Category: Resources

40 years worth of TV writing experience and info, yours for the taking.

Swapping Jokes

Ken Levine AKA Our Pal Who Doesn’t Know We Exist, scores again!

tv-jokesby Ken Levine

Recently in a post I wrote a joke that some felt was too insensitive. Was it? You could argue either way. But I decided it was easier to just swap it out for another joke. I could have stayed with it, but in this case figured it wasn’t worth offending some people. I say “in this case” because in other instances I have kept original jokes that was controversial.

But I kept those because I thought they worked and were appropriate and those who were offended were overly sensitive. You can’t do humor without offending someone. I have never however, kept a joke because I thought it would be too hard to replace. read article

Peggy Bechko: Writers Drawing The Line For Their Characters

drawtheline

by Peggy Bechko

We, as people, have all kinds of values and codes we live by whether we’re fully aware of how we define them or not. There are things that just stick in our craws or rub us the wrong way. There are lines that can’t or won’t be crossed and places we don’t want to go. Beliefs we hold dear and of course reactions to those held by others.

So, how can we use all this in writing.

Simple. read article

Troy DeVolld: How to be a Great Exec

troy devolldby Troy DeVolld

Before we get started, let me share that I’m well aware that your job is not easy.  You’re only as good as your last hit in the execuverse, and there’s a load of pressure on you to deliver the goods.  I feel you.  I understand.  This isn’t one of those “smartass producer bashes the network execs” kind of things, because man oh man, do I get what you’re up against.  Plus, I’ve worked with some pretty damn sharp execs in my day.

But you other folks…some of you don’t know what the f*ck you’re doing.

Many among you are brilliant and magical and when you exercise your authority or make a suggestion, and I marvel at how you so often provide insight, perspective, and practical solutions.  Long may you reign, you lovers of the medium who know what works and what doesn’t and what makes it go.  But for every one of you, there’s two young sprites fresh from the desks who run roughshod over experienced producers, spouting demands like “This show has to be a hit, you guys” and meaningless non-directions like “This needs to be better.”   If the head of your network knew how far over budget you’re gonna put your project with your lack of understanding, you could be cruising for a professional bruising. read article

Would Anyone Hire Ricardo Montalban Today?

by Herbie J Pilato

ricardo4I recently caught an episode of the classic TV show, The Name of the Game, which originally aired on NBC from 1968 to 1971.  It was one of the more unique programs of its time.  The series was like an anthology show, but it wasn’t.  There were three different main stars:  Robert Stack, Gene Barry and Tony Franciosa, each of whom had their own storyline, but yet all were connected by a Los Angeles publishing company.

The segment that I viewed featured Robert Stack as the editor of this one particular publication that was linked with the main organization.  The same episode also featured the multi-talented Ricardo Montalban in a guest-starring role.

As I’m watching the segment, I’m thinking, “Mmmm…there’s the great Ricardo Montalban, years before he found fame on TV as the mysterious Mr. Roark on ABC’s 70s/80s Saturday night hitFantasy Island; and right around the time he was also guest-starring in his original incarnation as Kahn on the first Star Trek TV episode, ‘Space Seed – decades before he reprised the role for the hit 1982 feature film, Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn.” read article

The New Year’s Writing Resolution You Can Actually Keep

The title is right on. We believe that this article does indeed tell us how to keep a resolution to write. But…is writing all by itself enough? Or should we be working at writing with an added adverb like “well,” or “effectively?” Oh, wait, that’s the second step, we get it. The first step, which we definitely agree with, is to just plain: WRITE!!!

Old School Roomby Sonia Simone

It’s that time of year again. Time for resolutions, and for all of the skeptics and killjoys who say that resolutions never work.

They certainly can work, but you need to approach them the right way. read article