Janet leads off.
What do you anticipate what the lockdowns and social distancing is going to do the networks' fall TV schedules?
Wreak havoc.
Very few, if any, of the pilots for the fall are completed. And at this point nobody knows when shows can go back into production. I don’t think there will be a fall TV season. In about another month networks will run out of new material. It’s going to be an interesting summer.
VP81955 wonders:
If social distancing continues for a prolonged period, or even if it doesn't, could it spell the end of multi-cam shows filmed before a studio audience? Having attended four of them over the years, I'd hate to see them discontinued. (Actors I know feel likewise; they feed on the energy found in that environment.)
No. At some point things will get back to normal, sports stadiums will have large crowds (except for the Oakland A's), theatres will re-open, and audiences of 200 (TV tapings) will be allowed.
The big question is when?
From -30-
Dodger broadcasting legend Vin Scully always worked solo during his entire career, never with a partner on-air at the same time. Do you think he would have become as famous and respected if he had been just a play-by-play or just a color guy? I don't think he would had a chance to shine, that he would have been JUST a solid professional.
People forget that when he was a national broadcaster (baseball and golf on NBC, NFL football on CBS) he did have analysts (e.g. Joe Garagiola, John Madden) and he was as great as ever.
Vin Scully was always a play-by-play guy. Analysts tended to be former players.
Scully came up at a time before anyone had analysts, and he learned to work without them. Truth be told, there was nothing any analyst could say (especially regarding baseball) that Scully didn’t a) already know, and b) couldn’t articulate better.
When Scully began, young announcers were encouraged to have styles and personalities. Very different from today where young announcers are all brought up to be generic and safe (and for the most part, dull).
And finally, from Jim S:
Friday question. I was watching "Bob hearts Abishola" because it was something to do before "Better Call Saul" comes on and it takes place in my hometown of Detroit.
I notice the show is filled with actors from the Chuck Lorre stock company. Got me to thinking, showrunners will often bring actors they've worked with from prior shows. What's the thinking behind that?
You’ll also notice that those actors who appear in his stock company are funny. Yes. Over time, showrunners return to actors they know can deliver. On more than one occasion I’ve had an idea for a guest role and would ask the casting director about a certain actor’s availability.
Movie directors have always done this as well. Preston Sturges had a stock company of actors who appeared in film after film of his. How many times did Billy Wilder use Jack Lemmon? Or Mel Brooks use Gene Wilder?
The danger is that the actor becomes too familiar, but if you have enough of them it’s a God send – like a baseball manager with a deep bullpen.
What’s your Friday Question? Stay safe.
from By Ken Levine
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