Friday Questions

Let’s close out July with some Friday Questions, shall we? GS in SF starts with a question on the spec DICK VAN DYKE SHOW I recently wrote and posted. How different do you think the process would have been had you worked with your writing partner instead of handling the task solo? Would he have offered similar comments? Or, does having a partner give you more "distance" that maybe you would have come to some of these helpful insights on your own?...

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It's Official! I'm going to hold another SITCOM ROOM

For the first time since 2013, I'm conducting my 2-day Sitcom Room. It'll be Saturday/Sunday, October 17-18...in Los Angeles, as always.The Sitcom Room is where I lock 20 brave souls into “writers’ rooms” for an entire weekend so they can experience for themselves what it’s really like to write for a TV sitcom.The last time I held this event, we sold out all 20 spaces in one hour. If you're on my Alert List, we'll let you know 24 hours before the...

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Bonus Questions

The Friday Questions are stacking up so I thought I would devote an extra day to them.  Hope that's okay.Rashad Khan leads off:In a previous blog post, you mentioned the pilot episode of "The Phil Silvers Show" to your comedy writing class at USC. If you haven't covered this topic before: which OTHER sitcom pilots would you show to anyone as good examples (provided, of course, they were available for viewing)? I used to say the COSBY pilot but...

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Naming characters after people you know

In Anne Flett-Giordano’s hilarious new book, MARRY, KISS, KILL there’s a character named Ken Levine. He’s a total asshole. Anne is also a brilliant TV comedy writer, having won a gazillion Emmys for shows like FRASIER. So we know each other. Unlike random people who just assume I’m an asshole, Anne asked if she could use my name. I, of course, was delighted and touched. Yes, the character is a prick but he also gets laid a lot and is young....

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Final thoughts on THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW

Here’s the second part of my conversation with Bill Persky about my spec DICK VAN DYKE SHOW.   Yesterday was the first.  Tomorrow I jump onto other things. First: some of my observations. Whenever I write a TV script I always visualize the final product on the air. I don’t pictures the actors on the stage with cameras and crew hovering. Imagining the final product helps me think of the characters, not the actors who play them....

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Bill Persky's notes on my DICK VAN DYKE SHOW script

I am truly honored that Bill Persky (far left) agreed to read and comment on my spec DICK VAN DYKE SHOW. Along with his partner, Sam Denoff, Bill wrote many of the classic episodes of the series including COAST TO COAST BIG MOUTH and THAT’S MY BOY?? and he rose to the position of showrunner later in the series’ run. (In case you’re coming late to the party, I wrote a spec DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, which I posted in four parts last week. Check it out.)...

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"Network" notes on my DICK VAN DYKE SHOW script

I may get some angry comments but so be it.  I list these not to embarrass anybody but to illustrate what it’s like to get network and studio notes. I do appreciate all of your comments, I really do. And these serve to give you some idea of what TV writers face. On the surface it may seem absurd, but trust me these are exactly the kind of notes writers receive. That’s why I’m doing this. These notes are a perfect example of what we must...

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THE SITCOM ROOM is back!

 Finally!For the first time in 2 years, I’m strongly considering holding another Sitcom Room. That’s where I lock 20 brave souls into “writers’ rooms” for an entire weekend so they can experience for themselves what it’s really like to write for a TV sitcom.   This is not two days of lectures.  It's hands-on experience.  And you get to see professional actors perform your work.  I haven’t quite finalized the dates, but...

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If anyone hates me, I'll be at Jiffy Lube

I was walking through a mall recently and there was a radio station doing a remote. The disc jockey was in the corner of this store, sitting in front of a microphone, the station’s call letters on a big sign above his head. All of the music, commercials, everything else was back at the station. So it was just this poor schmoe, pleading for listeners to stop on by. Of course, that’s when he was on the air. Most of the time he was...

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Friday Questions

Hope you enjoyed my DICK VAN DYKE SHOW. Discussion will continue on Monday. But nothing pre-empts Friday Questions (unless I decide something does). Here are today’s.Klee gets us started. Do you know if they ever used Nicholas Colasanto's TV directorial expertise in Cheers? I recently watched a Logan's Run episode directed by him.No. Nick primarily directed one hour dramas. His directing resume is impressive and extensive. BONANZA, HAWAII...

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THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW -- Part 4

Here's the last part of the spec script I recently wrote for THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW.  On Monday I'll post the reaction from the real DICK VAN DYKE SHOW writers.  The first three parts appear earlier in the week.  An explanation of all of this can be found in last Sunday's post.  EVERYONE BUT LAURA ENTERS THE KITCHEN JUST AS THE DOORBELLRINGS. SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH TO COMPOSE HERSELF THENANSWERS THE DOOR.MILLIELaura, is that...

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THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW -- Part 3

Carl Reiner coined the expression "Hey Mae!" for act breaks.  A husband is in the living room watching and the act break is so exciting he yells out, "Hey, Mae, you gotta get in here and see this!"  Hopefully my spec DICK VAN DYKE SHOW act break was a "Hey, Mae."  Or at least a "Mae, if you got nothing better to do, come check this out."   Act two begins today.   Act one began on Monday.FADE IN:INT. BEDROOM - LATER...

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THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW -- Part 2

Part 1 was yesterday.   For those just jumping on for the first time, I wrote a spec DICK VAN DYKE SHOW for the blog and got feedback from the actual DICK VAN DYKE SHOW writing staff.  I'll share that next week.  INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYDOORBELL RINGS. LAURA, STILL BANDAGED, CROSSES TO IT.LAURAGo away!DOORBELL RINGS AGAIN. ANNOYED, SHE OPENS THE DOOR.LAURA (CONT’D)I said...ALAN BRADY IS THERE.LAURA (CONT’D)AAAAAAA!ALANThank you....

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THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW -- Part 1

In case you didn't read yesterday's post explaining this, here's part one of the DICK VAN DYKE SHOW episode I wrote.  I assume you all know the characters.  If not, it's well worth your time checking out a few episodes of the "real" DICK VAN DYKE SHOW.  It's an American classic.  But for now, let's travel back to 1965 and... "The Brady That Came To Dinner"FADE IN:INT. LIVING ROOM – DAYROB AND LAURA ENTER. ROB IS WEARING A NECK...

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My fun new blog experiment

As you know, I’m always looking for fun new things to do in the blog. It’s getting harder now that I’ve been doing this blog for almost ten years. But I think I’ve come up with something pretty cool – starting tomorrow.I’ve written a spec DICK VAN DYKE SHOW. Wrote it as if it were 1965. I then sent it to Carl Reiner, the creator of the show, and Bill Persky, who wrote some of the classic episodes and was one of the showrunners the last few seasons....

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Where to go this summer vacation

We are well into the summer.  Still don’t know where to go yet on your vacation? Allow me to help while shamelessly pushing my book, WHERE THE HELL AM I? TRIPS I HAVE SURVIVED (only $3.99 in all ebook formats and $6.99 paperback.  Order yours here.WTHAI?TISH (as most people refer to it) is a ten year collection of my humorous travelogues. Here are a few excerpts to help you decide where to go this summer. DALLAS – (most people’s...

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