Friends
Matthew Perry
October 22, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Before Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry teamed up in Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, they worked together in Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing.
During the seven season run of The West Wing, Whitford played the knowledgeable, savvy, and cynical but sensitive Josh Lyman -- White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Santos For President Campaign Manager, and White House Chief of Staff.
For three episodes, Perry played White House attorney Joe Quincy.
While interviewing Joe for a position in the White House Counsel’s office, Josh wonders why he has never heard of Joe Quincy, an eminently qualified attorney with experience including a stint in the Solicitor General’s Office.
Josh figures out the mystery -- Joe Quincy is a republican.
He wants to work in public service in a democratic White House because he is in the dog house with his own party. He wrote a memorandum contradictory to the party line on soft money political donations.
With the help of Donna Moss, Josh’s assistant, Joe convinces Josh to hire him.
The interview scene reveals a great chemistry between Whitford and Perry, likely the reason for Sorkin’s casting them in the starring roles of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
On his first day in the new job, Joe Quincy uncovers a massive scandal involving Vice President John Hoynes.
Hoynes told a socialite, Helen Baldwin, that he saw signs of life on Mars in classified reports when he was having an affair with her. He also bragged about a top secret deal involving a Justice Department antitrust settlement with a corporation that resulted in 100,000 computers being given go schools.
Quincy finds out that Baldwin has a book deal. He also discovers phone records that confirm several calls from Hoynes to Baldwin.
Hoynes admits that he likes to show off and Quincy’s investigation results in Hoynes’ resignation of the vice presidency.
And it all takes place on Joe Quincy’s first day at the White House.
Perry’s appearances on The West Wing took place concurrently with his starring role as sarcastic, lovelorn, and wise-cracking Chandler Bing on Friends.
Warner Brothers produced Friends and The West Wing.
david@davidkrell.com
Before Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry teamed up in Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, they worked together in Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing.
During the seven season run of The West Wing, Whitford played the knowledgeable, savvy, and cynical but sensitive Josh Lyman -- White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Santos For President Campaign Manager, and White House Chief of Staff.
For three episodes, Perry played White House attorney Joe Quincy.
While interviewing Joe for a position in the White House Counsel’s office, Josh wonders why he has never heard of Joe Quincy, an eminently qualified attorney with experience including a stint in the Solicitor General’s Office.
Josh figures out the mystery -- Joe Quincy is a republican.
He wants to work in public service in a democratic White House because he is in the dog house with his own party. He wrote a memorandum contradictory to the party line on soft money political donations.
With the help of Donna Moss, Josh’s assistant, Joe convinces Josh to hire him.
The interview scene reveals a great chemistry between Whitford and Perry, likely the reason for Sorkin’s casting them in the starring roles of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
On his first day in the new job, Joe Quincy uncovers a massive scandal involving Vice President John Hoynes.
Hoynes told a socialite, Helen Baldwin, that he saw signs of life on Mars in classified reports when he was having an affair with her. He also bragged about a top secret deal involving a Justice Department antitrust settlement with a corporation that resulted in 100,000 computers being given go schools.
Quincy finds out that Baldwin has a book deal. He also discovers phone records that confirm several calls from Hoynes to Baldwin.
Hoynes admits that he likes to show off and Quincy’s investigation results in Hoynes’ resignation of the vice presidency.
And it all takes place on Joe Quincy’s first day at the White House.
Perry’s appearances on The West Wing took place concurrently with his starring role as sarcastic, lovelorn, and wise-cracking Chandler Bing on Friends.
Warner Brothers produced Friends and The West Wing.
George Clooney
August 25, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
For the first time in fifteen years, ER will not be a part of the NBC Thursday night lineup.
When the show aired its last episode in April of 2009, it left a legacy of excellence that network television will be hard pressed to match.
When the show aired its first episode in September of 1994, it nicely filled the 10:00 pm cleanup hitter spot in Thursday night prime time with sheer dominance. ER steamrolled every program that competed.
And a familiar face found his breakout role.
Not yet a star, but on his way.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's, George Clooney's steady work makes his breakout role of pediatrician Doug Ross on ER seem inevitable in retrospect.
He had a nice run as Falconer, a cop and love interest of Sela Ward's character on Sisters -- Teddy.
He was part of the ensemble cast on the short-lived CBS detective show Bodies of Evidence with Lee Horsley of Matt Houston fame.
And in early episodes of Roseanne, he played Booker Brooks, the boss of Roseanne and Jackie.
When we first meet George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross in the pilot of ER, the setting is Saint Patrick's Day 1994 in Chicago.
And he is drunk with a shift starting in a few hours.
Dr. Mark Greene, Chief Resident and Doug's friend, treats Doug with an IV to sober him.
Beyond a drinking problem, Doug Ross is a womanizer.
He cheats on his girlfriend, Nurse Carol Hathaway, played by Julianna Marguiles.
She attempts suicide in the pilot with a drug overdose. Unclear is the motive, though the fractured relationship with Doug could be a contender.
Also debuting on NBC in September of 1994, Friends immediately captured the hearts and minds of America.
Three commonalities exist between the two shows.
First, a cross-promotion of sorts took place that inaugural year with George Clooney and co-star Noah Wyle guest starring on an episode of Friends as New York City hospital doctors.
Second, besides airing on NBC, Friends and ER had another production factor in common. Warner Brothers produced both shows.
And third, both shows featured a character with similar names. Dr. Mark Greene's daughter was Rachel Greene. She was a recurring character on ER while Jennifer Aniston starred on Friends as Rachel Green.
In 1999, Doug Ross leaves County General in Chicago for Seattle, not knowing that Carol is pregnant by him with twin girls.
The real-life reason was George Clooney's pursuit of a full-time film career after starring in films including One Fine Day and Batman and Robin.
Carol later realizes that Doug is her soul mate and she leaves for Seattle to be with him.
In this pivotal episode, George Clooney makes a cameo at the end, welcoming Carol.
Warner Brothers kept the guest appearance a secret, so NBC was unable to promote it.
Clooney shot the cameo appearance on location in Massachusetts where he was shooting The Perfect Storm.
Clooney and Marguiles reprised their ER roles in an episode towards the end of the series. Still happily married, they were unwittingly involved in the donation of a kidney that went to a former colleague -- Dr. John Carter, played by Noah Wyle.
david@davidkrell.com
For the first time in fifteen years, ER will not be a part of the NBC Thursday night lineup.
When the show aired its last episode in April of 2009, it left a legacy of excellence that network television will be hard pressed to match.
When the show aired its first episode in September of 1994, it nicely filled the 10:00 pm cleanup hitter spot in Thursday night prime time with sheer dominance. ER steamrolled every program that competed.
And a familiar face found his breakout role.
Not yet a star, but on his way.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's, George Clooney's steady work makes his breakout role of pediatrician Doug Ross on ER seem inevitable in retrospect.
He had a nice run as Falconer, a cop and love interest of Sela Ward's character on Sisters -- Teddy.
He was part of the ensemble cast on the short-lived CBS detective show Bodies of Evidence with Lee Horsley of Matt Houston fame.
And in early episodes of Roseanne, he played Booker Brooks, the boss of Roseanne and Jackie.
When we first meet George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross in the pilot of ER, the setting is Saint Patrick's Day 1994 in Chicago.
And he is drunk with a shift starting in a few hours.
Dr. Mark Greene, Chief Resident and Doug's friend, treats Doug with an IV to sober him.
Beyond a drinking problem, Doug Ross is a womanizer.
He cheats on his girlfriend, Nurse Carol Hathaway, played by Julianna Marguiles.
She attempts suicide in the pilot with a drug overdose. Unclear is the motive, though the fractured relationship with Doug could be a contender.
Also debuting on NBC in September of 1994, Friends immediately captured the hearts and minds of America.
Three commonalities exist between the two shows.
First, a cross-promotion of sorts took place that inaugural year with George Clooney and co-star Noah Wyle guest starring on an episode of Friends as New York City hospital doctors.
Second, besides airing on NBC, Friends and ER had another production factor in common. Warner Brothers produced both shows.
And third, both shows featured a character with similar names. Dr. Mark Greene's daughter was Rachel Greene. She was a recurring character on ER while Jennifer Aniston starred on Friends as Rachel Green.
In 1999, Doug Ross leaves County General in Chicago for Seattle, not knowing that Carol is pregnant by him with twin girls.
The real-life reason was George Clooney's pursuit of a full-time film career after starring in films including One Fine Day and Batman and Robin.
Carol later realizes that Doug is her soul mate and she leaves for Seattle to be with him.
In this pivotal episode, George Clooney makes a cameo at the end, welcoming Carol.
Warner Brothers kept the guest appearance a secret, so NBC was unable to promote it.
Clooney shot the cameo appearance on location in Massachusetts where he was shooting The Perfect Storm.
Clooney and Marguiles reprised their ER roles in an episode towards the end of the series. Still happily married, they were unwittingly involved in the donation of a kidney that went to a former colleague -- Dr. John Carter, played by Noah Wyle.
The Ultimate TV Network
July 21, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
If I created the ultimate television network, the prime time program lineup would probably look like this:
On Sunday, I would start with the legends. I Love Lucy at 8:00pm followed by The Jack Benny Program at 8:30pm.
The pairing makes sense since Lucille Ball and Jack Benny were not only show business icons, but also neighbors in real life. They lived next door to each other on North Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills.
Then, we turn to the rural heavyweights. The Andy Griffith Show at 9:00pm and The Beverly Hillbillies at 9:30pm.
Sunday nights should be nice and easy, after all. And what's nicer and easier than our friends in Mayberry and the hillbilly transplants to the land of Rodeo Drive?
At 10:00pm, The Sopranos.
On Monday nights, I would pair The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Tyler Moore in the 8 o'clock hour, followed by M*A*S*H and Murphy Brown in the 9 o'clock hour.
At 10:00pm, St. Elsewhere.
Tuesday nights would start with family comedy. The Cosby Show and Family Ties 8:00pm and 8:30pm respectively.
Everybody Loves Raymond at 9:00pm and Two and a Half Men at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Law & Order.
Wednesday nights would start with sophistication.
Frasier at 8:00pm and The Odd Couple at 8:30pm. I'm sure Felix Unger would have enjoyed talking wine, opera, and art with the Crane brothers.
The 9 o'clock hour would consist of You'll Never Get Rich starring Phil Silvers as Sergeant Bilko and The Twilight Zone.
At 10:00pm, Hill Street Blues.
Of course, Thursday nights would truly be Must See TV with Cheers, Taxi, Seinfeld, and Friends followed by ER at 10:00pm.
Friday night would be another family-friendly night, starting with The Brady Bunch at 8:00pm and The Wonder Years at 8:30pm.
At 9:00pm, Friday Night Lights, a depiction of a west Texas town obsessed with high school football.
At 10:00pm, The Wire.
Saturday night begins with cartoons.
The Simpsons at 8:00pm and King of the Hill at 8:30pm.
The Honeymooners at 9:00pm and Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Homicide: Life on the Street, an undervalued, underrated, and underwatched program during its tenure on NBC in the 1990's.
Reasonable minds can differ.
Should Happy Days be in the lineup instead of The Brady Bunch?
What about L.A. Law, thirtysomething, Scrubs, or All in the Family?
What's the standard for making the linuep?
All good questions.
For now, it's merely instinctive.
Programs can be replaced.
Or I can start another network.
david@davidkrell.com
If I created the ultimate television network, the prime time program lineup would probably look like this:
On Sunday, I would start with the legends. I Love Lucy at 8:00pm followed by The Jack Benny Program at 8:30pm.
The pairing makes sense since Lucille Ball and Jack Benny were not only show business icons, but also neighbors in real life. They lived next door to each other on North Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills.
Then, we turn to the rural heavyweights. The Andy Griffith Show at 9:00pm and The Beverly Hillbillies at 9:30pm.
Sunday nights should be nice and easy, after all. And what's nicer and easier than our friends in Mayberry and the hillbilly transplants to the land of Rodeo Drive?
At 10:00pm, The Sopranos.
On Monday nights, I would pair The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Tyler Moore in the 8 o'clock hour, followed by M*A*S*H and Murphy Brown in the 9 o'clock hour.
At 10:00pm, St. Elsewhere.
Tuesday nights would start with family comedy. The Cosby Show and Family Ties 8:00pm and 8:30pm respectively.
Everybody Loves Raymond at 9:00pm and Two and a Half Men at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Law & Order.
Wednesday nights would start with sophistication.
Frasier at 8:00pm and The Odd Couple at 8:30pm. I'm sure Felix Unger would have enjoyed talking wine, opera, and art with the Crane brothers.
The 9 o'clock hour would consist of You'll Never Get Rich starring Phil Silvers as Sergeant Bilko and The Twilight Zone.
At 10:00pm, Hill Street Blues.
Of course, Thursday nights would truly be Must See TV with Cheers, Taxi, Seinfeld, and Friends followed by ER at 10:00pm.
Friday night would be another family-friendly night, starting with The Brady Bunch at 8:00pm and The Wonder Years at 8:30pm.
At 9:00pm, Friday Night Lights, a depiction of a west Texas town obsessed with high school football.
At 10:00pm, The Wire.
Saturday night begins with cartoons.
The Simpsons at 8:00pm and King of the Hill at 8:30pm.
The Honeymooners at 9:00pm and Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Homicide: Life on the Street, an undervalued, underrated, and underwatched program during its tenure on NBC in the 1990's.
Reasonable minds can differ.
Should Happy Days be in the lineup instead of The Brady Bunch?
What about L.A. Law, thirtysomething, Scrubs, or All in the Family?
What's the standard for making the linuep?
All good questions.
For now, it's merely instinctive.
Programs can be replaced.
Or I can start another network.
Heeere's Conan!
May 29, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Tonight is Jay Leno's last night as host of The Tonight Show.
Leno enjoyed great success because of his immense dedication to the craft of comedy, a Must See TV lineup lead-in with powerhouses Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Friends, Seinfeld, and ER, and a 1995 appearance by Hugh Grant after his arrest for soliciting a prostitute that turbocharged ratings.
But great success came with a cost. Leno's tenure at The Tonight Show will be forever marked by intense competition with Late Show with David Letterman preceded by the confusion over which comedian would succeed Johnny Carson. Additionally, the furor created by Leno's manager Helen Kushnick when she was the initial Executive Producer of The Tonight Show triggered her dismissal only four months into the show. A seventeen-year relationship between the likable comedian and tough entertainment manager evaporated. This, after building Jay Leno's career, increasing his exposure, and taking him from small clubs to the most coveted job in comedy.
Leno will be gone from late night after tonight's broadcast, but not from NBC. In a few months, we will see him on prime time as the host of a Monday-Friday 10:00 pm show (9:00 pm in the Midwest).
Ironically, this is the same time slot that NBC offered to David Letterman after they gave The Tonight Show to Jay Leno. Letterman refused and went to CBS.
A Jay Leno talk-variety show in prime time will be cheaper to produce with more original shows than a drama. But is NBC foregoing potential licensing dollars by not investing in a drama?
To put a spin on a well-known phrase, prime time will tell.
Conan O'Brien takes the baton of The Tonight Show on Monday, June 1st.
david@davidkrell.com
Tonight is Jay Leno's last night as host of The Tonight Show.
Leno enjoyed great success because of his immense dedication to the craft of comedy, a Must See TV lineup lead-in with powerhouses Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Friends, Seinfeld, and ER, and a 1995 appearance by Hugh Grant after his arrest for soliciting a prostitute that turbocharged ratings.
But great success came with a cost. Leno's tenure at The Tonight Show will be forever marked by intense competition with Late Show with David Letterman preceded by the confusion over which comedian would succeed Johnny Carson. Additionally, the furor created by Leno's manager Helen Kushnick when she was the initial Executive Producer of The Tonight Show triggered her dismissal only four months into the show. A seventeen-year relationship between the likable comedian and tough entertainment manager evaporated. This, after building Jay Leno's career, increasing his exposure, and taking him from small clubs to the most coveted job in comedy.
Leno will be gone from late night after tonight's broadcast, but not from NBC. In a few months, we will see him on prime time as the host of a Monday-Friday 10:00 pm show (9:00 pm in the Midwest).
Ironically, this is the same time slot that NBC offered to David Letterman after they gave The Tonight Show to Jay Leno. Letterman refused and went to CBS.
A Jay Leno talk-variety show in prime time will be cheaper to produce with more original shows than a drama. But is NBC foregoing potential licensing dollars by not investing in a drama?
To put a spin on a well-known phrase, prime time will tell.
Conan O'Brien takes the baton of The Tonight Show on Monday, June 1st.
John Stamos
May 28, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
John Stamos has a deep television resume indicative of an actor destined for television icon status enjoyed by the likes of Robert Urich and Tony Danza.
Starting in daytime television, Stamos earned his heartthrob stripes in the early 1980's as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital.
In 1984, Stamos tackled prime time with Dreams, a short-lived CBS show about a rock and roll group trying to get its big break.
Later in the Reagan decade, Stamos partnered with veteran television actor Jack Klugman in You Again?, an NBC sitcom about a teenager who moves into his father's home after a long estrangement.
You Again? lasted one season.
The third prime time's a charm.
Stamos struck gold with Full House, an ABC sitcom that served as an anchor for the alphabet network's TGIF lineup.
The three father figures on Full House present distinct personalities. Bob Saget plays Danny Tanner, the actual father of the three daughters on the show.
Danny is the practical one.
Dave Coulier plays Joey Gladstone.
Joey is the childlike one.
Stamos plays Uncle Jesse.
Jesse is the creative one. Following his musical background, Stamos infused his character with a musical bent.
Full House lasted eight years, from 1987 to 1995.
Stamos' post-Full House television work includes the short-lived 2001 entry Thieves and Jake In Progress, a one hour drama with strong comedy elements that debuted in 2005.
Jake In Progress stars Stamos in the title role as a successful New York City publicist who reexamines his approach to women, that is to say, his womanizing.
Even a terrific supporting cast did not provide enough fuel to let Jake progress on his journey of finding his other half, his soulmate, his counterpart. Wendie Malick of Just Shoot Me and Dream On plays Stamos' boss.
After a guest spot on Friends in 2003, Stamos joined the cast of NBC's long-running drama ER as Tony Gates, Initially a recurring character, Gates became a fixture at Cook County General Hospital. Initially a paramedic, Gates became a doctor.
Stamos also appears in the 2007 HBO documentary Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project. He joins a roster of legendary interviewees, including the Smothers Brothers, Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Martin Scorsese, Regis Philbin, Jay Leno, Debbie Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, and Carl Reiner.
Stamos talks kindly about Rickles' impact on younger entertainers. He expands his comments to include others of Rickles' generation.
In a separate interview, Stamos' Full House co-star Bob Saget also appears on the documentary. And the two separately square off with some choice comments about each other. In essence, Saget claims that Stamos simply kisses the ring of Rickles, to put the phrase euphemestically.
John Stamos has a resume that is synonymous with television. One major hit in the form of Full House has not made him a one-hit wonder. Although his characters don't always know how to go about doing the right thing, they always want to do the right thing. They try. Which is just about all you can ask for.
david@davidkrell.com
John Stamos has a deep television resume indicative of an actor destined for television icon status enjoyed by the likes of Robert Urich and Tony Danza.
Starting in daytime television, Stamos earned his heartthrob stripes in the early 1980's as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital.
In 1984, Stamos tackled prime time with Dreams, a short-lived CBS show about a rock and roll group trying to get its big break.
Later in the Reagan decade, Stamos partnered with veteran television actor Jack Klugman in You Again?, an NBC sitcom about a teenager who moves into his father's home after a long estrangement.
You Again? lasted one season.
The third prime time's a charm.
Stamos struck gold with Full House, an ABC sitcom that served as an anchor for the alphabet network's TGIF lineup.
The three father figures on Full House present distinct personalities. Bob Saget plays Danny Tanner, the actual father of the three daughters on the show.
Danny is the practical one.
Dave Coulier plays Joey Gladstone.
Joey is the childlike one.
Stamos plays Uncle Jesse.
Jesse is the creative one. Following his musical background, Stamos infused his character with a musical bent.
Full House lasted eight years, from 1987 to 1995.
Stamos' post-Full House television work includes the short-lived 2001 entry Thieves and Jake In Progress, a one hour drama with strong comedy elements that debuted in 2005.
Jake In Progress stars Stamos in the title role as a successful New York City publicist who reexamines his approach to women, that is to say, his womanizing.
Even a terrific supporting cast did not provide enough fuel to let Jake progress on his journey of finding his other half, his soulmate, his counterpart. Wendie Malick of Just Shoot Me and Dream On plays Stamos' boss.
After a guest spot on Friends in 2003, Stamos joined the cast of NBC's long-running drama ER as Tony Gates, Initially a recurring character, Gates became a fixture at Cook County General Hospital. Initially a paramedic, Gates became a doctor.
Stamos also appears in the 2007 HBO documentary Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project. He joins a roster of legendary interviewees, including the Smothers Brothers, Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Martin Scorsese, Regis Philbin, Jay Leno, Debbie Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, and Carl Reiner.
Stamos talks kindly about Rickles' impact on younger entertainers. He expands his comments to include others of Rickles' generation.
In a separate interview, Stamos' Full House co-star Bob Saget also appears on the documentary. And the two separately square off with some choice comments about each other. In essence, Saget claims that Stamos simply kisses the ring of Rickles, to put the phrase euphemestically.
John Stamos has a resume that is synonymous with television. One major hit in the form of Full House has not made him a one-hit wonder. Although his characters don't always know how to go about doing the right thing, they always want to do the right thing. They try. Which is just about all you can ask for.
Have No Fear, Hulu Is Here!
May 18, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Greetings from Seattle! Home of Dr. Frasier Crane, Seattle Grace Hospital, and the 1992 film Singles that inspired the Generation X-themed powerhouse sitcom Friends.
Seattle is also home to the 2009 International Trademark Association's Annual Meeting. Approximately 8,000 trademark owners, attorneys, and branding executives come to the Annual Meeting to discuss their challenges, experiences, and solutions in being the guardians of their respective brands.
Besides providing unparalleled education, INTA's Annual Meeting has networking around the clock. And you never know who you're going to meet.
At the opening reception last night, I met the attorney from Loeb & Loeb who handles the Green Hornet character. A movie featuring the Green Hornet is in pre-production. Seth Rogen is set to star.
After months of telephone conference calls, I met the leader of our workshop group for INTA's 2010 Annual Meeting in Boston where I will have the privilege of being a faculty member. I will tailor my Write This Way 2.0 workshop for an INTA writing workshop featuring panelists from the Jackson Walker law firm and General Electric.
I chatted with Alan Drewsen, Executive Director of INTA. A couple of weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to pre-tape an interview with Mr. Drewsen for TV Confidential. The interview will air on a future program.
And I also had a brush with celebrity when I met supermodel turned brand owner Elle Macpherson at the Loeb & Loeb dessert reception. Read today's blog entry at Write This Way 2.0 for more about Ms. Macpherson's Keynote Speech at last night's opening ceremony.
The networking continues tonight. I put together a group of eight people to go to the Mariners vs. Angels game.
Baseball and INTA is a tradition for me. Luckily, I've been able to combine my passion for baseball with my passion for intellectual property.
In 2005, INTA held its Annual Meeting in San Diego. A fellow INTA attendee and I had a steak dinner and went to a Padres game with her mom.
In 2006, we repeated the cycle at INTA's Annual Meeting in Toronto. We went to two Blue Jays games at the Skydome -- one with the roof retracted, one with the roof in service.
In 2007, INTA's Annual Meeting took place in Chicago. The White Sox were in town. The tradition continued.
2008 can be classified as N/A because the Annual Meeting occurred in Berlin, Germany.
And the tradition continues tonight.
Only this time we've extended the group.
Next year, the Annual Meeting is in Boston. My friend, a devoted citizen of Red Sox Nation, hopes the Red Sox will play at home during the 2010 Annual Meeting and allow us to keep pace with our tradition.
While I'm looking forward to the game, I'm also going to miss tonight's Season Finale of 24. Will Kim Bauer escape from the creepy couple at the airport? Will Tony Almeida break under interrogation techniques that he knows about and maybe even helped invent? Will the president's daughter get arrested for her participation in Jonas Hodges' murder?
After four months of not missing an episode this season, I may have to read about the Season Finale on the Internet. Not exactly the same as watching it.
At least that's what I thought until I discovered hulu.com puts episodes of 24 on its site the day after the episodes air. So, I'll be a few hours behind the rest of the world in seeing how Jack Bauer solves his latest crisis. But I'll see it.
The convergence of television and the Internet takes a massive step forward in hulu.com. The site provides television programming with limited commercial interruption. Full-scaled programs, not the clips of ten minutes or less that you see on YouTube.
By the way, hulu.com doesn't just post episodes from current series -- Lost, House, 24. There's also a nice offering of shows from decades past -- Charlie's Angels, The White Shadow.
Will appointment television be a thing of the past because of hulu.com and potential similar sites and business models yet to be created?
Stay tuned.
david@davidkrell.com
Greetings from Seattle! Home of Dr. Frasier Crane, Seattle Grace Hospital, and the 1992 film Singles that inspired the Generation X-themed powerhouse sitcom Friends.
Seattle is also home to the 2009 International Trademark Association's Annual Meeting. Approximately 8,000 trademark owners, attorneys, and branding executives come to the Annual Meeting to discuss their challenges, experiences, and solutions in being the guardians of their respective brands.
Besides providing unparalleled education, INTA's Annual Meeting has networking around the clock. And you never know who you're going to meet.
At the opening reception last night, I met the attorney from Loeb & Loeb who handles the Green Hornet character. A movie featuring the Green Hornet is in pre-production. Seth Rogen is set to star.
After months of telephone conference calls, I met the leader of our workshop group for INTA's 2010 Annual Meeting in Boston where I will have the privilege of being a faculty member. I will tailor my Write This Way 2.0 workshop for an INTA writing workshop featuring panelists from the Jackson Walker law firm and General Electric.
I chatted with Alan Drewsen, Executive Director of INTA. A couple of weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to pre-tape an interview with Mr. Drewsen for TV Confidential. The interview will air on a future program.
And I also had a brush with celebrity when I met supermodel turned brand owner Elle Macpherson at the Loeb & Loeb dessert reception. Read today's blog entry at Write This Way 2.0 for more about Ms. Macpherson's Keynote Speech at last night's opening ceremony.
The networking continues tonight. I put together a group of eight people to go to the Mariners vs. Angels game.
Baseball and INTA is a tradition for me. Luckily, I've been able to combine my passion for baseball with my passion for intellectual property.
In 2005, INTA held its Annual Meeting in San Diego. A fellow INTA attendee and I had a steak dinner and went to a Padres game with her mom.
In 2006, we repeated the cycle at INTA's Annual Meeting in Toronto. We went to two Blue Jays games at the Skydome -- one with the roof retracted, one with the roof in service.
In 2007, INTA's Annual Meeting took place in Chicago. The White Sox were in town. The tradition continued.
2008 can be classified as N/A because the Annual Meeting occurred in Berlin, Germany.
And the tradition continues tonight.
Only this time we've extended the group.
Next year, the Annual Meeting is in Boston. My friend, a devoted citizen of Red Sox Nation, hopes the Red Sox will play at home during the 2010 Annual Meeting and allow us to keep pace with our tradition.
While I'm looking forward to the game, I'm also going to miss tonight's Season Finale of 24. Will Kim Bauer escape from the creepy couple at the airport? Will Tony Almeida break under interrogation techniques that he knows about and maybe even helped invent? Will the president's daughter get arrested for her participation in Jonas Hodges' murder?
After four months of not missing an episode this season, I may have to read about the Season Finale on the Internet. Not exactly the same as watching it.
At least that's what I thought until I discovered hulu.com puts episodes of 24 on its site the day after the episodes air. So, I'll be a few hours behind the rest of the world in seeing how Jack Bauer solves his latest crisis. But I'll see it.
The convergence of television and the Internet takes a massive step forward in hulu.com. The site provides television programming with limited commercial interruption. Full-scaled programs, not the clips of ten minutes or less that you see on YouTube.
By the way, hulu.com doesn't just post episodes from current series -- Lost, House, 24. There's also a nice offering of shows from decades past -- Charlie's Angels, The White Shadow.
Will appointment television be a thing of the past because of hulu.com and potential similar sites and business models yet to be created?
Stay tuned.
Numbers
April 10, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Numbers play important roles in television.
Nielsen ratings determine whether programs live or die.
There’s a show on CBS actually called Numbers because it deals with a mathematical approach to solving crimes.
But what about numerical references in the actual television shows?
Let’s take a journey on one through ten.
Titles:
The Single Guy.
The Odd Couple.
Three’s Company.
Number of characters:
Four seems to be a magic number.
4-A. Classic sitcoms. I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Seinfeld, and Will & Grace all share a striking similarity: four major characters in a New York apartment.
4-B. Law & Order. The longest running network drama has four major characters, two detectives and two assistant district attorneys. Purists might argue the number is six because of the police lieutenant and the D.A., however, most of the scenes appear to use some combination of the aforementioned four.
4-C. HBO’s Entourage uses four primary characters -- a movie star, his half-brother and his two friends.
Five children on The Partridge Family.
Six on The Brady Bunch. NBC’s powerhouse sitcom Friends also had six major characters.
Seven is interesting.
It was the name George Costanza chose for his future offspring on Seinfeld. Unfortunately, it lost significance when the pregnant cousin of George’s fiancé Susan took it for her newborn baby.
Seven was also the name of a child the Bundys adopted on Married With Children. Then, like Chuck Cunningham, he just wasn’t there one day, though he was referenced briefly in a dream sequence when Kelly had to empty her brain of useless information and a picture of Seven floated by.
Back to titles.
Eight is Enough.
The Nine.
Just the Ten of Us.
Numbers can play an important part in the plot line of a show. In Lost, the following numbers have terrific significance: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42.
First, they’re Hurley’s winning lottery numbers.
Second, they’re on the bottle of medication that Desmond takes.
Third, they’re the numbers Desmond has to enter into the computer every 108 minutes. Coincidentally, or maybe not, the numbers total 108 when added together.
When he didn’t, he triggered a reaction that caused an Oceanic Airlines flight from Sydney to Los Angeles to crash on the island. The numbers have also appeared individually or in some combination throughout the series. For example, the Oceanic flight number is 815.
Numbers.
They’re not just for Nielsen ratings anymore.
david@davidkrell.com
Numbers play important roles in television.
Nielsen ratings determine whether programs live or die.
There’s a show on CBS actually called Numbers because it deals with a mathematical approach to solving crimes.
But what about numerical references in the actual television shows?
Let’s take a journey on one through ten.
Titles:
The Single Guy.
The Odd Couple.
Three’s Company.
Number of characters:
Four seems to be a magic number.
4-A. Classic sitcoms. I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Seinfeld, and Will & Grace all share a striking similarity: four major characters in a New York apartment.
4-B. Law & Order. The longest running network drama has four major characters, two detectives and two assistant district attorneys. Purists might argue the number is six because of the police lieutenant and the D.A., however, most of the scenes appear to use some combination of the aforementioned four.
4-C. HBO’s Entourage uses four primary characters -- a movie star, his half-brother and his two friends.
Five children on The Partridge Family.
Six on The Brady Bunch. NBC’s powerhouse sitcom Friends also had six major characters.
Seven is interesting.
It was the name George Costanza chose for his future offspring on Seinfeld. Unfortunately, it lost significance when the pregnant cousin of George’s fiancé Susan took it for her newborn baby.
Seven was also the name of a child the Bundys adopted on Married With Children. Then, like Chuck Cunningham, he just wasn’t there one day, though he was referenced briefly in a dream sequence when Kelly had to empty her brain of useless information and a picture of Seven floated by.
Back to titles.
Eight is Enough.
The Nine.
Just the Ten of Us.
Numbers can play an important part in the plot line of a show. In Lost, the following numbers have terrific significance: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42.
First, they’re Hurley’s winning lottery numbers.
Second, they’re on the bottle of medication that Desmond takes.
Third, they’re the numbers Desmond has to enter into the computer every 108 minutes. Coincidentally, or maybe not, the numbers total 108 when added together.
When he didn’t, he triggered a reaction that caused an Oceanic Airlines flight from Sydney to Los Angeles to crash on the island. The numbers have also appeared individually or in some combination throughout the series. For example, the Oceanic flight number is 815.
Numbers.
They’re not just for Nielsen ratings anymore.