tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5428060184645418545..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74696418987820738472021-01-13T15:37:13.547-08:002021-01-13T15:37:13.547-08:00I have a Friday question - it looks like you were ...I have a Friday question - it looks like you were on the staff when the episode "Life Time" was made. One soldier needed enough tissue to repair his aorta. Another soldier had a mortal head wound, but wasn't dead yet. Do you know who wrote Father Mulcahy's prayer? He prayed for the mortally wounded soldier to die in time to save the other one. That seems like one of the saddest moments in the show, though it's probably more famous for the ticking clock in the corner of the screen.Graham Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775285782385634486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3096183150022511782021-01-09T08:54:41.800-08:002021-01-09T08:54:41.800-08:00@Janet My doctor is technically a Physician's ...@Janet My doctor is technically a Physician's Assistant as well, however, she does wear a lab coat either way.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80370786565730550922021-01-09T08:51:09.838-08:002021-01-09T08:51:09.838-08:00With all the Strum und Drang surrounding that Pres...With all the Strum und Drang surrounding that President Who Shall Not Be Mentioned Any More, there was still a bright spot on TV this week: the final shows of "Jeopardy"s Alex Trebek. How wonderful to see his classy demeanor one last time...tavmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83945680168070505032021-01-08T22:06:05.684-08:002021-01-08T22:06:05.684-08:00Hi Ken,
I was watching "The Sneeze", an...Hi Ken,<br /><br />I was watching "The Sneeze", an episode you directed from Everybody Loves Raymond. During the scene in the bedroom, the boom Mike is briefly seen. How does this get missed? Or is it a question of the scene went so well it's not worth reshooting.<br />Dave from WIDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09801987656853611963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63291189213511519372021-01-08T20:49:59.694-08:002021-01-08T20:49:59.694-08:00Ken, since Ted Danson is apparently not one to res...Ken, since Ted Danson is apparently not one to rest on his laurels, or anywhere else for that matter, he's already back on TV with a new NBC sitcom, Mr. Mayor. Can we look forward to a review?Elfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374380298273456994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12658111328441919302021-01-08T20:34:23.873-08:002021-01-08T20:34:23.873-08:00Just wanted to say thanks for recommending the new...Just wanted to say thanks for recommending the new Bee Gees doc on HBOMax. Thoroughly enjoyed it.<br /><br />Also my husband is an ER doc, and he says in his hospital, in the ER, lab coats are entirely optional and only 20-25% of the people wear them. He hasn't worn one for 20 years.<br />Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08361592930703627190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4049332904766854972021-01-08T20:14:00.713-08:002021-01-08T20:14:00.713-08:00I learned to play the Xylophone for YOU CAN'T ...I learned to play the Xylophone for YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Not that hard coming from a piano background, since it's laid out the same, but it was definitely one of those "we COULD fake it with the sound booth, but it wouldn't be convincing" things.Covarrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512077437345823232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81769901822389459732021-01-08T18:43:10.103-08:002021-01-08T18:43:10.103-08:00Sound of Metal, the movie in which Riz Ahmed both ...Sound of Metal, the movie in which Riz Ahmed both learned to drum and American Sign Language, is quite good.Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7418347249926323992021-01-08T17:24:37.165-08:002021-01-08T17:24:37.165-08:00"...it’s always handy to have fencing skills...."...it’s always handy to have fencing skills."<br /><br />Or the ability to play the xylophone. A fellow started a pretty good movie career with that.Frederic Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16092073035980930082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86558470601312538542021-01-08T17:22:28.805-08:002021-01-08T17:22:28.805-08:00Re training for skills, actress Nancy Allen, cast ...Re training for skills, actress Nancy Allen, cast as Robocop's partner, practiced shooting extensively with a 9 millimeter firearm at the LA Police Academy. In an early simulation, where trainees had to decide when to shoot, to the amusement of cops present, Nancy shot a man with a knife because she thought he might hurt a dog. The production paid for her training, but not for extra hours spent. (Fun Fact: This Bronx-born actress's father was a career NYPD cop.)Jay Moriartynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52021060400737707582021-01-08T16:18:25.828-08:002021-01-08T16:18:25.828-08:00Oh, just for the record: my doctor (technically sh...Oh, just for the record: my doctor (technically she's a Physician's Assistant) doesn't wear a lab coat either. And that's part of a much larger clinic, not private practice.<br /><br />Also I have an FQ, Ken, since you mentioned the different actors who directed episodes of MASH. <br /><br />Alan Alda, in particular, seems to have been highly involved behind the camera. How did he balance all of that behind the scenes work with his on-camera job?<br /><br />Thanks!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16136856533329478197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41575651204610094432021-01-08T15:08:41.000-08:002021-01-08T15:08:41.000-08:00"Of all the actors I've ever worked with,..."Of all the actors I've ever worked with, Ted is my favorite."<br /><br />It's likely that Ted Danson already knew this, but it still seems like one of the best compliments - perhaps THE best - that an actor - or anyone in any profession - could receive. And I'm assuming that you also hold his qualities as a person in similar esteem.<br /><br />And, considering the high caliber of actor you've worked with over the years, the compliment shines even more.Tudor Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03544142728842449527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10933061374423199082021-01-08T15:05:08.638-08:002021-01-08T15:05:08.638-08:00Mike did a really good job with Death Takes A Holi...Mike did a really good job with Death Takes A Holiday. That was an amazing episode. I will agree that War Correspondent was a terrible episode. I always wondered what his thinking was when he wrote that. Did he want BJ to get the girl instead of Hawkeye? Why. He was happily married. And they did the temptation episode a few seasons ago. Everything about that episode seemed forced. He did do a movie with SStJ at the same time as the episode. So, well, who knows. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13102938428423097036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73689095371944455012021-01-08T12:52:37.150-08:002021-01-08T12:52:37.150-08:00I never saw even one episode of Becker.
I think I...I never saw even one episode of Becker. <br />I think I was feeling similar to the way I did when the Mary Tyler Moore Show came out: Why did Laura leave Rob?? What about poor Ritchie?<br />Good news is now I can watch the whole series fresh.blinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04284135060900752329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47550198607329970112021-01-08T12:34:51.015-08:002021-01-08T12:34:51.015-08:00Before Ken mentioned fencing skills, I thought of ...Before Ken mentioned fencing skills, I thought of that Frasier episode in which Niles has a sword fight with Maris's fencing instructor, and David Hyde-Pierce HAD to have training from his earlier acting career.<br /><br />I'm also reminded of one of many funny Russell Baker columns, where he talks about magazines and refers to The New York Review of Books as the place where Olivia De Havilland is critical of Basil Rathbone's footwork in swordfights in Robin Hood. And of course Rathbone was a great fencer.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38484376435556224282021-01-08T11:56:46.395-08:002021-01-08T11:56:46.395-08:00I think tv and movie doctors stopped wearing lab c...I think tv and movie doctors stopped wearing lab coats after Denise Richards was seen wearing one playing a nuclear physicist in a Bond movie. Really, how much cred is left after that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62329513175474084902021-01-08T11:51:05.017-08:002021-01-08T11:51:05.017-08:00FQ: You have fencing skills? Part of mine blew do...FQ: You have fencing skills? Part of mine blew down during a storm, can you help fix my fence?<br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16880646894752760905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81571359209300687482021-01-08T10:34:51.707-08:002021-01-08T10:34:51.707-08:00Ben is right. I''ve been in practice for ...Ben is right. I''ve been in practice for 30 years and haven't worn a lab coat since I finished training. I rarely see them now, except for surgeons and anesthesiologists, when they have scrubs on and it's cold.thomas tuckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18645315998358605882021-01-08T10:23:46.590-08:002021-01-08T10:23:46.590-08:00Friday Question: I worked in the TV movie biz fo...Friday Question: I worked in the TV movie biz for 30 years but one question I never asked was: When actors go on publicity junkets or spend a weekend doing publicity photoshoots are those sessions/trips included in their massive salaries or are they paid extra for their time and trouble? <br />Any input would be appreciated.Roseannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393487748949411049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42017964309289984862021-01-08T09:25:48.420-08:002021-01-08T09:25:48.420-08:00Met Ted Danson during CHEERS last season. Mayday ...Met Ted Danson during CHEERS last season. Mayday was total coolness. <br /><br />Point of View aired again this week on ME. Such a great episode.<br /><br />Yes, Greg Evigan was trained and licensed to drive a big rig for BJ and the BEAR. Bears agent insisted the monkey could drive too and NBC was open to the idea. Rumor has it, he killed it on the driving portion but failed miserably on the written test. Just a bunch of monkey scribbles... Cowboy Surferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703914886255967601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88183273458066257372021-01-08T09:10:43.790-08:002021-01-08T09:10:43.790-08:00You may have answered this before but my ADHD brai...You may have answered this before but my ADHD brain doesn't remember.....I've noticed recently [and this goes back for decades] but it seems that when the credits at the beginning of a TV show/movie roll the director is always listed last. Any reason for this or is it just something that has always been done and Hollywood just doesn't like breaking with tradition?YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82578259828343925052021-01-08T09:05:43.324-08:002021-01-08T09:05:43.324-08:00I think there's another reason actors get into...I think there's another reason actors get into the habit of training for a role, which is that early in their career they learn to bullshit their way through auditions. One example I've heard of is a casting call for actors who can ride horses. A bunch of people try out despite never having been near a horse in their lives, then have to frantically learn to ride horseback after they get offered the part.Stu Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15573841195304161231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33269255899419005622021-01-08T08:41:35.623-08:002021-01-08T08:41:35.623-08:00I could be wrong, but I believe both David Ogden S...I could be wrong, but I believe both David Ogden Stiers and Jamie Farr directed at least one episode of M*A*S*H as well. I'm a little surprised that Jamie never tried his hand at writing for the show, considering in addition to being an actor, he was also a writer as well - granted, most of his writing credits include mostly game shows, but he also wrote for episodic series, such as Hanna-Barbera's THE AMAZING CHAN AND THE CHAN CLAN.<br /><br />Alan Alda is the complete package: actor, writer, producer, directed - he contributed a number of really great episodes of the series, either as a writer ("The Long-John Flap"), a director ("Dear Ma"), or <i>both</i> ("Dear Sis"). Unfortunately, I can't really say the same for Mike Farrell . . . his outing as a writer/director, "War Co-Respondent" was a trainwreck; Gene Reynolds already gave us an episode about B.J. wrestling with temptation seasons earlier with "Hanky Panky," why did we need another one that felt far more forced and awkward?Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11205673956894778392021-01-08T06:46:38.990-08:002021-01-08T06:46:38.990-08:00Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin trained with swords ...Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin trained with swords throughout the entire filming of Princess Bride. To give them as much time as possible, the sword fight was filmed last. And their fight does a good job of showing off their skills. Glennnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86575495345090657202021-01-08T06:25:18.976-08:002021-01-08T06:25:18.976-08:00Most doctors I've seen in private practice hav...Most doctors I've seen in private practice have not worn lab coats. At this point, I think lab coats are the exception.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05309084955578001544noreply@blogger.com