Let’s dive into some Friday Questions. Also, I haven't posted a Natalie Wood photo in awhile.
Mighty Hal starts us off:
Ken, how long did it usually take for you and David to write a television script? Did you ever take weeks or months to write one? What's your record for one written in the least amount of time?
That depends on where we were in our career. Originally, it would take two weeks to write a half-hour script. By the end, usually three or four days. Sometimes two if we were really under the gun. We wrote “Night at Rosie’s” for MASH, “Bar Wars” for CHEERS, and “Room Service” for FRASIER all in two days. I don’t recommend it as a general policy.
Movies obviously take several months. I can write a first draft of a full-length play in a month if I have no other obligations.
And then we once wrote a half-hour script in 45 minutes, which will be the topic of next Monday’s post. (How’s that for a cliffhanger?)
Michael asks:
Ken, did you ever have to deal with a star insisting that they should get the funny line instead of a supporting player, and what did you do about it?
No. That never happened and never would because we would have quit immediately. We told our stars in advance we wouldn’t tolerate that for a second nor counting lines. I worked too hard to write scripts actors would be proud of to put up with that shit.
Fortunately, like I said, that never became an issue. The actors that I worked with were very respectful. That’s not to say they didn’t have script issues and believe me, we rewrote plenty and spent many long nights — but it was always in service of the show and making it better.
From Bronson:
Looking back, was there a time when there was a clear zenith in your career? I'm thinking a story like "I was working on X, consulting on Y, and in talks with Z about producing a movie. Everyone wanted a piece of us."
If so, did you realize it at the time?
Over one utterly insane 24 hour period in 1995 CBS picked up my series, ALMOST PERFECT, I sold a spec screenplay, and was hired by the San Diego Padres to do play-by-play. Hard to top that day. And yes, I realized it at the time. I should have bought a lottery ticket.
And finally, from SueK2001:
I did have a FQ that relates to MASH. I recently watched the episode where Houlihan loses her voice and can't speak. Is there a certain skill to playing "sick"? Was she sick during the shoot? Does acting hoarse hurt your voice in the long run?
There is definitely a skill to playing sick, especially if you also have to be funny. The trick is not to go overboard and sound like Elmer Fudd.
And yes, acting hoarse does put a strain on the vocal cords. Do you know there is a woman who is a professional screamer? That’s right, she can do various different screams and she is quite in demand. She must have leather lungs. But it saves the stars from straining their pipes.
Too bad WHAT’S MY LINE? is not still on.
What’s your Friday Question?
from By Ken Levine
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