More Stuff We Wanted to Repost Here But, um, Didn’t

Some recent articles from other websites on TV, TV writing, and the TV biz that we think y’all should know about:

Severed limbs and intertextuality: your guide to Endeavour’s hidden secrets
by Andrew Collins

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The third episode of the third series of bracing, 1960s-set Morse prequel Endeavour, which has just ended on ITV, was called Prey. That its chief murder suspect was a tiger need not detain us here. What might, however, is a night-time scene in the woods during which a group of Oxford hippies drink, toke and play the acoustic guitar around a campfire. A young woman makes eyes at a young man over the embers, stands up and runs off, disrobing in readiness for a nocturnal dip in the river. The man fails to join her because he is too drunk to take off his shoes and socks. Anyone else getting a Jaws flashback…?

Read it all at The Guardian

Why I Do Not Teach Comedy Writing
by Earl Pomerantz

During the Cold War, a comedian told this joke on The Ed Sullivan Show, premised on the deadly competition between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Russians were kicking our butts in the “Space Race”, rocketing monkeys into the stratosphere and being an estimated two years ahead of us in their development.  At the same time, there was serious concern about Soviet spies pilfering our secrets.

The comedian’s joke on the subject:

“The Russians are stealing our secrets?  I say, ‘Let ‘em.’  Then they’ll be two years behind….”

Read it all at Earl Pomerantz Blog

Urban Hymn: Essex writer’s drug-fuelled youth inspires drama
by Dalya Alberge

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A scriptwriter from Essex who has gone on to make a name for himself in Hollywood has revealed that his own violent, drug-fuelled past provided material for the plot of his new film, Urban Hymn.

A coming-of-age movie that will have a gala screening in Glasgow on Friday February 19, ahead of a UK charity premiere, Urban Hymn is set during the UK’ssummer riots of 2011 and tells the story of a young female offender, Jamie, and her relationships with her care worker, Kate, and her “bad girl” friend, Leanne. It features a cameo from musician Billy Bragg and is directed by Michael Caton-Jones, whose work includes the 1990 wartime bomber crew drama Memphis Belle….

Read it all at The Guardian

A great writer you probably don’t know
by Ken Levine

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There are some TV comedy writers who are very well known. You’ve seen their names so many times on the screen that they begin to make an impression. Or they’ve been interviewed, have a big Twitter following, or worse — shamelessly write a blog.

But then there are others, who have also had long illustrious careers, yet remain essentially anonymous.

Like this guy.

 How’s this for a list of credits? ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, THE BIG BANG THEORY, FRIENDS, FAMILY GUY, WILL & GRACE, KING OF QUEENS, NEWHART, HAPPY DAYS, LAVERNE & SHIRLEY, and MORK & MINDY. And an Emmy….

Read it all at Ken Levine’s Blog

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