in the stages of getting commissioned (UK for picked up). His show ran for two episodes, I think.<br />FWIW, my concept was 'Cheers' meets 'My Cousin Vinnie'.blogwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362291687463326731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20697348382974985682010-05-21T10:20:09.891-07:002010-05-21T10:20:09.891-07:00Corrine,
I will repost it on July 1.Corrine,<br /><br />I will repost it on July 1.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50210592907105806772010-05-21T09:41:32.126-07:002010-05-21T09:41:32.126-07:00I have a request.
I think my favourite post of yo...I have a request.<br /><br />I think my favourite post of yours is The National Anthem. In fact, I dug it out last night to show a friend after a discussion on our Canadian Anthem last night. Though written for the US anthem, the sentiments could easily apply here as well.<br /><br />In honour of Canada Day, July 1st, (and, of course, the US celebrations July 4th) could you please repost The National Anthem on July 1st?Corinnenoreply@blogger.com