kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: Previously on "Guns & Emo"
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015/05/previously-on-guns-emo.html
Sunday, May 17, 2015. Previously on "Guns and Emo". I know what you’re thinking – what a cliffhanger! To refresh, I’m writing an action-drama pilot utilizing all the great writing conventions they employ on these shows. Part one was yesterday. And part two is right now. Drama is welcome and we know characters. Previously on “Guns and Emo”…. SUPER QUICK CUTS TO PAST EPISODES. This wasn’t in the brochure. I haven’t eaten all day. Let me pull up the blueprints. I speak Turkish. Why? Didn’t I tell you? The s...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: No one dresses better than comedy writers
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015/08/no-one-dresses-better-than-comedy.html
Sunday, August 02, 2015. No one dresses better than comedy writers. I once related the story of my partner and I attending an awards ceremony looking like idiots in matching brown tuxedos and peach ruffled shirts. But that is not to suggest that I don't normally dress extremely well. In fact, I was in GQ. Somehow GQ magazine got wind of my going off to Syracuse in 1988 to announce minor league baseball. They decided to do an article about me. My wife is still laughing. “ You. I accepted his apology and h...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: June 2015
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015_06_01_archive.html
Tuesday, June 30, 2015. Hollywood generosity (an oxymoron). When a recording artist makes an album the label generally gives him a copy or two. When an author publishes a book he usually doesn’t have to go to Amazon and order a copy. But we’re talking show business and a mindset where if they don’t HAVE TO do something for you they won’t. It would take about a half hour; I would just answer questions, etc. I asked when this conference was scheduled for. 2:00 PM my time. It was now about 11:30....In fa...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: Diagnosing problem scripts
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2013/03/diagnosing-problem-scripts.html
Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Here’s a Friday Question worth an entire post:. It’s from Charles H. Bryan:. Are there times when you look at a script (yours or someone else's) and think "There's something missing, but I don't know what? Or can you always pretty specifically nail down the problem? I only wish in my dreams that I could detect all script problems and what the fixes are. But the truth is, there are plenty of times something’s not working and I’m completely stumped as to why. 8221; and he’d s...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: Oh no! Not ANOTHER tribute to Jon Stewart?
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015/08/oh-no-not-another-tribute-to-jon-stewart.html
Saturday, August 08, 2015. Not ANOTHER tribute to Jon Stewart? Yes, I'm afraid so. How will we get through the next presidential campaign without him? Or a day in Congress? I have to say I felt a much greater sadness watching Jon Stewart's last show than David Letterman’s. Letterman was like saying goodbye to Willie Mays during his final days as a Met when he could hardly fit into his uniform. Stewart was like Sandy Koufax retiring in the prime of his career. And people took notice. Especially young.
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: August 2015
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015_08_01_archive.html
Monday, August 31, 2015. A key to directing. Just finished directing another episode of INSTANT MOM that was written by that sparkling young writing team of Annie Levine and Jonathan Emerson. I’d like to thank them for writing in stunts and a dog. But it was a terrific script and INSTANT MOM has a fabulous cast headed by Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Michael Boatman, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Beginning on September 19th it returns to TV LAND with all new episodes from 8-9 PM every Saturday. And that is this:. I think ...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: The Social Network & a Sorkin parody
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2010/10/social-network-sorkin-parody.html
Wednesday, October 06, 2010. The Social Network and a Sorkin parody. NO SPOILER ALERT NECESSARY. I have a rather tumultuous relationship with Aaron Sorkin. I loved WEST WING. But I had some issues with STUDIO 60, which I detailed in a blog post. I also wrote a parody of his writing that I am re-posting below (since I assume most of you discovered the blog long after October, 2006). 8221; comedy writer and wrote articles to that effect. I was then asked for my reaction, which I posted here. And the star w...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: April 2015
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html
Thursday, April 30, 2015. Just too funny not to share. Girls, don't let this happen to YOU! Oh, the humanity! Imagine if she had slept with a roadie. Or worse - a writer. Let this be a cautionary tale. Never sleep with a celebrity until you've determined he's important enough. Now this poor girl has to go through life with the shame of knowing she only slept with a bass player. Let the years of therapy begin. You gotta love show business! Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Richard Dreyfuss is in a sitcom? About ...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: Do not try this at home!
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2005/12/do-not-try-this-at-home.html
Monday, December 12, 2005. Do not try this at home! I have read some bad specs in my time and now offer some suggestions of what not to do based on actual scripts I have read…or at least attempted to read. Don’t view the show from the perspective of a fly. I once read a WINGS spec as seen by a buzzing fly. I offer this as the first example because I know so many young writers fall into this same trap. Alan was one of the extras. And so he remained. Don’t invent a format. EXT YANKEE STADIUM – DAY. Similar...
kenlevine.blogspot.com
By Ken Levine: The Bob Crane I knew and loved
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-bob-crane-i-knew-and-loved.html
Thursday, August 06, 2015. The Bob Crane I knew and loved. Here’s a Friday Question that became an entire post. It’s about Bob Crane, who starred in HOGAN’S HEROES and was later murdered in a porn-related incident. But that's not the focus of today's question. It comes from Mark:. How was Bob Crane on radio. You hear a lot of superlatives now, but the early work of famous people is often overpraised. What did you think of him at the time? Great, except there was a problem. KNX was a union shop. C...The u...
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