Some final Emmy thoughts

A follow-up to yesterday's review of the Emmys.

The ratings were about the same as last year. So congratulations to the Chabad telethon.

In response to my comment about winner Jim Parsons I received a nice note from David Hyde Pierce reminding me that HE is the young David Hyde Pierce.

MAD MEN’S Matt Weiner also emailed to say that his co-writer Erin Levy was being hugged by her father out of camera view and that’s why she lagged so far behind him bounding up to the stage. Thanks Matt. There should be walk-off music for winners who hug too long in the aisles.

The three-hour show finished on time although I’m sure the producers were worried that the minute they got off the air they’d realize, “Shit! We forgot to give out Best Actor”.

One reason the Emmys didn’t get stellar ratings is that a lot of people (most everyone I talked to) found themselves saying, “Who’s that?” fifty times during the broadcast. That’s the good and bad news of all the new faces now on the TV scene.

Jimmy Fallon generally got very positive reviews. Of course, after the year the five reality show emcees hosted, Manny Ramirez could do a better job.

How many A-list parties will Temple Grandin be invited to NEXT year? She’s this year’s Roberto Benigni.

What does the Academy have against serial killers?

Please Academy: no more lame bits introducing the accountants, don’t strive for class and elegance and then feature Kim Kardashian, don’t have washed-up pop stars sing their own dreary compositions for the “In Memoriam” feature. Think of the dear departed themselves. Do you think Soupy Sales would have okayed that Jewel song for his funeral?

I couldn’t tell. There’s a rumor going around that for the “In Memoriam” tribute they showed a shot of Fred Savage and identified him as Corey Haim.

BREAKING BAD won’t have their new season on the air soon enough to be eligible for next year’s Emmys. So Hugh Laurie will lose to Jon Hamm instead of Bryan Cranston next year.

The most beautiful girl of the night was never shown on camera. Brook Burke of (judging by the just-announced contestants) DANCING WITH THE FREAK SHOW.

How soon until the major networks dump the Emmys and they’ll start rotating between cable networks? So one year they’re on LOGO, then BOOMERANG, then the Home Shopping Channel.

Comedy writing staffs for every show spent at least two hours this morning ripping the shit out of every single person who won. An hour just on Julia Ormond alone. But all the winners were ingrates, lucky, talentless, undeserving, fat. All except Betty White. She'll be spared.

Thanks for all the nice comments on my Emmy review. It was much harder to write this year because the show wasn’t that bad. I think Fox has it next year so that shouldn’t be a problem. Tim McCarver will make the perfect host.

My 2010 Emmys Review

Shorter than the Oscars and gayer than the Tonys – it’s the 62nd annual Emmy Awards! This year starring Betty White and Temple Grandin.

For the first time ever the Emmys were shown live in Los Angeles. NBC recognized they were up against very stiff competition this year -- the Chabad Telethon.

What an inconvenience that three-hour tape delay used to be. Every year my wife would have to excuse herself in the middle of the show, call home, and say, “Daddy lost. Go to bed.”

Jimmy Fallon was this year’s host. He was amusing at times. But my choice would have been Joel McHale. Or Rabbi Boruch Schlomo Cunin who killed at the Chabad telethon!

The opening production number was great fun. And they established right away, if you need a laugh – go to Betty White. She was in skits, promos, film clips. I was surprised she didn’t appear in a scene from THE PACIFIC blasting the shit out of the Japs. But Betty coaching Jon Hamm on dance moves was hilarious, and in general the number got the show off to a spirited start.

NBC is now so afraid of defecting viewers that during winners’ speeches they alert you to upcoming star appearances. How’d you like to be on stage, maybe celebrating the single greatest moment of your life and on the screen they flash: “In Memoriam in 4 1/2 minutes”?

Lots of surprises this year: Aaron Paul won for BREAKING BAD. He starred in one of our failed pilots a couple of years ago and I just knew if he ever got attached to decent material his career would take off!

A big shocker was Archie Panjabi from THE GOOD WIFE. She's the researcher. So she won an Emmy for, “I was able to retrieve his phone records for the last three years”?

More surprises: Kyra Sedgwick, TOP CHEF beating perennial winner THE AMAZING RACE (they shouldn’t have cut corners by having the teams race through “It’s a Small World” this season), the scarcity of Conan jokes (the over/under was fifty), and the discovery that Julia Osmond is certifiably insane.

Otherwise, was anybody shocked that Kim Kardashian can’t sing or that THE PACIFIC won for Best Mini-Series? It was the only nominee and she has no talent at all.

What was with that set? Every time they went to a tribute to Comedy or Drama or whatever it was like the Caesar’s Palace Sports Book exploded.

I was thrilled that MODERN FAMILY copped Best Comedy, thus keeping the tradition of comedic excellence alive for ABC. First TAXI in 1978, then THE WONDER YEARS in 1988 and now this.

MAD MEN again deserved Best Drama. It’s still the best show on television. Although a note to Matthew Weiner – when you win for writing, it’s usually good form to wait for your co-writer to join you and not trample her on your way to the stage.

This was a bittersweet night for Matt. Yes, he won two Emmys but Temple Grandin got more attention.

Jane Lynch was even more of a lock than THE PACIFIC. And she looked fabulous. She could even get girl parts.

But what was with Lauren Graham? Did she leave a napkin in her dress? It looked like she was wearing a black gown and a white lobster bib.

Eric Stonestreet’s acceptance speech was heartfelt and lovely. And it was his first time. Al Pacino’s won a million awards and his speech was like your uncle Lou’s just before the paramedics came.

It was clearly MODERN FAMILY’S night. Congratulations to Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd for best script. Great speech by Steve but where was Chris? Was there a Clippers game last night?

How could they do a tribute to the year in Drama and not include DEFYING GRAVITY? Or a Comedy tribute and omit HANK?

Edie Falco may be the only actress to win a Best Comedy and a Best Drama Emmy. Gotta applaud her honesty. “I’m not funny!” she exclaimed. Neither was that running Twitter bit.

January Jones wore a giant blue drink umbrella. Why have her present the award for Best Mini-Series when she can’t even pronounce Mini-Series?

You realize of course that you watch a lot more television than the people who made these decisions? If it weren't for screener DVD's, many Academy members would still be voting for HILL STREET BLUES.

It’s about time that Jim Parsons won for BIG BANG THEORY. He’s the young David Hyde-Pierce.

Did you notice that not one winner all night, any category, thanked a network or studio for notes?

Sofia Vergara came dressed as an Emmy.

Equally as stunning was Clair Danes – and she did it without cleavage.

Meanwhile, Lea Michele was quite fetching in her tailored Glad bag.

Hugh Laurie will never win. And Bryan Cranston will never lose.

George Clooney received the Bob Hope Award for Major Movie Star who agreed to appear on the Emmys.

Best line of the night: Writer Adam Mazer, winner for YOU DON’T KNOW JACK: "Jack Kevorkian, I'm so grateful you're my friend. But I'm even more grateful you're not my physician."

Jack Kevorkian was in attendance although at first I thought it was David Caruso.

Anna Pacquin came as King Tut.

What was that hideous song Jewel sang? I hate to say it but it really brought down the “In Memoriam” section.

DEXTER’S John Lithgow, winner of best guest actor in a drama series (even though he was in 13 of 13 episodes) thanked HBO, which is gracious except DEXTER is on Showtime.

Did anybody else notice that host network NBC didn’t win a single Emmy during the broadcast? Again, how does Jeff Zucker keep his job???

Most deserved Emmy: Jeff Greenberg for casting MODERN FAMILY.

The musical salute to 24/LAW & ORDER/LOST was good but I dunno, over at the Chabad telethon Avraham Fried was kicking ass.

Why did they have to ruin director Mick Jackson’s big night by mentioning he also directed VOLCANO?

As Emmy shows go I thought this was a pretty good one. It was nice balance of new blood and Betty White. Thanks to my daughter Annie for helping with the snark. Happy birthday, kiddo.

Oh…

I can’t let an Emmy review go by without a nod to KTLA’s inane Red Carpet arrival show hosted by the “footstool of the footlights”, Sam Rubin and his bimbo de jour, this year – Jessica Holmes, whose qualifications for this assignment was helicopter traffic reporter.

When Paula Abdul told Sam that Simon Cowell will always be in her heart, he’s like a fungus, Sam sought clarification: “So (he’s) like toe jam?” What does it say when Sam Rubin is in a conversation with Paula Abdul and she comes off the smart one?

Not that Jessica is a Mensa candidate. To Jesse Brandt of BREAKING BAD she asked: “So does everybody in Hollywood know each other?” I guess when you cover the industry from 20,000 feet you might think that.

In discussing DEXTER with two of its cast members, she said, “It’s so funny that he’s a serial killer.”

And just when you thought they couldn’t be any more self-congratulatory they add this new little wrinkle: a running crawl at the bottom of the screen with text messages from the audience repeatedly telling Jessica and Sam how beautiful they look. I sent a text: “Sam & Jessica are insipid” and KTLA didn’t air it. But with just a $30 donation, the Chabad telethon did.

When is Laylatul Qadr

Signs of Laylatul Qadr

The Night of Power or Destiny is an extremely important night for Muslims. It is the night in which the Holy Quran, was revealed from Allah (S.W.T.)to Prophet Muhammad (P.B.B.U.H.). It is a night worth more than 1000 days (which is more than the average lifetime of a human from his birth date to his death date).

When exactly is this glorious night? We don't really know, and the early Muslims asked the same question. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged them to do I’tikaf (seclusion in the mosque away from all worldly thoughts, deeds and concerns) in the last ten days. So the last ten days of Ramadan are very important.




Looking for a Laylatul Qadr Dua?

Check this out heartful dua by Sa'ad Al Ghamdi

Ramadan Pictures 2010

Ramadan Pictures 2010

Muslims Worldwide Observe Ramadan with Prayer and Fasting

The last ten days of Ramadan has begun in some places - the last ten days of Ramadan are regarded as very important. Muslims will spend time in increased prayer and reflection.

Here are some pictures of Muslims around the world as they practice the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan in Pictures 2010

Karachi, Pakistan
A vendor sells caps in preparation for Eid.
Zahid Hussein / Reuters

Sanaa, Yemen
Cosmetic Kohl is applied to the eyelids of a young man. Oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of Mohammad mention the use of Kohl frequently. It is believed to contribute towards the Islamic belief in thawaab, or reward.
Khaled Fazaa / AFP / Getty

Tehran, Iran
A woman leaves her shoes outside the Imam Khomeini Mosque.
Mohammad Kheirkhah / UPI / Landov


Dushanbe, Tajikistan
During the holiday, observant Muslims get up before dawn to eat, then pray and then do not eat again until after the fourth prayer of the day, which occurs around sunset.
Nozim Kalandarov / Reuters

Jerusalem, Israel
Palestinian women attend the first Friday prayers of the month at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Ammar Awad / Reuters

Mathura, India
Young boys read the Koran at a madrasa, or religious school.
K. K. Arora / Reuters

Khartoum, Sudan
Men praying at the main mosque. Every day during the course of the month 1/30th of the Koran is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire book has been completed.
Mohamed Nureldin Abdalla / Reuters

St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Women pray at the Islamic Community Center in south St. Louis.
Christian Gooden / St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Foreign workers gather for iftar, the meal which marks the end of the daily fast during the holy month.
Reuters

Amman, Jordan
A shopkeeper hangs decorative lights in his store in celebration of the holiday.
Majed Jaber / Reuters

Menstruating Women Laylatul Qadr

How can Menstruating Muslim Women Observe Laylatul Qadr?

Laylatul al-Qadr (the Night of Power or Destiny) is an extremely important night for all Muslims. It is the night in which the Holy Quran, was revealed from Allah (S.W.T.)to Prophet Muhammad (P.B.B.U.H.). It is a night worth more than 1000 days (which is more than the average lifetime of a human from his birth date to his death date). It is said that Laylatul Qadr can occur on the last 10 days (odd days) of Ramadan.

Given the importance of this night, Muslims spend the last ten days of Ramadan in increased prayer and reflection. Some Muslims practice seclusion for the last 10 days of Ramadan.

But for Muslim women who are menstruating during the last 10 days of Ramadan, their observance can be affected, and some are rightly worried. For those of you who do not know, Muslim women are not allowed to pray while menstruating. So how can Muslim women attain the benefits of Laylatul while menstruating?

While it true that she cannot pray the obligatory prayers, or the qiyaam night prayers, she can still listen to the Quran, and say dua.

The prominent Muslim scholar, Dr. Muhammad Abu Laylah, professor of the Islamic Studies & Comparative Religions at Al-Azhar Univ. states:

A menstruating woman should not perform Salah (prayer) nor touch the Qur'an, but she can make du`a' (supplication) and share with other Muslims their prayer by watching and listening to TV channels or radio stations that broadcast Tarawih prayer live.

She can ask someone to put the Mushaf on a table or a stand and read from it without touching it. She can take a cassette and listen to Qur'anic recitation.

Today, Muslim women can make use online quran recitals. She should also read religious books, and remember God through dhikr.

One of my favorite Emmy moments

Big surprise it's Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. I hope I have something this funny to review tonight.

Emmy acceptance speech tips

As a public service for those lucky nominees, here are some Emmy acceptance speech tips. My review of tonight's Emmycast will appear tomorrow. Good luck to all the people I like and bad luck to the ones I hate.

The Best of the "Worst of" the Emmys

Every year I review the Emmy Awards. To get you ready, and for any new readers of this blog, here are selected samples of my Emmy reviews from 2006-2009. You'll find this year's edition on Monday morning.

The people in the first ten rows you don’t recognize are called “seat fillers”. When the seat fillers have to go to the bathroom they’re replaced by the “nominated writers”.

Great questions on E!’s red carpet show. Isiah Washington was asked his porn name. Ryan Seacrest asked Steven Colbert if Jon Stewart was a prick? Class-eeee. He then asked Hugh Laurie: “Do you find that you’re less clever with the American accent?” Bring back Sam Rubin and Mindy Barbano! At least they gave out Altoids.

First Emmy article in the LA TIMES Sunday CALENDAR section: Page six. Page one story: “Gidget gone global”.

Sandra Oh was wearing Conan the Barbarian’s jewelry.

Had to replay several times Barry Manilow’s final comment to Mr. Clark. He said, “all right, Dick” not “I love Dick” as I first suspected (and hoped).

Cheryl Hines looked like she backed into a chandelier and took some of it with her.

Cloris Leachman won again. I guess SPLANGLISH wasn’t a career-ender for everyone.

This isn’t the first time Alan Alda beat out a more deserving nominee. But I’ve gotten over it.

Best line of the night: Steve Colbert, “I lost to Barry Manilow?!”

Trust me, if O.J. knew how easy it was to steal an Emmy he and his gunmen would be on stage thanking their parole officers.

You could tell Robert Duvall won for a cowboy movie. Even while standing he looked like he was riding a horse.

Nominating Minnie Driver and not Eddie Izzard for THE RICHES is like nominating Pam Dawber and not Robin Williams for MORK & MINDY.

Can ANYONE remember last year's Movie of Week winner? And that includes the winners themselves?

In sixty years there’s never been worse co-hosts than Heidi Klum, Jeff Probst, Howie Mandel, Ryan Seacrest, and Tom Bergeron. (Snow White and the four dwarfs) Suffering through that excruciating opening where they vamped about nothing was like reliving my Uncle Lou’s 75th birthday party at Sr. George’s Smorgasbord.

And letting Heidi Klum do comedy is like giving a squirrel a grenade.

The evening started on a high note for me since KTLA Channel 5 once again rolled out their red carpet show. Hosted of course by celebrity footstool Sam Rubin and a random bimbo. This year’s tomato was Victoria Recano, who I learned is their evening news anchor. These two lovable chuckleheads are always good for a few idiotic questions and comments. Also present was Tom O’Neill (a so-called Emmys expert). Sam asked him for a preview of the show and he said, “The highlight will be the In Memoriam feature”.

Very elegant comedy montage – pratfalls, sex jokes, and Tina Fey on the toilet. Doesn’t it seem like FRASIER’S been off the air for a hundred years?

The Reality Show montage: five minutes of angry people being bleeped. This is the “excellence in television” we’re celebrating tonight.

How is Jimmy Smits considered a “Guest” actor on DEXTER? He was in 12 of the 13 episodes.

After Ken Howard thanked someone for giving him a kidney, isn’t it a little hard for the next winner to go up and thank Lorne Michaels?

You’re going to think I’m making this up but I’m not. While the winners of the best song were giving their acceptance speech a promo crawl appeared that read, “In Memoriam in 11 minutes”.

Will all the “improvements” and Neil Patrick Harris be enough to turn the tide? It’s hard to say. They certainly made some strides. But the WEATHER CHANNEL had a special on hail storms in Kansas. I’m not optimistic.

Katrina Kaif IS Cry

The drama has begun.....We should have seen this coming.......After Salman Khan announced his split from Katrina Kaif, the Bollywood belle got whiff of the news at a press conference and tried her best to hold back her tears, but eventually the curious reporters got the best of the actress who had to run out of the room to hide her emotions.

According to The Times of India, Salman told reporters during a recent interview that he broke up with Katrina but that they are still friends. "I have broken up with Katrina. We were friends then for everybody, we are friends now. A relationship breaks if it gets stretched in different directions, or one person does not grow, or the other person takes a different path, or there is some misunderstanding or they have grown out of love," Sallu said.

 Katrina thought she was attending a press conference to talk about her new endorsement deal for Etihad Airways. Instead she found herself at the center of a Q AND A session with snooping reporters who only wanted to know about her recent breakup with Salman!

And at the start of Kat's press conference for Etihad Airways everything went well, but soon the popular actress was overcome with emotions when asked about her personal life. 'f Salman Khan has said he's single, I've also said I'm single. I am single. But beyond that I don't think I need to give too much of details, (Kat said. "If Salman says we've split, it must be true,) she added and walked out of the press conference shortly after. 

Now the buzz is Katrina started to cry backstage and vowed to make changes to what reporters are allowed to ask during press conferences.. "What happened was very, very disturbing. I had the entire congregation of media persons questioning me about a statement made by Salman. If for all these years I haven't spoken about the relationship, why should I do so now? I won't be bullied into talking about my personal life. I am going to take contractual action to ensure limits are not crossed at these events," Katrina said according to The Times of India.

"Whether it is my personal or public space, I've noticed I allow people to take too many liberties. From now on my personal life remains out of public eye. And those who wish to share a personal equation with me better respect that," she added. 

We guess there is more drama to come....

Trust in Allah

Ramadan Message: Trust in Allah
Ramadan Messages for 2010
Day 17

"Put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful"
(Holy Quran, 12:217)

Many of us live our lives in fear. We fear not getting what we strive for, we fear losing what we do have, and we fear even aiming for something we do want.

But recall this: [The Caliph] 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be well pleased with him) is reported as having said: "Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said: "If you really and truly placed all your trust in Allah totally, He would sustain you as He sustains the birds. They start the day with their bellies empty, and return back with their bellies full."



This absolute trust in Allah is called tawakkul.

The real meaning [haqiqa] of absolute trust [tawakkul] is delegating all one's affairs to Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He), making a clean escape from the murky darkness and gloom of personal choice and self-management, and advancing to the arenas where the [divine] decrees [ahkam] and foreordainment [taqdir] are experienced directly.

The servant [of the Lord] must be convinced that there is no possibility of changing the allotment of destiny [qisma], which means that whatever has been allotted to him cannot pass him by, and that he can never obtain what has not been allotted to him. His heart will then become reconciled to this, and he will feel confident in relying on the promise [wa'd] of his Master [Mawla]. He will therefore receive from his Master [Mawla].

Putting one's trust in the Lord [tawakkul] is actually the first of three stages, namely: (1) the basic sense of trust [tawakkul], then (2) the act of surrender or resignation [taslim], and then (3) the act of delegation [tafwid]. The person who is at the stage of basic trust [al-mutawakkil] is one who feels confident in relying on the promise [wa'd] of his Lord. The person who is at the stage of surrender or resignation [sahib at-taslim] is one who is content to rely on His knowledge ['ilm]. The person who is at the stage of delegation [sahib at-tafwid] is one who is happy to accept His judgment [hukm].

From: Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Chapter 3

Absolute trust in the Lord [tawakkul] is living one day at a time, and dispensing with concern about tomorrow.

It is the constant fears, doubts and worries that stymie our happiness in this life. Remember that what happens only happens because Allah wills it so. That should not stop us from seeking out what we need as do the birds seek out the food it needs daily; rather we should place trust in Allah that he will provide for us what is best for us. If we do not attain what we seek despite our best efforts, then accept it and trust that it was for the best! If something is meant, it will happen, regardless of what we do or do not do.

Dispense with fear, doubt and worry. Replace it with trust in Allah.

"And why should we not put our trust in Allah while He indeed has guided us our ways. And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us, and in Allah (Alone) let those who trust, put their trust."
(Holy Quran, 12:14)



Ramadan Message 2010: Ramadan Dua Accepted?

Ramadan Message 2010: Gratitude

Ramadan Message 2010: Charity

Ramadan Message 2010: Dua

Ramadan Message 2010: Patience

Once you get Klinger out of his dress, then what???

What happened to the summer? That’s the first Friday question. Here are others. Thanks for asking yours.

benson wonders:

Many series have clip show episodes with some new material to tie together all the reminiscences. Do you keep an audience from a regular taping, or if there is something in need of a audience reaction, do you just sweeten with taped reactions?

I never had a show of my own on long enough to have a clip show. Did one on MASH, which took more time pouring through footage than if we had written a six new episodes.

Note to showrunners: CLIP SHOWS ARE A PAIN IN THE ASS. At first you’ll think it’s a freebie, but it’s NOT. It’s a time suck like you wouldn’t believe.

If a show does not heed my advice they usually will shoot the wrap-arounds after a show if filmed and just before the audience is released. How many people stick around? That depends on how long the filming was? If they kept for five hours then there will be a stampede when the director yells “cut!” If they're kept for three they’ll probably hang in there. It helps to provide pizza.

On TAXI they did an interesting thing: to save money because each week of production was expensive, they put together a two-part episode where each character went off to find a new job. And every week they filmed one of these scenes after the regular show. Each actor only had one week where they really had extra duty. They also filmed the wrap-arounds after completing an episode.

This saved Paramount two weeks of production costs. And by the way, they were two of the best episodes that season.

Alan Sepinwall, TV critic extraordinaire (who you should read on his new site) asks this MASH question:

In hindsight, do you think it was a mistake that when Radar left "M*A*S*H," his replacement was the pre-existing Klinger? Or did Klinger's role and persona change enough with the promotion that it felt like the show had added a new character?

I wasn’t on the show at the time. The last episodes my partner and I wrote were “Goodbye Radar” but that never stops me from answering questions as if I were there.

I believe the decision to make Klinger the company clerk was to kill two birds -- cover that job assignment and give Klinger something else to do. The producers (rightly so) determined that we had gone as far as we could with the dresses and Section 8 schemes. Having used every gown in the vast 20th wardrobe department that covered over 10,000 pictures probably was a clue.

I think the trouble they encountered though was that without that schtick it was hard to make Klinger really funny.

From Kath:

Ever since advertisers discovered that they could get specific audience info rather than as a block for everyone, networks have targeted their decisions to the 18 - 49 demo. It doesn't matter how many people overall watch a show as long as the 18-49 or better yet 18-35 demo loves it.

Do you think this has affected the quality of programming?

Good God, YES!!

It seems to me that comedy shows especially were funnier before the Friends model began to control everything. Not to mention a number of shows that I enjoyed that were pulled because even though the total viewership numbers were decent, they didn't do well in the 18-49 demo.

I don’t know if they were funnier but comedies used to be more sophisticated. They were written by adults for adults.

Oh no!! This is going to make me sound like one of those "you kids get off my lawn" old guys. But...

What I don’t understand is this: why do networks feel the only way to attract younger viewers is to do shows featuring teenagers and twentysomethings exclusively? I think that's insulting to the viewers you’re trying to reach. In today’s world the following shows would never get sold: MASH, FRASIER, THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, THE ODD COUPLE, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, CHEERS, WINGS, TAXI, BARNEY MILLER, and ALL IN THE FAMILY. None of these shows had zany teenagers or were about high school and yet all these shows had huge 18-34 numbers.

I wish the networks would give young viewers more credit.

And finally, from Dana Gabbard:

Ken, how do you and your partner come up with titles for the scripts you co-write? Any rule you tend to follow? Does it make a difference whether it is for a show that displays titles on air as to how much effort is invested in coming up with a title?

Even if a show doesn’t display the title on the air it's usually listed it in your channel menu. So be careful not to give away any plot secrets.

Sometimes to soothe an actor’s ego we’ll put the name of the character somewhere in the title.

Otherwise we generally just do variations of movie titles or puns. “Death Takes a Holiday on Ice” was the CHEERS title in the episode where we killed Eddie LeBec with a rogue Zamboni machine. When Norm staged an office toga party we titled the show, “Friends, Romans, Accountants”. Nothing too elaborate. It's not like you're being asked to come up with episode titles for Rocky & Bullwinkle.

I love how on FRIENDS they just titled every episode “The one that…” How many brain cells were saved as a result of that time saver?

On OPEN ALL NIGHT we wrote an episode we called “Missing One Geek”. It got filmed with that title and I dunno, someone objected so it got changed to “Terry Runs Away”. When we were nominated for a WGA Award for it the Guild didn’t know what the official title was. Fortunately, all confused was erased when we lost. What a break!

What's your question???

Ramadan Singapore Photos

Ramadan in Singapore 2010

Every Ramadan in Singapore, a food bazaar is held at Arab Street selling tasty food for the breaking of the fast (puasa). Muslim and non-Muslim Singaporeans alike go to this food bazaar. Some delicacies sold at the food bazaar are only available during Ramadan, for instance, the Kathirah drink. So if you happen to be in Singapore during this beautiful month, go ahead and drop by Arab Street and visit the bazaar to soak in the atmosphere.

Here are some sights of the Ramadan food bazaar in Singapore, contributed by a Singaporean reader.

Ramadan Singapore Pictures 2010

Sultan Mosque in Arab Street, Singapore
Oldest Mosque in Singapore, First built in 1824.
Present Mosque Structure was Built in 1925.

Dates Galore.
Every Muslim break their fast with dates, even in Singapore!



Multitude Benefits of Dates :)

Chicken Shawarma

Ramly Burger
Meat Patties from Malaysia
Used to Make Burgers in Singapore
Very Popular!

Roti John (Roti is Malay for Bread)
The origin of the 'John' in the name is supposedly due to the
Western origin of the Baguette and the tomato sauce used in the dish.
The ingredients include minced meat (chicken or mutton), onion, egg,
tomato-chilli sauce and a baguette-type loaf.

Malay Desserts

My Netflix Pick of the Month

I know this is going to sound incredibly self-serving but hear me out. This month’s Netflix pick is VOLUNTEERS. Yes, my partner David Isaacs and I wrote it but that’s not why I’m recommending it – well, not the only reason.

I always thought the movie was good but uneven. And there were artistic decisions made that I didn’t (and still don’t) agree with. Breaking the fourth wall for the sake of a joke is the one that really sticks in my craw. For the sake of one laugh you completely undercut the jeopardy of the third act.

And the tone is very inconsistent. There’s a bridge building sequence that is extremely well done but looks like a National Geographic film. And then a chase scene through the drug lord’s lair that is some of the cheesiest slapstick this side of the Disney Channel (again, not my call).

So far you must be thinking, this is his pick? All he’s done is rip the film. Again, bear with me.

Recently I decided to screen it. I hadn’t actually watched the movie front-to-back in maybe three home video formats. And I must say, even with its faults, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I like it much better now than I did when it came out in 1985. Usually it's the opposite. Usually I see something I remember really being proud of at the time and go "Jesus! What the hell were we thinking? This is the dog's breakfast!" Not so with VOLUNTEERS.

First off, since it’s a period piece set in the early 60s, it doesn’t look dated the way other movies of the 80s do. There’s no “look at those pants we used to wear” and “did we really think Boy George was cool?” moments. And the comic style is different from today – much more reliance on witty dialogue and storytelling than “block comedy scenes”, “trailer moments”, and shock humor.

But it’s kind of refreshing. Objectively speaking, there are a lot of funny lines that still work. And the premise remains very solid. Tom Hanks as a preppy asshole joins the Peace Corps to avoid a huge gambling debt. In the process he gets involved with wide-eyed idealists, a foreign culture that doesn’t want our help, the CIA, Chinese war lords, Communists, and the looming Viet Nam War. It all builds to a loose parody of BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI. Along the way there’s also romance, brainwashing, political satire, adventure, send-ups of classic films, sex, and big 60s hits like “Wolverton Mountain.”

It’s got a terrific cast. Tom Hanks and John Candy are hilarious and if you love Gedde Wataabe, this is the picture to see!

Like I said, I was surprised.

If everyone on the planet rents or buys this movie I will still probably make less than seven cents, so this isn’t a ploy to fill my coffers. I just think it merits your attention or second look.

Ads for movies today like to include endorsements and raves from critics. So if I may be allowed to do the same…

“VOLUNTEERS… it’s better than I thought.”

“The political incorrectness still holds up!”

“Real good in parts!”

“In the right hands this movie will make a great re-make!”

“Way funnier than THE MAN WITH ONE RED SHOE”!

“Rita Wilson is half-dressed and sweaty in much of this film!”

and finally…

“If you don’t like it you can send it back”.

Another "How I was almost fired" radio story

Here’s another censorship story – and also one of my early days in radio stories. Except this time I was the censor.

In late ‘72/early ’73 I was a board op (glorified name for engineer) at KLOS, Los Angeles. You know today’s “Classic Rock” stations that play Layla and everything ever recorded by the Allman Brothers? That’s what they played then, when it was just considered music to get stoned by.

The disc jockeys and engineers sat in booths facing each other, separated by glass. We communicated through an intercom. As an engineer, it was my job to play the music and commercials. Back then we still played “records” – these round vinyl thingys. There must be one in a museum somewhere.

But on Sunday nights KLOS abandoned its format of being your “Emerson, Lake & Palmer station" for public service programs (required by the FCC). One of these was “Impacto” hosted by Joe Ortiz -- a call-in show centering on Hispanic issues. I was the engineer.

A lot of the callers were unaware I assume that you were not allowed to swear on the air. I was forever diving for the kill button. I kept telling Joe he had to remind his callers not to use profanity but he refused. He didn’t mind the barrage of f-bombs and he accused me of censorship. Even my pleading that we could lose our license fell on deaf ears.

So needless to say, things became very tense between us.

If he wasn’t getting calls he’d signal me to play a record. I would just grab one off our playlist. This was an important fact: the ONLY records you were allowed to play were those on the playlist. Disc jockeys (or engineers) could not just bring in albums from home.

So one Sunday night the calls were light. Joe gave me the signal, I reached over to our rack of 45’s, selected one completely at random and cued it up. For reasons I don’t know to this day, he introduced it by saying, “Now here’s a song that expresses the state of the barrio.”

With that I let this record fly.



Ortiz went nuts! Screaming at me. I wish there was a kill button on the intercom. After the show he filed an official union grievance against me. I had to go before the Chief Engineer and a union board for a hearing. The charges were dropped of course. They reacted the way you probably did when you heard the song.

My good name was cleared. I was given a new shift. But then I wound up with two people hating me -- Joe Ortiz and the poor engineer who took my place.

Ramadan Dua Accepted

Ramadan Message: Ramadan Dua Accepted?

Ramadan Messages and Daily Reminders for 2010
Day 15

In a previous article, we discussed the importance of making dua (supplication) to Allah. Making dua to Allah is encouraged throughout our lives. But this is highly recommended during Ramadan because Allah will grant a fasting person his wishes, if what is asked for is good for him, and He deems it so. There is no one thing that you can ask for that would be too small and insignificant. Allah is indeed all-powerful, all-merciful, and all-giving, that we may fear what we regard as important to us may be in reality "not worthy" to be asked for to Allah.

But remember that Allah has told us to make dua.

“And when my slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them) I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.”
(Holy Quran, 2: 186)

And He, in His infinite Mercy, also says: “Who else is there that responds to the call of the one in distress when he calls out, and He removes evil from him? ...Is there any other God besides Allah? Little is it that you remember!”
(Holy Quran, 27:62)

However, it is not uncommon for people to complain that they have asked God for something, but they have not received it. They become upset when their prayers and dua to Allah is not answered. They feel hope ebb away, and start to feel resentful.

One muslimah writes to us:

"For the last two Ramadans, I had fasted sincerely, and I had been more attuned to the spiritual aspect of the holy month. I made an effort to pray my obligatory 5 daily prayers during the month, where before I had skipped prayers. I read the Quran. I also made vows to be a better Muslim and be true to my religious obligations. I did so because I felt my life was heading in a direction I did not like. I also wanted to get married, but it did not seem to be happening for so many reasons. Meanwhile, all my friends were moving on to the next chapter of their lives, marrying and starting families. So my Ramadan dua for the last two years had been simply for Allah to make my life easier so that I could finally get married. But this has not happened. Now it is my third Ramadan, and I still have the same wish. But part of me, thinks it is hopeless to ask this of Allah again. I should perhaps not ask for this anymore. Sometimes, I feel upset, but then I wonder if it could it be my fate not to be married? But then my life is not perfect, and I have not kept up to my vows to be better, so could that be the reason? Because of such thoughts, I find myself not as "sincere" this Ramadan - I am more tired physically, and have skipped prayers. Then I feel bad about it."

If you are at this point, then please have the good conscience, to step away from the negative feelings and contemplate on whether or why your dua has not been accepted or answered.

Some things to think about on why your dua may not be accepted:

1. Praying to other than Allah (SWT):

Allah (SWT) said: “And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not anyone along with Allah (72:18). He (SWT) also says, “So invoke not with Allah another god lest you should be among those who receive punishment.” (26:213)

2. Hastiness in Dua:

We make dua and expect it to be answered the next morning, at the latest. We should be patient when making dua to be answered. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Your supplication will be answered if you are not impatient, and if you do not say, ‘I supplicated but my supplication was not heard.’” (Malik)

The Prophet (SAW) said: “The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?” He (SAW) said, “It is one's saying: ‘I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.’ Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether.”

This shows that Dua should be continuous, and that we should avoid giving up our Dua because it has not been responded to at a time that we see fit. For Allah (SWT) is The Wise and we know that no Dua is ever wasted! This does not mean however, that we cannot pray that our Dua be answered quickly, for it has been narrated that the Prophet prayed for rain and said "quickly, and not delayed." (Ibn Majah)

3. Impurity of one’s sustenance:

Allah (SWT) said: “O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you…” (2:172). It is important that one’s income be lawful and free from interest as the Prophet (SAW) said, “Make wholesome your earning, Allah will accept your Dua.”

The Prophet (SAW) made mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled, and covered with dust. “He lifts his hands and makes supplication, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ but his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful, and his nourishment is unlawful. How then can his supplication be accepted?” (Muslim and Ahmad)

4. Not being assertive on what he asks for:

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “None of you should say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You wish, (or) O Allah, have mercy on me if you wish.’ Rather you should be firm in your request, for (Allah does whatever He wishes) and no one can force Him to do otherwise.”

5. Neither enjoins good nor forbids evil:

The Prophet (SAW) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, you either enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will certainly soon send His punishment to you. Then you will make supplication and it will not be accepted.” (At-Tirmidhi)

6. Not praying with humility and submissiveness:

Allah (SWT) said: “So call you upon (or invoke) Allah with sincere devotion to Him (Alone)…” (40:14) The Prophet (SAW) said, “Make dua to Allah in a state that you are certain that your dua will be responded to, and know that Allah does not respond to a dua that originates from a negligent, inattentive heart” (Tirmidhi). It is the one who prays with no humility and submissiveness, whose heart is negligent and inattentive.

7. Striving actively to change oneself first:

Allah (SWT) said: “…Verily, Allah will not change the (good) conditions of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)”

So the next time you think that your dua hasn’t been answered and you want to give up think again and keep trying because Allah is always near.

“And Your Lord said: Call on Me, I will answer you”
(Holy Quran, 40:60)

Source:http://www.ramadan.com.au/why-is-my-dua-not-accepted

Hopefully, the muslimah does not lose hope. She needs to have faith that her dua will be accepted, assuming she continues to be sincere in her words and actions. InshaAllah, her dua will be accepted in due course, if it something Allah deems good for her.

Taylor Lautner Sues Over (RV ) Planned For Pittsburgh Movie Set

Taylor Lautner Sues Over RV Planned For Pittsburgh Movie Set
Twilight Star Says He Paid For Private Trailer For Use On 'Abduction,' Company Didn't Deliver

PITTSBURGH -- Taylor Lautner is suing a California RV dealership he claims didn't deliver a customized coach in time for use on his current Pittsburgh movie shoot.

The star of the "Twilight" series sued the Irvine, Calif., dealership of McMahon's RV in Los Angeles on Monday. The lawsuit claims McMahon's missed a June deadline to deliver a $300,000 customized 2006 Affinity Country Coach RV.

The lawsuit doesn't specify what special features the 18-year-old wanted for the RV, which would serve as his dressing room.

Lautner is currently in the steel city filming the action-thriller "Abduction." His is reprising his role as Jacob Black in the two-part "Twilight" finale, "Breaking Dawn."

A phone message left at the McMahon's dealership Monday was not immediately returned.

Have you had a brush with fame in Pittsburgh? Share your celebrity sightings on ulocal by clicking here.

 

One of my favorite network censor stories

Yeah, this one's a dandy. It occurred on MAUDE, a big hit show from the 70s. Remember last month my post on CBS Standards & Practices having a list of unacceptable words? They were even worse in the 70s.

MAUDE was a spinoff of ALL IN THE FAMILY and had that same biting edge to it. Censors were always having fits. Hey, they had an abortion episode on MAUDE. Meanwhile, Marcia Brady struggled with split ends.

On show nights MAUDE had two tapings. One at 5:30 and the other at 8:00. They then edited together the best performances. And in between the writers fixed jokes that clunked.

One week there was a joke the censor objected to. I don't know specifically what the joke was. The producers fought vehemently that the line was acceptable. Finally the censor offered a compromise.

They could do the joke during the 5:30 taping.

But if it got a laugh it had to come out.

What??!! How the hell do you even respond to that????

That’s the kind of thing we had to deal with. I think if that censor were assigned to TWO AND A HALF MEN his head would explode by week two.

Tomorrow: another censorship story...but this one almost got me fired.

Poster for #INCEPTION sequel

Many thanks to blog reader Michael for creating the poster to the sequel of INCEPTION. This goes back to my previous post -- Studio notes for INCEPTION. Thanks Mike!

Losing Weight During Ramadan

How to Lose Weight During Ramadan

During the Ramadan month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk for 30 days. Muslims stay away from all food and drink while fasting. This might seem an ideal way to lose some weight. But contrary to popular belief, some Muslims actually put on weight during the month of Ramadan.

The lavish iftar dishes - traditional sweets, cakes and fried foods - that are served for the breaking of the fast can actually contribute to unwanted weight gain. It is customary to have several selections of such foods on the table for iftar. It is a strong person indeed to stay away from such temptations after a whole day of fasting.

So even if a fasting person took a small taste from each of such unhealthy foods, it will eventually start to add up, and weight gain would be inevitable.

However, it is not impossible to lose weight (if one needs to), or maintain a healthy desired weight during the Ramadan period.

Here are some simple tips a fasting person can use to lose some weight during Ramadan:

1) Do NOT skip Sahur (the early morning meal). Firstly, it is the Prophet's sunnah to wake up and take a meal in the morning. Secondly, there is wisdom in this for the early morning meal provides the body with needed nutrients while fasting during the day. It also engages the body's metabolism. Remember a fasting body slows down its metabolism quite a bit so as to conserve energy. In order to lose weight, a high metabolism is required. And the early morning meal helps jump-start the body's metabolism.

2) If possible, eat what you normally would for breakfast on a non-fasting day. Cereal and milk, toast and fruits and so on. There is no need to have an entire meal that one would for dinner during Sahur. This is particularly so, if you intend to go back to sleep after your morning prayer. The easiest way to gain weight is to sleep on a heavy and full stomach!

3) If you are able to, incorporate an exercise routine into your day. There is no absolute ideal time for exercise, but it is recommended that if you want to exercise while fasting that you do it 1-2 hours before iftar. That way, all the bodily fluids one loses while exercising can be replaced in a relatively short period at iftar. It is vital to re-hydrate the body during iftar, or else one could suffer from headaches, which is a common symptom of lack of water in the body. Another way is to exercise after taraweeh prayers, but this schedule can be tough to maintain for most people who need to wake up early for work and school! Keep in mind, that if you do decide to exercise while fasting, you may not have the same energy level as you normally do. Be less demanding on yourself - instead of a 45 min run, reduce the time period, or do brisk walking instead. The idea is to get the blood moving.

4) Be discriminating about what you eat at iftar. Seriously! This can make or break your Ramadan weight loss goals. Your mother can cook fantastic food for iftar, but it may not be the best type of food that could help you achieve weight loss. Avoid the oily and sweet stuff. Again, it is best to follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. He broke his fast with dates. Dates can quickly provide natural sugars to the blood system - and has many other health benefits. It has also been reported in a science paper that dates can help the body re-hydrate three times faster than if one were to only drink water. The dates help the body to absorb the water better. How about that!

5) Definitely avoid the sugars, and that goes for carbohydrates that are easily broken down into sugars. It is the sugars in our foods that make us put on weight quickly. Instead, eat more high-protein and high-fiber foods that will help the body build on muscles. When the body has less sugars to burn for fuel, the body will turn to fat. Muscles help in fat-burning. And the best part is that this process continues while you sleep.

Studio Notes on INCEPTION

I submitted this originally to the New Yorker but they never responded so what the hell? I'll run it here. No spoiler alert necessary because there's nothing in here that's not already in the trailer. And hopefully by now, most of you will have seen the movie anyway.
Memo to Christopher Nolan:

From: Wendee Geldorfman-O’Day
Studio creative junior executive

Re: Rough cut of INCEPTION

Dear Christopher,

First let me say you have made an amazing film, maybe the most amazing film this studio has produced since SEX AND THE CITY 2. We’re all very proud of it and glad we could be there to help guide you in its development.

Having seen the rough cut I have a few thoughts and questions I’d like to share with you.

There was no music and the color didn’t match. That’s because it’s a rough cut, right? If not, you may have overlooked these elements.

Good news: Our research has shown that people in your target audience do in fact dream. So heave a big sigh of relief.

Less good news (but not bad news): I must admit I found some of your film confusing. And it wasn’t just me. My intern, Chloe-Caitlin was also befuddled in parts. And Chloe-Caitlin just finished tops in her class at the Texas A & M film school so you know she’s sharp as a whip. In maybe a sentence or two, could you tell me just what is going on? Sometimes a filmmaker can get too close to his masterpiece and virgin eyes can be most helpful. The one thing that is virgin about Chloe-Caitlin is her eyes.

What threw us the most was this dream within a dream device. We believe you would have a much stronger movie if you didn’t cut from one to the other. In other words, do all of dream one first, then dream two second, and dream three third. This would help us track the story and honestly, there were times I’d be watching something, it would get real exciting, and then whoosh! You take me somewhere else. And now I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened. Is this really the reaction you want?

When you think about it, the running time is a wee bit long. Do you really need all three dreams? I mean, we get it after two. Just think about it. That’s all I ask. And maybe prepare an alternate cut just for fun.

Point of clarification: In the sequence where they’re flying weightless in the hotel hallway – that’s one of the dreams, right?

I worry that some of the dreams don’t look realistic enough. For example: Leo DiCaprio is in my dreams a lot. But he’s always naked. Any chance we could reshoot a few scenes to incorporate that? Chloe-Caitlin agrees.

Now if you want to go more surrealistic, I think you could lift that whole winter action sequence dream (sorry, but it’s very FOR YOUR EYES ONLY) and replace it with something more groundbreaking. Are you familiar with the Aha video? A girl goes into a comic book. I’m sure our animation department can spare a few weeks. It’s not like they’re making Bugs Bunny cartoons anymore. And I would even use that Aha song.

Marketing idea: That portable machine that allows people to enter other peoples’ dreams -- could we have a few of those at some of the major cineplexes? I think it would be fun for the moviegoers to experience just what it’s like to enter their friends’ dreams.

Question: Was that the girl from JUNO? She looks familiar. Chloe-Caitlin can’t place her.

When Juno, or whoever she is (she’s not the daughter from MODERN FAMILY is she?) agrees to be on Leo’s team it is never specified how much he is going to pay her. I think we need to know this to enjoy her role in the film.

And finally, the title. I worry that INCEPTION is too ambiguous. Chloe-Caitlin had to look up the word. And again, this is a girl who got into Texas A & M. When you think of “inception” – unless you’re a Roads Scholar – you think of what? Birth control. I fear we’ll lose the Catholics. And the south.

So what about this instead? WHO’S THAT IN MY HEAD? There’s something very elegant about WHO’S THAT IN MY HEAD? And it tells you exactly what the movie is about. It’s like HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS. Had they gone by its original title -- MINIMIZATION, I don’t think it would have been the home run that it was. At best it would have been an infield single or even fielder’s choice depending on the official scorer.

I’m taking the liberty of having our art department draw up some one sheets of WHO’S THAT IN MY HEAD? I know it’s a radical change but don’t say no until you’ve seen the T-shirts.

Bad news: I have no more suggestions. Ha ha ha. Again, all of us here, not just interns, are very excited about your film. The word genius is overused so I won’t use it. But I look forward to the revised cut incorporating all these minor changes and believe from the depths of my bones that you don’t only have a remarkable film on your hands, you have a franchise! Summer 2011 – WHO ELSE IS IN MY HEAD? Christmas 2012 – NOW WHO’S IN MY HEAD? And summer 2014 – FRED, IS THAT YOU IN MY HEAD? Are there three sequels? Well, one can dream.

-- Wendee