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July 31, 2007
Signing off on Studio 60
As I said, we’ve been catching up on our media the last few weeks and last night we finally finished with Studio 60. Deb and I seemed to enjoy it more than most people but boy, did it go off the rails.
Initially, the idea of series set backstage at a weekly show ala Saturday Night Live, sounded like it had potential. The cast was terrific and it certainly had the right guys at the helm – Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme. Sorkin loves television as witnessed by Sports Night and his forthcoming play (starring Hank Azaria) about Philo Farnsworth, the man credited with inventing television.
As with anything Sorkin writes, the series required you to pay attention and was ambitious with flashbacks, flashforwards and intricate relationships and backstory. By mid-season, with anemic ratings, NBC didn’t know what to do with the series and gave it a long break. This proved to be a mistake and it lost even more audience so the final six episodes were held until after the official season ended and they were burned off in late May through June.
Now that we’ve seen all 22 episodes, I can tell you that with each passing week, the series seemed to be less and less about the backstage life at a weekly show ala Saturday Night Live, and more about these characters and their wretched lives. No one was happy. Any tiny moment of joy was set against pain and suffering.
Also, by giving Steven Webber the role of the network president, it meant they needed to use him regularly so he had far more day-to-day contact with this one show than reality would suggest. Or, his storylines were divorced from Studio 60 so he had to deal with larger issues that didn’t resonate with anyone. Like Ed Asner’s chairman of the board, he should have been a recurring character used as necessary when storylines demanded going further up the chain of command. After all, the show had to deal with Jordan McDeere, the president of programming which made more sense for the needs of the series.
We also got too involved with the Matt Albie/Harriet Hayes romance that didn’t serve the rest of the cast terribly well. Although, seeing it in comparison with the Danny Tripp/Jordan McDeere relationship proved more interesting than expected.
These last six episodes totally veered off course and way too much into West Wing territory so I can see why NBC gave up. Sorkin and Schlamme seemed not to know what to do with a series set backstage at a weekly show ala Saturday Night Live so told different stories, especially the rushed ale of Tom Jeeter’s brother, the soldier, who was kidnapped in the Middle East. On the one hand, in real time, it was over way too quick and wrapped way too neatly, and on the other hand it felt interminable.
The same with Jordan’s delivery issues which kept an engaging character off screen for two episodes and barely in the final one.
D.L. Hughley didn’t have much to do over the course of the season and the rest of the on air cast and backstage crew was largely a group of people with unrealized potential. Timothy Busfield, who I’ll watch in most anything, started off as the conscience to Matt and Danny and then segued into the comic relief and was either ill served or badly used.
It could have been great and maybe if it got a second season it would have found itself. Sorkin and company made a slick, entertaining show but it stumbled badly and never found its footing while being expensive to produce so a second season never made sense.
Pity. It could have been something cool. And as with Sports Night and West Wing there was nothing else like it on prime time and that in itself deserved our support. I wonder how the networks will react to the next ambitious drama about something unfamiliar.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 12:59 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
July 30, 2007
Summer Sequels
Weekly World News’ closing has meant many media sources have linked to this page and we have plenty of first-timers paying me a visit. To all, welcome.
In brief, in addition to being the paper’s Managing Editor (for one more week), I am a freelance writer with credits ranging from fiction (Star Trek, and other media tie-in stuff) to non-fiction, books to magazines to websites.
I use this space to chat with people about what I’m up to personally and professionally, commenting about local politics and pop culture. I hope you like what you see and bookmark the page.
As the summer rolls along, the family is slowly playing catch-up on all the movies and television we’ve been too busy to watch during opening weekends or the actual airdate. This meant that it was only Saturday when I finally got to see Ocean’s 13, the latest in the summer series of third films from a variety of franchises.
On its own, Ocean’s 13 is a slick caper movie with an easy rapport among all the actors. Some don’t get enough screen time and there’s a presumption you know who all the players are so introductions must have been deemed superfluous. Al Pacino made a convincing heavy and I wish there was more between him and Danny Ocean and Pacino vs. Andy Garcia. It’s also a shame Ellen Barkin was the only woman in the film since it felt aimed squarely at the guys. It was fun to see her again although she was a little over the top in her later scenes. Still and all, it was a breezy way to pass two hours, and it was clearly a better film than the first sequel.
The fates saw to it we had the third installment of many franchises this summer, with one more (Rush Hour) to go. In terms of building on the source material and first films, none of them have been total disasters, and this one may be the best of the bunch (and I say this without having Shrek 3). Having said that, it’s certainly not the greatest film of the summer but it doesn’t demand much of the audience, it’s easy to follow and isn’t padded. Spider-Man 3, for example, had too much going on to the disservice of the characters. Now, before you all go jumping up and down about Pirates 3, much as I loved it was still somewhat bloated whereas this one was tighter. (You may now defend your faves.)
Maybe the success of Knocked Up will inspire Hollywood to try more original fare, and smarter content as well. Movies like Waitress and No Reservations also got good reviews and should both do reasonable business, again encouraging the studio decision makers.
I saw all of this as the dust from the Comicon settles. The weeklong geek fest certainly brought out all the genre and near-genre films coming out between now and next summer. The need for a better blend between first-timers and sequels, adaptations and original fare exists and this summer’s schedule more than proves that.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 01:38 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 26, 2007
The Week Rolls On
The news continues to spread about the paper and scanning the coverage has been fascinating. Most quote each other or my blog or just AMI’s release. The Palm Beach Post had one of the more interesting takes on the situation, placing our closing in context with general newsstand sales woes. And last night, Keith Olberman paid us tribute on the closing segment of Countdown.
I received an offer to write a first person piece on the closing for the Toronto Star, which was flattering but I turned it down.
Meantime, we’re one page away from closing the penultimate issue and have already gotten started on our finale. It’s definitely been a week for mixed emotions.
On the other hand, it was also my birthday this week and I received many cards and e-mails from friends and family, which was nice. Robbie barbecued up a favorite dinner and we feasted on one of Cold Stone Creamery’s finest chocolate cakes.
It’s been a week to hear from friends near and far as the news spread, including one friend who crawled out from isolation to chat, which was terrific.
The networking and job hunt continues, slowed by the sheer volume of contacts now hobnobbing at San Diego. In-between work and job hunting, I’ve managed some web writing and more work on The Soon to be Named Project.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 04:27 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
July 24, 2007
The Answers
Some of my fellow bloggers invite readers to toss out questions and they get some real interest ones. They also get volume. It seems my small and loyal group learns enough and have little they want to know more about.
However, for those who asked, here are the answers:
Malnurtured Snay had several:
It's twenty-four hours to get from Cairo to the U.S.? Really? Is there a layover or something?
The layover is what kills you. Coming home we flew several hours to Madrid then slept in the airport and wandered the small terminal for something like seven-eight hours before the eight hour flight back to New York. Add in the time change and you’re totally disoriented when you land.
Do you get any cool perks for that job?
Too few jobs have really cool perks above and beyond the ordinary stuff that most offices offer (bad coffee, for example).
Interesting cover. Might I theorize the Riker Twins face-off in a duel to settle who's better: the Maquis or the Feds?
Yes, you might theorize that. Then again, your theory may be wrong. I’ll be writing the actual story in September so be patient.
Jim asked:
Bob, I am a huge fan of WWN's "Matthew Daemon" stories and comics, though sadly I've missed a few in their run. Is there any chance of putting them together in an archive collection, say a special edition issue of the WWN or an online archive on your website?
The comic strip was intended to be archived on the revamped website but technical delays prevented any comic strip archive from being formed. With the paper now closing, I doubt the archive work will be completed. Should someone company wish to license the material for a collection, that’d certainly be cool. Dick Siegel, who created the feature, Mike Collins, who wrote and drew the strip version, and yours truly all had a ball with the character and his world.
Bob asked:
And why haven't the Yankees fired Joe Torre yet?
Because firing Joe Torre would not have changed the injuries or the level of play. The potential has always been there for the Yankees to play better than they have. Maybe not at world champion level, but certainly better than being 8-10 game behind Boston. The last week has proven that as the team has slugged their way back into contention. Now it’s a matter of sustaining that.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 08:51 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 23, 2007
I was Reminded
The closing of Weekly World News instantly reminded me of the final episode of the brilliant Sports Night. For two episodes, Dana the Producer had been speaking with a charming man at her favorite watering hole. By the end of the second part, she realizes the man was wealthy and had just bought her show’s parent company.
Dana: You bought Continental Corp?
Trager: Turns out I picked up a few more shares of stock, yeah.
Dana: Why didn't you tell me?
Trager: I just wrote a check for 18 billion dollars, Dana. My scouting says you don't keep a secret so good.
Dana: I can change.
Trager: Yeah... well, we're going to work on that.
Dana: We're going to work on it?
Trager: Yeah.
Dana: You're keeping the station?
Trager: Yeah.
Dana: (looking faint, hopeful) You're keeping the show?
Trager: Yeah. It's a good show, Dana. Anybody who can't make money off Sports Night should get out of the money-making business.
Amen.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 03:18 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
July 21, 2007
A Head Spinning Week
So, what sort of week has it been?
Let’s review:
On Monday, it was back to work and the routine, playing catch up on deferred projects and what I may have missed from the time out for the funeral. That evening it was back to the gym for the first time in a week followed by an hour-long interview. I was partnered with John Ostrander, Luke McDonnell, and Karl Kesel – the original team behind Suicide Squad. We did a gang interview for Wizard, which is looking at the first incarnation of the title in time to promote the new miniseries Johnny O is writing and the rest of us will be reading. It was great catching up with the guys and reliving the glorious days when the project was new, fresh and coming together. Following that, I spent an hour on some website writing.
Tuesday was another day at the office followed that evening by another session with my Special Committee. We spent two more hours hashing through the Demolition Delay, what it means to the town and what shape it should take. We’re inching closer and may actually finish in August.
Wednesday we got word at work that management has some ideas for the paper and the next two weeks will be reprints as we begin to retool. For weeks now, we’ve been hearing some changes are in the wind that were likely to amend the game plan that went into action on April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year. That night did some more website writing.
Thursday we got into high gear on the reprints. I was informed by our pre-press people that they neglected to properly archives issues 17-19 from this year. Thanks to Paul Kupperberg, we had hi-res PDFs to work from and they tested just fine so crisis averted. Word reaches us that the Board of Directors wants something to change but can’t make up their minds. Maybe we relaunch. Maybe we add some one-shots. Maybe we go web-only. Maybe nothing changes. We’ll know Friday morning. That night, the Democratic Town Committee held its caucus to pick the slate for the November election. I am once again running for representative in the 8th district. I also oversaw two special meetings where we added a new member to the DTC in District 8 and voted in a new RTM member to replace one who had resigned. Lots of rah-rah.
Friday morning, Jeff Rovin comes in for a meeting and then the staff was to be called in. He’s looking harried, not at all relaxed. At 11:30, we’re finally shown into an office where we are told the Board of Directors has chosen to close Weekly World News. The reasons given make no sense. We’re stunned and shell-shocked. We’re to stay on through August 3, finishing the reprint issues and then we’re done. A glorious, funny, odd publication, born in 1979, will go out with a whimper and all I can think is that something’s going on that they’re not telling us because it just doesn’t make sense.
That night, still somewhat stunned, Deb and went out for a quiet dinner and then saw Waitress which was just what we needed – it’s a funny, charming, fresh film with hearty and soul and some terrific performances by people we like (with Andy Griffith of all people nearly stealing the movie). We go home and I stay up late hitting the network and e-mail.
I have a strong, wide and deep network thanks to being in the business since 1980. However, I hit the network pretty hard in January 2006 after DC and I parted ways and I feel bad about hitting it again so soon. Still, I got some leads pretty quickly and a ton of support which helps emotionally.
Today, the day began and is ending with me on line, getting in touch with contacts, reconnecting with old friends. In between were routine things like household errands. Spent the rest of the day with the family and my mother at the Southern Connecticut Renaissance Faire, which is small and definitely downscale from what we’re used to but a nice time was had by all.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:30 PM | Comments (16) | TrackBack
July 16, 2007
On Passings and Family
When a death occurs in any family, those affected need to put their lives on hold and tend to the immediate business at hand. It’s worse when there’s no warning, no doubt, but the number of arrangements to be made on short notice most certainly adds a level of stress.
We got the word that Deb’s father passed away late Sunday afternoon, and the planning immediately began. On Wednesday, we were headed for the airport at 10 a.m., intending to change planes in Philly and arrive at the Inn in Florida by around 8-9 pm. The weather had other ideas so every step of the process got delayed, which resulted in our arriving at the Inn at 2 a.m. instead.
Deb is one of six siblings, most with spouses, most with children. As one might image, that makes for a full house and a lot of time spent playing catch up, sharing hugs, tears and family news. Neighbors, friends and family sent food for days so no one ever went hungry and by the time the last guest departs next weekend, there will likely still be leftovers.
It’s been about three years since all six were together so it was terrific for their mother to be surrounded. Mixed with the tears and memories were the need to tend to business, be it helping Mom get a new printer or figuring out which of the tools in the garage could be discarded or saved. The wake was a solemn period on Thursday with a break in between for a nice, southern-style dinner out.
Friday’s funeral was a nice ceremony, filled with personal touches given Deb’s mother’s involvement in the Church choir. I was asked to be a pallbearer, a first for me. Even with six of us, including Robbie, I finally got to understand how heavy a coffin could be. Much of the family got involved one way or another so it was very inclusive. Once it was over, everyone changed and relaxed, visiting and reminiscing. On Saturday, we returned to the graveyard for the internment. After a short service, we walked over to the headstone and saw the urn placed within. Given Deb’s father’s work as a carpenter, contractor and construction manager, it seemed fitting that once the urn was placed within, it was caulked and duct taped into place, ensuring it was going nowhere.
The rest of the day was a time for reflection and some fun. Most went to the beach, some just hung out at the house with Mom. Since Friday, reality began to intrude and people started to leave as required. We intended to be there for her mother to be supportive.
The trip home had minimal delays and the traffic from LaGuardia was worse than expected so we finally walked in the door around 6:30 p.m. Everyone was exhausted, stressed out and once the unpacking and mail sorting was done, we sort of scattered around the house.
We were supported in turn. Robbie received video clips and photos from the 25th anniversary Boogie Knights concert as it occurred and I spoke with a few of my fellow authors.
Deb's father is gone and despite some rocky times in our relationship, I see the effort he made in supporting his family and how well they turned out. In my own way I'll miss him.
And now it is Monday and his memory will remain as we get back to our jobs and lives, just a tad more aware of his influence on us all.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 08:18 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 09, 2007
The Balances of Life
There are balances to life. That point was rammed home this weekend.
Deb and I went to Atlanta on Saturday for my cousin Aimee’s wedding. This was as close to a family reunion as we were going to get (something Aimee and I tried to organize and abandoned after resistance form, of all places, the older generation). We were eager to reconnect with one and all and I even coaxed my brother, Neil, to attend.
There was nothing scheduled during the day so I told Neil and my Mom that I wanted to head out to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for barbecue. Well, Mom told her cousin Alan and he mentioned to someone and the next thing I knew, I had become the pack leader as some 20 of us headed out for lunch.
As we neared it, someone asked about reservations and I explained, it’s a dive and they really don’t do that. Moments later we arrived and my mother’s jaw dropped because I had accurately described it. Still, they arranged a long table for us all and the staff was warm, welcoming and terrific. The food was cheap, plentiful and tasty. A success for all concerned.
Much of the day was spent visiting with cousins, aunts, uncles and other relations, chatting away, catching up. We did grab a nap before dressing for the evening event since we had gotten up at 4:30 to make the flight.
The wedding and reception was held at the Atlanta Historic Center and we were given free reign over the place. The ceremony was lovely; one of the most personalized I’ve experienced and touching. During the cocktail hour I ducked into the Civil War and Ben Franklin exhibits for quick walk-throughs, which was most impressive. The reception was buffet, Tuscan-style food and a live band that didn’t quite measure up to the rest of the affair. By evening’s end we finally got to meet Giovanni, the groom.
Sunday morning featured a private brunch for all the wedding guests at the hotel so we could finish catching up and relax with the happy couple before we all drifted away in clusters.
Our flight home was uneventful but once we got to the house, the balance was struck. We got word of a death in the family, which has tipped over a set of dominoes for all four of us. First and foremost, we had to withdraw from Shore Leave, missing it for the first time since Shore Leave 4, 25 years ago. Fortunately, my ComicMix buddy Glenn Hauman is filling in.
We’ll be in Florida with family from Wednesday through Sunday so I’ll be largely silent. Be good to yourselves until I return.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 04:46 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
July 06, 2007
Another Week Winds Down
Been an intense but productive week around here.
As of today, I reached the 86% mark on The Unnamed Project. I suddenly feel better about managing to finish this by the August 31 deadline without blowing my brains out. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a ton of work to do on it after I reach 100%, spit polishing and the like.
I also received an offer to do a little more writing for a website which was very surprising and most welcome.
Despite losing a day this week, we closed the newspaper and are rolling ahead on the next issue, which gives us all a boost of confidence.
And tomorrow, Deb and I make a whirlwind trip to Atlanta for a cousin’s wedding. It won’t be restful but it will be relaxed since there won’t be much chance to write and plenty of opportunity to see family, including my brother Neil, who I haven’t seen in nearly ten years.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 05:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 04, 2007
A Gray Fourth
Our Fourth of July proved to be gray and threatening all day. We chose discretion and avoided schlepping to the beach for fireworks that were as likely to be canceled as fired off.
Instead, I spent the majority of the day working on The Unnamed Project and was pleased by my progress.
Additionally, I learned this morning that the Encyclopedia of Storytelling, to which I contributed, will finally be published in June 2008 by M.E. Sharpe. Our editor, Jo Sherman, sounds pretty pleased with how it is shaping up and I can't wait to see it.
I was also asked to do some additional writing for a website, but have to do so anonymously. It’s a nice opportunity, nonetheless.
By the way, since throwing the floor open to questions, I have received all of one, so I presume you collectively know more than enough about me.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 06:18 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
July 03, 2007
Questions for the Filmmakers
One of my constant complaints when watching big budget films is that with millions spent on the overall production, couldn’t they throw a few thousand at someone to edit the story so it makes sense? This is leveled not at just genre films but most movies.
I was reminded of this once more when the kids and I took in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surer the other night. Whereas Spider-Man 3 was so overstuffed, the character arcs failed to work, this was nothing but surface material that didn’t dare crawl into the characters to make us care. Instead, at something like 90 minutes, it moved breezily along and left us incredibly dissatisfied.
Had I read this script, before shooting began, I would have asked the following questions:
Sue Storm was established as a brilliant scientist in the first film so why does she have nothing do in the second film?
If the Silver Surfer could always mentally summon his board, why didn’t he do so when he had ample opportunity?
Since when does the Power Cosmic heal and bring people back from the dead?
If Doctor Doom possessed the Power Cosmic, what were his intentions? And once when he learned Galactus was coming to destroy Earth, why didn’t he do something about it?
If touching the cosmically-altered Human Torch swapped powers, why would all three touching the Torch give him all the power?
If the Silver Surfer essentially dumped all his power in an attempt to stop Galactus, who bestowed the power on him, how did it discorporate Galactus but allow the Surfer to survive?
Why would the military capture the Silver Surfer and immediately invite Dr. Mengele to interrogate him as if he were a human instead of an alien that would have been measured, scoped, scraped, studied, etc.?
Why aren’t we properly introduced to Captain Frankie Raye, and what on Earth did she see in the Torch?
Then, after the film was made, I’d wonder why there was zero chemistry between Ioan Gruffud and Jessica Alba. Then there was the issue of Alba’s poor acting. And if Stan played Willie Lumpkin in the first film, why didn’t he just reprise the role this time, a likely attendee at the wedding? (I know, the bit was a take off on the actual comic book wedding, but still…)
The CGI Surfer worked wonderfully with kudos to actor Doug Jones and voice artist Laurence Fishburne. The Fantasticar was also sleek and wonderful to see if used all too briefly.
The film largely felt like the skeleton for a much richer film. When dealing with cosmic forces, it should have felt big but actually felt small. If anything, Marvel’s first family has been treated as a low budget franchise, shot on 16mm and blown up to 70mm and failing to work at the larger size.
Three Marvel movies this year, all bringing in the bucks but all failing to be truly satisfying movie experiences. Now we have to sit tight and cross our fingers Iron Man will deliver next May, where these stumbled.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 03:43 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack