New Episode of "Saving Grace"

A New Episode Containing 100% Certified Pre-Strike Writing!

“It’s better when I can see you.”
written by
Joseph Dougherty
&
Roger Wolfson

Monday, December 3 • 10:00 P.M. Eastern/Pacific
on TNT

Visit Saving Grace
at TNT.TV

Mel Tolkin

Front, from left, Gary Belkin, Sheldon Keller , Michael Stewart, Mel Brooks;

behind, Neil Simon, Mel Tolkin and Larry Gelbart.

The group assembled in the above photo along with Lucille Kallen, Sam Denoff, Bill Persky, Danny Simon, Joseph Stein, Sylvester L. Weaver Jr. Tony Webster, Woody Allen and Carl Reiner represent the most influential collection of comedy writers to ever work in television. At a time when all of the entertainment industry is focused on writers, we lost a master of the craft. Mel Tolkin died at the age of 94. Mr. Tolkin was the head of Sid Caesar’s famous television writing team for Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1954 and later went on to write for Danny Kaye, Danny Thomas, Bob Hope and also wrote for the TV sitcom All in the Family.

Mel Tolkin was interviewed for the Archive of American Television for four hours. This what he had to say about comedy,

"First I'd say that humor cannot be taught. Humor is an attitude towards life. It's a rather cynical approach. It's a negative approach. It's saying people misbehave. People put on shows. People wear masks. People are proud of what they shouldn't be. People compete unfairly. If you think life is wonderful, you don't belong in comedy. Of course, there's a lot that can be taught and at UCLA I taught very detailed things. Some of the things I mention here: how people recognize themselves on the screen and so on. What people are funny? And I quote the opening line of Anna Karenina by Tolstoy when she says, happy people are alike in their happiness. Only unhappy people are different from each other, and that's all there is. Because she proceeded to have one of the unhappiest marriages of all time, Karenina. But she left him. So that's an important lesson. Happy people are dull conversationalists -- no fun to be with and probably vote Republican."

To quote Mel Tolkin when his writer's pace slackened, . “Gentlemen, we’ve got to get something done!” Jews all over America will be watching Saturday night!”

Good Night Mr. Tolkin


In Solidarity



Tony Figueroa

An Evening with Holly Hunter and Saving Grace

If you're going to be in New York on Monday, December 3rd check out.

An Evening with Holly Hunter and Saving Grace
Monday, December 3; 6:00 pm

Join us for a conversation with Academy and Emmy Award–winning Holly Hunter as she discusses her acclaimed new TNT series Saving Grace. Hunter portrays fast-living Oklahoma City police detective Grace Hanadarko, who, tormented by demons both internal and external, nearly reaches her breaking point before redemption arrives in the form of an unconventional angel named Earl. A yet-to-be-aired episode of Saving Grace will be screened.

Tickets: SPECIAL DISCOUNT PRICE: $25 (use promotional code PALEY)Click here to buy tickets.

And speaking of Holly Hunter

On Thanksgiving Day (November 22), a group of Writers Guild Of America members began posting Public Service Announcements featuring A-list Screen Actors Guild talent as part of an independent WGA membership’s “Speechless” campaign conceived by director/writer George Hickenlooper and writer Alan Sereboff. They can be found on SpeechlessWithoutWriters.com with links on UnitedHollywood.com. Ms. Hunter was in the first episode

In Solidarity


Tony Figueroa

YouTube - In solidarity

YouTube - In solidarity
by Tony Figueroa

Lets face it, nothing happens in Hollywood until a writer types the words FADE IN.

Comedy Callback - the Show (Nov. 2007) part 2

Comedy Callback - the Show (Nov. 2007) part 2

Every month or so I will pod cast an episode of Comedy Callback and during those weeks in between shows, I will be interviewing all sorts of people on the business of being funny. I’ll also be blogging and letting you know where you can find the funny.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions please drop me an ‘e’ at comedycallback@gmail.com.
And remember, life is short - so laugh hard!

Dan Farren

Part two of our show has a theme. I didn’t know it at the time, but I do now. Comedy and transportation.
Dylan Brody hits the road with a guy named “Doug”.
Beverly Mickins hits the road with Andre & Reggie.
And Tony Figueroa just hits the road thanks to a motorcycle accident.
Enjoy! Some mature language.

The 100 Greatest TV Icons

For those of you who will be spending Thanksgiving with your family. I'm sure you will be under strict orders not to discuss politics, religion or the writers strike (If you are in LA or NYC) at the dinner table. I wanted to provide you with a safe topic of conversation that should be good for at least two courses or until your drunk uncle asks, "When are you gonna get a real job".

TV Land and Entertainment Weekly assembled a list of the 100 Greatest TV Icons. Most of the time I'd like to rip these lists apart like a turkey carcass and add my honorable mentions. I totally understand that someone in my age group would rearrange the numeric order, but that could be said of any TV generation. Let’s dig in.

I do think that certain actors received iconic status when in reality it should have been their most famous character receiving the honor.

Examples from list include:
100. Marcia Cross. The status should have been granted to Cross' Desperate Housewives character Bree Vandecamp. Bree has become the poster child for the modern day Stepford Wife. 91. Dennis Franz (Andy Sipowicz in NYPD BLUE)
86. Jerry Mathers (as the Beaver)
82. Ted Knight (Ted Baxter) Keith Olbermann pays homage to Ted Baxter when he impersonates Bill O'Reilly.
75. Peter Falk (Lt. Columbo)
70. Bob Denver (Gilligan)
69. Barbara Eden (Jeannie)
63. Ed Asner (Lou Grant) Lou Grant became an icon once he said, "You know what you got? You got spunk. I hate spunk!"
58. Don Knotts (Deputy Barney Fife)
49. Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal)
45. Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Buffy was to girls in the 90s what Gidget (40. Sally Field) was to girls in the 60s.
42. James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano)
32. Henry Winkler (The Fonz)

Examples not from list include:
Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan). The Captain was to children's television what icon #1. Johnny Carson was to late night television.
Hoss Cartright (Dan Blocker)
Rader O'Reilly (Gary Burgoff)
Elvira mistress of the dark (Cassandra Peterson).
Ginger & Mary Ann (Tina Louise & Dawn Wells). Ginger & Mary Ann proved that there are the girl that you have fun with and the girl that you marry.
Lary "Bud" Melman (Calvert DeForest)

I also think that certain characters received iconic status when in reality it should have been the creator of that character receiving the honor.

Examples from list include:
21. Kermit the Frog should actually be Jim Henson.
57. Charlie Brown should actually be Charles Schulz

Examples not from list include:
Max Headroom (Matt Frewer).
Maxwell Smart (Don Adams)
Joe Friday (Jack Webb)
Iron Eyes Cody (Crying Native American in Keep America Beautiful PSA)
Mel Blanc (His list of characters is to long)

The Dictionary defines Icon as a person or thing that is uncritically adored, revered or admired, or is regarded as a symbol of a particular culture or sphere, etc; an idol.

I would define a TV icon as:
A) Someone who has set a standard of excellence in their field.

Examples from list include:
85. Rod Serling
81. Dick Cavett
64. Phil Donahue
60. Merv Griffin
55. Fred Rogers AKA Mr. Rogers
51. Bob Hope
41. Jon Stewart
28. Howard Cosell
23. Barbara Walters
22. Milton Berle
19. Andy Griffith
16. David Letterman
15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players"
14. Ed Sullivan
13. Jackie Gleason
10. Dick Clark
8. Jerry Seinfeld
6. Carol Burnett
5. Walter Cronkite
4. Bill Cosby
3. Oprah Winfrey
2. Lucille Ball
1. Johnny Carson

Examples not from list include:
Desi Arnaz
Danny Thomas
Jack Webb
Carl Reiner
Ernie Kovacks
Sheldon Lennard
Norman Lear
The Smothers Brothers
Lorne Michaels
Jack Benny

B) Someone who can be used as an example, role model, metaphor, analogy or punch line.

Examples from list include:
99. Delta Burke
96. Shannen Doherty
95. Richard Dawson
92. Judge Judy
85. Rod Serling
81. Dick Cavett
80. Adam West
74. Joan Rivers
72. Cher
68. Don Cornelius
65. Pamela Anderson
64. Phil Donahue
63. Ed Asner
60. Merv Griffin
55. Fred Rogers AKA Mr. Rogers
54. Florence Henderson
53. Ed McMahon
51. Bob Hope49. Calista Flockhart
47. Simon Cowell
46. Lassie
44. Susan Lucci
40. Sally Field
39. Jennifer Aniston
36. Diahann Carroll
34. Bob Barker
33. Ellen DeGeneres
31. Sarah Jessica Parker
28. Howard Cosell
27. Regis Philbin
26. Farrah Fawcett
23. Barbara Walters
18. William Shatner
14. Ed Sullivan
13. Jackie Gleason
11. Roseanne
10. Dick Clark
9. Homer Simpson
8. Jerry Seinfeld
7. Mary Tyler Moore
5. Walter Cronkite
4. Bill Cosby
3. Oprah Winfrey
2. Lucille Ball
1. Johnny Carson

Examples not from list include:
Donna Reed
Charo
The Gabor sisters
Jack Benny

C) Someone whose TV character can be used as an example, role model, metaphor, analogy or punch line.

Examples from list include:
100. Marcia Cross.
99. Delta Burke
96. Shannen Doherty
93. Neil Patrick Harris
91. Dennis Franz
89. Robert Guillaume
86. Jerry Mathers
85. Rod Serling
82. Ted Knight
78. Art Carney
75. Peter Falk
74. Joan Rivers
70. Bob Denver
61. Pee Wee Herman
58. Don Knotts
52. Ron Howard
50. Larry Hagman
49. Calista Flockhart
42. James Gandolfini
39. Jennifer Aniston
37. George Clooney
32. Henry Winkler
30. Alan Alda
29. John Ritter
24. Michael Landon
20. Carroll O'Connor
19. Andy Griffith
18. William Shatner
13. Jackie Gleason
12. Dick Van Dyke
11. Roseanne
9. Homer Simpson
8. Jerry Seinfeld
4. Bill Cosby
2. Lucille Ball

Examples not from list include:
Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show. With out her there would be no Bree Vandecamp.
Mr. Spock
Dr. Johnny Feaver
Fred Flintstone
Ned Flanders
Jack Benny

D) Someone who has created of redefined a TV genre.

Examples from list include:
85. Rod Serling
81. Dick Cavett
71. Rosie O'Donnell
68. Don Cornelius
64. Phil Donahue
61. Pee Wee Herman
60. Merv Griffin
55. Fred Rogers AKA Mr. Rogers
41. Jon Stewart
36. Diahann Carroll
28. Howard Cosell
27. Regis Philbin
23. Barbara Walters
22. Milton Berle
20. Carroll O'Connor
19. Andy Griffith
16. David Letterman
15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players"
14. Ed Sullivan
13. Jackie Gleason
12. Dick Van Dyke
10. Dick Clark
6. Carol Burnett
5. Walter Cronkite
4. Bill Cosby
3. Oprah Winfrey
2. Lucille Ball
1. Johnny Carson

Examples not from list include:
Desi Arnaz
Danny Thomas
Jack Webb
Carl Reiner
Sheldon Lennard
Ernie Kovacks
Bill Hanna & Joe Barbera
The Smothers Brothers
Norman Lear
Jack Benny

And not forgetting that this is still a business.
E) Someone whose image sells T-shirts, lunch boxes and Pez dispensers.

Examples from list include
86. Jerry Mathers
85. Rod Serling
80. Adam West
72. Cher
71. Rosie O'Donnell
70. Bob Denver
69. Barbara Eden
65. Pamela Anderson
61. Pee Wee Herman
58. Don Knotts
57. Charlie Brown
54. Florence Henderson
53. Ed McMahon
46. Lassie
45. Sarah Michelle Gellar
44. Susan Lucci
43. Flip Wilson
41. Jon Stewart
39. Jennifer Aniston (The Rachel hairstyle also makes her a style icon)
36. Diahann Carroll
32. Henry Winkler
27. Regis Philbin
26. Farrah Fawcett
25. Heather Locklear
24. Michael Landon
22. Milton Berle
21. Kermit
19. Andy Griffith
18. William Shatner
16. David Letterman
15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players"
13. Jackie Gleason
9. Homer Simpson
8. Jerry Seinfeld
4. Bill Cosby

Examples not from list would be incredibly long. I noticed that I added Jack Benny four times and Jack Webb three times. Perhaps the people who put together the list don’t know Jack.
If Jack Benny was alive to see him self not make the list, he might respond with, "Well!" and then probably feel better when he learns that there is no cash value to the honor.

Happy Thanksgiving


Tony Figueroa

Writer's Strike: Day 16 - Coast to Coast

In Hollywood something very big happened but didn't seem to get a lot of media coverage.

"On Hollywood Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon, striking writers were joined by members of such unions as the Screen Actors Guild, Teamsters and Service Employees International Union. The solidarity march drew 4,000 people, according to the Writers Guild of America."

Los Angeles Times November 21, 2007

To Quote Writers Guild negotiation committee Chairman John F. Bowman, "Pay us and we'll shut up and go back to work, Show some soul, we'll show some flexibility."

In New York SNL's Will Forte and Kristen Wiig demonstrate an easy, fun way that fans can take action to support all the WGA writers on strike.

In Solidarity


Tony Figueroa

Dick Wilson, aka Mr. Whipple

Dick Wilson, aka Mr. Whipple died at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was 91. Mr. Wilson's career spanned eight decades and included parts on radio, TV, film and theater, but he was best known for playing a grocer obsessed with keeping housewives from squeezing the Charmin from 1964 to 1981.

We all know Mr. Whipple's famous quote. So lets quote Mr. Wilson from the San Francisco Examiner in 1985, "Everybody says, 'Where did they find you?' I say I was never lost. I've been an actor for 55 years".

Good Night Mr. Wilson

In Solidarity

Tony Figueroa

Writer's Strike Day 12.

On Friday (November 16) I got to see presidential hopeful John Edwards who joined a writers' rally at NBC in Burbank. Also in attendance at the rally were three of the original Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz. How often to you see members of the Writers Guild picket with members of the Lollypop Guild?

Later that evening I attended Story Salon's "Atomic Lounge". Half way through the show I got a message that Writers Guild and the studios will resume talks on Nov. 26. Five minutes later I got a message from SAG with the Hollywood Guild Members: WGA Strike Locations for Monday, Nov. 19 plus Rally & March Location for Tuesday, Nov. 20 . I’m cautiously optimistic.

My quote is in the form of a video from The Screenwriter's Companion's own Joseph Dougherty

In solidarity



Tony Figueroa

Writer's Strike Day 10.

I am so sorry, but due to a conflict, I could not attend "Picketing with the Stars" yesterday. Please know that I was with you in spirit and I was thinking of you often... Especially when I kept seeing the CSI fan plane fly over the valley.

Please read Marisa Guthrie's article STRIKE COVERAGE: Soap Writers Say They Won't Cross Picket Line for Broadcasting & Cable, 11/14/2007. The article talks about a memo sent out yesterday by the Writers Guild of America West contradicting a report printed in Variety that multiple writers on the CBS soap The Young and the Restless had told the guild that they intended to cross the picket lines and go back to work on the Los Angeles-based series. The truth always comes out.

Now here it is, your moment of Zen.

In solidarity


Tony Figueroa