Dying underarm hair. When bright green hair just isn't enou...
Chủ Nhật, 30 tháng 11, 2014
One of those great Hollywood stories
I was a Story Editor on MASH and was invited to speak to a sitcom writing class at UCLA along with my friend Larry, who at the time was a Story Editor on RHODA. We talked about how to break into the business – the importance of writing great spec scripts. Do’s and don’ts. We stressed the need for hard work, really studying the shows, setting high standards for yourself. That was the path to a script assignment for one of our shows.A...
Thứ Bảy, 29 tháng 11, 2014
One of the worst movies you'll ever see
And it was co-written by Robert Altman, no less. Thanks to blog contributor Hamid for turning me onto this 1956 gem. It stars Jerry Wallace (the singer of Primrose Lane). I defy you to last more than ten minutes. For your consideration this Oscar season -- "Corn's-A-Poppi...
Thứ Sáu, 28 tháng 11, 2014
Black Friday Questions
Here they are. And hey, if you’re one of those people who stood in line outside a store for three days to get $100 off on a TV I wanna hear from you. Allan V starts us off: I absolutely adored M*A*S*H, but what did you think about it running for 11 seasons? Was that about right, or should it have stopped sooner? I think eleven years is too long for practically any series, even a classic one. Charles Emerson Losechester wonders: How does...
Thứ Năm, 27 tháng 11, 2014
My Thanksgiving tradition
We all have our own cherished Thanksgiving traditions. Enjoying Grandma’s famous stuffing recipe (which oddly tastes a lot like Stove Top), the game of touch football on the lawn (they still talk about the year Uncle Ed’s stitches came loose), weird cousin Marla’s holiday decorations (festive paper turkeys with hatchets), everyone bringing their favorite dish, renewing the argument over whether cousin Marla should be hospitalized, etc. My...
Thứ Tư, 26 tháng 11, 2014
Bill Cosby -- mentor?
Not to just pile on, but this is an article I wrote about Bill Cosby for this blog a couple of years ago that was picked up by Gawker recently, resulting in a lot of traffic. So I thought I would share it again for my regular readers. I’ve always been a big fan of Bill Cosby. Loved his comedy albums as a kid, took my wife to Las Vegas to see his stand-up act (more like a sit-down act. He just sat in a chair, smoked a cigar, and held...
Thứ Ba, 25 tháng 11, 2014
A riot photo that is a riot
I teach a class Monday nights at USC, which is in downtown Los Angeles. As a result of the Ferguson protests the campus was under lockdown. No one was allowed to enter or leave. Scary times with helicopters hovering overhead and lots of sirens and flashing blue lights. But that doesn't mean you can't get hungry. Here are students getting a pizza delivered during lockdown. I had to take this photo. I...
The Macy's Parade
I have no desire to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I’ve been in New York several times during Thanksgiving and just my luck, every year it’s been cold. Maybe if they held it indoors one year… Perhaps down in the subway? Nah, it might be tough wedging Sponge Bob through a tunnel. Brutal weather conditions aside, the parade is spectacular and organizers do an amazing job. It’s quite a spectacle and well worth seeing if you’re not a...
Thứ Hai, 24 tháng 11, 2014
Attention Cumberbitches!
And everyone else. There’s an awesome new movie coming out. It's called THE IMITATION GAME and it's the best film I’ve seen so far this year (although in fairness, I’ve yet to see MOM’S NIGHT OUT). It stars Benedict Cumberbatch and open the 28th, hopefully in more than four theaters nationwide. THE IMITATION GAME tells the true story of a British mathematician (guess who) who broke the code of the Nazi Enigma machine that essentially allowed...
Chủ Nhật, 23 tháng 11, 2014
A Hollywood Tradition -- My Thanksgiving Travel Tips
The Thanksgiving holiday is the peak travel weekend of the year (in America. The rest of the world could give a rat’s ass about Thanksgiving.) So as a public service, here again -- and with a few additions -- are some travel tips:Leave for the airport NOW. Bring no luggage. Wearing the same clothes for a week is a small price to pay. Plus, the airlines now charge you for check-in luggage AND blankets. Pretty soon pressurized air...
Thứ Bảy, 22 tháng 11, 2014
Mike Nichols & Elaine May
With the passing of Mike Nichols this week, the world lost a superstar talent. He'd won Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, everything. But many younger people might not know that in the late '50s/early '60s he and Elaine May were a comedy team. They both came out of an improv background in Chicago, and the scenes they did together just clicked in a magic way. As a comedy team they were a sensation. Number one selling albums, numerous TV appearances, and even a stint on Broadway. So I thought today I would show some of their routines. They're dry, subtle,...
Thứ Sáu, 21 tháng 11, 2014
Friday Questions
First off, so sorry to hear about the passing of Mike Nichols. I never met him personally and don't know what I could add to all the other heartfelt tributes, but he was a giant. There damn well better be a special salute at the Oscars next year. Anyway, I'm back from Atlanta with some Friday Questions. Marianne gets us started. I was watching Madam Secretary last night and I noticed that Bebe Neuwirth plays quite...
Thứ Năm, 20 tháng 11, 2014
Thoughts on having a blog... for nine years now
It's hard to believe but this blog is now nine years old. Over 3900 posts (okay some are reposts). I began by writing something new every day to help build an audience and somehow kept doing it. The amazing thing is that I didn't run out of things to talk about eight years ago.So why do I still do it?Well first off I think of this as stretching exercises for a writer. My posts are never that long. I...
Thứ Tư, 19 tháng 11, 2014
The weirdest example of stunt casting
Here’s a Friday Question that resulted in an entire post.Joseph Scarbrough asks:I see that occasionally, shows will do episodes where one of the characters actually has some kind of a connection with a real life celebrity (i.e. Felix Unger apparently was the one who discovered Richard Dawson, or Aunt Esther turns out to be B.B. King's old flame, etc.) What's the process for scripts like that? Do the writers just come up with these ideas? Are they...
Thứ Ba, 18 tháng 11, 2014
Short Attention Span Blogging
… or “I couldn’t think of a topic today.” People seem to be so polarized on BIRDMAN and NIGHTCRAWLER. They either love ‘em or hate ‘em; no in between. I dread/look forward to seeing them. Networks are always looking for safe bets. What could be safer than a Bill Cosby family comedy? Oops, NBC. Hollywood’s version of campaign stumping has begun. Potential Oscar contenders are schlepping to every film festival they can to hype their...
Thứ Hai, 17 tháng 11, 2014
25 things I learned by doing a play
My play closed last night at the Falcon Theatre. As you read this they’re probably taking my name down from the marquee. (At least they didn’t do that during the final curtain call.) It was an absolutely awesome experience and I can’t thank the staff of the Falcon, the crew, and my terrific cast (Jules Willcox & Jason Dechert) enough. Special thanks to my director, Andy Barnicle, and the Godfather, Garry Marshall. (all pictured...
Chủ Nhật, 16 tháng 11, 2014
Trying to solve a 30 year mystery
There was a 1973 movie called THE LAST OF SHEILA. It was a murder mystery written by, of all people, Stephen Sondheim and Tony Perkins. More surprising, Tony was not in the movie and Stephen didn’t do the music. Producers really need to check out writers’ resumes.Anyway, it was an intricate whodunit very well received. I didn’t see it. I was too busy that year watching SWITCHBLADE SISTERS, THEATER OF BLOOD, and Oscar favorite HELL...
Thứ Bảy, 15 tháng 11, 2014
Aaron Sorkin parodies
Here's a pretty great one. From Seth Meyers.And here's one I wrote back in 2006. IF AARON SORKIN WROTE A SHOW ABOUT BASEBALL. Little did I know that he eventually would (the screenplay for MONEYBALL). Yes, he's fun to spoof. But I never miss an episode of anything he writes. So I present it again... with affection.EXT. KAUFFMAN STADIUM -- NIGHTTHE MANAGER, LEO, TROTS OUT TO THE MOUND TO TALK TO BELEAGURED PITCHER, DANNY (THERE’S ALWAYS A DANNY). THE BASES ARE LOADED. THE CROWD IS GOING NUTS. IT’S GAME SEVEN OF THE WORLD SERIES.LEOYou can’t...
Thứ Sáu, 14 tháng 11, 2014
Friday Questions
Friday Questions wait for no man.Michael leads off: In articles about the new CBS streaming service, it is mentioned that CHEERS is included because it was a CBS show. Do you know if it was sold to NBC only after CBS decided not to air it on their own network? No. CHEERS was originally produced by Paramount for NBC. Then Viacom bought Paramount. Then Viacom bought CBS. So essentially CBS now owns CHEERS. One day we’ll all be living in the United...
Thứ Năm, 13 tháng 11, 2014
Do logic problems ruin a good movie?
Most of the time, I would say yes. It often takes you right out of the film if there’s something so implausible or ridiculous that you notice it at the time. This is especially true in mysteries or thrillers. Once you throw your hands up and say “this could never happen” you’re done. Or you say, “None of this would be happening if he just called her” you’re also done. As a comedy writer, must of my time is spent working on story. Not jokes....
Thứ Tư, 12 tháng 11, 2014
My worst night in the theater since Lincoln
The run of my play, A OR B? at the Falcon Theatre ends on Sunday. If you want to see it, this is your last chance. Here's where you go for tickets. Happily it's been very well received. More than the laughs it’s getting, I’m most gratified that no one seems to be leaving at intermission. This is a big deal for me. I think back to maybe my most uncomfortable night in the theater EVER. Thank God...
Thứ Ba, 11 tháng 11, 2014
Open Letter to Current Showrunners
This is a serious request. I would love a current showrunner to challenge me. I would love to hear an opposing view. If you care to write I will post your response without touching a word. I make this offer not to be argumentative or stir up controversy. It’s that I really would like to understand your take. Here’s my point: After a fairly long dry spell situation comedy has had a recent resurgence. Thanks in part to THE BIG BANG THEORY...
Thứ Hai, 10 tháng 11, 2014
How aliens view earthlings
An alien aircraft has been discovered hovering over the earth. We’ve been able to intercept their communications back to their mother planet. Through complex mega-computers we’ve been able to translate their language. Turns out it’s very similar to Yiddish. The following is a recent communique detailing their impressions of us earthlings:We recently have been able to access something called the internet. It is a shared data service that can...
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