tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5944917137487851361..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: the Comedy Writing Rule of 2'sBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47725512970207383492018-08-27T13:48:14.289-07:002018-08-27T13:48:14.289-07:00Frank Beans said (about sitcom characters): “the ...Frank Beans said (about sitcom characters): “the characters need to be compelling on some level—-something flawed but expansive needs to be in their character make-up. You have to make the audience want to know their backstory—but not too much or it ruins the mystique.”<br /><br />What a great description! And the scene shared by Dave Wrighteous is a perfect example of that. Another great CHEERS scene that does that also involves Frasier and Lilith. It’s very early in their relationship and they are exchanging hilarious (but almost unintelligible) insults while the bar regulars listen. Norm finally says, “Are they fighting? They listen a few more seconds and Frasier says, “Merci.” Woody says, “Yeah, I think they are, Frasier just asked for mercy.” <br /><br />Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76572458251454590082018-08-27T08:59:09.332-07:002018-08-27T08:59:09.332-07:00I was watching Matt Groening's new Netflix ser...I was watching Matt Groening's new Netflix series, DISENCHANTMENT, yesterday, and at one point Elfo says that since he can do anything he wants, he is going to drink milk from his shoe. He then proceeds to do so. I said to my wife, who was watching with me, "I guess he already had milk in there." Elfo then says, "I already had milk in there."<br /><br />I like this show, but some of the punchlines are supremely obvious. If my asides and the show's jokes are the same by accident, that's a pretty sure sign that they probably should've taken a little more time writing it.Covarrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512077437345823232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63507097434818997762018-08-27T08:29:09.769-07:002018-08-27T08:29:09.769-07:00Absolutely, Ken. When I see a promo for a new sitc...Absolutely, Ken. When I see a promo for a new sitcom and the jokes are either not funny but ones where I can anticipate the punchline I will NEVER watch it.VincentSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3440909181099092382018-08-26T23:50:49.335-07:002018-08-26T23:50:49.335-07:00And all that was already said above. Sorry, folks...And all that was already said above. Sorry, folks. E. Yarbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52924831563425475342018-08-26T23:47:15.397-07:002018-08-26T23:47:15.397-07:00Should have added that Ritzik was played by Joe E....Should have added that Ritzik was played by Joe E. Ross, who was Toody on CAR 54. I keep forgetting that not everyone already knows this stuff.E. Yarbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8510385726375388922018-08-26T23:44:10.596-07:002018-08-26T23:44:10.596-07:00Beatrice Pons also played Rupert Ritzik's wife...Beatrice Pons also played Rupert Ritzik's wife on BILKO, where the couple's relationship was pretty much the same as on CAR 54.E. Yarbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64104600832055850612018-08-26T21:37:06.272-07:002018-08-26T21:37:06.272-07:00PERFECT example of your Cheers analogy Ken, is thi...PERFECT example of your Cheers analogy Ken, is this scene.<br />It has surprises and ends with a laugh that brings the house down!! I don't know who wrote this gag but it is GOLD!!!!<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_vWpTAra8<br />Dave Wrighteoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029257345313166383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6377788796534862972018-08-26T20:15:23.411-07:002018-08-26T20:15:23.411-07:00I remember Beatrice Pons as Lucille Toody. Rae mus...I remember Beatrice Pons as Lucille Toody. Rae must have come later. <br /><br />As for predictability, I almost always know what someone will wager on Jeopardy! when they hit a bonus question. I can usually tell what letter someone will call on Wheel of Fortune, too. If only I could predict lottery numbers.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59000641746272774752018-08-26T19:47:20.120-07:002018-08-26T19:47:20.120-07:00It can be hard explain or defend why some sitcoms ...It can be hard explain or defend why some sitcoms work and other ones just don't. There certainly are no hard rules about it, although good writing and acting are obviously central. But sometimes that isn't even enough.<br /><br />I'm going to say that the characters need to be compelling on some level, more than just generic types who serve as joke-conduits. Something flawed but expansive needs to be in their character makeup. You have to make the audience want to know about their backstory--but not too much, or it ruins the mystique.<br /><br />As for jokes, yes, timing is everything. But they have to connect in way that is familiar on one hand, but throw a curveball every now and then too, yet still stay on point and in character. <br /><br />Nobody ever said it was easy...<br /><br />Frank Beansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42627538198527588782018-08-26T18:57:31.416-07:002018-08-26T18:57:31.416-07:00"And yet, I bet if you watch a CHEERS today t..."And yet, I bet if you watch a CHEERS today there will still be jokes that surprise you and make you laugh."<br /><br />That is for sure. Same with FRASIER.<br />Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466932184113943306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79946063957277499932018-08-26T17:12:50.447-07:002018-08-26T17:12:50.447-07:00Good feedback that can be applied in so many ways ...Good feedback that can be applied in so many ways beyond comedy writing for a TV show. I use this sort of idea when updating my humor blog and when making silly posts on Instagram, Twitter, etc. I try to walk the fine line with safe humor while still being original. This actually gave me a few things to think about...dig beneath the surface jokes.Michael Rochellehttp://www.justmichael.net/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38557536306807558872018-08-26T15:59:38.708-07:002018-08-26T15:59:38.708-07:00So now you have your superpower, how can you use i...So now you have your superpower, how can you use it to fight crime? Do you have a superhero name yet? I think The Joker is taken (as is Space Cowboy and Gangster of Love, dammit). How about The Jokester? SpoilerMan? Nah?Looseheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22906992125565434282018-08-26T15:31:55.274-07:002018-08-26T15:31:55.274-07:00Ken: I've never been to the Magic Castle, but ...Ken: I've never been to the Magic Castle, but it sure looks interesting.<br /><br />I've often wondered how many beautiful but invisible magician's assistants have been wandering around the place for years and years, searching for a magician to make them visible again. ;-)Steve Lanzi (formerly known as qdpsteve)https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=19336675&postID=5944917137487851361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76561776112995998022018-08-26T15:27:29.588-07:002018-08-26T15:27:29.588-07:00Going back even further, I'm amazed at how wel...Going back even further, I'm amazed at how well much of the writing on radio comedies holds up today in terms of crafting a joke. True, the pacing can be a bit slow and cloying for modern sensibilities. But every time I listen to an old Bob Hope or Jack Benny or Fred Allen show, there are always at least 2 or 3 strong jokes or bits of word play that I never saw coming and can't remember ever hearing used again. If I were an unethical person, I think I could have a pretty good comedy writing career just by listening to old radio shows and stealing these jokes that 99.9% of the population haven't heard in 70 years.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5074088778333505602018-08-26T14:31:56.059-07:002018-08-26T14:31:56.059-07:00One of the greats left today.
Humor, pathos and th...One of the greats left today.<br />Humor, pathos and the human condition written with empathy.<br />This was what I saw in Neil Simons writing.<br />His presence will be missed even by us who only knew him through his writing. Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12424156620159009652018-08-26T11:59:30.763-07:002018-08-26T11:59:30.763-07:00The worst thing about writing comedy is knowing th...The worst thing about writing comedy is knowing the audience is expecting a surprise. And they know that you know and you know that they know you know. Insert cliche. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04488139920951534520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47906217135510423512018-08-26T11:44:49.619-07:002018-08-26T11:44:49.619-07:00@Wendy
Not to be pedantic, but The Bob Newhart Sh...@Wendy<br /><br />Not to be pedantic, but The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart are two distinct shows. In both shows he was the isle of calm in the sea of craziness.<br /><br />---<br /><br />RIP Neil Simon. That Ken hasn't mention this shows that Neil had the same bad timing as Aldous Huxley and Farrah Fawcett.ScarletNumbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62894809658120951322018-08-26T10:56:38.726-07:002018-08-26T10:56:38.726-07:00Sad to hear about the great Neil Simon passing awa...Sad to hear about the great Neil Simon passing away. He was "the world's most popular playwright after Shakespeare" (but I actually enjoyed Simon's work more). I grew up in a small Midwestern town without much theater, but the local library had bound copies of Simon's plays, which I read voraciously just for entertainment -- and that was a big part of what made me want to be a writer myself. When I finally got to see some shows on Broadway, his were always the ones I selected first, and they were a guaranteed great time. Too bad there won't be any more of them.Tednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92187372275781194532018-08-26T10:41:40.856-07:002018-08-26T10:41:40.856-07:00@Wendy Grossman:
"Even though Toody's wif...@Wendy Grossman:<br />"Even though Toody's wife is good fun, played by Charlotte Rae, and Schnauser's wife is played by the great Alice Ghostley.)"<br /><br />Actually Toody's wife was played by Bea Pons and Schnauzer's wife was played by Charlotte Rae.<br /><br />Your basic point is OK. There weren't a lot of women on Car 54, although a lot of the best episodes involve women.<br />The episodes with Molly Picon are fabulous. Shari Lewis was great and the character Charlotte Rae created, Sylvia Schnauzer, is one of the funniest female characters in TV history, despite the fact she was only on 11 episodes. (check out Lucille is 40 - hilarious). She got almost no mention for this character in her obits, but she might rank right up there with Lucy, Mary and Carol. She and Al Lewis were pegged for their own spinoff, which would have been hilarious but Nat Hiken had health problems (probably caused by Joe E. Ross) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20820079889005552842018-08-26T10:04:47.686-07:002018-08-26T10:04:47.686-07:00My sympathies, Ken, on the passing of Neil Simon. ...My sympathies, Ken, on the passing of Neil Simon. What a great talent. What a great legacy!Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84052359915516024242018-08-26T10:02:41.097-07:002018-08-26T10:02:41.097-07:00At first I thought this was one of those recycled ...At first I thought this was one of those recycled posts because it sounded so familiar. I seem to remember a previous "Magic Castle" reference. And I've said something very similar about predictable dialog before. Maybe I'm psychic, too.<br />M.B.Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71666921871387571512018-08-26T10:00:42.600-07:002018-08-26T10:00:42.600-07:00From a fan of Car 54, going back to childhood:
Mr...From a fan of <i>Car 54</i>, going back to childhood:<br /><br />Mrs. Toody was Beatrice Pons (who filled the equivalent part with Joe E. Ross on <i>Bilko</i>).<br /> Charlotte Rae was Mrs. Schnauser.<br />And Alice Ghostley was Officer Muldoon's sometime girlfriend.<br /> Just so you know …<br /> Mike Doranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14427528138598549103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85468936554561697452018-08-26T09:16:32.607-07:002018-08-26T09:16:32.607-07:00RIP Neil Simon, who died this morning at 91. I'...RIP Neil Simon, who died this morning at 91. I'm certain Ken's tribute will soon arrive.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87772332741663124022018-08-26T08:50:10.184-07:002018-08-26T08:50:10.184-07:00I just heard the news that Neil Simon has died. I ...I just heard the news that Neil Simon has died. I imagine your post tomorrow will be about him.<br /><br />Rest in Peace to a comedy legend.Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85032798540668753082018-08-26T08:06:46.881-07:002018-08-26T08:06:46.881-07:00This is exactly why I never was into The Big Bang ...This is exactly why I never was into The Big Bang Theory. I've heard all those nerd jokes before.jenmoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02647726303564119010noreply@blogger.com