Thanks to Ballard Street
Cartoons: Writers, Don’t Let This Happen to You
Thanks to Ballard Street
Author: LB
A legendary figure in the television writing and production world with a career going back to the late ’60s, Larry Brody has written and produced hundreds of hours of American and worldwide television and is a consultant to production companies and networks in the U.S. and abroad .
Shows written or produced by Brody have won several awards including - yes, it's true - Emmys, Writers Guild Awards, and the Humanitas Award.
LB: Where Can I Find a Ghost Writer for my Idea?
Glad You Asked Dept. 6/26/14
Today’s question is one that I get several times a week, and which I feel like I’ve answered even more than that. But over the years my answer has changed, so even if you think you know what I’ll say, read on and be…surprised?
Here’s the question, from Ilana R:
Hi LB. I’m hoping you can give me some advice.
LB Sees CROSSBONES
The Good:
- The first episode of CROSSBONES plunges us right into an action-packed story with a rousing sea battle.
- John Malkovich joins the ranks of great TV actors of 2014. (A year filled with great TV actors, btw.)
The Not-So-Good:
LB: What’s With the Rape Scenes on LOUIE?
…Performed by the protagonist yet.
Am I just old and out of it, or has the abuse of women on TV reached a new low?
Specifically, I’m thinking about two of the latest episodes of what used to be one of my favorite TV comedies, LOUIE.
LB: World Book & News is Now – sob – History
L.A.s primo newsstand, World Book & News, located at Hollywood Blvd and Cahuenga in the depths of Hollywood, has closed after 78 years. Science fiction writing great Harlan Ellison introduced me to what absolutely had to be the world’s greatest newsstand in the late ’60s, shortly after I first arrived in L.A. Harlan’s not the only guy I’d hang with there. Comedian Mort Sahl was often there when I was. And writer-pal Gerry Conway, known to TV viewers as a former producer in the LAW AND ORDER franchise and to comic book fans as “the writer who killed Gwen Stacy.” Actually most of my friends frequented World Book & News. The place was quite simply kind of an oasis for creative souls.
For 35 years, WB & B was a twice weekly destination for me, whether I was living in Laurel Canyon (actually, not just anywhere in Laurel Canyon but at a certain house on Wonderland Avenue long associated with some people called The Doors), the Valley (well, not just anywhere in the Valley but 3 doors down a Studio City hill from Patrick Swayze and 8 doors down that same hill from then L.A. Mayor Sam Yorty), or in the ranchy communities of Hidden Hills (next door to Jo Swerling Jr., whose father wrote GUYS & DOLLS) and Hidden Valley (across a very narrow road from Brockett’s Film Fauna, home of just about every exotic animal you’ve ever seen on film – including 40 gaters and crocks).