The Gate Is Good
"The gate is good" is old-school phrase used when wrapping a shot and last night I had the pleasure to shoot a scene for Perfect Couples. It's a new show in development for NBC and as such it hasn't been dropped into the schedule yet. It might be a mid-season replacement, it might be a winter lead-in -- that's for the Scheduling Barons to decide.
So I can't tell you when to watch, but rest assured, I will. You'll have to put your Patience Hat on, because this scene was for episode 10.
It was a great experience. The whole process was smooth, from the audition with Susie Farris (who cast my favorite comedy of the year) to getting on set and working with Kyle Bornheimer who was cool, approachable, and professional. The crew, from the director on down, made it a easy, welcoming environment to work in.
It always feels like that comes off as a bit of trite and shameless kowtowing, but for one: it's all true, and second: I know it's not always like that. And there's nothing tougher to do than to try to create comedy when people are uptight, don't get along, or are dealing with a hostile set.
So, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity. Hopefully there are more to follow.
-Tom, who has a Patience Hat that's a little snug, but it's better than wearing my Impatience Sweater, which is really itchy.
And WHOO HOO!
NBC continues to struggle in the ratings, so you know what that means: time for a complete revamp of its schedule. The network released its plans for midseason today—plans that also include the long-awaited announcement of Parks And Recreation’s return on January 20, when it debuts in its new timeslot at 9:30 p.m. ET, right after The Office, so that’s probably all you need to know. But you might also be interested to learn that it’s all part of an unprecedented six-show block of comedy that NBC is unveiling on Thursday nights, one that involves pushing 30 Rock into the 10 p.m. ET hour—a move that’s accompanied by an early renewal for a sixth season, which would seem to be a vote of confidence that it’ll do just fine there.
There’s still no official word on Community’s third season, but promisingly (or cruelly), NBC is keeping the show right where it is against The Big Bang Theory at 8 p.m. ET as an anchor for its new series Perfect Couples, which is about couples that are, in a stunning reversal, not always perfect. And of course, Outsourced continues to be the second-highest-rated show on the entire night after The Office, which means the network is perfectly confident that it can move it off to 10:30 p.m. ET, where it can continue playing to its fanbase and everyone else can just go to bed.