More than you'd ever want to know

The Television Academy in association with the Writers Guild Foundation conduct a series of archive interviews with notable people in the TV industry.   My writing partner, David Isaacs, and I are honored to be included.  Last September we were both interviewed, and yesterday those interviews went on line.  There are three main parts -- solo interviews with each of us and one with the both of us.Here's mine.  I hesitate to feature this because now I'll have nothing to write about myself.   But you're probably...

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Making an idiot of myself on the radio... yet again

Back from the B100 radio reunion, held somewhere in Afghanistan I think.  It was at the Pala Resort and Casino -- a spectacular complex situated in the middle of nowhere.  B100 was a Top 40 station that took San Diego by storm in 1975 and stayed on top for close to 15 years.  I don't know what the format is today -- probably All Polka Music or All Obama Bashing. As part of the festivities, which included a dinner, nostalgia, much drinking,...

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Maybe the most insane game show ever

This comes from the early 50s, the embryonic days of television, and a network (Dumont) that long since has disappeared. OKAY MOTHER starring Dennis James. He later went on to host a gazillion national game shows. But here he's on speed with a Red Bull chaser.  Thanks to friend of the blog, Mike McCann for finding this hilarious and appalling chestn...

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My life from A-Z

One of those dumb personal quizzes circulating the net. I'm admitting things here even my shrink doesn't know. Of course, he doesn't care.• A-Available/Single? Not according to my wife• B-Best Friend? My partner. I'd be a lot poorer emotionally and financially without him.• C-Cake or Pie? I'll have to go with Elvis and say cake.• D-Drink Of Choice? Makers & ginger ale but only after 7 a.m.• E-Essential Item You Use Everyday? My Pocket Fisherman.•...

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Friday Questions

Hello from the Pala Resort, somewhere in the middle of nowhere – site of tonight’s big B100 radio reunion. If you think high school reunions are scary, imagine former disc jockeys from the drug and alcohol era.  I'll be on the radio today from 5-6 PDT.  "Beaver Cleaver" returns.  Anyhoo, here are some Friday Questions:Bradley is first:Do you think sitcoms benefit more from the consistency of having a single director or the variety...

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Short attention span blogging

Random stray thoughts.. in no particular order... Which “Real Housewife” do you wish Robert Durst was married to?When a ballplayer who has played for several teams goes into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown the big question is always which team’s hat will he wear? For comedy writers the question is which show jacket will he be buried in? I still love JUSTIFIED but glad they’re wrapping it up. I think one more year and Boyd Crowder will be buying...

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Save L.A.'s theater scene

A TV writer friend of mine used to be an actor. I once asked why he switched. He said, “Writing I can do myself anytime. But as an actor, to practice my craft I have to be hired.” I hadn’t thought of that, but he’s right. It was never an issue for me because I can’t act my way out of a hard rain. And then actors have the added hurdle of competition. There are always hundreds of other actors vying for the same few parts. It’s a blessing...

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FRESH OFF THE BOAT -- my review

FRESH OFF THE BOAT just keeps getting better. And how refreshing to find a new sitcom with some genuine laughs. Created by Nahnatchka Khan, who also pumped some good laughs in DON’T TRUST THE B______ IN APT. 23, FRESH OFF THE BOAT is on ABC (so it’s obviously a family show) and deals with the culture clash of a Chinese family trying to make sense of Orlando, Florida (as if anyone could). It’s based on the memoir by Eddie Huang and set in 1995....

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How important are TV titles?

Here's the short answer:  Very.   Especially now when there are so many choices… and so many titles. A good title might not lure viewers but a bad one will surely drive them away. In addition to whatever other problems it had, SELFIE was a truly terrible title. It just sounded so faux hip and trendy, and frankly “so five minutes ago.” Shows with negative connotations fight a real uphill battle. COUGAR TOWN just screamed “creepy.”...

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The most fun I ever had in radio

Next weekend there will be a 40 year reunion of San Diego radio station, B100.  I can't wait.  Lots of the original staff members will attend, which should be great fun and horrifying.   We're also going back on the air to recreate the station live.  You'll be able to hear it here.  In honor of the event, I'm reposting the following piece: Here’s another look back at my disc jockey career – when radio was great and...

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Wolfgang Putz?

Okay, is it just me or does this luck like Wolfgang Putz instead of Wolfgang Puck?...

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Writers' torture: Waiting for your script to be read

For a writer it never gets easier. Waiting.You’ve turned in your script to the producer/network/studio/agent/manager/professor/best friend. And now you wait for the response.And wait.And wait.And wait.And wait.You’d think in time it gets easier. It never does. You generally calculate in some reasonable reading time period. They’ll read it over the weekend. But you still think, if they were really interested they’d read it tonight. Why aren’t...

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Friday Questions

Rolling out the weekend with some Friday Questions. What’s yours?VP81955 starts us off with a screenplay FQ: I've been told that when you're suggesting musical or song & dance segments, you should not specifically list the song (and certainly not play choreographer -- that's why God made Toni Basil!), but write "in the style of 'Pump It Up' by Elvis Costello (or whatever)." At the same time, I understand the screenwriter for "Guardians of the...

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Ellen DeGeneres should shut the fuck up

ONE BIG HAPPY is a new NBC comedy that premiered this past Tuesday night.  As you'll see from this trailer, it's Ellen DeGeneres' company that's producing it.  So naturally she's the spokesperson.  As you'll also see she says this show is "like MASH but funny."Oh really? Oh yeah, Larry Gelbart would be humbled by great jokes like:"What is so unusual about a Lesbian and a fighter pilot having a baby?"  "He is not a fighter pilot."  And then a cock joke.   This is the TRAILER.  Now let's look at some...

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Turning Japanese

Here's the final chapter of my trip to the Far East.  Parts one and two were posted earlier this week. Once we were allowed to enter it was great. But immigration in Japan was even worse than China. Disclosure forms, passports, plus they took our photos, fingerprints, and temperatures (via some thermal camera). Still better than Carnival where they take your temperature rectally. After two weeks in Mao Tse-Tungland, it was a pleasure...

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Bonus post

Along the way I took some photos of signs.  This was at a Chinese restaurant in Beijing.  Do they have unlevened bad fish for Passover?You thought I was kidding.  They do sell insurance at the Great Wall.We needed a sign to point the way because the Great Wall is so inconspicuous.  An NBA store in Shanghai.  They're big Brooklyn Net fans there.  After praying to the Jade Buddha stop by for some java.   Last call...

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Big Noses

Here's part two of my trip to the Far East.  Part one was yesterday.  Took the “Shanghai by Rumor” tour once we had arrived. Rain, fog, and steamed-up windows in our bus. Shanghai is now very modern (I understand). There are over 3,000 skyscrapers (I was told). Apparently, the Chinese call all Westerners “Big Noses.” (It’s not just “us” for once.) This we learned from our delightful Chinese tour guide. I’m sure it’s a sign...

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Slow boat to China

Okay, it's travelogue week.   Here's the account of my recent sojourn to the Far East.  The highlights: No one caught SARS, or Ebola.   Enjoy.My wife, Debby and I staggered into Beijing after 28 hours of traveling. We arrived on the Chinese New Year. To celebrate, everybody sets off fireworks (I’m surprised Chinese people don’t all have seven fingers), and their primary TV network aired a five-hour variety show (no, not the Oscars)...

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