tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post739532202076227854..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17424750336772920132019-09-08T09:25:46.364-07:002019-09-08T09:25:46.364-07:00Friday Question
You've been doing the tv com...Friday Question <br /><br />You've been doing the tv comedy thing for quite a while. Now in this current oversensitive climate we're in how much hell is it for you as a comedy writer to have more pressure than ever to not offend anyone when writing a joke? These days writing a slight against string could wreak havoc. Kendall Rivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16401646799797849078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5974784604810618282019-09-01T07:38:21.916-07:002019-09-01T07:38:21.916-07:00As for Douglas's question I tried a google sea...As for Douglas's question I tried a google search and couldn't find any number two's that had successful tv shows. Rhoda did last from 74 to 78. Probably better than average for most comedy shows. Frasier wasn't even a number two lead and had quite the successful show. As for Kimberly's post the real pilot is on line. It was just Sheldon and Leonard. The apartment wasn't the same. There was no Penny. Instead there was a girl named Katie played by Amanda Walsh, who Leonard and Sheldon meet on the street. There was also another girl played by an actress who I had never heard of. Who ever put this pilot up put up each scene individually. It is not particularly funny. I assume Chuck Lorre was involved from the beginning. It would be an interesting question for Ken as to how many comedy's change so drastically from inception to what we finally see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1os-EXeeiJw&list=PLbw_IAQVaCc3IdvQANLAu-Ch9qusyrjnUsanfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580867647162091670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40969826878647259052019-08-31T06:29:09.012-07:002019-08-31T06:29:09.012-07:00I remember seeing the trailer to The Big Bang Theo...I remember seeing the trailer to The Big Bang Theory and thinking “this show will never make it!!!” I was so wrong but that trailer made me cringe. Kimberlyhttp://menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25726841560942634482019-08-30T21:15:45.968-07:002019-08-30T21:15:45.968-07:00Any thoughts on Valerie Harper's passing?
She...Any thoughts on Valerie Harper's passing?<br /><br />She was one of the classic #2s of all time. When a performer has a unique gift to bounce off a lead convincingly, there'a frequently a temptation to make that #2 a lead in something else. And no disrespect to Harper, but it almost never works. Any theories on why? Have you ever dealt personally with a great supporting character who insisted he/she had the chops to play a lead?Douglas Trapassohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18348522207945522495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1071137276046673002019-08-30T18:41:36.752-07:002019-08-30T18:41:36.752-07:00I read somewhere that Sidney Freedman was on the c...I read somewhere that Sidney Freedman was on the cards to join M*A*S*H as a regular character after the departure of Radar, but Allan Argus didn't want to commit. If that's true, I'm glad Sidney remained a recurring character. Like Colonel Flagg, it felt like an "event" when he guested. Francis Dollarhydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16974200244125077414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13185938354410826692019-08-30T17:59:25.577-07:002019-08-30T17:59:25.577-07:00RIP Valerie Harper:
https://www.hollywoodreporter...RIP Valerie Harper:<br /><br />https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/valerie-harper-tvs-rhoda-morgenstern-dies-at-80-427004<br /><br />Rashad KhanRashad Khanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09759671819088688414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87172206009177062602019-08-30T16:48:01.183-07:002019-08-30T16:48:01.183-07:00Another note on Vince Gilligan: He makes listening...Another note on Vince Gilligan: He makes listening to commentaries (and show podcasts) informative and entertaining. He frequently brings in unsung heroes of his shows - costume and set designers, music coordinators - and lauds their contribution while downplaying his own. We should all be so lucky as to work with people like Vince.Charles Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69665140470502778612019-08-30T14:47:13.643-07:002019-08-30T14:47:13.643-07:00You may have done this before, and you can point t...You may have done this before, and you can point the links to the same. REGARDLESS of whether you were involved or not, what are your:<br />10 favorite MASH episodes<br />10 favorite Cheers episode<br />10 favorite Frasier episodes<br />5 favorite Dick Van Dyke Show episodes<br />5 favorite Wings episodes<br />any other shows of your choice<br />WHY you've picked them would be nice<br />thx<br />Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51721160506278349192019-08-30T11:38:15.862-07:002019-08-30T11:38:15.862-07:00One of the network trailers last year had the &quo...One of the network trailers last year had the "Is that a gun in your pocket" joke. That joke is literally pushing 100 years old and every possible variation has been done. I can't believe they push stuff like this and expect people to want to watch it. Dave Widelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328547234420288022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30750776308324469112019-08-30T09:59:34.265-07:002019-08-30T09:59:34.265-07:00Your Frasier episode starring Michael Keaton was o...Your Frasier episode starring Michael Keaton was on UK TV the other day. I hadn't seen it in years and it was great watching it again.<br /><br />Keaton was brilliant in it, but I vaguely recall you saying on here that he didn't like the episode. What was the deal with that?Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48793174821798873572019-08-30T09:54:54.385-07:002019-08-30T09:54:54.385-07:00Happy Birthday Annie :)
Ken, did you see "T...Happy Birthday Annie :)<br /><br /><br />Ken, did you see "The Joker" trailer? Any thoughts? <br /><br />I think it will be a good performance by Joaquin Phoenix.<br /><br />I usually don't get swayed by trailers, but this movie or just his performance may turn out good.<br /><br /><br />Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGVQLHvwOY<br /><br />I like the part from 1:26 - 1:36 ..... his expression, his voice and finally beaming with pride, all accompanied by good music.<br /><br /><br />And talking of Vince Gilligan, 'Breaking Bad' movie is going to release in October. But I am disappointed that Walter White wont return.<br /><br />Dhruvnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77900957479402203782019-08-30T08:59:20.676-07:002019-08-30T08:59:20.676-07:00I hope when you retire from directing, writing tha...I hope when you retire from directing, writing that you throw some stars and other people in the business under the bus. It is good to know that most of the people you have worked with are great at least when it comes to working with them.sanfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580867647162091670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78357640443164370242019-08-30T07:58:58.432-07:002019-08-30T07:58:58.432-07:00"The Billfold Syndrome" was, to me, clas..."The Billfold Syndrome" was, to me, classic MASH: funny in places, profoundly moving in others.<br /><br />For years, I have told people, "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice. Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice."Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23512170914236064862019-08-30T06:45:59.980-07:002019-08-30T06:45:59.980-07:00There's a creative equivalent of putting good ...There's a creative equivalent of putting good money after bad. Sometimes a writer will continue trying to make a bad premise work on the grounds that they don't want to "waste" the effort they've already spent trying to get it to fly. That time is already gone, but you can blow even more by trying to redeem it on the same lost cause. Eventually you reach the stage when the material has to go to the rest of the team for their own contributions, and they won't be able to adjust it any more than the writer could. The same instinct that makes a scripter able to write upon demand has to be tuned to abandoning pages that can't be used. E. Yarbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11212348520749090602019-08-30T06:39:14.077-07:002019-08-30T06:39:14.077-07:00Thanks, Mr. Levine!! Much appreciate being includ...Thanks, Mr. Levine!! Much appreciate being included in your Friday questions (and at the top, no less!) Good answer, too. Hmmmm, "certain" stars. I wonder who you might mean (no names, please!!)? Believe me, I have ideas to whom you are referring!!<br />And, indeed, Happy b'day, Annie!!Jeff Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06626617823721757256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35436947890891255222019-08-30T06:27:48.938-07:002019-08-30T06:27:48.938-07:00RE: Trailers and ads, both for movies and TV/strea...RE: Trailers and ads, both for movies and TV/streaming<br />I always assume that the best jokes are in the trailer/ad. Nothing in the show will ever be funnier. I am almost never wrong. For movies, a lot of times the funny scene actually gets cut, or was produced just for the trailer, so the funniest part of the movie isn't even there. Moral of the story - if you are doing a trailer, it better kick ass, or else you know the show sucks ass.<br />I also have gotten to the point where I have a couple dozen things in the Netflix/Amazon/Hulu/Etc queue to watch, so there is no reason to take a chance on crap. If a TV show is any good, I'll catch up in season 2 or 3. Especially if it is a drama that is connected and cliffhangered, I don't want to get to the cliff and have it cancelled with no resolution. BBC shows have a better idea for the most part. There is a self contained season, and if they do it well enough, you don't need a cliffhanger to stay around for the 2 years it sometimes takes between series.<br />When the BBC shows have a cliffhanger, it is usually time to ditch them.John in NE Ohionoreply@blogger.com