MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: CONVERSATIONS WITH TELEVISION DIRECTORS: DIRECTING COMEDY FOR TELEVISION: JAMES BURROWS AND JAY SANDRICH {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, held in Los Angeles and moderated by Museum president Robert M. Batscha, is presented in collaboration with the Directors Guild of America and features a conversation with the distinguished television comedy directors, James Burrows and Jay Sandrich.
Batscha begins the evening with a screening of examples of the two directors' work: a scene from an episode of "Soap," which Sandrich directed; and two clips from episodes of "Cheers" and "Friends," directed by Burrows. After the highlight footage, Burrows and Sandrich join Batscha on stage for a discussion of the following topics, among others: why Sandrich favors videotape, while Burrows prefers to shoot on film; their theatrical approach to staging a situation comedy, which frees the actor and forces the camera to follow the performer; good writing as the most important element in keeping a long-running situation comedy fresh; the advantages, for a director, of working with the same cast on a weekly basis; the importance of maintaining an open creative atmosphere among actors, writers, and producers; their enjoyment of the process of directing pilots and the defining first few episodes of a series; the importance, for a director, of not becoming regimented or pre-planned to a point where the actors' creativity is shut down; the simple, straightforward communication which works best with good actors; a comparison of the very different rehearsal techniques of Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper, and Cloris Leachman; and their admiration for Grant Tinker (who is introduced in the seminar audience) whose MTM Enterprises had an open, collegial atmosphere which stimulated fine television and served as a training-ground for young writers and producers. Questions from the seminar audience lead to comments on the following topics, among others: why situation comedies are half-an-hour; what it was like, for Burrows, to direct John Cleese in an episode of "Cheers" (at this point, audience member Kelsey Grammer relates an anecdote about the Cleese guest appearance); how the right camera shot can improve or ruin a joke; the role of the director as the actor's guide; anger as "the enemy of comedy"; the difference between directing an actor who does comedy and a stand-up comedian in a sitcom; how Burrows and Sandrich keep long-running programs visually fresh; a humorous story about directing advice Burrows's father, Broadway director Abe Burrows, got from George S. Kaufman; directing actors in remote segments, which have become increasingly popular with sitcoms; directing physical comedy, and Sandrich's thoughts on the physical comedy talents of actors Ted Danson and Dick Van Dyke; the role of the assistant director in television comedy; Sandrich's experience as Sheldon Leonard's assistant director early in his career; the reshaping that can occur between the two tapings of a show; their involvement in the casting of pilots; the casting of Ted Danson and Shelley Long in "Cheers" and Valerie Harper in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"; the importance of gaining the trust of the actors and maintaining an atmosphere of fun on a sitcom set; the current state of the sitcom form -- which Burrows suggests is the only home for sophisticated, adult comedy today, and which Sandrich feels is suffering from a glut of product; the surprisingly negative studio audience reaction to the first "Mary Tyler Moore Show" produced; the slow starts of many classic shows -- including "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Cheers"; the elements that interested Sandrich in directing the pilot for "The Golden Girls" and Burrows in directing "Friends"; how the studio audience helps the actor; Kelsey Grammer's thoughts about acting before a studio audience; and Burrows recollection of shooting a memorable scene in "Taxi."
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: November 13, 1996 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:34:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:46462
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Moderator
- James Burrows … Panelist
- Jay Sandrich … Panelist
- Abe Burrows
- John Cleese
- Bill Cosby
- Ted Danson
- Kelsey Grammer
- Valerie Harper
- George S. Kaufman
- Cloris Leachman
- Sheldon Leonard
- Shelley Long
- Mary Tyler Moore
- Bob Newhart
- Grant Tinker
- Dick Van Dyke