tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5117970032206526322..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My all-time favorite TV jobBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56633401388040011652018-03-30T10:26:32.053-07:002018-03-30T10:26:32.053-07:00So THAT'S what happened to Big Wave Dave's...So THAT'S what happened to Big Wave Dave's. I remember watching it and liking it that summer and then it disappeared. I figured I was the only person who ever watched it, but the ratings disagreed.<br /><br />I figured they had canceled it before they aired it and were just burning off episodes in the summer. The truth is almost more ridiculous... =(Augie De Blieck Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11793387911509826036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59115135026960932792018-03-28T11:09:47.380-07:002018-03-28T11:09:47.380-07:00Great to see it was fun while it lasted.
I looked...Great to see it was fun while it lasted.<br /><br />I looked up GOOD ADVICE - which featured Shelley Long AND Teri Garr. "On paper" that looks good, but the important "on paper" part is the writing. <br /><br />(What? Faye Dunaway was in a COMEDY?)<br /><br />(well, she WAS in BARFLY which could count as a dark-comedy)<br /><br />Staying even at 9:30 with your hit lead-in is quite an accomplishment.<br /><br /><i>television would be better today if selected writers who have proven their worth were given that kind of autonomy. </i><br /><br />Television IS better today with those kind of worthy writers - just not on the Networks.<br /><br />And a suggestion for another interview - why not get Isaacs to chat about Big Wave Dave's (and other not-covered projects)?<br /><br />Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39193323958861904812018-03-26T22:27:55.327-07:002018-03-26T22:27:55.327-07:00@Joseph Scarborough - hi!
On the DVDs, Larry Davi...@Joseph Scarborough - hi!<br /><br />On the DVDs, Larry David talks about not having very much interference over The Contest episode, aside from changing a few words. Though it's possible he forgot some of the details by then. And I forgot about the Elaine thing. Well, I guess that's one studio note that was for the best. The show wouldn't have been as good without her.<br /><br />While I enjoyed the new Muppet series, it was lacking in some more Muppety things. I was expecting more from Bill Prady since he began his career with the Muppets. I think the problems came more from the fact he had to split his time between Muppets and Big Bang. And they really need to listen to the performers more. The Muppet Show days had the Muppeteers, writers and crew all interacting and contributing.Justin Piatthttp://instagram.com/jhpiatt.artnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39175242162039400132018-03-26T13:42:31.563-07:002018-03-26T13:42:31.563-07:00I love every "Big Wave Dave's" episo...I love every "Big Wave Dave's" episode. I was going through some rough times in 1993 and that show was the cure. It was funny without being crude and Kurtwood Smith was on fire! In fact I'm still waiting for new episodes.....DARON72https://www.blogger.com/profile/01726705799261360259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69646463810381026452018-03-26T12:58:37.389-07:002018-03-26T12:58:37.389-07:00What's a laugh spread?
I can usually figure t...What's a laugh spread?<br /><br />I can usually figure things out from context, but even Google isn't any help here.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04599875893933352542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34195446787542195352018-03-26T12:14:04.834-07:002018-03-26T12:14:04.834-07:00An hour ago, I had no idea about this.
https://ww...An hour ago, I had no idea about this. <br />https://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2018/03/20/cheers-conspiracy-park-st-under/<br />I'm sure you know about it. I will go with the coincidence theory. Thoughts?samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08464569763112665098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21252333422346241592018-03-26T08:39:48.769-07:002018-03-26T08:39:48.769-07:00I laughed more at the two episodes of "Big Wa...I laughed more at the two episodes of "Big Wave Dave" I just saw than at any of the current sitcoms. I appreciate that in the marlin-fishing episode the seasick-landlubbers angle was underplayed in favor of miniature furniture.Keith Nicholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700768085010210020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61410950851085193282018-03-25T20:02:01.654-07:002018-03-25T20:02:01.654-07:00Just saw the pilot on Youtube. While it feels a l...Just saw the pilot on Youtube. While it feels a little flat, I find it refreshing how the series starts. There is no introduction or exposition, but instead showing the characters.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13969828565293972812018-03-25T19:11:55.558-07:002018-03-25T19:11:55.558-07:00@Justin Piatt SEINFELD actually did have some inte...@Justin Piatt SEINFELD actually <i>did</i> have <i>some</i> interference in the beginning: the character of Elaine was practically mandated by the network because they felt the show needed a female character to reel in the female demographic (even though the deadpan and sardonic coffee shop waitress in the pilot was intended to be a semi-regular character); likewise, they insisted she be Jerry's girlfriend in the beginning. And like with M*A*S*H in the earlier years, some episodes did not sit well with network censors, like that contest episode: they pretty much had to come up with those euphemisms like "Master of your domain," because the network refused to let them actually outright mention masturbation.<br /><br />As for THE MUPPET SHOW, you're right, it was produced over in England, because Lord Lew Grade of ITV was the only one who believed in the show: all three American networks rejected it because they figured it would be a kiddy show, which had no place in primetime . . . even when THE MUPPET SHOW did air in America, it went straight to syndication via CBS O&O (owned-and-operated) affiliates across the country. When it became such a big hit, all three networks were kicking themselves for turning it down. Now, if only Disney would let the Muppets do their own thing, rather than try to bring in other mainstream writers from other mainstream shows to give them mainstream appeal, things could go a lot better - one of the reasons, I feel, the 2015 ABC show failed: they tried too hard to make it THE BIG MODERN MUPPET BANG OFFICE FAMILY THEORY.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54898288177192414482018-03-25T17:30:07.078-07:002018-03-25T17:30:07.078-07:00"The Five Mrs. Buchanans" was a fun show..."The Five Mrs. Buchanans" was a fun show with a pre-Aunt Zelda Beth Broderick.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50269147569287283662018-03-25T17:01:01.472-07:002018-03-25T17:01:01.472-07:00Duncan, feature not a bug. They are getting a hug...Duncan, feature not a bug. They are getting a huge leading audience, which hopefully peaks at the end of a close game, likely if the start time is delayed. I haven't seen the coverage, but I'm guessing that during this game, there were at least 10 promos for this show as well. <br />As long as the show is remotely interesting this works well. Then there was the time a game ran so long, it was removed from the schedule, and the announcers were just laughing at it, "I don't know why they would skip The Five Mrs Buchanans".MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16068058267266543032018-03-25T15:35:51.929-07:002018-03-25T15:35:51.929-07:00Here's a Friday question: Why would a network...Here's a Friday question: Why would a network launch a new show on Sunday nights, starting the first two shows when the time will undoubtedly be delayed by the NCAA games? I'm talking about Instinct on CBS. Duncan Randallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70171074083562686242018-03-25T13:36:16.643-07:002018-03-25T13:36:16.643-07:00Dr Loser: I remember the show - IT HAD TO BE YOU. ...Dr Loser: I remember the show - IT HAD TO BE YOU. Dunaway played a<br />high-powered publisher who meets and falls in love with a plumber with<br />three children. Robin Bartlett (MAD ABOUT YOU, THE POWERS THAT BE)<br />played her assistant. Dunaway was as miscast as you'd expect.<br /><br />Ken doesn't say so, but all three of the shows he lists there bombed<br />pretty bad. I'm guessing the Peter Scolari show was DWEEBS, which I<br />liked; it also had Stephen Tobolowsky in the cast. Successful computer<br />company looking for its next big move, and settles on user-friendliness,<br />for which they need techno-illiterate Farrah Forke.<br /><br />The Shelley Long thing was GOOD ADVICE, and I couldn't stand it enough<br />to watch more than the pilot.<br /><br />wg<br />Wendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80447191282102900382018-03-25T12:57:46.109-07:002018-03-25T12:57:46.109-07:00I had never even heard of BIG WAVE DAVE'S unti...I had never even heard of BIG WAVE DAVE'S until I started reading Ken's blog a few months ago. I suppose that's because I was never a MURPHY BROWN fan and wasn't watching CBS on those nights. I'm glad you enjoyed your job, however. As the old cliche says, Some people live to work and others work to live. It always helps when you love what you do. And as I always say, If you create another show write a part for me. <br />M.B. (NO RELATION to Linda Bloodworth-Thomason.)Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43109569287925470742018-03-25T12:50:58.314-07:002018-03-25T12:50:58.314-07:00I haven't seen it since it initially ran so I ...I haven't seen it since it initially ran so I have no idea if it holds up, but I remember really liking Adam Arkin's show [b]Busting Loose[/b], which ran a short time in the late 70s. I was always disappointed that I rarely saw him after that, particularly in a sitcom. I thought he was a good comic actor and very likeable.<br /><br />Some people are just snake-bit on sitcoms.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02753360146107174303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54616447705092284302018-03-25T11:39:36.253-07:002018-03-25T11:39:36.253-07:00Tom Hanks has made similar comments about Bosom Bu...Tom Hanks has made similar comments about Bosom Buddies. ABC paid so little attention to the show that they leveraged that "neglect" into a creative freedom that wouldn't have had otherwise.Thomas Mossmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678349322403895276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50927924154435519492018-03-25T11:09:50.672-07:002018-03-25T11:09:50.672-07:00I feel like shows that have the least studio inter...I feel like shows that have the least studio interference tend to be the best. Seinfeld had very little interference because at first they thought no one was paying attention and then they got too big to be interfered with. The Muppet Show was made in England where they were allowed to do their own thing. Both of these shows were some of the biggest of their time.Justin Piatthttp://instagram.com/jhpiatt.artnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5528044765827557342018-03-25T10:47:19.050-07:002018-03-25T10:47:19.050-07:00FQ: Andy Ackerman directed the pilot and other epi...FQ: Andy Ackerman directed the pilot and other episodes too. Didn't he direct many other pilots too? What was he, a good luck charm or something?<br /><br />Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63240073785449400972018-03-25T09:57:30.221-07:002018-03-25T09:57:30.221-07:00Dig those totally tubular 80s color palettes of th...Dig those totally tubular 80s color palettes of those screencaps!Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81022392464611793442018-03-25T09:35:25.059-07:002018-03-25T09:35:25.059-07:00I thought Chicago Hope was carried by Mandy Patink...I thought Chicago Hope was carried by Mandy Patinkin.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70198744602682421902018-03-25T09:22:24.415-07:002018-03-25T09:22:24.415-07:00Um, Faye Dunaway?
(No issues with her in movies. ...Um, <i>Faye Dunaway</i>?<br /><br />(No issues with her in movies. But on TV?)Dr Loserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717234136006844887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52280037494605642072018-03-25T08:29:14.960-07:002018-03-25T08:29:14.960-07:00No mention of Kurtwood Smith?No mention of Kurtwood Smith?ScarletNumbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31746184445456081772018-03-25T07:11:46.397-07:002018-03-25T07:11:46.397-07:00Ken,
Remember watching and could not figure out w...Ken,<br /> Remember watching and could not figure out why it never went on the schedule, a real shame. Did you ever try selling it to another network?<br />JoePilot Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10163322152454021465noreply@blogger.com