Posts categorized "Television"
Jan 08, 2010
Jan 04, 2010
Oct 22, 2009
Oct 20, 2009
Oct 18, 2009
Oct 03, 2009
Oct 01, 2009
Sep 27, 2009
Paul Shaffer, Charles Rocket - and Now Jenny Slate
I've been watching SNL too long. As soon as the "Biker Chick" bit started last night (I watch the east coast feed), I knew someone was going to screw up. The entire bit's premise had the word "frickin" as just about every other word in the script. Sure enough, not even a minute into it, new cast member Jenny Slate said "fuckin'."
I really have to come to her defense on this. It was her first night, and that's asking a LOT of a new cast member.
Secondly, she's definitely not the first to drop the F-bomb on SNL.
At the very least, she's the second to unintentionally do it. Paul Shaffer let it slip on a show I was actually attending with an NBC friend of mine. Same premise, medieval setting. Every other word was "floggin'" - except for Shaffer's unfortunate slip. Backstage after the show he was mortified, and was thoroughly convinced he killed the show. Rocket's F-bomb on the "Who Killed C.R.?" episode is still thought to be intentional.
Most of all, her reaction was priceless - she knew immediately that she blew it and you can see it in her face. But VERY much to her credit, she soldiered on with the bit in its entirety, as did Kristen Wiig and Megan Fox.
I'm going to venture a guess here - correct me if I'm wrong. Many new SNL cast members bring characters to the show that they've done on stage - generally it's the character that brought them to the SNL dance in the first place. Slate may have done this character a trillion times without the constraints of TV standards and practices. If that's the case, then I'm going to cut her even more slack. Adapting your own work for new sensibilities is a real challenge, especially when you're doing it on live network television.
It sucks, but she did what she needed to do and she did it like a fuckin' pro. The good news is, the rest of the season will be a piece of cake for Jenny Slate.
Sep 14, 2009
Sep 11, 2009
Larry Gelbart, 1928-2009
He was one of the people who made television great when television WAS great. Yes, there was a time when it was.
Ken Levine, who worked with Larry Gelbart on M*A*S*H, will no doubt have a wonderful firsthand appreciation of him later on. Sad news indeed. We'll miss his mind.
Larry Gelbart, who created the classic TV adaptation of Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H" (1972-83) and whose talented comedy writing stretched from the days of radio to cutting-edge cable shows, has died.
Gelbart was principal writer on "M*A*S*H" the first four years of the hit series. Gelbart was responsible for 97 segments of the show. He also directed some early episodes.
Beginning as a gag writer in days of radio and honing his comic craft for such talents as Jack Carson and Bob Hope. Gelbart was a versatile stylist who wrote in all mass-medias forms, including the stage.
He won three Emmys, three Tonys and the 1981 Laurel Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in Television Writing from the Writers Guild of America. Gelbart won an Emmy with co-producer Gene Reynolds for "M*A*S*H" as well as three WGA Awards for the episodes he wrote.
Gelbart was nominated for two Oscars: for his screenplay of "Oh, God!," starring George Burns (1977) and another for "Tootsie," which he co-scripted and which starred Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange. He won the WGA Award for those screenplays, and also the Writers Guild honor for his screenplay of "Movie Movie" (1978). For "Tootsie," Gelbart also garnered screenwriting honors from the Los Angels Film Critics Assn. and the New York Film Critics Circle.
Other screenwriting credits include, "Neighbors," "Not With My Wife, You Don't" and "Blame It on Rio." He had his named removed from the screwball comedy "Rough Cut," starring Burt Reynolds. He fought other battles over script changes and credits, including "Tootsie," for which he garnered the credit "official writer."
Sep 01, 2009
Aug 21, 2009
Aug 18, 2009
Aug 17, 2009
Aug 03, 2009
Jun 29, 2009
Jun 28, 2009
Whoa Whoa WHOA...Now Billy Mays is Dead?
Okay, God. You can stop now. You're scaring us.
Jun 24, 2009
Jun 23, 2009
Ed McMahon, 1923-2009
Awaiting the 173 political cartoons of St. Peter welcoming Ed to the Pearly Gates with a "Heeeeere's EDDIE." Until then, farewell to yet another icon I grew up watching. I'll always be amazed he outlived Johnny.
He was another one of those "celebrities" that was so accessible it seems impossible there are people he never met. We crossed paths once and he was every bit the Ed you saw on TV - warm, sincere and always positive. I think they created the term "big and friendly" just for Ed.
I admit I don't drink the stuff, but next time I'm handed a bottle of Budweiser, I'll salute Uncle Ed.
Jun 19, 2009
Jun 13, 2009
Jun 02, 2009
When All Was Said and Done
Susan Boyle was indeed another crazy cat lady.
May 19, 2009
Look Up "Irony" in the Dictionary
You'll see this picture. Wanda Sykes is on the just-released FOX TV schedule for Saturday nights.
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