tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6159588435291328784..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-86923393905564489462016-06-08T16:18:56.162-07:002016-06-08T16:18:56.162-07:00Reviewing your picks for Worst Quotes of 2011 you ...Reviewing your picks for Worst Quotes of 2011 you cited a not-so-horrible pun by Romney-the-Younger (except perhaps he was nearly as robotic as Al Gore)<br /><br />(BTW, I came up for a nerdly nickname for him - but he was not elected - Algorithm)<br /><br />Maybe this means you aren't so fond as I am about puns. An old description goes that a pun is: <br /><br /><i>the lowest form of wit, that doesn't tax the brain a bit</i><br /><br />(not necessarily true) <br /><br />But if I'm wrong, maybe we could have a fun, pun post: <br /><br /><b>A pirate got drunk, then drunker and toddled off to get a tattoo. He was a regular customer, so the tattoo artist offered a steep discount for piercings.<br /><br />How much did he charge?<br /><br /><i>A Buck an Ear!!</i></b>Jahn Ghalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25633816844986144162016-06-07T08:15:44.638-07:002016-06-07T08:15:44.638-07:00I have Friday Question:
What are the financial ob...I have Friday Question:<br /><br />What are the financial obligations for a series when they incorporate a character from a past series? For instance, we see that Glen and Les Charles get credit in the closing credits of every Frasier episode, but did have any financial ownership in the show? Did Jim Burrows or the Charles brothers also have to sign off whenever past Cheers characters made appearances on Frasier? Not looking for specific numbers, just curious how all that "red tape" works.Anthonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45518777780693030762016-06-06T10:30:32.758-07:002016-06-06T10:30:32.758-07:00I kind of enjoy those episodes. It's nice to ...I kind of enjoy those episodes. It's nice to have a chance to get to know a supporting character a little bit better. And it mixes things up a bit. With MASH, the supporting characters really did make the show. All Hawkeye, all the time ... you know I loved the character and have a lot of admiration for Alan Alda, but let's face it, once in a while it was nice to get a break from that sometimes. And Hawkeye needed foils, characters strong enough in their own right to be a balance. I think the show got better after Frank Burns left the show for that reason. McAlvienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29227317554130894662016-06-05T23:54:43.733-07:002016-06-05T23:54:43.733-07:00Thanks for answering! They always seemed like the...Thanks for answering! They always seemed like they were having a great time so Im sure they didnt mind! Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05265753244583100064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82027317942596531202016-06-05T14:26:19.384-07:002016-06-05T14:26:19.384-07:00Ken, if I may call you that. Bill just seems wrong...Ken, if I may call you that. Bill just seems wrong:<br />I thought you would enjoy this photo of Natalie Wood as much as I did.<br />http://www.sfgate.com/lifestyle/article/SF-photographer-Earl-Leaf-celebrities-7957076.php<br />Wonderful blog!<br />Thanks.<br />Tom, although I have answered to Larry<br />http://www.sfgate.com/lifestyle/article/SF-photographer-Earl-Leaf-celebrities-7957076.phpPrairie Perspectivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02154574048042724149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6317881745368622522016-06-04T09:44:28.475-07:002016-06-04T09:44:28.475-07:00I loved seeing more of Paul in the later seasons, ...I loved seeing more of Paul in the later seasons, too. Although he did have lines on the show going back to at least the cold open where he sang the theme to Bonanza. I don't remember what season that was, but Coach was still there.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15772237225110319862016-06-04T06:29:32.396-07:002016-06-04T06:29:32.396-07:00Cheers was one of the shows my parents and I both ...Cheers was one of the shows my parents and I both watched. In one episode, Paul had a few lines and my Father was stunned: "He's never said anything before!" as though the laws of Physics had just been broken.<br /><br />I enjoyed Paul Willson's increasing presence on Cheers. Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53077637807514328322016-06-04T06:09:32.096-07:002016-06-04T06:09:32.096-07:00When Rita Wilson played Hester Crane in a flashbac...When Rita Wilson played Hester Crane in a flashback on Frasier, she clearly modeled her after Nancy Marchand's original take on the character on Cheers, so there was some continuity.<br /><br />Margaret could be very effective on M*A*S*H. I remember her outburst in The Nurses where she expresses how hurt she is that her nurses don't confide in her or include her in anything. I also loved it when, during the umpteenth episode focusing on BJ's whining about not being home with his wife and daughter, she let him have it at the end and shut him up. That was great.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19132313572207130252016-06-04T05:21:28.796-07:002016-06-04T05:21:28.796-07:00I disagree with DwWashburn as well. I think episod...I disagree with DwWashburn as well. I think episodes that have side stories for supporting characters are usually pretty good. Cliff on Jeopardy and on The Tonight show are two of my favorites. Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00760229533287495672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18716949805904275602016-06-03T22:56:36.025-07:002016-06-03T22:56:36.025-07:00I believe it was Martin Crane who thought of his w...I believe it was Martin Crane who thought of his wife in saintly terms. Fraser and Nails were afraid of her.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59464463897038099502016-06-03T19:22:43.324-07:002016-06-03T19:22:43.324-07:00I just read Sepinwall's 20 year perspective as...I just read Sepinwall's 20 year perspective as a TV critic. He talks of life before internet and all the new forms of TV. I was curious of your insights on all the new TV media delivery systems. It makes more opportunities for writers and all TV folks, but with the lower viewership for each show, although overall more viewship in total, does that mean less money?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04719567752732725486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59976527929520084262016-06-03T18:29:04.101-07:002016-06-03T18:29:04.101-07:00Jeff Alexander, Ken answered your question here:ht...Jeff Alexander, Ken answered your question here:http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015/05/sorry-im-not-that-ken-levine.htmlDBAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35408148670388393842016-06-03T18:27:10.496-07:002016-06-03T18:27:10.496-07:00dandy_lio and Frank Beans: I recall at the time (a...dandy_lio and Frank Beans: I recall at the time (as a big Bebe Neuwirth fan) being disappointed that Lilith wasn't going to have a regular role on FRASIER. I think it was a good idea to basically "start fresh," with Frasier's time on CHEERS as part of a rich back story they could reference as needed.<br /><br />I also think that Frasier and Lilith's relationship improved post-CHEERS, even if they weren't married. It had dark moments and was somewhat dysfunctional on CHEERS, and I appreciated how their relationship became very loving and supportive.Stephen Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670422634319094941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11735113252071716812016-06-03T17:57:29.069-07:002016-06-03T17:57:29.069-07:00Grandpappy Ken:
First, congrats on your first gra...Grandpappy Ken:<br /><br />First, congrats on your first grandchild! All the best!!!<br /><br />Second: FRIDAY QUESTION.<br /><br />My apologies if you've already addressed this in your blog and I missed it.<br /><br />There is a Ken Levine who is credited with six versions of a video game titled BioShock. Has there been any confusion -- has he gotten job offers that should have gone to you or vice versa?<br /><br />I ask this partially because years ago, there was a music composer for TV shows named Jeff Alexander -- no, there was no confusion, since he was composing music in his 50s when I was a pre-teen!<br /><br />Jeff Alexander, Stuart, Fla.Jeff Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06626617823721757256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3225009140958325332016-06-03T16:46:00.272-07:002016-06-03T16:46:00.272-07:00Stephen Robinson - Came to say what Frank Beans ha...Stephen Robinson - Came to say what Frank Beans has already said. I thought they did a good job balancing creating a new life and set-up for Frasier without undoing everything that had been done on Cheers. And I appreciate d the retcon explained when Sam visited and questioned Frasier's family that had not existed in Cheers. If you haven't seen that episode, definitely worth the watch!dandy_liohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05940021859057644311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3387833139412714592016-06-03T14:29:59.700-07:002016-06-03T14:29:59.700-07:00Stephen Robinson:
Lilith was referred to on FRASI...Stephen Robinson:<br /><br />Lilith was referred to on FRASIER from the very beginning, and throughout the 11 seasons Bebe Neuwerth guested on the show many times. The main backstory fudging they had to do with Frasier Crane's character was to invent his father and brother (and his whole connection to Seattle for that matter), all of which had never existed in the CHEERS universe. And they made his late mother Hester a distinctly more saintly personality than she had been on CHEERS, particularly when she threatened to kill Diane and then lied about it...Frank Beansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62063189518020356432016-06-03T13:01:16.487-07:002016-06-03T13:01:16.487-07:00I'm of the opinion that, while not every suppo...I'm of the opinion that, while not every supporting character can be great, you still need strong supporting characters. A lot of sitcom have so many characters without any of them being interesting, who are all the people on The Mindy Project? Does she need that many people? I think it's a failure when you add supporting characters and they add nothing of any interest at all. Frankly, it's a bigger failure when you have lead characters who are so completely underwritten that the supporting characters get to take over! (looking at you, Family Ties!)Catnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86605303005755729392016-06-03T12:57:03.586-07:002016-06-03T12:57:03.586-07:00Count me among the people that liked the character...Count me among the people that liked the character of Father Mulcahy. The supporting actors are what made MASH for me. I never seem to tire of going back and watching this show.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52769875368217306152016-06-03T12:52:53.837-07:002016-06-03T12:52:53.837-07:00"The Two Faces of Norm" was one of my fa..."The Two Faces of Norm" was one of my favorite "solo" Norm episodes and made me think the character could have carried his own show -- of course, one episode is not itself a series, as we learned from the failure of JOEY. <br /><br />The transition of Frasier from supporting character to leading man worked beautifully, but I think it made the bold choice of leaving behind much of Frasier's CHEERS history (including his marriage to Lilith). Stephen Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670422634319094941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82189721754789864412016-06-03T12:48:44.450-07:002016-06-03T12:48:44.450-07:00I love the Norm-centered episodes on CHEERS: "...I love the Norm-centered episodes on CHEERS: "The Two Faces of Norm" being my favorite. Rebecca was a great foil to Norm in "Don't Paint Your Chickens," the ending of which sends me in tears of laughter each time. This also reminds me of how CHEERS was the sort of show that the teenage me and my mother could watch and enjoy. There's not a lot of modern TV that does this, especially in the age of targeted demographics, which is a shame.Stephen Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670422634319094941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79626298603970894282016-06-03T11:03:06.944-07:002016-06-03T11:03:06.944-07:00I liked his tipsy temperance sermon. "Did I ...I liked his tipsy temperance sermon. "Did I tell you the one about the prodigal son?" Remember him playing a hippie in WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL along with Jamie Farr.bB.A.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10161035547204993742016-06-03T10:31:53.704-07:002016-06-03T10:31:53.704-07:00Ken, you described your "firsts" on MARY...<br />Ken, you described your "firsts" on MARY in 1985 as a first-time show-runner and first-time director - the latter as a crisis-response on short notice. <br /><br />Your role was to block the scene, then the original director blocked the cameras. <br /><br />For Mad Men Matthew Weiner hired his own first-timers (without the crisis) - Jon Hamm, John Slattery, and Jared Harris.<br /><br />These "rookies" started preparing at least two weeks before shooting. Hamm and Slattery prepared on the same days that they acted on earlier episodes (Harris was already "dead" when he directed his episode). <br /><br />So my question - how much of the usual director's chores would go to others for the rooks? For instance I suppose they would lean on the DP for camera blocking. How are the decisions (and the "labor") divided between Director and DP?<br /><br />Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23634197651557378832016-06-03T10:06:02.833-07:002016-06-03T10:06:02.833-07:00Thanks, Ken! And congratulations and best wishes f...Thanks, Ken! And congratulations and best wishes for your new grandchild. We look forward to future related posts.<br /><br />And, because I'm greedy:<br /><br />FRIDAY QUESTION: I've been watching THE THICK OF IT (which I'm really enjoying -- I've watched each episode three times -- first, to get the story; second, with subtitles to pick up on missed jokes; third, with commentary) and there is a character, Olly Reeder, who is not as funny as he thinks he is, but he's not stupid. How difficult is it to write lines for such a character? The lines can't be straight-up funny, but they have to be awkward enough to still elicit a derisive/pitying laugh from the viewers. (And I wouldn't even want to guess how that actor improvises any such lines.)<br /><br />FRIDAY QUESTION TWO: Who has agents? I know actors, writers, and directors do, but do Directors of Photography have them? Editors? Production Designers? Make-up crews? How many of these others are hired more through a traditional interview/application process (or because producers and directors are familiar with their work)?<br /><br />FRIDAY QUESTION THREE: (Really greedy.) What is the worst production swag you've ever seen/received? Like a commemorative SCRUBS whistling catheter or some such?Charles H. Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66582977529603624602016-06-03T09:55:42.648-07:002016-06-03T09:55:42.648-07:00Couldn't agree more about you favorite Father ...Couldn't agree more about you favorite Father Mulcahy episode. But as far as VOLUNTEERS, I wonder if you'd still keep in that exquisitely painful joke you have Tom Hanks say, "If Mr. Mi were here. Or...it I were Mi.."VincentSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12817653006989236782016-06-03T09:35:32.000-07:002016-06-03T09:35:32.000-07:00One of my favorite episodes of the old Dragnet rad...One of my favorite episodes of the old Dragnet radio show (long before it went to TV) featured Friday's then-partner, Ben. It started off like a normal episode, with Friday narrating, but then they corner a suspect, who shoots Friday. While Friday spends the rest of the episode in the ICU, Ben, who is normally the lightweight foil to Friday's deadpan seriousness, takes over the narration, his tone turning icier as the episode progresses. It's an unexpected twist that makes for a great episode.<br /><br />(As a bonus, there's a moment where Ben a carton of cigarettes to the hospital and asks if he can leave them for Friday when he wakes up--the doctor says to leave them with the nurse and she'll make sure he gets them. A very different era!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14618297568720543462noreply@blogger.com