tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5318828865614871682..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69254615542205509242019-02-04T08:32:28.372-08:002019-02-04T08:32:28.372-08:00I was wondering about your experience watching Upf...I was wondering about your experience watching Upfronts and Personal. Did you treat the script as sacred or did you tweak it? Did the Sunday sold out performance play better than the others? Any thoughts on why few playwrights direct their own plays; I know Edward Albee did and maybe David Mamet does now.Did any of your readers win the 50/50 at intermission?Scottmcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10832591830376781562019-01-29T13:56:06.320-08:002019-01-29T13:56:06.320-08:00Hi Ken-Love your blog. What I was wondering is if...Hi Ken-Love your blog. What I was wondering is if you have ever worked with Craig T Nelson. I loved him in Coach and re-watch it all the time on Antenna TV. He seems like such a nice guy and would be an awesome person to talk to. Thanks!Leenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13233259042783352240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12141492512171811182019-01-28T09:30:05.205-08:002019-01-28T09:30:05.205-08:00Ken: what's your take on the stone-cold free a...Ken: what's your take on the stone-cold free agent market in baseball this winter?David in DCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2424900116985074352019-01-28T07:06:00.731-08:002019-01-28T07:06:00.731-08:00@Coram_Loci,
Speaking only for myself, I think TVT...@Coram_Loci,<br />Speaking only for myself, I think TVTropes is a wonderful site. I'm not a writer, however (but I play one in my fantasy life). What I enjoy the most is looking up a classic movie I've seen a hundred times, like "The Godfather" or "Casablanca" or a Hitchcock film. There are always new insights and discoveries to learn, because many of the tropes are not obvious.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1610187286432917192019-01-27T16:59:16.954-08:002019-01-27T16:59:16.954-08:00I watch The Middle repeats on Freeform every day. ...I watch The Middle repeats on Freeform every day. It’s one of the only shows that makes the entire family laugh out loud for different reasons. They really captured the middle class life. I feel like the cameras are in my house, although we’re not “Heck” poor. Eden Sher was great as Sue but what made the show work was the entire family. I don’t want to see Sue take on the city or whatever premise. Thoughts?Jen from Jerseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57669282637329642062019-01-26T18:01:49.352-08:002019-01-26T18:01:49.352-08:00Wish I would have remembered to buy tickets to you...Wish I would have remembered to buy tickets to your play--it's sold out for Sunday (congrats!) so I can't make it. Hopefully you come back to NYC sometime. For my question: what do you think works better for popular/talented actors in long-running shows, a spinoff of the show or a new series for that actor/actress? I ask because of Eden Sher from The Middle. The studio/network toyed with spinning off Sue. As much as I love The Middle (I grew up in the midwest, it felt very honest), I'm glad they didn't go that route. But I wish ABC was more like CBS, who always seems to find homes in new shows for popular actors. Thoughts on this? Joe Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79447322567306658682019-01-26T10:20:28.065-08:002019-01-26T10:20:28.065-08:00Friday question about Dancin' Homer. How did ...Friday question about Dancin' Homer. How did Tony Bennett get inserted into the script? Were you told before you wrote the episode that Bennett was doing the episode or was it disclosed later in the process? Did you and David write (words and / or lyrics) the "Capital City" song or was it written by others and inserted into the story? Did Bennett make any edits to the song?DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91448602261055542072019-01-26T10:17:57.907-08:002019-01-26T10:17:57.907-08:00Wrote about Norman Lloyd and his memories of that ...Wrote about Norman Lloyd and his memories of that first World Series game at https://carole-and-co.livejournal.com/872133.htmlVP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68492394869508936402019-01-26T10:11:46.997-08:002019-01-26T10:11:46.997-08:00Where he is re-teamed with Nick Bakay; both were o...Where he is re-teamed with Nick Bakay; both were on the staff of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17990705003105638102019-01-26T10:09:06.652-08:002019-01-26T10:09:06.652-08:00It's called "Isn't It Romantic,"...It's called "Isn't It Romantic," from Warners, set for release next month just before Valentine's Day (of course!). Have seen signs for it in downtown LA.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57860414999100050462019-01-26T03:32:58.829-08:002019-01-26T03:32:58.829-08:00Loretta Swit played two different characters on M*...Loretta Swit played two different characters on M*A*S*H. She first played the hilarious character Hot Lips. Then she had a complete personality change and turned into Maaaaargret. It wasn't even done slowly, it was like someone turned on a switch. <br /><br />And I disagree completely that Hot Lips she wasn't a nuanced 3D character before this. Watch seasons 1-4 again, and just see how much there is bubbling under that surface. All those contradictions of a character who wants to get by on her own merits, but at the same time has no problems sleeping with men who are her superiors. She craves order and disiplin, but is herself a chaotic mess underneath the yankee-doodle-exterior. She wants to be independent, but clings to Frank, even if she deep down knows it's a dead end. And: She's also deriding other people's sexual escapades, while being animalistic with Frank.<br /><br />But despite it all, she's a darn good nurse and an efficient and competent leader. All this is perfectly summarized in the episode Hot Lips and Emtpy Arms from Season 2. Written by Linda Bloodworth and Mary Kay Place. Hogne B. Pettersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14854789159968443190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67505741666789160582019-01-25T23:11:03.505-08:002019-01-25T23:11:03.505-08:00This is completely random but I have been rewatchi...This is completely random but I have been rewatching a lot of shows recently that feature the great Norman Lloyd (I am currently binge watching'The Practice'). I have always had a great appreciation for his acting and admire that someone his age is still currently acting (I haven't watched 'Fly' yet but it's on my list). The man went 91 years between attending a World Series games (I have to believe that's probably a record) and saw Babe Ruth play. That's incredible!<br /><br />Have you ever met or worked with him? If so, what are your thoughts on him? He is someone I would love to meet and would be honored to get an autograph from.Kyle Burresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10393375301859311504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47421639261927160322019-01-25T22:01:37.274-08:002019-01-25T22:01:37.274-08:00The dinner party gone wrong.
The mistaken identit...The dinner party gone wrong.<br /><br />The mistaken identity.<br /><br />The farcical situation steadily going out of control.<br /><br />The three most used FRASIER tropes. The thing is that when they work, they work brilliantly, and when they don't, it feels like a record skipping, because it's just the same joke over and over and over and over until you just want to scream.<br />Frank Beansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63915989500300157792019-01-25T17:40:23.032-08:002019-01-25T17:40:23.032-08:00They still do that. The conk on the head is very c...They still do that. The conk on the head is very common for made for TV Christmas movies. Also there is a new movie with Rebel Wilson (I think that’s her name) where she gets conked and thinks she’s in a romantic comedy. I actually like this trope because it’s so silly.Jen from Jerseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50480609341229832292019-01-25T17:35:35.614-08:002019-01-25T17:35:35.614-08:00Yes, Frasier did use the dinner party trope a lot,...Yes, Frasier did use the dinner party trope a lot, in slightly different forms. "The Two Mrs. Cranes" was probably the third of fourth iteration of it that came to my mind, with "The Innkeepers" at the top of the list.<br /><br />Speaking of gag reveals, I read an article about the production of the Seinfeld episode "The Barber." It mentioned that Jerry made a mistake early in the filming when he instinctively went out to greet the audience, forgetting that he was already in his "terrible haircut" costume. It blew the reveal that wasn't supposed to happen until later.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72235144824089563372019-01-25T16:42:24.236-08:002019-01-25T16:42:24.236-08:00The amount of time spent discussing CHEERS and FRA...The amount of time spent discussing CHEERS and FRASIER (and MASH for some), is what brings many of us back to this blog daily for years and years. Until their equivalent comes along again, we have to be satisfied with discussion and DVDs. <br /><br />Wish I could see your play tonight, Ken. Good Luck!Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58526490375123199132019-01-25T15:20:19.211-08:002019-01-25T15:20:19.211-08:00Would writing be better and network interference b...Would writing be better and network interference be less if show's had just one or two sponsors?<br /><br />So, if Alka Seltzer is the sponsor of Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place do the added layers of review eventually get streamlined because the network and writers quickly come to realize what pleases and displeases the 800 pound gorilla?<br /><br />Diffusing sponsorship means there is no 800 pound gorilla who you need to worry will pull the plug. That should create more artistic freedom today. But does that come at a price of a network bureaucracy, rather than the sponsor, being made a creative guardian and censor?Coram_Locinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41312024279046674152019-01-25T15:07:31.459-08:002019-01-25T15:07:31.459-08:00Since we are talking tropes...
A Friday Question:...Since we are talking tropes...<br /><br />A Friday Question:<br />Ken, do you think that a webiste like TVTropes.com is a good thing or bad thing? <br /><br />Do you think it makes writers better? Do you think it makes viewers cynical? If every viewer becomes a critic — someone identifying and reconstructing plot/character elements — then who is left to be the in-the-moment audience?Coram_Locinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81099734536291503522019-01-25T15:04:51.733-08:002019-01-25T15:04:51.733-08:00Pears Alicia - Sue Ann from The Mary Tyler Moore s...Pears Alicia - Sue Ann from The Mary Tyler Moore show?CarolMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357698369178272616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74844557351708035202019-01-25T14:36:35.666-08:002019-01-25T14:36:35.666-08:00"Layers and layers of suits trying to justify..."Layers and layers of suits trying to justify their jobs" pretty well sums up the entire society today.....universities, governments, militaries, private and public industries of every type.<br />Unchecked Overhead + Convenience Marketing + History-less Education =<br />BIZARRO WORLD!<br /><br />But life is wonderful.DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64326158896401739132019-01-25T14:27:56.012-08:002019-01-25T14:27:56.012-08:00Curious if show creators & show runners like G...Curious if show creators & show runners like Glen & Les Charles (CHEERS), Reinhold Weege (NIGHT COURT), and Barry Kemp (COACH) chose to walk away from TV series after their hits because they made enough money and/or were just tired of it; or were they still pitching show ideas to network suits, but couldn't get another one on? Meanwhile you have writers like Sheldon Bull (who co-created COACH) still going strong writing for shows like MOM. MikeKPa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37720488104892802032019-01-25T11:27:18.705-08:002019-01-25T11:27:18.705-08:00They don't do it anymore, but many years ago i...They don't do it anymore, but many years ago it was a standard...<br />Somebody gets bopped on the head and has instant amnesia. Sometimes they would get bopped multiple times in an episode and be in and out of an amnesia state. Jeeeeeesh.John in NW Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51915747142736825532019-01-25T11:11:26.943-08:002019-01-25T11:11:26.943-08:00Around 1992, I decided to check out a new series c...Around 1992, I decided to check out a new series called <i>Middle Ages</i>, an hour-long comedy-drama in the mode of <i>thirtysomething</i>. And what do I see? The star (Peter Riegert) and a female character trapped in an elevator. This would have been episode 2 or 3. No wonder the series was very short-lived.gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27113954618830527312019-01-25T11:00:20.846-08:002019-01-25T11:00:20.846-08:00I know there are more interesting questions than t...I know there are more interesting questions than the weekly deluge of "Cheers" "Frasier" and "MASH" questions I see every Friday. I've seen people ask them in the comments section. I'd like to see more variety. Thanks. KBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18234022688841311182019-01-25T10:57:38.773-08:002019-01-25T10:57:38.773-08:00Jon,
You'll be out around 9:30. Thanks for c...Jon,<br /><br />You'll be out around 9:30. Thanks for coming tomorrow night. Introduce yourself and say hi.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.com