Blinky starts us off.
We were looking for a new comedy to watch and saw UNICORN with Justified's Walton Goggins. The pilot was laugh out loud funny but after that, the later episodes collapsed into a made for Hallmark channel, Family Values, Treacle infested blob of cliched mediocrity. It was as though they had A-list creatives for the pilot and then handed it off to a Liberty University creative writing 101 class. How can a show end up being so different from the pilot? (Plus I saw it was renewed for a another season.WTF?)
The writers have months to write the pilot then must slam the rest of the season together in short order. The show runner is bombarded with network and studio notes, he might be forced to put writers on his staff not of his own choosing, change the tone of the series based on testing, and the show runner might not be adept at guiding a series.
As for THE UNICORN, I can’t speak to that. I don’t know any of the particulars, don’t know anyone associated with that show. Are the writers not delivering? Are the actors constantly complaining? Are the notes suffocating? Is the production schedule too short? Is the show runner not organized? Are they getting mixed signals from the network, studio, and testing? I have no idea.
Then there’s the other thing to consider: Maybe it’s just you and the subsequent episodes are connecting with an audience. I don’t watch the show myself so I can’t personally weigh in one way or the other. But if it got picked up, they must be doing something right.
Mike Bloodworth asks.
Have You and David (Isaacs) ever inserted an "inside" joke into a script that no one else would get, but that makes you laugh every time you hear it?
Only all the time. We’d work in names of girlfriends, pets, friends, former teachers, former colleagues, relatives, grudges, you name it.
Moral: Be nice to writers.
From Mark:
When it comes to radio broadcasters flying solo -- no records, no partners, no guests – just one person alone talking into a mic late into the night, who would be in your hall of fame? Arthur Godfrey? Henry Morgan? Jean Shepherd? Possibly Phil Hendrie though he’s kind of in a genre to himself.
Who am I missing?
All that you mentioned, although Godfrey was a well-known asshole in the industry.
Names I would add (and it’s a very incomplete list) would include Doug McIntyre, Vin Scully, Paul Harvey, Ray Briem, Garner Ted Armstrong, and Ronn Owen.
And finally, from Troy McClure:
One of my favorite character actors is Stephen Root. He can do comedy and drama, and he was terrific in the Frasier episode Detour. Have you ever worked with him?
Not really, but he’s always been one of my favorite actors too.
He just morphs into whatever role he plays and whatever genre. He’s TV’s answer to John Lithgow or Gene Hackman.
I’m currently loving him in BARRY and PERRY MASON. He plays judges a lot — notably in JUSTIFIED and THE GOOD WIFE. And I first noticed him in OFFICE SPACE and NEWSRADIO. I knew I was a big fan when he made me laugh more than Phil Hartman.
Someday I’d love to work with him. Hey, Stephen, you free?
Don’t walk under any ladders today. What’s your FQ?
from By Ken Levine
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