tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8594248632250387964..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46200712092681430232016-12-21T12:44:10.442-08:002016-12-21T12:44:10.442-08:00Not a FQ, but I ran across this Frasier 'prequ...Not a FQ, but I ran across this Frasier 'prequel' today and was curious if you knew about it. (I haven't listened to it yet, so I can't attest to the quality): http://boingboing.net/2016/12/21/listen-1950s-radio-mystery-pr.htmlJason Rothsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08432676941889004214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58871317155998857902016-12-19T18:52:48.427-08:002016-12-19T18:52:48.427-08:00Steve, you are dead-on about Michael Che, instead ...Steve, you are dead-on about Michael Che, instead of making jokes, he is telling people what to think. It's even worse after the election, with SNL now upset that people didn't listen to them. So now they are breaking the fourth wall, and in the middle of jokes saying 'THIS REALLY HAPPENED!' 'THIS IS REAL!' MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65788934834212875772016-12-16T23:21:44.145-08:002016-12-16T23:21:44.145-08:00A network/distribution switch does not automatical...A network/distribution switch does not automatically void a contract. But a switch usually involves a change in the license fee for the production company. This leads to renegotiation of actors' deals and provides them an opportunity to exit. If the production company wants to hold them to their original contracts, they can, but they must stick to the original compensation, and that's often not an option.<br /><br />Nashville is moving from ABC, a broadcast network, to CMT, a smaller cable network. The license fee has likely gone down, so the actors' contracts were renegotiated. Connie Britton is using this as an opportunity to exit the show after 10 episodes. She would likely be sticking around if they were still on ABC.<br /><br />SImilarly, year ago, the series Fame moved from NBC to first-run syndication. Several actors used the ensuing contract renegotiations as a way to exit the series.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8013051062455238732016-12-16T20:53:42.777-08:002016-12-16T20:53:42.777-08:00CBS already rebooted "The Honeymooners."...CBS already rebooted "The Honeymooners." It was called "King of Queens."<br /><br />Ernie is part of my "holy trinity" of baseball announcers, along with Vin Scully and Harry Kalas. Harwell was easy to listen to, and like Vin and Harry always respected the audience. Not many are aware Ernie was the TV announcer for the fabled 1951 Bobby Thomson Giants-Dodgers NL playoff Game 3 at the Polo Grounds; he was #2 on the Giants' crew, but #1 guy Russ Hodges chose to call it on radio and it was his call that was immortalized when it was recorded. The TV broadcast wasn't.<br /><br />One more thing: Harwell attended the "Gone With the Wind" premiere in his native Atlanta 75 years ago this month, where he met the lady in my avatar. (No, she wasn't in "GWTW," but took part in the festivities as Clark Gable's wife.)VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89223585611644286852016-12-16T17:35:34.417-08:002016-12-16T17:35:34.417-08:00"I've seen clips of Samantha Bee and even...<i>"I've seen clips of Samantha Bee and even Seth Meyers and they come across more like slightly funnier Keith Olbermanns"</i><br /><br />Samantha Bee's show is hilarious, and one of the best shows on TV. She should have replaced Jon Stewart.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89080654033234148892016-12-16T14:49:28.548-08:002016-12-16T14:49:28.548-08:00Question:
When a show switches networks mid run t...Question:<br /><br />When a show switches networks mid run the way Nashville is - how does that affect the actor's contracts? Does it void them in any way? I imagine the contract states which network the show you are staring on is to air on - does that leave wiggle room for an actor to leave if they want to?Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05265753244583100064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51636032694972237482016-12-16T12:16:35.859-08:002016-12-16T12:16:35.859-08:00Some weeks I watch SNL JUST for Weekly Update and ...Some weeks I watch SNL JUST for Weekly Update and in particular Che. I think while his "side" might not be new his voice combined with how raw SNL enables him to be makes what he says EXTREMELY FUNNY AND POIGNANT for some but it definitely isn't funny for everyone. Myleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07139984409445302062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12632736159866359662016-12-16T11:44:00.120-08:002016-12-16T11:44:00.120-08:00Friday question:
I've been playing some old NB...Friday question:<br />I've been playing some old NBC image campaigns from the 80s on YouTube to amuse my young son. These are the ones with a new network theme song each year and appearances by most of the stars of their shows, usually being forced to lip-synch to the song or clap along or dance or do some inane visual gag.<br /><br />All of the actors on Cheers seem to appear on these spots at one time or another *except* Ted and Shelley. Do you know if they had some special contract deal that got them off the hook? Because I'm sure the network would have preferred that they participate, and there are some other stars in the spots (like Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, and Michael J. Fox) who I assume would have had the clout to say no.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32113935441677842152016-12-16T11:24:59.195-08:002016-12-16T11:24:59.195-08:00Here in the Midwest, the great Ernie Harwell is co...Here in the Midwest, the great Ernie Harwell is considered to be every bit the equal of his contemporary and longtime friend, Vin Scully. I was fortunate to shake his hand at a book signing one day, and hearing that incredibly familiar voice coming out of this diminutive man before me was definitely a wonderful experience.<br /><br />I'm quite sure that he remains the only announcer who was ever “traded” for an actual player, when Dodgers GM Branch Rickey sent a minor league catcher to the Atlanta Crackers in 1948 to acquire Ernie to fill in for an ailing Red Barber. When Ernie moved over to the NY Giants’ booth in 1950, he was replaced by the 25 year old Scully. How’s that for some iconic baseball names?<br /><br />Ernie was a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps (WWII), appeared in several motion pictures, donated his time to many Detroit area charities, was married to Lulu for 62 years, and had over 60 songs recorded by various artists. <br /><br />In regard to his song writing efforts, the ever modest Harwell had a great line: “Needless to say, I’ve had more no-hitters than Nolan Ryan.”<br />John in NW Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83687309386357485762016-12-16T08:57:40.372-08:002016-12-16T08:57:40.372-08:00The reference to Stewart and the Daily Show remind...The reference to Stewart and the Daily Show reminds me of his successor - Trevor Noah. He was interviewed on "City Arts and Lectures", which was broadcast last night - I listened to the last 40 minutes, 30 minutes of which kept me in the driveway. Worth a listen if this repeats in your area (and they don't do "archives" last time I checked). <br /><br />He's promoting a memoir and will chat with Terry Gross today on Fresh Air - which IS archived. Jahn Ghaltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45618209295933951282016-12-16T08:37:18.152-08:002016-12-16T08:37:18.152-08:00Ken, you've probably seen this already, but in...Ken, you've probably seen this already, but in case you haven't, a couple of MASH stars have taken part in this video.<br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38340115 Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4595421383001049992016-12-16T08:21:37.581-08:002016-12-16T08:21:37.581-08:00Political comedy is one thing, political COMMENTAR...Political comedy is one thing, political COMMENTARY is another. If shows want to get political, I have no problem with it, just don't forget you're supposed to be a comedy show. Shows like Saturday Night Live tend to forget this, usually when Michael Che goes off on his rants during Weekend Update. Seth Myers had fallen into this trap a few times, too. If you can't make a joke about something political and just resort to being one of the endless "talking heads" on every channel, you've lost me.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13044231110921681042016-12-16T08:14:53.220-08:002016-12-16T08:14:53.220-08:00Ken,
What do you think of CBS wanting to reboot &...Ken,<br /><br />What do you think of CBS wanting to reboot "The Honeymooners"? I understand they will be using some of same production staff that worked on the latest version of "The Odd Couple." Is a updated "I Love Lucy" or "Sgt. Bilko" not far behind?DARON72https://www.blogger.com/profile/01726705799261360259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7148761141494845412016-12-16T08:00:07.204-08:002016-12-16T08:00:07.204-08:00Better question: would you rather have Larry Gelba...Better question: would you rather have Larry Gelbart's career or Bob Uecker's?CShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08479172816731006855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11820634816468537342016-12-16T07:56:43.383-08:002016-12-16T07:56:43.383-08:00Ah, but if the question had been Larry Gelbart or ...Ah, but if the question had been Larry Gelbart or Vin Scully, might the answer have been different? Probably not, but it's interesting to ponder.<br /><br />About Carson and Hope in terms of political humor. Hope angered a lot of liberals over his friendliness with presidents they disagreed with, and in his time, I think it was considered riskier to do that. Carson, I read, eventually told his writers he would tell no more Nixon jokes because the situation was too unpleasant, and it seems to me that Carson, though liberal on a lot of issues in his own right, had a sense of where the center was and what the audience wanted. He was fair: he joked about everybody, but only up to a point.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41618866578839378292016-12-16T07:09:26.394-08:002016-12-16T07:09:26.394-08:00Politics were contentious in the 60s because peopl...Politics were contentious in the 60s because people were being drafted. Today politics is contentious because it's all about being on one team or another, and not so much about what one side is about. They say that religion and politics don't mix because you don't compromise in religion. Now politics <i>is</i> the religion.AAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04994241172130699272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30760927328121068832016-12-16T07:02:48.522-08:002016-12-16T07:02:48.522-08:00Now that you've mentioned the endless variatio...Now that you've mentioned the endless variation of producer titles writers get on TV shows, why is that? Who and why decided that the writer's room hierarchy needs to be announced in on-screen credits?<br /><br />I'm assuming they'd get the bump and salary increase even if we had no idea about it.<br /><br />I know I've read some WGA guideline which said you can only get an onscreen "producer" credit if you've made some kind of contribution to the week's script, but I'm almost sure it isn't the case anymore.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3319339549251124552016-12-16T07:00:21.797-08:002016-12-16T07:00:21.797-08:00it is great that the writers get a bump in salary ...it is great that the writers get a bump in salary since they're listed as co-producer.<br />it would be greater if they just got a credit of "writer" or "co-written" or "script doctoring". whatever.<br /><br />writers never get their due. in TV or the movies, unless they are famous as an actor.<br />and sometimes not even then. <br /><br /><b>CASE in POINT</b> This past year's nominations for Best Original Screenplay.<br />Here is the link on the academy website: http://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/writing-original-screenplay-nominations-2016-oscars<br /><br />If you look at the link do you notice what is missing from 3 of the 5 nominees???<br /><b>YEP! The NAMES of the WRITERS!</b> <br /><br />ridiculous.The Bumble Bee Pendanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782074071758250824noreply@blogger.com