tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6686006520602374376..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Getting tickets to see TV showsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33424965165512765372012-07-04T08:33:26.761-07:002012-07-04T08:33:26.761-07:00The Dick Van Dyke show was one of the few early sh...The Dick Van Dyke show was one of the few early shows were the star's character used a different first name, that is amongst shows that were named after the actor.Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68875675932899283402012-07-02T18:54:11.252-07:002012-07-02T18:54:11.252-07:00Were there angry Cheers nerds screaming for blood ...Were there angry Cheers nerds screaming for blood at the changes to Frasier's background?<br /><br />(continued from previous -- sorry, hit send too soon!)Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65561785060064452712012-07-02T18:46:14.616-07:002012-07-02T18:46:14.616-07:00FRIDAY QUESTION:
I've always loved the FRASIE...FRIDAY QUESTION:<br /><br />I've always loved the FRASIER episode, "The Show Where Sam Shows Up." The scene where Sam meets Niles and Martin is probably the cleverest (and funniest) retcon I've ever seen. What brought that about?Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31715148730295436932012-07-02T14:21:03.155-07:002012-07-02T14:21:03.155-07:00Regarding showrunners, they are usually Executive ...Regarding showrunners, they are usually Executive Producers and are most often the show's creator. Check the Created By credit and see if that person's name shows up also as Executive Producer. <br /><br />If they are listed as Consulting Producer, then they're not the showrunner and usually spend very little time actually working on the show. If the creator also has a big film career, they're not the showrunner (read: JJ Abrams).<br /><br /><br />Regarding who keeps track of characters' info, that would typically be a writers' assistant. However, if there is only one writers' assistant, and he/she is always in the writers' room taking notes, then it's a safe bet that he/she doesn't have a lot of time to read the scripts and catch those sorts of mistakes. The reality of the situation is that the turnaround time for a script is very, very fast, especially the further you get into a season While you think you'll have the time to remember that the main character has one brother instead of two, you actually hardly have time to remember the main character's name.Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34503664947729068342012-07-01T22:29:07.102-07:002012-07-01T22:29:07.102-07:00Friday question for next week:
Have you had debat...Friday question for next week:<br /><br />Have you had debates on set about the use/frequency/volume of a laugh track, especially on a show allegedly performed in front of a studio audience? Sometimes, a little laugh sweetening must seem prudent but some shows it seems they rely entirely on it to the point of distraction. I can't even watch "Rules of Engagement" (it began as a mildly entertaining show) now because the laugh track is so overbearing it actually distracts from the show. Every little line gets a HUGE laugh. Do the writers have any say in this?David Russellhttp://www.davidrussell.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7208877302425441462012-07-01T11:59:26.984-07:002012-07-01T11:59:26.984-07:00Matt: That story IS true, but it was Harry Cohn, n...Matt: That story IS true, but it was Harry Cohn, not Mayer. I believe it was Garson Kanin who remembered it.cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4705129854059949902012-06-29T23:09:22.314-07:002012-06-29T23:09:22.314-07:00Hi Ken, There is indeed a tour on the Sony lot, fo...Hi Ken, There is indeed a tour on the Sony lot, formerly MGM. I was working on a sitcom there a couple of years ago and the walking tour would frequently pass by our decaying writer's building. Jesus, it was terrible. We felt so badly for the poor schmucks who had plunked down something like 30 bucks to walk past old bungalows and sound stages that may as well have been warehouses that manufactured lady's pants. <br /><br />Obviously, this was a storied lot some 40 or so years ago, back before MGM sold off the old back lot to developers for what would become Culver City. These days, what is there to see? No facades, no Western town, no old England, no nothing. It's all gone, save for a "New York Street" which stretches about 15 yards. My favorite part was when the tour guide would stop in front of our building, (named after Myrna Loy, outside of which I could usually be found having a cigarette), and would tell the group a story about Louis B. Mayer. According to the tour guide, the writers back in the Golden Age would assign a "lookout" to hang by the window. The lookout would then notify the writers in the building when LBM was walking by, which would their cue to start fake-clickity-clacking on their typewriters so that the boss would think work was being done. A cute story, but -- as we all assumed -- likely bullshit. It's incredibly hard to believe that Mayer's hearing would have been that good, or that any writer would volunteer to hang out of a window when he could be inside, folding paper airplanes or fucking Lana Turner. But there it is.Matt Neffer, Boy Spotwelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17370341215309019311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50677817672138621892012-06-29T22:41:38.178-07:002012-06-29T22:41:38.178-07:00Once you sit in on a TV taping, you it's never...Once you sit in on a TV taping, you it's never the same watching. You know that the when the audience bursts into aplause, there is a lit sign telling them to do that.Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78617697017789231442012-06-29T20:45:07.464-07:002012-06-29T20:45:07.464-07:00Blaze and Mark,
Show runners are almost always cre...Blaze and Mark,<br />Show runners are almost always credited as Executive Producer. That said, there are also plenty of other executive producers who are not the show runner. But does that help you narrow it down?DBAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50882684465606647482012-06-29T19:51:22.295-07:002012-06-29T19:51:22.295-07:00Ken: Got a friday question.
I love the deleted sc...Ken: Got a friday question.<br /><br />I love the deleted scenes from the office on their website. They are usually real quick jokes. Do writers add short, non-story related jokes to pad (or if running long delete) to fit time?Tim Simmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18105748192914475435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39227905141189321062012-06-29T19:04:24.036-07:002012-06-29T19:04:24.036-07:00Probably the sitcom that had the most actors playi...Probably the sitcom that had the most actors playing characters with the same first names was "The Mothers in Law."<br /><br />In her autobiography, Kaye Ballard also recounts Vivian Vance's frustration at always being called "Ethel." Vance advised Ballard to use her own first name on the show. <br /><br />Five of the six lead actors -- Eve Arden, Kaye Ballard, Herbert Rudley, Jerry Fogel and Roger C. Carmel -- used their first names for their TV characters (Deborah Walley did not have this option as she was hired after another actress originally playing her character was let go).<br /><br />Of course, when Roger C. Carmel left the show in its second season, Richard Deacon played "Roger."Greg Ehrbarhttp://www.mousetracksonline.com/blog.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45621336962140211322012-06-29T17:50:53.812-07:002012-06-29T17:50:53.812-07:00Kevin,
You're welcome to email me.Kevin,<br /><br />You're welcome to email me.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7393717363377190342012-06-29T16:10:54.579-07:002012-06-29T16:10:54.579-07:00Sorry, "ensure."Sorry, "ensure."Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29567907944195147042012-06-29T16:10:18.810-07:002012-06-29T16:10:18.810-07:00Did anyone mention that just because you have a ti...Did anyone mention that just because you have a ticket to a show is no guarantee you'll get in? Some shows overbook to insure a full house. <br /><br />Speaking of sitcoms, let's take a moment to remember Don Grady, co-star of My Three Sons.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65692099142214512012012-06-29T15:58:15.234-07:002012-06-29T15:58:15.234-07:00A coupe of Friday questions…
Why is change so rar...A coupe of Friday questions…<br /><br />Why is change so rare in sitcoms? i.e. the situation is re-set by the end of each episode. After all, in reality life changes all the time and wouldn’t more change allow for more plots and situations to become possible?<br /><br />Occasionally there is change - Sam and Diane got together, Daphne and Niles got together, er… maybe some other examples too but it's rare. How come?<br /><br /><br />Also, how do you track continuity in an ongoing series? Does someone have the job of noting when the characters have birthdays, who they said their first girlfriend was, what they said their Dad did for a living and so on. Or do you just rely on the writers and cast's collective memory to avoid problems?Andy Cooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3129437507330121512012-06-29T15:21:12.630-07:002012-06-29T15:21:12.630-07:00I also vote a big thumbs-up on the Warner's to...I also vote a big thumbs-up on the Warner's tour. Took it a few years back and it is definitely non-tourist (mostly) highlight. You might be in luck and see something being filmed. You might even get a impromptu visit from a star.rchessonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07580264074683768118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50204481210662987482012-06-29T15:14:22.587-07:002012-06-29T15:14:22.587-07:00I agree with what others said..the Warner tour is ...I agree with what others said..the Warner tour is the hip, in thing--Universal is strictly for tourists.<br />And if they take you up the water tower, say hello to Yakko, Wakko and Dot for me.Paul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3580430063648358682012-06-29T14:10:38.281-07:002012-06-29T14:10:38.281-07:00Ken: I guess it's a Friday question to ask wha...Ken: I guess it's a Friday question to ask what you think of ANGER MANAGEMENT. I see that Shawnee Smith, who I haven't seen since BECKER plays Charlie Sheen's ex-wife. <br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40379556702858082392012-06-29T14:08:41.377-07:002012-06-29T14:08:41.377-07:00That's hilarious, John S!That's hilarious, John S!Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78686440050468448702012-06-29T13:59:31.867-07:002012-06-29T13:59:31.867-07:00Tony Danza has said in interviews that he was hire...Tony Danza has said in interviews that he was hired to play a character on Taxi named Phil. After a little while, the character was renamed Tony. Danza assumed this was because he had made such a terrific impression in the part. He later found out that the change was made because producers worried that an actor as inexperienced as Danza wouldn't turn his head when another actor onstage addressed him as "Phil"John Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30779700871274068912012-06-29T13:15:30.320-07:002012-06-29T13:15:30.320-07:00Regarding show runner... for someone just watching...Regarding show runner... for someone just watching the show & credits, could you make an educated guess as to who the show runner is based on titles? Would it be one of the producers, etc?Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27994651864346915402012-06-29T12:56:57.558-07:002012-06-29T12:56:57.558-07:00Question for next week: on a TV show adapted from ...Question for next week: on a TV show adapted from another medium, how is it determined whether the "inventor" of the show is given a "Created By" or "Developed By" credit? Is it just negotiated with the owner of the source material, or is it adjudicated by the WGA? I've been watching GAME OF THRONES recently, and the "created by" credit baffles me. From what I hear, each season is based specifically and in detail on one of Martin's books. And yet shows that are more loosely adapted (JUSTIFIED and SMALLVILLE come to mind) carry a "Developed by" line.<br /><br />Any insight you can share is appreciated. (To try keep it relevant to Ken's work - I thought the credits on FRASIER were pretty darn fair: "Created By" in the opening credits for the Seattle team, and "Based On The Character Created By" in the end credits for the CHEERS folks.)Tony Towernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7214816336500892992012-06-29T12:30:38.873-07:002012-06-29T12:30:38.873-07:00I always thought it was interesting that practical...I always thought it was interesting that practically the whole cast of "What's Happening" had some form of their own name in their character's name. I never knew if that was a sticking point for some, or just made it easier.<br /><br />Roger Thomas (Ernest Thomas) - Fred "Rerun" Stubs (Fred Berry) - Dwayne Nelson (Haywood Nelson) - Mabel Thomas (Mabel King) - Shirley Wilson (Shirley Hemphill) - Dee Thomas (Danielle Spencer)BobMastrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16854307130896471903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24195280340527412332012-06-29T12:23:00.399-07:002012-06-29T12:23:00.399-07:00Hi Ken,
It's Mark from Los Angeles
What did ...Hi Ken,<br /><br />It's Mark from Los Angeles<br /><br />What did you think of Warren Littlefield's book "Top Of The Rock"?marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34681735960625113772012-06-29T12:02:14.157-07:002012-06-29T12:02:14.157-07:00And let's not forget The Adventures of Ozzie &...And let's not forget The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet - Ozzie & Harriet Nelson, with, of course, Rick and David Nelson. What a great show that was...everybody has seemed to forget that - damn brilliant show. 14 seasons...damn great.Jeffrey Marknoreply@blogger.com