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Conference ljsrv1::tv_chatter

Title:The TV Chatter Notes Conference
Notice:Welcome to TV Chatter :-)
Moderator:PASTA::PIERCE
Created:Wed Dec 16 1992
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:498
Total number of notes:5416

443.0. "Boston Common" by BUSY::SLABOUNTY (Stealth :== gray car in fog) Tue Mar 26 1996 12:58

    
    	Did anyone see this Thursday night?
    
    	Brother drives his sister to college in Boston, and ends up
    	being offered a job so he decides to stay.  This doesn't sit
    	well with her, since she's been looking forward to being away
    	from her family.
    
    	The opener was a riot ... some great lines.  I haven't check-
    	ed the listings for this week, but if it's on again I'll watch
    	it.
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
443.1Hate itPCBUOA::LPIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereTue Mar 26 1996 13:388
    
    Well, I just did a huge reply - but the network partner was lost!
    
    to sum it up!  I HATE THIS SHOW!  I found it very insulting and alot of
    bad acting - and don't get me started on the writers who took charter
    who could be likeable and made them into weirdo who need a shrink.
    
    Louisa
443.2CLUSTA::MAIEWSKIBos-Mil-Atl Braves W.S. ChampsTue Mar 26 1996 13:4013
  As of now the show is set about a block from Cheers but quality wise it's
at the other end of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Problem is it has more than
it's share of cliche and stereotypes jokes along the lines of: 

    - Sister who wants to come of age has to put up with big brother.
    - Friendly southern'er not put off by cold New Englanders.
    - Country boy from Vergin'e outsmarts ed-u-cated snobs.

  If that's all it ever is, it won't be very good. So far there's little if
any depth. However if they move beyond that and develop some interesting
characters it might work.

  George
443.3BUSY::SLABOUNTYStomp your hands, clap your feetTue Mar 26 1996 13:435
    
    	Luckily, I HAVE learned to take rejection quite well.
    
    	8^)
    
443.4MPGS::WOOLNERYour dinner is in the supermarketTue Mar 26 1996 13:5212
    .2> but quality wise it's at the other end of the Massachusetts
      > Turnpike.
    
    Seattle?  :-)
    
    A couple of years ago in late December a Seattle paper ran a column
    on New Years Eve festivities (which had been sadly lacking in prior
    years).  The columnist raved about the celebration to take place "at
    the end of I90"... and then revealed, "Sadly, it will be at the OTHER
    END of I90 (Boston)!"
    
    Leslie
443.5NOTES tips & tricks #174VAXCPU::michaudGeorge BushTue Mar 26 1996 14:0818
> Well, I just did a huge reply - but the network partner was lost!

	As long as you don't exit NOTES, your note can be recovered
	in a couple of different ways.

	If you are able to re-open the notesfile right away you can
	do a REPLY/LAST and it will use the last buffer.

	If you can't re-open the notesfile right away, in the VMS
	character-cell NOTES client, you can invoke EVE (an editor)
	with a /BUFFER= qualifier to get to the buffer holding the
	note you tried to enter (however I don't remember the buffer
	name to specify ...) and then can save it to a file which you
	can try posting again when the notesfile is available.  If you
	are using my "decnotes" character-cell NOTES client on Digital
	UNIX or ULTRIX then you can get to the text of all the notes
	you entered or tried to enter by looking at /var/tmp/notes*
	(plus REPLY/LAST also works to use the last note buffer).
443.6Good opening shots of Boston!DECC::SULLIVANJeff SullivanTue Mar 26 1996 21:496
I thought the opening made Boston look pretty nice. Kind of MTV-ish camera work,
but the shots were interesting and made Boston look almost "glamorous".

It really is a nice place to visit, but...

-Jeff
443.7IROCZ::MORRISONBob M. LKG1-3/A11 226-7570Wed Mar 27 1996 21:1410
  I agree, the shots of Boston were interesting. But they were obviously done
when the actors were not there. I would have liked to see at least one shot
of the actors IN Boston. The interior shots were obviously filmed in a studio.
  I recall that Cheers was the same way, but didn't Spenser for Hire have some
scenes filmed with actors on location?
  The show itself was IMO a total waste, but then I'm not a fan of most TV
shows of this ilk. The brother and sister were both too obviously from the
sticks, and I thought the humor was brain-dead. I would really like to see a
GOOD new sitcom set in Boston. The MA Film Bureau probably worked hard to lure
another TV series to Boston; I wish they could have done better.
443.8BUSY::SLABOUNTYA swift kick in the butt - $1Wed Mar 27 1996 21:204
    
    	If you've ever visited "Cheers" in Boston, you know they didn't
    	film any of that INSIDE the bar.  8^)
    
443.9CheersVAXCPU::michaudDonna SummerThu Mar 28 1996 02:4312
> I recall that Cheers was the same way, ....

	Cheers had lots of scenes filmed on location.  Usually they
	were the scenes that opened the show (ie. before the opening
	credits/theme song).  Some of these scenes even had famous
	Boston celebrities in them (Kennedy's is only names I can
	recall however).  The vast majority of these scenes were
	shot on the street in front of the Bull & Finch.

	And of course there was the episode where several of the
	scenes were on the parquet floor of the Boston Garden
	(and least I think that was shot on location).
443.10BUSY::SLABOUNTYAlways a Best Man, never a groomThu Mar 28 1996 12:388
    
    	Hmmm, if there were scenes shot on the parquet floor of the
    	Boston Garden, there's a good chance they were shot on loc-
    	ation, since I know of only 1 Boston Garden with a parquet
    	floor.
    
    	8^)
    
443.11CLUSTA::MAIEWSKIBos-Mil-Atl Braves W.S. ChampsThu Mar 28 1996 12:4215
RE       <<< Note 443.7 by IROCZ::MORRISON "Bob M. LKG1-3/A11 226-7570" >>>

>  I recall that Cheers was the same way, but didn't Spenser for Hire have some
>scenes filmed with actors on location?

  Yes Spenser for Hire did shoot in Boston but the liberties they took almost
made it worse. One example, a car chase down Boylston they bang a right at
Arlington and woops, now they are somewhere near Logan Airport.

  Or my favorite, Spenser pulling up in front of a building on Comm Ave and
finding an open parking spot. Spenser circling around for 45 minutes looking
for a free spot then parking in the Pru and walking would have been more
realistic. 

  George
443.12.. and of course liberal use of the car hornVAXCPU::michaudDavid BowieThu Mar 28 1996 13:497
>   Or my favorite, Spenser pulling up in front of a building on Comm Ave and
> finding an open parking spot. Spenser circling around for 45 minutes looking
> for a free spot then parking in the Pru and walking would have been more
> realistic. 

	More realistic would be for him to double park like everyone else
	in the city :-)
443.13My favorite Boston scenes in TV showsTNPUBS::NAZZAROWell, 37-1 ain't so bad!Fri Mar 29 1996 15:1713
    My favorite Spenser "accomodation" was turning the alley beside the
    Boston Garden into a bus terminal, complete with fake "ACME BUS
    COMPANY" sign on the building at 150 Causeway (now condemned).  That
    was the one with the actor who played Billy Bibbit in "One Flew Over
    the Cuckoo's Nest" as a crazed ex-con, not a stretch for that guy.
    
    I also liked the Cheers where Kevin McHale and the guys from the bar
    snuck into the Garden to count the number of bolts on the floor.  It
    had a scene with McHale and his real-life wife in bed, and he gets a
    late-night call.  She says "Who's that?"  He answeres "The guys from
    Cheers."  She pulls out the cord from the wall!
    
    NAZZ
443.14Anthony Clark = HUMORFABSIX::M_RICEFri Apr 19 1996 15:4514
    
    I think Spenser&Cheers have their own notes around here somewhere!
    	
    Boston Common is a wicked funny show. Anthony Clark comes out with 
    some great one-liners. Who cares about the camera work in the show's
    introduction?! I watch this show for the humor! 
    The neighbor from across the hall(Larry?,I think)so confused and
    exspressionless also makes this show funny.
    
    I watch this show faithfully every Thurs. nite and I think it's gonna
    be around for awhile! So enjoy!!
    
    
                                                                   -X-
443.15BUSY::SLABOUNTYAs you wishFri Apr 19 1996 15:504
    
    	I think we're the only 2 that like this show ... everyone else
    	in here says "yuck".
    
443.16Funny - SometimesWMOIS::LYONS_SFri Apr 19 1996 16:2021
    
    
    The show is o.k. IMO.  But have to admit.....when Boyd played a
    preacher at the fundraiser....that was funny!
    
    I've been recruited to tape this show every week for my brother-in-law
    who is unable to view/record it each week. So I occasionally watch it. 
    He's met AC a couple of times while AC's been in Boston.  He says that
    AC is hysterical in person.
    
    I heard the following and was wondering if anyone else had heard
    anything:
    
    1) the next door neighbor is the same guy that played Horshack in
    Welcome Back Kotter
    
    2) the network carrying the show now has an issue with AC because they
    found out that he was gay, after he signed for the show. ( I don't know
    why this would be a problem)
    
    
443.17BUSY::SLABOUNTYAudiophiles do it 'til it hertz!Fri Apr 19 1996 16:309
    
    	Horshack was played by Ron Palillo, and I seriously doubt that,
    	even after 15-20 years of aging, that Ron's voice could have
    	changed that much to resemble that of "Leonard".
    
    	I just looked it up ... Leonard Prince is played by Steve
    	Paymer.  And .msstate.edu.movies has no further information on
    	him.
    
443.18He hasn't been really busy. And he just turned 42.BUSY::SLABOUNTYAudiophiles do it 'til it hertz!Fri Apr 19 1996 16:3218
    
                                Ron Palillo

Actor
    
       1. Wind (1992) .... Tony
       2. Snake Eater II: The Drug Buster (1991) .... Torchy
       3. Snake Eater (1990) .... Torchy

       4. Hellgate (1989)
       5. Committed (1988) .... Ronnie
       6. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) .... Allen Hewes

       7. Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979) .... Frankey
       8. "Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975) .... Arnold Dingfelder Horshak

Note: the titles that start with a quote (") are TV series

443.19VAXCPU::michaudAT&amp;TFri Apr 19 1996 16:5923
> I just looked it up ... Leonard Prince is played by Steve
> Paymer.  And .msstate.edu.movies has no further information on him.

	I've seen Steve Paymer somewhere else before but I just can't
	place him.  Maybe as a stand-up comedian on one (or more) of
	the late night talk shows (Letterman, Tonight, ...)?

	The name Paymer also sounds familiar, could it be that he's the
	lesser known brother of another actor?

	In any case, my personal rating of this show is not all the way
	"yuck", but the show is relatively lacking in something.  While
	I wasn't overly impressed with TRFTS in the 1st couple of episodes,
	that show evolved quickly into a worthwhile show.  This show (BC)
	on the other hand has already aired more than a couple of episodes
	but I don't see it evolving anywhere worthwhile for my tastes.
	Speaking in Shawn's lingo, maybe the problem is that there is only
	one half way decent babe on this show, ie. the "Joy" character :-)

	FWIW, IMHO the "preacher" scene did nothing for me.  It didn't
	seem to fit into the show, and "preacher" scenes have been overdone
	this decade (if you can't do better than Steve Martin in that movie
	where he played a preacher, then don't try!).
443.20BUSY::SLABOUNTYAudiophiles do it 'til it hertz!Fri Apr 19 1996 17:098
    
    	What's TRFTS?  I'm having trouble parsing it.
    
    	And I do NOT use the word "babe".  It's "doll", thank you.
    	But you do have a valid point.
    
    	8^)
    
443.21BUSY::SLABOUNTYBaroque: when you're out of MonetFri Apr 19 1996 17:158
    
    	It looks like Steve Paymer played a sales clerk at The Village
    	Vogue on "Mad About You".  The web says he entertained Paul's
    	nephew with a Larry Fine impersonation.
    
    	It also appears that he was 1 of the writers for the show for
    	the 1st 2 seasons.
    
443.22MPGS::WOOLNERYour dinner is in the supermarketFri Apr 19 1996 17:543
    Isn't there a David Paymer... out there somewhere in entertainmentland?
    
    Leslie
443.23BUSY::SLABOUNTYBaroque: when you're out of MonetFri Apr 19 1996 18:0411
    
    	Wait, wait ... let ME do all the work for you.  8^)
    
    	Yes, and I knew that name sounded familiar.  He played Dan
    	Enright in "Quiz Show", and since I just saw it last week I
    	can say that he does resemble Steve.
    
    	[Once Louisa gets back from her trip to see Garth Brooks and
    	 Dunne, maybe she'll be kind of enough to do some of these
    	 searches also.  8^)]
    
443.24BUSY::SLABOUNTYBaroque: when you're out of MonetFri Apr 19 1996 18:0742
    
                                David Paymer

Actor
    
       1. City Hall (1996) .... Abe Goodman
       2. American President, The (1995) .... Leon Kodak
       3. Cagney & Lacey: Together Again (1995) (TV) .... Deputy D.A.
          Feldberg
       4. Get Shorty (1995) .... Leo Devoe
       5. Nixon (1995) .... Ron Ziegler
       6. Unforgettable (1995) .... Curtis Avery
       7. Cagney & Lacey: The Return (1994) (TV) .... Deputy D.A. Feldberg
       8. City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) .... Ira
          Shalowitz
       9. In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994) (TV) .... The Ad Man
      10. Quiz Show (1994) .... Dan Enright
      11. Heart and Souls (1993) .... Hal
      12. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) .... Kalev
          ... aka Innocent Moves (1993)
      13. Mr. Saturday Night (1992) (S:AAN) (S:GGN) .... Stan
      14. City Slickers (1991) .... Ira Shalowitz
      15. Crazy People (1990) .... George
      16. Sky High (1990) (TV)

      17. No Holds Barred (1989) .... Roger
      18. No Way Out (1987) .... Technician
      19. Pleasures (1987) (TV) .... Stanley
      20. "Downtown" (1986) .... Capt. David Kiner
      21. Howard the Duck (1986) .... Larry Scientist
      22. Night of the Creeps (1986) .... Young Scientist
      23. Love, Mary (1985) (TV)
      24. Perfect (1985)
      25. Best Defense (1984) .... Kurly
      26. Irreconcilable Differences (1984) .... Alan Sluiser
      27. Grace Kelly (1983) (TV) .... Jay Kanter
      28. Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) .... Court Photographer

      29. In-Laws, The (1979) .... Cab Driver

Note: the titles that start with a quote (") are TV series

443.25STAR::MDNITE::RIVERSNo commentFri Apr 19 1996 18:206
    FWIW, Ron Pallilo (sp) was on at least one ep. of "Ellen", where he
    plays the love of the annoying Audrey.
    
    
    
    kim
443.26BUSY::SLABOUNTYBasket CaseFri Apr 19 1996 18:225
    
    	And I know he was on at least 1 episode of "The Love Boat", and
    	very probably its sister show "Fantasy Island" ... but, then
    	again, who hasn't been on those shows, right?
    
443.27VAXCPU::michaudGeneral ElectricFri Apr 19 1996 19:033
> What's TRFTS?  I'm having trouble parsing it.

	"Third Rock From The Sun" (or should it be 3RFTS?)
443.28BUSY::SLABOUNTYBe gone - you have no powers hereFri Apr 19 1996 20:085
    
    	OK, thanks.
    
    	The "accepted" acronym would be TRFTS.
    
443.29VAXCPU::michaud[real] Whipped CreamMon Apr 29 1996 18:3719
	Well last week Sarah what's her name (entertainment reported for
	some Boston news program) had a behind the scenes look at this
	show and her or someone mentioned that there is a 99% chance that
	this show will be picked up for next season.  You've got
	to be kidding me!

	Assuming they aren't taking the knife to any of the other
	NBC sitcoms (MAY, NR, TRFTS, W, Fraiser, Friends, TSG, Seinfeld, CINC,
	and TJLS), it looks like they will probably end up juggling
	timeslots around yet again :-(

	In any case, I'm not sure if the previous replies mentioned this
	or not, but it seems the main character of this show went to
	School at Emerson (in Boston) and that's what the show is losely
	based on (including the interior of the MUB).

	When/if this show comes back, I hope they but it as the lead
	in or lead out show on the choosen night so I don't end up
	recording it with the good shows :-)