As My So-Called Life nears its 30th anniversary, Executive Producer Ed Zwick took a walk down memory lane Saturday to remind folks about working on the before-its-time drama that starred Claire Danes.
In a long X thread, Zwick shared an “origin story” about how he was first drawn to the work of Winnie Holzman before he would end up co-EPing her script with longtime producing partner Marshall Herskovitz. Zwick chronicles his work on My So-Called Life, as well as thirtysomething, The Last Samurai and Glory in his upcoming book “Hits, Flops and Other Illusions,” out in February.
“Kristy McNichol played ‘Buddy,’ an adolescent girl on ABC-tv’s Family,” Zwick began. “I’d write surly teenage dialogue and get network notes on my scripts with the initials N.O.B. meaning “not our Buddy.” I vowed someday I’d get to portray real adolescence.”
“Marshall wrote a provocative pilot for Showtime called “Secret Seventeen” about unruly,...
In a long X thread, Zwick shared an “origin story” about how he was first drawn to the work of Winnie Holzman before he would end up co-EPing her script with longtime producing partner Marshall Herskovitz. Zwick chronicles his work on My So-Called Life, as well as thirtysomething, The Last Samurai and Glory in his upcoming book “Hits, Flops and Other Illusions,” out in February.
“Kristy McNichol played ‘Buddy,’ an adolescent girl on ABC-tv’s Family,” Zwick began. “I’d write surly teenage dialogue and get network notes on my scripts with the initials N.O.B. meaning “not our Buddy.” I vowed someday I’d get to portray real adolescence.”
“Marshall wrote a provocative pilot for Showtime called “Secret Seventeen” about unruly,...
- 12/23/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Bubble Trouble, the financial podcast that dives into the uncomfortable truths behind the financial market, publishes its 100th episode today. To mark the occasion, hosts economist and author Will Page and independent analyst Richard Kramer conduct a special interview with former Enron CFO Andy Fastow. Enron went from America's 7th largest company to bankrupt within a year at the turn of the millennium.
- 11/27/2023
- by PodcastingToday
- Podcastingtoday
HBO is turning yet another book into a TV show. The network is developing a comedy series based on These Things Happen, a novel by TV writer-producer Richard Kramer (Thirtysomething, My So-Called Life). Released last fall, These Things tells the story of two couples—one gay, one straight—who live in Manhattan and share a 15-year-old son, Wesley. While Wesley mostly lives with his mother and doctor stepfather, he moves in with his father and his longtime partner for a semester to try to get to know him and his best friend, Theo, who just came out. And that’s ...
- 10/3/2013
- avclub.com
Exclusive: HBO has put in development These Things Happen, a half-hour comedy based on the first novel by TV writer-producer Richard Kramer (Thirtysomething, My So-Called Life). The pay cable network has optioned the book, published last fall, for the comedy project, which will be produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Prods. under the company’s deal at HBO. Kramer will write the script and executive produce. These Things Happen is set in present day Manhattan and focuses on two couples – one gay, one straight. They share a 15-year-old son, who lives on the upper East Side with his mother and doctor stepfather. Trying to get to know his impressive, distant father better, he moves in for a semester with him and his long-time partner who forms an instant friendship with the boy.
- 10/2/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
AP the inventor of Etch-a-Sketch has died. If I still had one still, i would draw you the saddest frown right now. Unhappy about this!
YouTube "Upside Downton Abbey" via Sesame Street
Playbill interviews Sebastian Stan who has now made a name for himself on all three actors mediums: film, tv, and stage (with Picnic, previously discussed)
BuzzFeed why The Amazing Spider-Man sequel will prove to be a bizarro version of Spider-Man 3
Comics Alliance this made me lol'an extensive discussion of Batman punching animals'
Salon Richard Kramer remembers his mentor Pauline Kael
/Film Matthew Modine has had his diaries from Full Metal Jacket made into an iPad App. Great idea.
Carpetbagger Wreck-It Ralph scores at the Annie Awards
Empire Johnny Depp might finally play a non cartoon again. He could attend Black Mass, a true story crime drama, with Barry Levinson directing. He's done this genre before to varying...
YouTube "Upside Downton Abbey" via Sesame Street
Playbill interviews Sebastian Stan who has now made a name for himself on all three actors mediums: film, tv, and stage (with Picnic, previously discussed)
BuzzFeed why The Amazing Spider-Man sequel will prove to be a bizarro version of Spider-Man 3
Comics Alliance this made me lol'an extensive discussion of Batman punching animals'
Salon Richard Kramer remembers his mentor Pauline Kael
/Film Matthew Modine has had his diaries from Full Metal Jacket made into an iPad App. Great idea.
Carpetbagger Wreck-It Ralph scores at the Annie Awards
Empire Johnny Depp might finally play a non cartoon again. He could attend Black Mass, a true story crime drama, with Barry Levinson directing. He's done this genre before to varying...
- 2/4/2013
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Even if you watched it, it's unlikely you'll ever remember the 90s supernatural horror/fantasy series Chiller originally shown in 1995 on ITV; There's a good reason for that. Recognisable writers and well-respected British actors make everything look good on paper, but watching the five episodes suggests they were nothing more than early pre-fame career-building work for the majority of the cast.
Set in London and flashing back to a Ouija board séance, Prophecy is the opening story. As Francesca's friends drop around her, she comes to realise her new boyfriend's son, Edward, may have something to do with the tragic bout of accidents. Prophecy relies on the lead's Catholic religion and her boyfriend's (Nigel Havers) family history. As a sadist and paedophile, Marquis Francis Halkin is the “black sheep” of the family and somehow young Edward seems psychically linked to him. The eerie Halkin family motto “Non Omnis Moriar” (“I...
Set in London and flashing back to a Ouija board séance, Prophecy is the opening story. As Francesca's friends drop around her, she comes to realise her new boyfriend's son, Edward, may have something to do with the tragic bout of accidents. Prophecy relies on the lead's Catholic religion and her boyfriend's (Nigel Havers) family history. As a sadist and paedophile, Marquis Francis Halkin is the “black sheep” of the family and somehow young Edward seems psychically linked to him. The eerie Halkin family motto “Non Omnis Moriar” (“I...
- 2/28/2011
- Shadowlocked
All Paramount is likely to get for Christmas from this kids' feature is a pleasing yuppie demographic -- not many happy kid viewers but the titters of approval from all the right adults, with all the right toys. Too bad it's not for the Thursday night time slot watched by the oat bran and Beemer crowd; as a movie, the only thing it's likely to generate on Saturday afternoons is long bathroom lines of bored kids.
Still, it's tempting to praise Paramount for realizing it doesn't take a couple of years to crank out a back-lot movie. But expeditious excellence cannot overcome tired scriptwriting. While its Christmas boxoffice stocking may be pretty much limited to lumps of coal, the captivating title alone will ensure rentals.
Unfortunately, kids aren't going to sit through this thing unless an authority figure is camped right next to them to ensure attention -- it's goody-goody and it's boring.
The story of two WASPy rich kids who miss their father (their parents are divorced), ''All I Want for Christmas'' is a modern-day family story in which, typically, the family is a bit broken. But Mom Harley Jane Kozak) still loves Dad (Jamey Sheridan) although he's been going through a midlife crisis, presumably some sort of lost-youth thing since he's established a 1950s restaurant.
Anyway, the kids want him back; indeed, he's a definite improvement over Mom's current beau, a financial geek.
Certainly, getting the family back together for Christmas is a laudable narrative goal, but screenwriters Thom Eberhardt and Richard Kramer have concocted a movie that is more wishy-washy adult melodrama than a thoughtful, robust kid's movie.
All too often, the dialogue is stilted way beyond the kids' years, while the drama itself all too often replicates big people's movies -- discussions about modern art, restaurants, relationships -- all the neurotic stuff of the self-absorbed set.
Worst of all, the two lead characters are not likely to generate much empathy from the kid crowd: the boy is bland and the girl is a prissy, butt-in-front-of-the-line twit.
And it's not simply because they're children of privilege. John Hughes' tykes are privileged but are full of beans and all the crackling stuff that kids love. It's because there's a decidedly silver-spoonish quality to the writing that tarnishes the heartfelt potential of this project.
Although the story line does accelerate into a pleasing high-speed ruse that the kids orchestrate to get the parents back together, it's not particularly involving or even logically clear.
Under Robert Lieberman's cautious and static direction, ''All I Want for Christmas'' comes across as a movie package overwrapped by the Correctness Council. Those great nutrients, slapstick and visual humor, are kept to a maddeningly minimal level (the only positive kid audience reactions came here) and can't quite burst the film's hoity-toity bubble.
Among the players, Lauren Bacall is a delight as the acerbic grandma; Harley Jane Kozak is well-cast as the patrician mom, while Leslie Nielsen is wasted as a nondescript Santa.
Tech contributions, despite some obvious mattes, are up to snuff with special praise to Bruce Broughton for the energetic, traditional score.
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
Paramount
Producer Marykay Powell
Director Robert Lieberman
Screenwriters Thom Eberhardt, Richard Kramer
Executive producer Stan Rogow
Director of photography Robbie Greenberg
Production designer Herman Zimmerman
Editors Peter E. Berger, Dean Goodhill
Co-producer Vicky Herman
Costume designer Nolan Miller
Music Bruce Broughton
Casting Judith Holstra
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Ethan O'Fallon Ethan Randall
Hallie O'Fallon Thora Birch
Catherine O'Fallon Harley Jane Kozak
Michael O'Fallon Jamey Sheridan
Stephanie Amy Oberer
Lillian Brooks Lauren Bacall
Santa Leslie Nielsen
Running time -- 92 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
Still, it's tempting to praise Paramount for realizing it doesn't take a couple of years to crank out a back-lot movie. But expeditious excellence cannot overcome tired scriptwriting. While its Christmas boxoffice stocking may be pretty much limited to lumps of coal, the captivating title alone will ensure rentals.
Unfortunately, kids aren't going to sit through this thing unless an authority figure is camped right next to them to ensure attention -- it's goody-goody and it's boring.
The story of two WASPy rich kids who miss their father (their parents are divorced), ''All I Want for Christmas'' is a modern-day family story in which, typically, the family is a bit broken. But Mom Harley Jane Kozak) still loves Dad (Jamey Sheridan) although he's been going through a midlife crisis, presumably some sort of lost-youth thing since he's established a 1950s restaurant.
Anyway, the kids want him back; indeed, he's a definite improvement over Mom's current beau, a financial geek.
Certainly, getting the family back together for Christmas is a laudable narrative goal, but screenwriters Thom Eberhardt and Richard Kramer have concocted a movie that is more wishy-washy adult melodrama than a thoughtful, robust kid's movie.
All too often, the dialogue is stilted way beyond the kids' years, while the drama itself all too often replicates big people's movies -- discussions about modern art, restaurants, relationships -- all the neurotic stuff of the self-absorbed set.
Worst of all, the two lead characters are not likely to generate much empathy from the kid crowd: the boy is bland and the girl is a prissy, butt-in-front-of-the-line twit.
And it's not simply because they're children of privilege. John Hughes' tykes are privileged but are full of beans and all the crackling stuff that kids love. It's because there's a decidedly silver-spoonish quality to the writing that tarnishes the heartfelt potential of this project.
Although the story line does accelerate into a pleasing high-speed ruse that the kids orchestrate to get the parents back together, it's not particularly involving or even logically clear.
Under Robert Lieberman's cautious and static direction, ''All I Want for Christmas'' comes across as a movie package overwrapped by the Correctness Council. Those great nutrients, slapstick and visual humor, are kept to a maddeningly minimal level (the only positive kid audience reactions came here) and can't quite burst the film's hoity-toity bubble.
Among the players, Lauren Bacall is a delight as the acerbic grandma; Harley Jane Kozak is well-cast as the patrician mom, while Leslie Nielsen is wasted as a nondescript Santa.
Tech contributions, despite some obvious mattes, are up to snuff with special praise to Bruce Broughton for the energetic, traditional score.
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
Paramount
Producer Marykay Powell
Director Robert Lieberman
Screenwriters Thom Eberhardt, Richard Kramer
Executive producer Stan Rogow
Director of photography Robbie Greenberg
Production designer Herman Zimmerman
Editors Peter E. Berger, Dean Goodhill
Co-producer Vicky Herman
Costume designer Nolan Miller
Music Bruce Broughton
Casting Judith Holstra
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Ethan O'Fallon Ethan Randall
Hallie O'Fallon Thora Birch
Catherine O'Fallon Harley Jane Kozak
Michael O'Fallon Jamey Sheridan
Stephanie Amy Oberer
Lillian Brooks Lauren Bacall
Santa Leslie Nielsen
Running time -- 92 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 11/8/1991
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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