tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7858020741106068997..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The truth about network castingBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12601808392035781922015-11-06T07:00:32.168-08:002015-11-06T07:00:32.168-08:00Haha- wow! I go on vacation for three weeks, and c...Haha- wow! I go on vacation for three weeks, and come back to find that Ken answered my question! Thanks Ken- sorry I didn't see it till now.<br /><br />Very interesting stuff, and I get the feeling that the "Behind The Scenes" stories about TV shows are actually more interesting than the shows themselves sometimes. ESPECIALLY the bad shows ("well, we didn't want this actress for the role, but someone at the network wanted to fuck her, so...").<br /><br />The whole "Everyone must be attractive" rule has really changed things- it used to just be the women (and even THEN you'd find Rhea Pearlman-types in recurring roles, or Elaine inthe early Seinfeld seasons being kept deliberately-plainer than she really was), but I've watched shows like Workaholics where the nerdy, lazy, unkempt characters take their shirts off, and reveal muscular, toned bodies. Ridiculous.<br /><br />I can't imagine how many potentially-great shows were ruined because "the network" forced a bad bunch of actors on the producers.<br /><br />-Grant WoolseyJabronivillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07318218102203693195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7532753529612306252015-11-06T06:31:03.681-08:002015-11-06T06:31:03.681-08:00Haha- I go on vacation for three weeks and discove...Haha- I go on vacation for three weeks and discover that Ken has answered my Friday Question! Thanks, Ken! Sorry I wasn't here to see it!Jabronivillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07318218102203693195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14978216837214994592015-10-11T17:27:36.543-07:002015-10-11T17:27:36.543-07:00>Oddly enough, I now want to see John Stamos as...>Oddly enough, I now want to see John Stamos as Tony Soprano. <br /><br />Original plan was to have Frank Sinatra as The Godfather.<br />People think it is a joke now, but I think it might have made the movie better.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33857133432726522832015-10-10T09:53:48.520-07:002015-10-10T09:53:48.520-07:00"Jeff Maxwell, where did they get the chow th..."Jeff Maxwell, where did they get the chow they served at the MASH mess hall? I'll ask Ken if you don't see this question."<br /><br />Cap'n Bob...<br /><br />All the mess tent chow originated in the Fox commissary. Contrary to its repulsive reputation, the food was actually quite edible...if you liked creamed weenies.Jeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70194114526055660442015-10-09T11:42:31.616-07:002015-10-09T11:42:31.616-07:00A bit of a cheap shot, Ken, to refer to an “obviou...A bit of a cheap shot, Ken, to refer to an “obvious reason” that Jane Krakowski was cast in 30 Rock beside a picture of her in a revealing dress. She was terrific in that show. She was nominated for dozens of awards in the role, including the Best Supporting Actress Emmy four times. You even said as much yourself in a post on this blog from September 25 2008:<br /><br />“I must say I was against that move at first, and still feel Rachel would have been good, but Jane has pleasantly surprised me with how funny and talented she is.”Michael from Belfastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1901544966203485362015-10-09T08:23:58.912-07:002015-10-09T08:23:58.912-07:00I always wondered about some of the casting choice...I always wondered about some of the casting choices on Law and Order, especially the female DA's. Some of them were genuinely good actresses, but others were clearly eye candy without corresponding talent. Elizabeth Rohm couldn't act herself out of a wet paper bag. While critiquing actors is subjective, some are so obviously bad that it begs the question of why they were given preference over hundreds of better qualified actors.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50438978593792820362015-10-09T00:24:25.863-07:002015-10-09T00:24:25.863-07:00Jeff Maxwell, where did they get the chow they ser...Jeff Maxwell, where did they get the chow they served at the MASH mess hall? I'll ask Ken if you don't see this question.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66530054839529655812015-10-08T22:13:58.100-07:002015-10-08T22:13:58.100-07:00sorry..."regularly eats AT a diner"... I...sorry..."regularly eats AT a diner"... It wasn't a about Godzilla.Jeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35245082958515406872015-10-08T22:10:37.795-07:002015-10-08T22:10:37.795-07:00I swear every word is true:
I made it to the netw...I swear every word is true:<br /><br />I made it to the network audition for a pilot starring Redd Foxx. The part was a cross-dressing customer who regularly eats a diner owned by Redd. I was at the network dressed as a woman when a boy of about 10 walks over and asks if I'm nervous. He was there auditioning for the part of a boy Redd adopts or inherits or buys or something. <br /><br />I say I'm a little nervous and ask the same of him. He says he is because he's really a girl. Huh? I say. He/she explains that her agent sent her in for the part of a little boy as a joke early on, but she was so convincing that nobody caught it, and she made it all the way to the network. I was gobsmacked, and then they called me in.<br /><br />My agent called to say that I got the part. And then the producer called to tell me that my part had to be written out because the little boy I talked to got the part of the little boy, but he was really a little girl, and the network thought there was something to what she did they could use in the show, so they wanted the adult cross-dressing character written out because they had a better gender confusing idea with the little girl/boy.<br /><br />It was an awful idea, but they did it, and it was terrible, and the show was not funny. Redd Foxx was a very nice man.Jeff Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708037522976667642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36145748665640110492015-10-08T21:01:45.127-07:002015-10-08T21:01:45.127-07:00In his Television Archive interview, Jamie Farr te...In his Television Archive interview, Jamie Farr tells his own funny tale of all the casting auditions he had to go through for a show that eventually never made it to the air where he was to play himself. He had to read for the producer; then the producer and the writers; next the producer, the writers and the stars; and finally the head of the network and the network committee. At least he was able to laugh about the casting experience: "I don't know where our business is going...or where it went".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182411656616293350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58627100991738498682015-10-08T18:47:51.974-07:002015-10-08T18:47:51.974-07:00It might be face-saving, but I believe Tina Fey ex...It might be face-saving, but I believe Tina Fey explained the switch as a consequence of a shift in the show's structure. Originally, there was going to be a lot of show-within-a-show stuff where we'd see the "aired" versions of TGS sketches. That would have required someone versatile enough to play both the actor and all of the parts played by the actor in TGS sketches.<br /><br />The show evolved into more of a standard workplace sitcom. Most glimpses of the sketches were quick, one-shot jokes. Without the need to play the sketch parts, Dratch's SNL skills weren't required and a standard workplace sitcom made a standard casting decision.michaleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684345469356834614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79921539985959871952015-10-08T16:37:09.693-07:002015-10-08T16:37:09.693-07:00Following a few details from her wikipedia page in...Following a few details from her wikipedia page indicates Kim Raver's family has serious social connections, Kim went to an exclusive boarding school, family shown in society columns in the Hamptons, has an aunt writing for the NY Times, either her step-father or step brother seems to be a movie producer etc. So its as likely as not this is what helped open doors for her as opposed to necessarily doing sexual favors for people and whatnot as some here seem to be suggesting.<br /><br />And I used to watch her in the show Third Watch. She wasn't phenomenal but she was OK. There are probably a lot of socially connected aspiring actresses out there who are a lot less talented.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37845478833130042015-10-08T16:35:31.784-07:002015-10-08T16:35:31.784-07:00I was writing TV reviews when 30 ROCK debuted. My ...I was writing TV reviews when 30 ROCK debuted. My press screener was the Dratch pilot. Regretably, I misplaced the DVD by the time I realized it was unique (much of it was reshot to unclude Jane K.)<br /><br />I like Jane Krakowski, but I think the show lost something by going with her instead of Dratch. I think we could have seen a true female friendship on the show (one similar to Fey and Dratch) as the network (Baldwin) "maled up" the show with Tracy Jordan. Instead, Jenna was depicted as a scatterbrained narcissistic kook incapable of real friendship. <br /><br />The comment about Dratch not being believable as the star of a TV series might be valid, but I think a Julia Louis Dreyfus type actress would have been a better choice. Julia is gorgeous, but she can also convincly play a "normal" woman (much of Elaine's appeal). Stephen Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670422634319094941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14655964266276223172015-10-08T16:31:57.041-07:002015-10-08T16:31:57.041-07:00Unless u have great TV 'Q'..or a body of w...Unless u have great TV 'Q'..or a body of work with the execs, or are a 'rising star'..Go play golf and forget about it...The days when talent was important are over...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13741209536842989521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82914829162609881692015-10-08T16:15:13.364-07:002015-10-08T16:15:13.364-07:00I like Rachel Dratch. I liked her on SNL and King ...I like Rachel Dratch. I liked her on SNL and King of QUeens. I also enjoy her visits on Andy Cohen's show. She makes me laugh.Janice BAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42892409737700926692015-10-08T15:42:27.109-07:002015-10-08T15:42:27.109-07:00I can imagine worse fates than having Kim Raver fo...I can imagine worse fates than having Kim Raver forced down my throat.Charles H. Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9511198977955029762015-10-08T14:43:19.911-07:002015-10-08T14:43:19.911-07:00Not a mention of Q scores? I thought that was all ...Not a mention of Q scores? I thought that was all the rage, pulling up a number to scientifically confirm whether somebody was lovable enough to play, say, an ongoing villain. <br /><br />As for the casting couch, I read an article suggesting it survives mainly in the form of showrunners and such getting orders to audition (but not necessarily cast) actors totally wrong for a part. Somebody in the executive suite kept a promise by getting the audition, and forcing the creatives to break the bad news.<br /><br />Footnote: The movie "Son of Sinbad" (1955, with Dale Robertson and Vincent Price as his comic sidekick) fills scenes with harem girls, scattering them all over like throw pillows. The bandits are the DAUGHTERS of Ali Baba. Stripper Lili St. Cyr has a major (non-stripping) role. The story is, Howard Hughes made this movie made to discharge a whole lot of personal promised.DBensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144515471557731622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22365631555688077032015-10-08T14:38:47.813-07:002015-10-08T14:38:47.813-07:00I'm curious how many of these "pet" ...I'm curious how many of these "pet" actors/actresses are favorites either because of who their agent is (and the network looking to stay in good favor) or the nature of their personal relationship with an executive or agent (mister or mistress).MikeK.Pa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82495813951480006412015-10-08T13:55:17.039-07:002015-10-08T13:55:17.039-07:00"...but those damn network suits wouldn't...<i>"...but those damn network suits wouldn't allow it!"</i><br /><br />When teen drama <i>The OC</i> was dumped onto UK TV, presenters Steve Jones & Miquita Oliver would briefly re-enact a scene from the episode or OC creator Josh Schwartz himself would give a brief & illuminating interview describing the episode's creation. Strangely, these interviews, known as <i>The Schwartz Reports</i>, always ended with Schwartz staring and gesticulating wildly and screaming "...but the damn network wouldn't allow it!".<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Schwartz-Reports-207379555960155/timeline/?ref=page_internal" rel="nofollow">A Facebook memorial</a> has been erected in honour of the cultural significance of <i>The Schwartz Reports</i>.<br /><br />When Jones shuffles from this mortal coil, his gravestone will bear the legend "Steve Jones, TV Presenter, who once had it away with Pamela Anderson." A parade of elderly men will pay their respects as they shuffle past the grave, shedding a tear for their lost youth and giving a respectful wink to the stone.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39493759428525787112015-10-08T13:18:13.438-07:002015-10-08T13:18:13.438-07:00I tend to look at Rachel Dratch like I do the sun ...I tend to look at Rachel Dratch like I do the sun - I make sure no to stare too long. I hate to be cruel (which means I am about to be cruel) but her looks disturb me to the point that I feel an intense disliking toward her the longer I look at her. The nose, the chin, the lips, the upper lip. On the other hand Steve Buscemi has made a career out of his funny face. And that is evidence #10,234 of why this is a man's world. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27327168624241603942015-10-08T13:02:56.281-07:002015-10-08T13:02:56.281-07:00I was planning to ask a Friday question about the ...I was planning to ask a Friday question about the amazing casting run of Paula Marshall (I was also going to avoid naming names, but it appears we're past the playing coy phase). <br /><br />And wasn't Jane Leeves a network choice?Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705408455380402571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47086080442234199862015-10-08T11:34:14.706-07:002015-10-08T11:34:14.706-07:00To cd1515: I cannot, in this case say the network ...To cd1515: I cannot, in this case say the network improved Frasier, but they did make two decisions easier for the producers. From deathbyfilms:<br /><br />"...a casting director showed the producers a photo of David Hyde Pierce noting the similarities between Pierce and Kelsey Grammer, they decided to watch some tapes of Pierce and were completely blown away by his talent. They quickly started creating the character of Niles and approached the network. At the meeting, when they pitched the idea of Niles with David Hyde Pierce in the role, they were taken aback when the network execs said that they loved him and if they wanted him he was pre-approved."<br /><br />"The producers always had John Mahoney in mind for the role and as with David Hyde Pierce, the network also pre-approved Mahoney if producers could land him."<br /><br />All of the above is what I have heard. Ken Levine or his colleagues can verify this.Brian Phillipshttp://rockinradio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32007563307085476522015-10-08T11:16:10.869-07:002015-10-08T11:16:10.869-07:00On the flip side of that, if you're an attract...On the flip side of that, if you're an attractive actor or actress, the pressure to give oral sex to people who can help you is intense.<br /><br />Even really good looking people can be replaced.<br /><br />If you think some of your favorite actors didn't get down on their knees to secure a role, I'm afraid I have a lot of bad news for you.<br /><br />Sorry, aspiring actors/actresses, but saying, "but I'm not gay," or "but I'm only 12 years old," or, "but my dad's a famous actor," doesn't relieve you from the task.<br /><br />You see some of these young "stars" who are 19 going on 40? There's a very good reason for that. It also answers Ken's question, "why do they insist on someone who's not the right actor for the part?"<br /><br />"Auditions" were held without Ken's knowledge in a hot tub in the Hollywood hills a week earlier.<br /><br />So, unfortunate-looking actors, count your blessings. You may be unfairly turned away from many auditions, but least you won't have herpes or esophageal cancer in your sixties.<br /><br /><br />– Sadbutt TrueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3089046087447342632015-10-08T09:30:39.498-07:002015-10-08T09:30:39.498-07:00Ken-
it seems pretty common for writers to complai...Ken-<br />it seems pretty common for writers to complain about network interference, and I have no doubt most of it's true, but I am curious: have you seen or heard of instances where the network insisted on something that actually made the product BETTER?cd1515https://www.blogger.com/profile/13442641020639066876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2702387397529842802015-10-08T09:11:06.391-07:002015-10-08T09:11:06.391-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Mighty Dyckersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03567545779834406431noreply@blogger.com