tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6778173877419614752..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36765272662648877682013-10-10T12:41:47.685-07:002013-10-10T12:41:47.685-07:00I have a Friday Question: I saw that this company ...I have a Friday Question: I saw that this company called Aereo recently won a court battle against the broadcasters. Aereo basically captures broadcast television using antennae and transmits it over the internet for viewing on phones, tablets and laptops. Basically, the court, in Boston, found that Aereo will not cause irreparable harm to the broadacaster's business and can continue to operate. I was curious as to your thoughts on this, since aerial frequencies are free, but the content is not and Aereo is making $8 a subscription with plans to expand markets.Michellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68086176520097111792013-10-10T12:10:59.867-07:002013-10-10T12:10:59.867-07:00I remember reading somewhere that tv shows aim for...I remember reading somewhere that tv shows aim for the 100 episode mark to reach lucrative syndication deals. I noticed today on Peachtree TV that they were airing episodes of Community. Are there exemptions to the syndication rules? Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21521327097949159452013-10-09T22:19:22.615-07:002013-10-09T22:19:22.615-07:00TRIO Network used to have a series called, "B...TRIO Network used to have a series called, "Brilliant but Cancelled". It was made up of shows that were well written, yet short lived.<br /><br />What shows would be on your version of "Brilliant but Cancelled"?Shawn Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3050001236758683192013-10-08T08:34:37.999-07:002013-10-08T08:34:37.999-07:00Thought you might like to know Ken that one of our...Thought you might like to know Ken that one of our local rags referenced MASH the other day in their article about series endings -- the article was about how people complain when they hear spoilers about the end of series or events in series that are watched mainly on NetFlix or DVD now. The article was called, "Can I talk about the MASH finale yet?".<br /><br />PaulPolyWogghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239033481272527855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3530551168440908052013-10-07T02:32:39.381-07:002013-10-07T02:32:39.381-07:00Here's a Friday question for you:
My pet peev...Here's a Friday question for you:<br /><br />My pet peeve is when characters carry around or drink from obviously empty cups of coffee. It's really annoying and takes away from a scene.<br /><br />Is it so hard to just have actors carry around weighted cups? They don't even have to be filled with liquid. They just have to look like they're filled with SOMETHING.Coconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91639485256941528272013-10-06T12:14:17.068-07:002013-10-06T12:14:17.068-07:00Last week you had a question about the logistics o...Last week you had a question about the logistics of splitting seasons. My question is, why do networks even do this in the first place? I see no economic advantage to it. All it does, I assume, is frustrate viewers and possibly lose them. Showing a handful of episodes of Mad Men in September and then the last few in March is like going to a restaurant and getting the appetizer but being told to come back next week for the main course. And marketing the DVDs in two separate packages just feels like a rip-off and a major incentive to just download the shows. So... why?Marty Fufkinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65620966637218440882013-10-05T21:37:01.559-07:002013-10-05T21:37:01.559-07:00Highway Patrol, starring Broderick Crawford, ran f...Highway Patrol, starring Broderick Crawford, ran from 1955 to 1959. His catch phrase was 10-4. Ah yes, I remember it well.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9059520184023583422013-10-05T21:36:34.949-07:002013-10-05T21:36:34.949-07:00What do you think of this season's new sitcoms...What do you think of this season's new sitcoms? Has any particular one made you laugh?Arthur Dunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10395604982645312352013-10-05T16:19:22.102-07:002013-10-05T16:19:22.102-07:00Hi Ken,
Thank you so much for your generosity in ...Hi Ken,<br /><br />Thank you so much for your generosity in answering questions. Taking full advantage of it, I have two Friday questions.<br /><br />I apologize if you've already fully or partly answered the first one, and I failed to find it in your archives. Please feel free to edit it.<br /><br />1. What is the full pilot production cycle? If shows are ordered to pilot, based on scripts/pitches in the early fall, but they're not cast or shot until late spring, what's going on in all that pre-production? Is the time being spent building sets, scouting locations, shopping for set dressing, etc.? Is a showrunner just given a budget and told to go for it, or do studios/networks apply the same micro-management to production design as they do to casting and scripts?<br /><br />And when in the cycle do showrunners look for writers--before or only after a series commitment? I assume there's a lot of informal shopping going on with friends and former colleagues even before pick-up, but what is the formal time-frame?<br /><br />Follow-up question: Do you believe, as many claim, that the problem with pilot season is that the pool of experienced talent, both in front and behind the camera, is stretched too thin?<br /><br />2. As you know, Roseanne is at it again, this time targeting Chuck Lorre. I don't want to get into the cobra/mongoose fight between RB and CL, but her accusation does bring up a serious question: How much theft really does go on in Writers' rooms? And how much of it is the result of "Fuck lawyers, we can get away with it" versus writers being so exhausted they can barely remember their own names, let alone whether they'd heard a punchline before.<br /><br />Thank you for your answers!<br /><br />best,<br /><br />KayKaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48509474706860723442013-10-05T13:49:28.428-07:002013-10-05T13:49:28.428-07:00"How does a show that seems like it's obv..."How does a show that seems like it's obviously going to fail get onto the schedule in the first place?"<br /><br />It's exactly what I would do if I ran a network. I think it's a variation on Stalin's WWII tactic of picking a general at random and shooting him to motivate the others.<br /><br />I guarantee you the boat catalogs and BMW literature got shoved in the desk drawers and everyone at ABC spent today polishing scripts after Bob Iger sent that message.<br />ODJenningsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64991376376755826212013-10-05T10:01:30.163-07:002013-10-05T10:01:30.163-07:00I see the new series "Lucky Seven" was c...I see the new series "Lucky Seven" was cancelled after two episodes. And this doesn't seem to be much of a surprise to anyone outside of the network. How does a show that seems like it's obviously going to fail get onto the schedule in the first place? There seems to be too much time and money spent developing a new show for it to do so poorly.<br /><br />Ike Iszanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00242135666260861294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85504997159237822142013-10-05T06:20:37.748-07:002013-10-05T06:20:37.748-07:00Friday question: It's just been announced tha...Friday question: It's just been announced that the Simpsons has been renewed for a 26th season. It's widely believed among fans that it's golden age was several years ago. What would you do to bring it back to it's former glory? Bring back more of the old writers? Bring in all new writers to shake things up? New showrunner? Also, would you do shows that focused on character and consistency, or ignore that if you thought the idea was funny enough? (I'm thinking of plots like Skinner really being Armin Tamzarian, Carl being Icelandic, or the Simpsons escaping jail to France and then coming back as immigrants).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34338015953567186802013-10-04T20:00:56.141-07:002013-10-04T20:00:56.141-07:00Hi Ken, my question is this:
Why didn't Kirst...Hi Ken, my question is this:<br /><br />Why didn't Kirstie Alley reprise her role as Rebecca in FRASIER? I've seen all manner of reasons given, such as the show's focus on psychiatry conflicting with her Scientology beliefs (which seems petty) as well as Kirstie not wishing to play the role in another series (which conflicts with her appearance on WINGS).<br /><br />Are you able to shed some light on this?Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21573821464287913892013-10-04T19:12:40.515-07:002013-10-04T19:12:40.515-07:00I'm one of the six!
"Big Ben, this here&...I'm one of the six!<br /><br />"Big Ben, this here's the Rubber Duck..."Jake Mabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908036270824377919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83102455107694794812013-10-04T17:06:49.119-07:002013-10-04T17:06:49.119-07:00Friday question: Any ideas on why a writer would p...Friday question: Any ideas on why a writer would prefer to be on staff on other shows rather than work full-time on his own show which is going surprisingly well on a ratings demanding network such as ABC?<br /><br />It seems to happen with Jack Burditt and his show, Last Man Standing. He went from being on staff at 30 Rock to The Mindy Project. Usually, writers who have their own show on the air don't work on other things at the same time.<br /><br />I don't want to pick on anyone really, I'm just trying to figure out in what circumstance this might happen, as I've never heard about it.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67879338689772673952013-10-04T15:44:56.339-07:002013-10-04T15:44:56.339-07:00My question: Is this debacle still on the air for ...<i>My question: Is this debacle still on the air for no other reason than the network’s desire to ingratiate itself to Chuck Lorre? Because it’s pretty apparent, without his name attached, this creatively-deficit piece of TV trash would have been dead long ago.</i><br /><br />I guess it is on the air because it still (for some reason) gets good ratings.<br /><br />By the way: Jeff Daniels deserved his Emmy, IMHO.Tomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39912907549027598852013-10-04T15:32:25.293-07:002013-10-04T15:32:25.293-07:00Friday question: I watched the 2nd episode of the ...Friday question: I watched the 2nd episode of the new season of Two and a Half Men. (I know, I know. Why would I voluntarily admit that fact?) <br /><br />Besides being unimaginably stupid and humorless (and I swear the ONLY laughs were the contrived and overused guffaws provided by the insipid laugh track), the show has absolutely no connection with its original premise—which, at least, for the first six seasons or so was actually quite engaging and fun.<br /><br />This current episode offered nothing more than toilet humor. (And my hitherto respect for Carl Reiner, who plays Alan’s mother’s boyfriend, took a huge nosedive after seeing what he’s willing to consider “funny”.)<br /><br />My question: Is this debacle still on the air for no other reason than the network’s desire to ingratiate itself to Chuck Lorre? Because it’s pretty apparent, without his name attached, this creatively-deficit piece of TV trash would have been dead long ago.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15458293710002421748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29700552022494362842013-10-04T14:48:00.414-07:002013-10-04T14:48:00.414-07:00I think I really am one of the six! I know nothing...I think I really am one of the six! I know nothing about CB radio but I do know today's date! :)Carrienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-281634146818247982013-10-04T14:46:26.051-07:002013-10-04T14:46:26.051-07:00Some union negotiating in my background. I wonder ...Some union negotiating in my background. I wonder when talent and their agents will cease accepting pay for "seasons" and start demanding per-episode. If I was negotiating for them, that's how I'd do it.PDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91681814674269390472013-10-04T14:31:11.684-07:002013-10-04T14:31:11.684-07:00I am also one of the six who used CB Radio in the ...I am also one of the six who used CB Radio in the 1970s/1980s - incredibly useful when you were driving long distances across the US and needed directions or guidance as to where the patches of ice were on the interstate.<br /><br />Curt Alliaume: Kudrow did get to have her brother's triplets, though.<br /><br />wg<br /><br />Wendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30493480628305352572013-10-04T13:35:05.485-07:002013-10-04T13:35:05.485-07:00Sorry I was mistaken Troy was the name of Burt'...Sorry I was mistaken Troy was the name of Burt's unseen character.<br /><br />Now please forget that I know so much about this show.Charmersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5429172000115758712013-10-04T13:31:42.539-07:002013-10-04T13:31:42.539-07:00There's a great SNL skit with Will Ferrell and...There's a great SNL skit with Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as the world's hammiest restaurant scene extras.<br /><br />Doug McClure's character on "Out of this World" was named "Troy" and Burt Reynolds was the voice of Evie's alien father.Chalmersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28620761620143954262013-10-04T13:14:42.219-07:002013-10-04T13:14:42.219-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09092985199027690430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39580981479108250782013-10-04T11:54:33.338-07:002013-10-04T11:54:33.338-07:00I have a question which is for Ken but also for an...I have a question which is for Ken but also for anyone else here who works in the industry. Here in the UK, over the years we've had a whole range of US sitcoms. Something I've observed is that there seems to be two tiers of sitcom programming in the States. The top tier is the adult sitcoms that are funny, witty and clever - Cheers, Frasier, Soap, MASH, Taxi, etc. The second tier is what I'd call the family friendly sitcoms, which are generally lowbrow, simple and devoid of wit. For example, in the 90s, during school holidays, shows like Step By Step and Out of This World were aired (Out of This World starred Doug McClure, on whom the Troy McClure character was partly based). These shows seemed to inhabit a strange space in the TV landscape, in that they were ostensibly sitcoms but so bland, witless, safe and wholesome, I couldn't see who they would appeal to apart from 6 year olds.<br /><br />What I'd like to know is if the writers and producers in the industry also make this distinction. Are there those who only work on the adult shows and those who only do the family friendly stuff? And has there ever been one of the latter that was actually funny?Hamidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26511667983023258052013-10-04T11:32:05.793-07:002013-10-04T11:32:05.793-07:00I was never an extra on Cheers, but I was one in s...I was never an extra on Cheers, but I was one in several TV shows and movies. The number one thing that was drilled into us, was never talk to the star! One of the few exceptions was Rocky IV, where the extras actually made the movie IMHO.<br /><br />Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.com