DSP's TV Thread (with J.E. Magee) [OT]

by **VoxOrion** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:25:13

My understanding is that it's like The Office (speaking of my previous post on Cohen). It was much more scripted than folks realize, but Cohen vamped a lot. I also understand that some of the bigger scenes are clearly scripted (to the film's detriment).

The WGA would never, ever nominate the film if it weren't. "Reality" entertainment is killing them, and they're quite hostile to it.

by **jemagee** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:26:11

So why the lawsuits? The people 'defending' themselves after they are made to look like buffoons in the movie?

I haven't seen it yet - I'm just going based on what i've read...that's all

by **dsp** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:30:22

Larry David gets nominated even though Curb is improv. It's a script in the sense that they map specifically what the scene will entail, what the characters loosley have to say and where they have to get it. The exact specifics of the lines are up to the actors themselves, but the jokes and transition in the movie/episode are all laid out and set up through the script and writing process.

by **VoxOrion** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:32:01

There are certainly elements that are spur of the moment - but someone (Cohen, presumably) wrote the lead in, the set up, and what the Borat character would say to cajole these people, and how he would react. I don't think it has to be 100% improv - even Survivor has writers (Jeff Probst's lines, for example). I get the impression that an screenplay exists, somewhere, with a lot of prepared scenes and dialog written for Borat and the people that run with him. The blank spaces that say "Roll with sucker's response" probably make up less of the screenplay than what was predetermined/written.

by **dajafi** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:56:46

Based on things I've read and heard re: Cohen/Borat, it's the same deal as in those Christopher Guest/Eugene Levy movies: the dialogue might not have been scripted in the sense of a Neil Simon play, but the filmmakers know the scenario, they know the characters, they've controlled for context and setting. Only the words themselves aren't strictly pre-determined.

It's kind of like playing a video game. The specifics of the action depend on the user, but the range of possibilities is pretty narrowly drawn. Given all the work that goes into the character development, setup, sequencing et al I'd argue it's valid for something like that to win an award for writing.

by **jemagee** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:45:05

So if you care - i'm betting grey's anatomy will lose at least one cast member by the end of the season

In his first one-on-one interview since the early-October incident on the Grey's Anatomy set, and since he publicly came out, T.R. Knight reveals on Wednesday's The Ellen DeGeneres Show that cast mate Isaiah Washington was (badly) lying at Monday night's Golden Globes.

Recalling Washington's original verbal clash with Patrick Dempsey, Knight says the former "referred to me as a f----t," and loud enough for everyone to overhear. "I could've just let it slide and not said anything," Knight tells DeGeneres during the must-see sit-down, "but it became important," as word spread and the press latched on.

Three months later, Washington tried to whitewash what was said, while backstage at the Globes. "Yeah, he denied that he said it," Knight marvels. "I don’t know what to say, really, about that." Well, our Mike Ausiello does, and he says it in this week's Ask Ausiello.

by **dsp** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 16:04:54

37.3 million people watched the nonsense that is American Idol. Best numbers for the show since their season 2 finale....

Heroes, My Name is Earl, The Office and SVU all get early 07/08 pickups.

Friday Night Lights will most likely get a second season, NBC is in love with it and wants to give it a better timeslot. Jemagee's boyfriend Aaron Sorkin's show, Studio 60, is on thin ice, though. They've got this run starting monday to save the show.

Fox late season changes:

Sunday, March 4
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons"
8:30/7:30c - "The Winner" (Series Premiere, Special Time)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy"
9:30/8:30c - "The Winner" (New Series)

Sundays (as of March 11)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons"
8:30/7:30c - "King of the Hill"
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy"
9:30/8:30c - "The Winner" (New Series)

Sunday, April 15
8:00/7:00c - "Drive" (Two-Hour Series Premiere)

Mondays (through April 2)
8:00/7:00c - "Prison Break"
9:00/8:00c - "24"

Monday, April 9
8:00/7:00c - "House" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "24"

Mondays (as of April 16)
8:00/7:00c - "Drive" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "24"

Tuesday, February 27
8:00/7:00c - "American Idol" (New 90-Minute Episode)
9:30/8:30c - "'Til Death" (Special Night & Time)

Wednesday, February 28
8:00/7:00c - "American Idol" (New 90-Minute Episode)
9:30/8:30c - "'Til Death" (Special Night & Time)

Wednesday, March 7
8:00/7:00c - "American Idol" (New Two-Hour Episode)

Wednesdays (as of March 14)
8:00/7:00c - "Bones"
9:00/8:00c - "American Idol" (30-Minute Results Shows)
9:30/8:30c - "'Til Death" (New Time Slot)

Thursdays (as of March - exact date TBA)
8:00/7:00c - (To Be Announced)
9:00/8:00c - "Hell's Kitchen"

Fridays (as of March - exact date TBA)
8:00/7:00c - "Standoff" (New Time Slot)
9:00/8:00c - "The Wedding Bells" (New Series)

by **Bill McNeal** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 16:12:49

Just a random note on TV. Scrubs is probably my favorite show on TV right now. I'd never really watched it before and I caught it in the thursday night NBC, and I'm freaking hooked. I've been watching the 2 episode blocks on Comedy Central everynight getting caught up. It is hillarious, I laugh out loud at least twice every episode, the only other current show that gets the same response is the office.

by **Grotewold** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 16:21:20

Bill McNeal wrote:Just a random note on TV. Scrubs is probably my favorite show on TV right now. I'd never really watched it before and I caught it in the thursday night NBC, and I'm freaking hooked. I've been watching the 2 episode blocks on Comedy Central everynight getting caught up. It is hillarious, I laugh out loud at least twice every episode, the only other current show that gets the same response is the office.

Me too. I always liked what I saw of it over the years, but it really seemed like NBC jerked it around with time slot moves and hiatuses.

by **Marion** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 16:22:51

I don't watch Scrubs on a regular basis. I can't think of what it is, but obviously, there's another show on at the same time. However, the episodes I've watched, I thought were hilarious. I've also been watching them on Comedy Central (last night in fact) and really wish I had kept up with the show.

by **jemagee** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 16:24:58

Marion wrote:I don't watch Scrubs on a regular basis. I can't think of what it is, but obviously, there's another show on at the same time. However, the episodes I've watched, I thought were hilarious. I've also been watching them on Comedy Central (last night in fact) and really wish I had kept up with the show.

Grey's Anatomy
CSI
The OC

But I think you are watching supernatural

by **MarkdlV** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 17:54:15

I had read somewhere that Fox is bringing Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares show from the BBC. I usually loathe reality shows, but I did enjoy this one.

by **ace** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 17:55:58

I love Scrubs. I think it's the only show I actually try to watch each week. Dr. Cox is a great character. And Zach Braff is just adorable.

by **SpeedRacer** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 17:56:09

Jumping on the Scrubs bandwagon...
I never got into the show until Comedy Central picked it up, but it's fantastic. I watch the new episodes to support it, but I hear that this is the last season no matter what, unfortunately.
Anybody see the episode where they showed scrubs if it was a sitcom? Really biting and great episode.

by **MarkdlV** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 18:03:46

SpeedRacer wrote:but I hear that this is the last season no matter what, unfortunately.

It looks like one more season.

Thursday-night comedy Scrubs will be back for a seventh season on either NBC or ABC, according to creator Bill Lawrence.

With the Touchstone Television-produced show now in syndication, Lawrence says, should NBC pass on bringing the show back, it will find a home at Touchstone’s corporate cousin, ABC. "Since every produced episode makes a ton of money for Touchstone," Lawrence says, "they told us not to write a finale for this year."

The show has a strong chance of returning to NBC next year, he adds. "We’ve essentially been told that NBC is really happy with how we are doing. I would say it’s better than a coin flip we are back on NBC."

But he understands that there is less financial motivation for NBC to keep the Touchstone-produced show on the network. "The show is a dinosaur, on one network and completely owned by another," he acknowledges.

And Touchstone continues to show faith in the show. The studio greenlighted a Jan. 18 musical episode at double the cost of a typical installment.

Lawrence also says that the show would not continue without star Zach Braff, but he "feels pretty good" that Braff is on board for a seventh and final season.

by **21McBride** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 18:12:22

I also discovered the show on Comedy Central, and as much as I like the supporting cast (Cox & Kelso stand out for me), I couldn't see it going on without Zach Braff.

by **dsp** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 19:12:12

2 more editions of Survivor coming next year.....

by **Marion** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 19:57:44

jemagee wrote:
Marion wrote:I don't watch Scrubs on a regular basis. I can't think of what it is, but obviously, there's another show on at the same time. However, the episodes I've watched, I thought were hilarious. I've also been watching them on Comedy Central (last night in fact) and really wish I had kept up with the show.

Grey's Anatomy
CSI
The OC

But I think you are watching supernatural

Actually I Tivo both the OC and Supernatural. I think though, as someone mentioned up thread, it's probably got more to do with the fact that the show got moved around a bit.

by **mpmcgraw** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 21:07:44

DSP what is going on with CBS's 8:00 time slot on Wednesday? Did they cancel king of queens? Is Jericho still coming back?

by **dsp** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 21:17:48

Jericho back later in Feb. King of Queens to mondays 930 in april to rap up the series.

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DSP's TV Thread (with J.E. Magee) [OT]