tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6406440902500802265..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The Ten Second Comedy Writing CourseBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64961785209703697902013-12-13T13:27:25.519-08:002013-12-13T13:27:25.519-08:00Sorry, that note above is from me. Didn't mea...Sorry, that note above is from me. Didn't mean to post semi-anonymously, but the site jumped the gun and posted it before I finished typing. Maybe it thought of Dolly Parton's human development and suffered premature exclamation.Pat Reederhttp://www.hollywoodhifi.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39676566214310248542013-12-13T13:22:38.983-08:002013-12-13T13:22:38.983-08:00I think my favorite line-over-the-song intro I eve...I think my favorite line-over-the-song intro I ever did was many years ago, in my first job at a 250-watt country station in Texas. I came out of a PSA for the Campaign for Human Development into Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again," and said, "And speaking of human development, here's Dolly Parton." <br /><br />Half an hour later, the news director came in, glared at me, and said, "When you said that line about Dolly Parton, I laughed so hard, I nearly ran off the road and hit a telephone poll." <br /><br />It was the ultimate compliment for a jock: a one-liner that literally killed. At least he would've died with a smile on his face. <br /><br /><br />Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10614571100085631012013-12-13T09:01:55.706-08:002013-12-13T09:01:55.706-08:00Ken, Why didn't you link any of your airchecks...Ken, Why didn't you link any of your airchecks posted online? Too humble? You were very tight and witty as "The Beev".<br /><br />The one I grew up listening to was Chicago legend John Records Landecker. (Records truly is his middle name.) He not only did the song intro thing to near-perfection; he came up with quick, snappy responses to his "Boogie Check" callers with amazing spontaneity! I had high hopes when he was hired last year at WLS-FM because they promoted him heavily using samples from his WLS-AM glory days. But I was disappointed because the show was too music-intensive with minimalistic voice-tracking by John. <br /><br />Mark in Auburnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2786785222482723352013-12-13T05:36:04.582-08:002013-12-13T05:36:04.582-08:00Here's a one-liner I tried to squeeze into a n...Here's a one-liner I tried to squeeze into a normal conversation:<br /><br />On an airplane, a Steward approached the group of us who were sitting at the Bulkhead.<br /><br />Steward: "Now, you are sitting near an Emergency Exit. I need to make sure you're prepared to help the cabin staff an emergency situation. Are you all OK with that?"<br />Me: "Are you kidding? I'd serve drinks if it meant I had more legroom."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63459926843122145872013-12-13T02:51:30.239-08:002013-12-13T02:51:30.239-08:00At my first professional radio job, the Program Di...At my first professional radio job, the Program Director discouraged the on-air people from talking over the instrumental Intro. He told me "the musicians spend more time working on those opening seconds prior to the vocal than they do working on the rest of the song." <br /><br />His feeling was that we shouldn't drown out that intro unless it was unavoidable.<br /><br />Whenever I hear an air personality who does talk over the intro, especially just goofy, inane chatter, I think "Oh, shut up. You're ruining the record!"Kosmo13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5524818769078088422013-12-13T00:45:55.195-08:002013-12-13T00:45:55.195-08:00Really interesting-- probably more than I learned ...Really interesting-- probably more than I learned being a Radio/TV major at a local university 30 years ago.<br /><br />I work on a lot of live television shows these days and one thing I can confirm is that 10 seconds can be a really long time. As it runs out, the only thing worse than running over on a live show is running short because even coming up with 30 seconds of something to say can be death to the host. <br /><br />Back in the early days of "America's Got Talent" Regis Philbin was the host and in the finale of season one (or two?) the winner was crowned with a few minutes of air time left and nothing more to do or say. Lucky for them Regis is an old pro and was able to keep talking for a couple of minutes until the credits rolled.<br /><br />mdv1959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86914128592014154222013-12-12T21:25:58.999-08:002013-12-12T21:25:58.999-08:00One of the best one liners I heard was on a TV com...One of the best one liners I heard was on a TV commercial for Chicago radio station, WNDE, <br /><br />"It's eleven O'clock, with Scott Wheeler, here's Neil Sedaka's Laughter In The Rain; I wonder if that's anything like a giggle in the shower?"<br /><br />http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/#videoclip-480Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54800584319435368652013-12-12T20:54:31.985-08:002013-12-12T20:54:31.985-08:00In Syracuse, the Top 40 rivalry was between WNDR a...In Syracuse, the Top 40 rivalry was between WNDR and WOLF. WNDR was sort of a WABC-style station, whereas WOLF was a bit wilder in the early '60s, temporarily went to country about 1966, then returned to Top 40 with a Bill Drake-like format in early 1969. Each had some fine alumni who wound up in big markets, such as Don Bombard (now Bob Shannon on WCBS-FM).VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50049151137683489172013-12-12T19:37:58.636-08:002013-12-12T19:37:58.636-08:00Nice to see you mention 'Big' Dan Ingram w...Nice to see you mention 'Big' Dan Ingram who was my favorite DJ back in the 60s on WABC. I preferred him over all the other guys on WMCA & WINS who had Murray the K. I listened to him at my after school job using a little AM radio with an earbud while working an Addressograph machine.Rodger OBriennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55142459307494660582013-12-12T19:11:12.104-08:002013-12-12T19:11:12.104-08:00This may be a dangerous thing to say in a room ful...This may be a dangerous thing to say in a room full of former jocks, but I was one of those weirdos who hated the jock talking overr the intro to the record, all the way up to the vocal. Maybe because I was/am a musician and wanted to hear what the guys on the record were doing more than I wanted to hear the D.J., funny or not.Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30413595356715882282013-12-12T18:14:22.915-08:002013-12-12T18:14:22.915-08:00I had the privilege of working with Jackson Armstr...I had the privilege of working with Jackson Armstrong at TenQ in Los Angeles. An AMAZING talent and wonderful human being. He left us way too soon.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72500006399409425562013-12-12T18:10:58.371-08:002013-12-12T18:10:58.371-08:00I was a regular listener to Jackson Armstrong on W...I was a regular listener to Jackson Armstrong on WKBW in Buffalo... problem was, I lived in Nova Scotia and you could only pick up KB on nights without fog, rain, snow, etc. <br /><br />Still, even the nights he came in only intermittenly, were memorable. He was a fast talking, energetic jock who could talk to the lyrics like no one I've ever heard--and haven't heard since. When the Faces hit "Stay With Me" made KB's playlist, it was always a treat since the song had a 56 second intro before the lyrics hit. He'd talk, joke and scream right to the second. Amazing, really. I doubt disc jockeys have ever been considered artists--but Jackson Armstrong was a close to one as I can imagine. His presentation was magic. Always funny, always tight, always faultless amd transcendent.<br /><br />For a naive kid listening from far away in Nova Scotia, his delivery turned the Top 40 into something vibrant, hopeful and dangerous. Which,looking back, was very much a reflection of the time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15458293710002421748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40677260187587676522013-12-12T17:59:56.597-08:002013-12-12T17:59:56.597-08:00I was out of radio by 1980, but back in the 70'...I was out of radio by 1980, but back in the 70's when I was working at a small station in ND, the real career training was in commercials. At the small station, we did everything from swabbing toilets to selling. Writing funny, memorable spots, producing, doing voices and characters, and then getting them approved by the client and on the air to live or die--that's an education in process. Yes, we wanted to do well on the air, but having hilarious commercials that people loved and that sold our client's product or service, that was where the ego got stroked. Some of the best moments in my life can be traced to a single line: "You wrote that?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91274800451111193472013-12-12T15:18:42.601-08:002013-12-12T15:18:42.601-08:00I see the Golden Globe award nominees have been an...I see the Golden Globe award nominees have been announced. THE GOOD WIFE is again the only network show to be nominated in the drama category. My question is how on earth Edie Falco gets nominated for best actress in a comedy. NURSE JACKIE isn't remotely funny, and as excellent an actress as Falco is, neither is she.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24530167397276157212013-12-12T14:41:02.934-08:002013-12-12T14:41:02.934-08:00I used to jock, and by talking up the record you c...I used to jock, and by talking up the record you could surprise yoursef with the things you would say or come up with. Sometimes, it was like someone putting a loaded seltzer bottle to you face and say "be funny."<br /><br />It was a great training ground to think on your feet. Although I've been out of radio for a couple of years that work has prepared me when I would have to give a small speech or talk to a group.<br /><br />Some of the best talk show hosts in television history started out as disc jockeys who started out this way: Johnny Carson, Jack Paar, and Deavid Letterman to name a few.Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5880672053822554452013-12-12T14:23:09.540-08:002013-12-12T14:23:09.540-08:00Great to see a mention of Gary Burbank -- I grew u...Great to see a mention of Gary Burbank -- I grew up hearing him on WAKY and, later, WHAS in Louisville. Always brilliant, with a cast of characters that skewered local personalities/foibles.Dave Creekhttp://www.davecreek.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82711594946609378752013-12-12T13:15:17.309-08:002013-12-12T13:15:17.309-08:00This is off topic but I read something today which...This is off topic but I read something today which made my jaw drop. It was a review of a new book by Shirley Maclaine, "What If", in which she expounds on her various wacky supernatural beliefs. Now, I already knew she's into psychic/cosmic/past lives crap but I'd always taken that as just a funny quirk which shouldn't detract from her talent.<br /><br />But according to the review, Maclaine asks in her book what if some of the victims of the Holocaust were simply getting karma for past lives in which they'd been Romans killing Christians?<br /><br />Wow. If there's a line between a cute quirk and flat out offensive and obscene, she's crossed it. Ken, I don't know if you ever take suggestions for topics to write about but I'd love to read your opinion on this. One of your brilliant and witty "rants" as you call them would be great.Hamidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8820222522756542062013-12-12T12:56:23.985-08:002013-12-12T12:56:23.985-08:00I have to say, though, that even though I understa...I have to say, though, that even though I understand why it was done (At least, according to this post) I absolutely HATE when DJs talk over the beginnings of a song. It's like if they aren't singing yet, the music playing isn't important. I disagree. And what annoys me even more is when the DJ cuts off the end of the songs. Aargh! I need closure!404https://www.blogger.com/profile/00064577649967514295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86153422094832923422013-12-12T11:26:39.838-08:002013-12-12T11:26:39.838-08:00Interesting post about hitting the post.
It seems ...Interesting post about hitting the post.<br />It seems that Twitter could be great practice for writing tight, short form content.<br />I'm lucky enough to have a career in radio and have worked with some talented creative folks along the way. Currently at a great heritage Classic Rock station in Philadelphia. WMGK has a roster of jocks that all have 20-30 year on-air relationships with our audience and we're privately owned by a family that just owns radio stations. We're doing a lot of things right and are a market leader as a result. Most of my career has been with private ownership and what a difference it makes.<br />Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14466750518464846152013-12-12T10:47:43.829-08:002013-12-12T10:47:43.829-08:00Recognized Dale Dorman even without all the hair. ...Recognized Dale Dorman even without all the hair. So he was in SF before Boston? I think he's still in Boston...<br /><br />Definitely , TV commercials can be funny. If I like them, I try to find them and share them.<br /><br />Pam - WRKO when everyone else was WVBFPamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69618676621306271452013-12-12T10:30:22.354-08:002013-12-12T10:30:22.354-08:00Thanks very much for todays post. I collected each...Thanks very much for todays post. I collected each one of the KFRC Top 30 surveys, picking them up from the 'auto music' store on El Camino in Millbrae (Muntz 4 tracks plus new fangled 8's)Victor Velasconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78509430994013663312013-12-12T10:29:12.092-08:002013-12-12T10:29:12.092-08:00this reinforces my thought that comedy writers wou...this reinforces my thought that comedy writers would do well writing TV commercials. if they are entertaining and funny, I will watch them over and over.vicernienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3304494747853046432013-12-12T09:46:14.521-08:002013-12-12T09:46:14.521-08:00Thanks for this post, Ken. As a former radio jock...Thanks for this post, Ken. As a former radio jock and still commercial voice/writer, former head writer of the Morning Punch radio service, and for over 20 years, the founder/co-writer of the Comedy Wire syndicated radio service, I can say that last paragraph pretty much sums up my life, only take all that stuff and do it between midnight and 5 a.m. I am always looking for the perfect word for a line, preferably one syllable instead of two, unless the joke absolutely requires the precise four-dollar word. Usually, if the joke fell on a certain word or section of the line and required a particular wording or rhythm, I'd look for ways to tighten the set-up without making it feel rushed. <br /><br />One of the reasons our service survived so long, and people were willing to pay cash for it, was because every line was so carefully constructed for maximum impact. I would sometimes see competing services and looking down the page think, "Good line...sorta funny...idea for a joke but not a joke...might've been funny with the right wording," etc. <br /><br />We finally had to end the Comedy Wire because of what you said: changing times in the radio biz. We now write similar material for national shows for Cumulus, but I still write 15 or so one-liners a day for All Star Radio's Daily Comedy Exclusive service. We radio writers might not get the press that the TV guys do, but nothing pleases me more than when I see the media quoting some line of Jay Leno's or Jon Stewart's, and I can say, "Yeah, I thought that was a pretty good line when I sent it out 12 hours before he said it." Pat Reederhttp://www.hollywoodhifi.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90728504253587877992013-12-12T08:58:54.687-08:002013-12-12T08:58:54.687-08:00...and a shout-out to Gary Mack, one of the Origin......and a shout-out to Gary Mack, one of the Original Boss Jocks!Barefoot Billy Alohahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586870309250699505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68549328461382810202013-12-12T08:53:32.309-08:002013-12-12T08:53:32.309-08:00After all these years of listening and performing ...After all these years of listening and performing in radio, I'm still unable to adequately describe how engaging it was to hear The Real Don Steele on Boss Radio 93/KHJ in Boss Angeles. <br /><br />I'll try: He was a master of language, enthusiasm, culture (boomers')and showmanship. And it all, all happened inside the short intros of rock 'n' roll songs.<br /><br />See, I couldn't do it. Couldn't do his work justice.<br /><br />The radio industry today is a wasted Vastland of transmitters, accountants and satellite-delivered, impersonal chatter.Barefoot Billy Alohahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586870309250699505noreply@blogger.com