tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post9124549967320781293..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63266206594534333682020-02-20T08:11:26.388-08:002020-02-20T08:11:26.388-08:00Ken, here's my Friday Question: What do you th...Ken, here's my Friday Question: What do you think of Hogan's Heroes? I'm watching it from the beginning on Sundance TV, making my expenditure on streaming service an incredible value. Neumannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08467561591538463501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55030067287233711652020-02-11T01:18:08.474-08:002020-02-11T01:18:08.474-08:00Regarding the difficulty in writing for nice and w...Regarding the difficulty in writing for nice and wholesome characters, then what about Mary Tyler Moore in all of her TV series? In that vein, how about Andy Griffith?<br /><br />It has to be that the star can be nice but the supporting characters not so? And, if a supporting character is nice, then better if they are nice to an extreme, like MTM's Georgette. If you flipped the Mary Tyler Moore show into the Rhoda show with Mary being one of the supporting characters, I see your point.<br /><br />Going back to the classic 50's and 60's family comedies - Donna Reed, Ozzie and Harriet and Father Knows Best, those writers must have been pulling their hair out.<br /><br />I presume creating characters can be one of the most difficult challenges but also a fun and rewarding element of writing.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793632961950778791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23784507180835195762020-02-10T13:56:22.834-08:002020-02-10T13:56:22.834-08:00@h Later seasons of SEINFELD are the closest thing...@h Later seasons of SEINFELD are the closest thing to a middle ground between single-cam and multi-cam we've gotten that I can think of.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84706370198157640252020-02-09T17:36:19.079-08:002020-02-09T17:36:19.079-08:00Hi Ken, do you have the music that plays after the...Hi Ken, do you have the music that plays after the cheers intro and before the episode?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54570399440410671502020-02-09T13:38:14.811-08:002020-02-09T13:38:14.811-08:00I'm not Ken, but The Great Race is a good one....I'm not Ken, but The Great Race is a good one.Bob S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11017010994860310976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56522970686524219482020-02-09T06:18:04.199-08:002020-02-09T06:18:04.199-08:00Jim, a nitpick: Alexa is not "she". Alex...Jim, a nitpick: Alexa is not "she". Alexa is "it". It has no gender, being a piece of software. I feel very strongly about this. :)<br /><br />Ken, a Friday question I feel sure you will want to answer. I think I've only ever seen one movie with Natalie Wood, and that was her final movie, BRAINSTORM, which I cordially loathed. For someone who isn't familiar with her work, which of her movies would you recommend?<br /><br />wg<br /><br />Wendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83840205861380835432020-02-08T21:55:11.114-08:002020-02-08T21:55:11.114-08:00Studio 60 One the Sunset Strip was one of those sh...Studio 60 One the Sunset Strip was one of those shows that really annoyed me to the point of tears. It was well written and could be engaging but it was always tripping itself over dumb crap that was just embarrassing to watch. When I watched the premier I thought I knew what they were going to do, I thought, oh smart move it will be all behind the scenes and we'll never see the show. Then they ended with that bullshit classical music apology song thing with a symphony orchestra. Another time a character plays Abbott and Costello doing "Who's On First" for his parents to show them something about how different he is from them or something and they had never heard it before... .really? They would have had to be teenagers in the forties from the look of them and they'd never heard of Abbott and Costello doing their most famous routine? Really? Things like that and having Matthew Perry's character write an entire sketch show HIMSELF every week just boggled the mind. Yeah I have strong feelings about this one for some reason.Smilodonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16424992227002963853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89289325146701773342020-02-08T09:04:57.263-08:002020-02-08T09:04:57.263-08:00My question's about single-cam vs multi-cam sh...My question's about single-cam vs multi-cam shows. Why is there no middle ground?<br /><br />Traditional multi-cam shows feel like stage plays - obviously all the cameras have to keep out of sight of each other, so they tend to be arranged on one side of the set, forming the ole' fourth wall.<br /><br />Single cam shows can take us anywhere, any angle on the players, because each take is shot at a different point in time - but that can lead to continuity problems. Schitt's Creek, which I've been rather enjoying, has this problem in spades. You'll be watching one character, but they cut to a reverse shot and the character's in a completely different pose. I find it quite distracting.<br /><br />So why is there no middle ground of "oh, we're shooting these two talking, so let's get the two sides of it at the same time"? They obviously can't get every shot they'll need for coverage - wides will have to be shot later - and the characters' lighting will end up being compromised a little, but at least the dialog will be perfectly in sync and continuity won't be a problem. It'd give the players more scope to act spontaneously without worrying they've got to perfectly match every move again.hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08086225668986442247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22264875256543812682020-02-08T08:26:57.083-08:002020-02-08T08:26:57.083-08:00@Edward She did. She was an Army brat from the day...@Edward She did. She was an Army brat from the day she was born, she was conceived on manuevers; her father was a Colonel, her mother was a nurse; wherever her father ended up being stationed is where they would move; she had no idea what a civilian was, she thought it was somebody waiting for their uniforms to come back from the cleaners; she threw a temper tantrum at age five because they wouldn't let her get a crew cut; the Army's in her blood, and she was born to serve.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74862643332067705612020-02-08T08:05:21.059-08:002020-02-08T08:05:21.059-08:00Recently I asked Alexa to "play the Hollywood...Recently I asked Alexa to "play the Hollywood and Levine podcast". She mispronounced your name, but you start talking right away.<br /><br />Right about then, our video doorbell app announced that a driver arrived with a gourmet meal ordered by my son from his app. I tried to merge those 3 app functions: <br /><br />"Alexa, tell Ken Levine to bring chateaubriand and tell me stories about Tony Shalhoub, Cal Ripken or Nancy Travis. His choice."<br /><br />She failed me. "Sorry, I'm not sure about that."<br /><br />Thought I was on to something..https://www.blogger.com/profile/12360087415321764942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91393373327390321742020-02-07T23:13:05.328-08:002020-02-07T23:13:05.328-08:00Question:
Did I miss something or was Major Holih...Question:<br /><br />Did I miss something or was Major Holihan the only MASH character without a back story? Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428768957017762182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75357622419408021772020-02-07T22:55:15.333-08:002020-02-07T22:55:15.333-08:00In that vein, writing for the character John Burns...In that vein, writing for the character John Burns, Taxi, must have been torture. The character was gone in season 2, and nobody noticed.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25285945293822472382020-02-07T22:50:43.460-08:002020-02-07T22:50:43.460-08:00I thought it might be Mrs. Doubtfire.I thought it might be Mrs. Doubtfire.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62583889159887599022020-02-07T15:51:35.088-08:002020-02-07T15:51:35.088-08:00Hi Ken,
Thanks so much for replying to my Friday Q...Hi Ken,<br />Thanks so much for replying to my Friday Question. You've reinforced my confidence in sending a script to an agent yesterday even though CBS recently announced a pilot with a similar premise.<br /><br />Sorry to hear what happened to your spec screenplay...ouch!<br /><br />Have a good weekend! Your blog is an inspiration.<br /><br />Best,<br />Bob WaldmanAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02055257554401286070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13678508376432594072020-02-07T15:13:29.557-08:002020-02-07T15:13:29.557-08:00Since the elevator was broken the entire show that...Since the elevator was broken the entire show that seemed like a pretty good callback moment. Did the finale run longer than most episodes since it was the finale? Seems odd to cut it. Smh. Myleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07139984409445302062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37441425047956920982020-02-07T13:16:34.366-08:002020-02-07T13:16:34.366-08:00"I always feel bad for the actors. They have ..."I always feel bad for the actors. They have thankless roles," <br />We need more award shows<br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16880646894752760905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18877328282219078832020-02-07T13:10:09.726-08:002020-02-07T13:10:09.726-08:00I'm surprised a studio ditched a movie they wa...I'm surprised a studio ditched a movie they wanted to make because another studio announced a similar film. <br /><br />In the space of two years in the 80s we had Big, Vice Versa, 18 Again and Like Father Like Son, 4 variations on the same concept from 4 different studios. <br /><br />1998 had Deep Impact and Armageddon. <br /><br />I thought I knew about all the films starring Robin Williams but I've never heard of Club Paradise. UnWokenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73783662890452411352020-02-07T13:05:01.650-08:002020-02-07T13:05:01.650-08:00Here are my pitches for modern-day shows featuring...Here are my pitches for modern-day shows featuring Father Mulcahy, Daphne and Fay:<br /><br />FATHER MULCAHY: In this hourlong action-drama, an Army special-forces veteran has a crisis of faith and ends up becoming a Catholic priest. But as he tends to his troubled congregation in an inner-city neighborhood, he finds himself getting into situations that require his fighting skills as much as his spiritual counsel. Can he reconcile this violent world with his desire to live as a man of peace?<br /><br />DAPHNE MOON: In this half-hour dramedy, a private nurse discovers she has psychic powers. But as she tends to her quirky patients and tries to decide between two suitors -- a sweet, wealthy psychiatrist attempting to leave a bad marriage, and a devilish female podcast producer who's making Daphne confront new desires -- her glimpses into the near future just seem to make her life that much more complicated.<br /><br />FAY: In this new sitcom, the idiosyncratic workers at a small airport receive not-so-wise advice from the ghost of a middle-aged female employee, who survived a plane crash but then died from a bad bowl of soup at the airport's lunch counter. Okay, it's basically just "Wings," except that Antonio is suddenly Jewish for some reason.<br /><br /><br />Ben K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4830436863896005442020-02-07T12:24:21.947-08:002020-02-07T12:24:21.947-08:00VP81955 , I have relied on tvtattle.com for that s...VP81955 , I have relied on tvtattle.com for that sort of thing for years.Chris Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47175839453022967222020-02-07T11:02:08.383-08:002020-02-07T11:02:08.383-08:00@ Brother Herbert
I've known plenty of people...@ Brother Herbert<br /><br />I've known plenty of people that have on-air jobs in radio, TV, etc. that are introverts. I'm one of them. I'd rather be around animals, read a book, stay home. I had a friend who managed a comedy club and he tried for years to get me to go on stage because around friends or one on one I can get them laughing. It terrified me so I always turned him down. Introducing an act or doing radio [which for the most part is a singular act unless you're part of a "morning zoo" type format] I'm fine. BUT I have to give out a scholarship every year and getting up in front of an auditorium full of people to do that freaks me out.YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80507920746451353042020-02-07T10:44:44.477-08:002020-02-07T10:44:44.477-08:00"Father Mulcahy on MASH. Daphne on FRASIER.&q..."Father Mulcahy on MASH. Daphne on FRASIER."<br /><br />As a non-writer but long time TV watcher, if the writing for these two was sub-par then keep it up, loved the stories you did come up for these two, especially Father Mulcahy.<br />cheers<br />DaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39428301087692615022020-02-07T10:11:14.871-08:002020-02-07T10:11:14.871-08:00Similar ideas and concepts happen to me more than ...Similar ideas and concepts happen to me more than I care for it to. <br /><br />Shows like 10 ITEMS OR LESS and SUPERSTORE? My idea. When I was younger, I got to thinking about how a store is one place where a "sitcom" (I use quotation marks, because I don't consider contemporary single-cam sitcoms to be true sitcoms anymore) has yet to take place.<br /><br />That movie THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU? Very similar to a concept I had for a movie (albeit not as dark or suspenseful) where a man's life is so out of control that he's dispatched a pair of otherworldly beings who maintain something of a giant book of his life to help him get back on track, but he can't deviate away from what destiny has written for him in his life book.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76793711643480887482020-02-07T10:06:28.286-08:002020-02-07T10:06:28.286-08:00My take on Randall Klugman's question is that ...My take on Randall Klugman's question is that those multi cam sitcoms that did TV movies changed format because it was an "event." The networks get to advertise "Good Luck Charlie" for example as a "Special Christmas movie event!" They get a bigger budget, shoot more exteriors rather than cheap looking "outdoor" sets, cast guest stars, etc... Often they even hire outside writers to pen it. Which is also why the movie feels different than an episode. Because the geniuses at the networks think a "movie writer" knows better than the staff that has written for the characters for the last 100 episodes. KBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71729924567195869742020-02-07T09:22:52.888-08:002020-02-07T09:22:52.888-08:00Hmmm...It's been a while since I watched CLUB ...Hmmm...It's been a while since I watched CLUB PARADISE, but I always thought of it as a Peter O'Toole movie... :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70873956900214367022020-02-07T09:02:06.870-08:002020-02-07T09:02:06.870-08:00Spotted Ratings is excellent. Spotted Ratings is excellent. Wesley Meadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17999914837940986513noreply@blogger.com