Sometimes A Bit Of Unmitigated Weirdness Gets Through
In the world of television writing, I'm finding, you find victories where you can. It's a creative job, but also one of pure volume - you can't expect to write a solitary perfect gem and rest on your laurels. You've got to crank out a lot of material - the decision lies with the producers, and you're at their whims. And the sponsor's. And the network's. And a myriad of other decision makers. You may be literally defining the show, but there are plenty of people defining what you can and can't define.
I'm sure many writers will agree - you sometimes put in material that you know will never make it on air, just to amuse yourself. Or to amuse the people who read it after you. Just to look back on it and chuckle and wonder, "Wow... what if that made it onto television? How weird would that be?"
For a game segment of the show I'm writing for now, I was asked to write some quick and funny descriptions of women contestants. They were, like so much television, entirely fake - so I didn't have to base them at all in reality. I turned in a few pages of quick material and let it be.
So I was surprised and delighted yesterday at the taping when a host introduced a young lady contestant and said:
Meet Jill. Her favorite food is bubble gum.
Her favorite group is N.E.R.D.
And... she once touched a dead guy.
I now get to imagine people at home saying "Wait, hold up... touched a dead guy? What does that even mean?"
Trust me, that mental image will amuse me all weekend. Probably longer.
--opus
posted by opus at
8:28 PM
Just a reminder that the world's best known unknown sketch comedy troupe, "The B-Team", is performing tomorrow night at the Improv Olympic in Hollywood. The LA Weekly and Backstage West gave us rave reviews; my parents left quickly so as not to have to talk to me afterwards. You be the judge!
If you hate not laughing, then don't not come by.
(Scroll down for information - it's the postcard with the fat guy by the pool.)
--opus
posted by opus at
11:08 PM
Fashion Forward
So the other day I was wearing one of my favorite outfits; a bright yellow tie that has a bowling ball on it, as well as matching bright red & blue bowling shoes. I feel like I'm the smoothest dude in Hollywood as I make my way to the taping of the TV Show I'm writing for.
When I get there, I run into some dancers we've employed. One girl looks me up and down and says, voice dripping with disdain, "Are you dressed up for some kind of bit, or is that on purpose?"
Oh phooey. I liked the outfit.
--opus
posted by opus at
2:04 PM
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