maxdebryn starts us off.
Ken, a few of the other movie/TV/pop culture sites that I read have floated the idea that they will become "pay" sites (ie: subscribers/readers would have to pay upwards of $10 per month in order to access the sites). What do you think about paying to read online content ?
That’s fine for them, but I don’t plan on charging people. Part of why I do this blog is I feel I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career, was blessed with amazing mentors, and this blog is a small way of paying it forward.
Besides, I’d have to write way better to charge $10 for this drivel.
Bob Paris asks:
Ken: In the past, if an actor got signed to a series they would be working on at least 22 episodes a season. Now an actor may sign for a series where as few as eight to ten episodes are shot for the year. Are these "exclusive" deals where the actor is precluded from taking other work? Makes you wonder if attaching yourself to a series that makes a very limited number of episodes per season makes economic sense.
You’re right. Since there are fewer episodes produced, the deals tend to be more flexible these days. Case in point: Kelsey Grammer is attached to a sitcom project for ABC also starring Alec Baldwin. At the same time it’s been announced there will be a reboot of FRASIER sometime in the future. I have zero details on either of the deals other than to surmise he’s permitted to do both. (I’m actually looking forward to both of them.)
Ere I Saw Elba queries:
This is a Friday question that is somewhat related to your recent podcast on changes in the TV biz:
When did Standards and Practices become a common part of network television, and how much do they continue to affect the content of shows? Also, do the same network standards and FCC regulations apply to internet streaming?
Standards & Practices have been around since the dawn of television. It’s just that the restrictions have changed. But as far back as the ’50’s married couples couldn’t sleep in the same bed. And when Lucy was pregnant they weren’t allowed to say that word on CBS.
In the ‘70s ALL IN THE FAMILY got away with racial slurs they could never say today. But back then they were very prudish about sex. Now you have shows like 2 BROKE GIRLS that would have no jokes at all if they couldn’t say vagina.
Over-the-air TV stations are held to much higher standards because there are only so many channels and the license holders are obligated to broadcast in “the public’s interest.” Not so with cable and other platforms. I believe their only obligation is to post warnings at the beginning of shows alerting the audience to violence, nudity, or vagina jokes.
And finally, from Bob Gassel:
Have you ever seen a situation where a writer (or team) has pitched an idea that the showrunner liked, but then assigned it to someone else, thinking it was more suited to their style?
They’re not allowed to do that in the strict sense. If a writer pitches a story and the show runner wants to do it, he’s obligated to at least buy him out, if not let him write it.
However, if a writing staff is sitting around a table just spitballing ideas and random notions, a show runner might say, writer X might be better at writing that one but the guy who pitched it will be given an assignment as well, maybe one he’s more suited for.
Then there are the Chuck Lorre rooms where everything is room written, and in that case credit is just assigned and rotated. The show that you pitched won’t have your name on it, but another that you had little to do with will.
What’s your Friday Question?
from By Ken Levine
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