EDITOR’S NOTE: Time now for TVWriter™ to weigh in on the BREAKING BAD, um, thing.
But probably not the way you thought we would.
by Herbie J PilatoI recently sent the following request to all of those on my obsessive/compulsive email list:
Every once in a while I receive a very nice “out of the box” review of one of my books; reviews that not only help the book reach a wider audience beyond the classic TV genre; but reviews that also confirm my belief that classic TV, when done properly (with respect for the family household) contributes to a positive influence in society.
One such review was posited on Amazon.com from someone named “Shihan,” who offered the following thoughts on my THE KUNG FU BOOK OF WISDOM: SAGE ADVICE FROM THE ORIGINAL TV SERIES. “Man’s guide to living in society,” and it reads as follows:
“This book gives its readers a set of principles which when put to use can be the key to learning how to enjoy life in society in a civilized way. Definitely a must for every parent trying to raise a child in these must difficult times. This book gives you words that transcend race, religion and/or socioeconomic boundaries. If you are looking for a book that will leave you a better person than when you started reading it, then, THIS IS IT!”
Upon viewing a few “live episodes” of “The Twilight Zone Unscripted,” the L.A. area theatre-goer not only gets the eerie feeling they’ve actually stepped into (and are seated in front of) The Twilight Zone but that they’re also in on the joke – and it’s funny. Make that “very funny!”
With its uniquely improvisational take on the genius classic TV series created by Rod Serling, “Unscripted,” presented by the renown Impro Theatre Acting Troup (at Garry Marshall’s beautiful Falcon Theatre in Burbank), delivers in all areas.
The audience actually becomes unhinged on the edge of their seats not so much because no one (including the theatre-goers and the actors) knows not what’s to happen next – but because no one is sure the performers on stage will be able to pull it off.
…And we’re pleased to be able to tell everybody about them.
First up is Herbie’s first new baby Retro Active Television: An In-Depth History of Classic TV’s Social Circuitry, which we think will appeal to television lovers everywhere, regardless of whether they really care about, you know, “social circuitry.”
Here’s a nutshell description of das Buch:
A few years back, Zap2it.com reported how actor David Boreanaz, star of the Fox forensic drama Bones (and former lead vampire on Angel and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) found it was acceptable to improvise the lines of dialogue he’s given to perform.
However, Boreanaz wasn’t allowed to do that on Angel and Buffy, as Joss Whedon, the creator, producer and periodic director of both shows, forbade such acting antics. “That became very frustrating,” Boreanaz said at the time. “For an actor to be able to create and also have a sense of freedom, you have to be able to revolve around those words and create around those words. Now, you can take the written word and have your subtext tell more than is written on the page, which is always fun and challenging too. But it’s always great to revolve around the words and improvise and change things, because that comes from the character’s perspective and point of view.”
Oh, pluueeze! Dude, this isn’t Whose Line Is It Anyway, and you’re not Drew Carey. You’re an actor and, as any true thespian will tell you, that, when it comes to your craft, one is ultimately and ideally supposed to interpret the given lines that a writer (be they William Shakespeare or Aaron Spelling) has written, word for word.