June Bug starts us off:
Most sitcom heavy-hitters these days have become famous before joining the series - think Samberg, Janney, Farris, Deschanel. Are we losing out on undiscovered comic talents bc of Hollywood's reliance on bankable names? Do you think this shift is permanent, or is it just another tide-turning?
Networks have always preferred known stars to front their series. Now more than ever. You’re more apt to sell a pilot if you already have a coveted star attached.
So how do unknown actors get discovered? Generally, by being a supporting character who breaks out. Henry Winkler, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards. The casts of THE OFFICE and PARKS AND REC emerged but had Steve Carell and Amy Poehler as the stars.
The bottom line is this: Networks don’t want to take a chance… on anything.
From Mr. Ace:
What are your thoughts on shows that used animated openings like I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched, and could an animated opening work today?
Sure. Why not? Today, more than ever, animation is hot.
If you had a live-action pilot with an animated opening, the thing that might prevent the sale is the live-action show.
And of course, the big problem is convincing the network to let you do any kind of opening title sequence.
Kendall Rivers asks:
I love a good Heck family car trips which made me think that The Hecks have got to be the most believable tv family I've seen in years with genuine chemistry. They actually feel like an actual family which most other family shows of this era lack. The Johnson's on Blackish are just too mean and spiteful to each other, The Juangs from Fresh are too...distant? And the families from modern family are just messes. I feel like if their shows did the car trip episodes or scenes The Middle did I'd be bored to tears or change the channel. What about you? Do The Hecks measure up to your favorite tv families?
As I mentioned in my Wednesday post, I love THE MIDDLE. I often found it funnier than MODERN FAMILY. And it was perfectly cast. Those kids were all amazing. And Eden Sher is a comedy goddess.
It used to bother me that there would be a 30 second promo that would be 25 seconds of MODERN FAMILY tagged with “And a new episode of THE MIDDLE.”
And finally, from Rhonda Aghamalian,
Of all the actors you've worked with/had the opportunity to observe over the course of your career, which are the least like their best known roles/characters and which are the most like them?
In our movie, VOLUNTEERS, Tom Hanks played a preppy asshole, and Tom could not be farther from that in real life.
Same with David Schramm who played sleazy Roy on WINGS. David was a sweetheart.
And I would add Ted Danson as BECKER. He’s anything but a bitter curmudgeon.
On the other hand, Harry Morgan as Colonel Potter on MASH was very much like his character, as was Mike Farrell as B.J.
Happy New Year! I’m ready for a new year. Aren’t you?
from By Ken Levine
Comments
Post a Comment