Don't have the first clue how to get in touch with her, or I probably would do so!
So Haunt Me Page 3
It wasn't very funny at all, this show. And it was another annoying Jewish stereotype character - which seemed to be its only real premise.
It's like the stereotype of the Jewish mother. ALL mothers are Jewish.
Saying 'Oi Vay' is not in of itself a joke. Perhaps it was all subtle parody this, but somehow I doubt it.
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 29 2009, 10:02 PM BSTAnd it was another annoying Jewish stereotype character
*insert Jewish exclamation here*
What's so annoying about it?
Quote: cylon6 @ March 29 2009, 2:38 PM BSTI did not know that. Always had a soft spot for May To December, I liked the first Zoe the best. And Anton Rodgers was an unsung sitcom actor.
Yep - just did some searching around the net and found that SHM was refused, so he went away and wrote what turned into MTD, then brought SHM back later on and got a commission straight away. The power of an established writer over a new one, eh? 
Quote: Aaron @ March 29 2009, 10:24 PM BST*insert Jewish exclamation here*
What's so annoying about it?
Yep - just did some searching around the net and found that SHM was refused, so he went away and wrote what turned into MTD, then brought SHM back later on and got a commission straight away. The power of an established writer over a new one, eh?
As a (half) Jew you get a little tired of Joan Rivers/Jackie Mason type of Jewish exaggeration - i.e. The 'Oi Vey' avaristic, morally uptight Jew. A little unfair to vent this frustration at a light-hearted comedy of course.
I used to do a stand-up character myself, an outraged older Jewish father, who as part of the routine used to complain that "my daughter's marrying a horse!' (Not even a Derby winner, that I could live with, but this...?)
Quote: Aaron @ March 29 2009, 10:24 PM BSTYep - just did some searching around the net and found that SHM was refused, so he went away and wrote what turned into MTD, then brought SHM back later on and got a commission straight away. The power of an established writer over a new one, eh?
Unfortunately, this suggests that an established writer's 'bottom drawer' is easier to commission than a new writer's best stuff. i.e. the foot in the door is more important than the actual script.
I use 'unfortunately' as I'm not an established writer. I will come back and edit that to 'fortunately' once I'm in! 
So Haunt Me was alright from what I remember, though I was little and more easily impressed by mainstream comedy at the time. I remember it having 'that bloke from Rita, Sue and Bob Too' in it...
Dan
Quote: swerytd @ March 30 2009, 8:58 AM BSTUnfortunately, this suggests that an established writer's 'bottom drawer' is easier to commission than a new writer's best stuff. i.e. the foot in the door is more important than the actual script.
I use 'unfortunately' as I'm not an established writer. I will come back and edit that to 'fortunately' once I'm in!
So Haunt Me was alright from what I remember, though I was little and more easily impressed by mainstream comedy at the time. I remember it having 'that bloke from Rita, Sue and Bob Too' in it...
Dan
MY HERO ws rejected by the BBC five years before it got made too. And went through two recorded pilots with different leads. It's not just that a writer is established - it also depends who is in charge at the time in making the final decisions. Paul's writing maybe isn't to everybody's taste but if you look at MTD for example it has an extremely high gag rate, has been worked on very hard and his sitcoms are the kind the whole family can sit down and watch and enjoy.
And as to the bottom drawer top drawer business - well that kind of applies to any job you care to mention really. Sitcom might be one of the hardest nuts to crack - but people do do it somehow or other.
Quote: Marc P @ March 30 2009, 9:12 AM BSThas been worked on very hard
I think almost every sitcom, even the dire ones, have been worked on very hard. Nobody sets out to make a bad show that will fail.
Quote: swerytd @ March 30 2009, 8:58 AM BSTUnfortunately, this suggests that an established writer's 'bottom drawer' is easier to commission than a new writer's best stuff. i.e. the foot in the door is more important than the actual script.
That is certainly the case. It seems only common sense to me to know that once you've made a show, it's easier to make another. HOWEVER, in the case of So Haunt Me, it wasn't the quality of the script that got it turned down, but the content - animals, children, and special effects. The series proper used very few of the latter, but I understand that a pilot was produced in which the ghost was shot entirely separately from the rest of the show, and added in post for 'authentic' ghostly appearance. Rather expensive indeed.
There is a clip on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruLdUBrAZ3g&feature=related
Show actually starts at 1:45 so skip the intro
Quote: chipolata @ March 30 2009, 10:15 AM BSTI think almost every sitcom, even the dire ones, have been worked on very hard. Nobody sets out to make a bad show that will fail.
I take your point chip, but sometimes it's due to time or what not but you can see the level of work that went into a Fawlty Towers script, say, and compare it to a show you don't like. Laziness can creep into all forms of writing.
Quote: Marc P @ March 30 2009, 11:23 AM BSTLaziness can creep into all forms of writing.
I hear you, brother. I was once laid up with flu one weekday and on the TV was this show about doctors set in Birmingham. I don't know what it was called - GPs? - but the writing was the worst kind of lazy.
Jesus to Christ almighty, what on earth posessed them to give this the go-ahead?
Wanted to see it for a while as it sounded good and the sort of thing I'd like alot and just caught a bit on YouTube. I must have seen it originally but can't remember it.
It's awful, the script was dull and the actors seemed uncomfortable. It just didn't flow well.
I like the idea, but not the finished product.
I realise blasphemy is part of many people's vernacular though I can't say I approve David C.
R.e So Haunt Me this reminds me of my single days in the early nineties when, I must confess, I would spend Sunday very often nursing a hangover but would be thoroughly consoled by the notion that this brilliant show would be on in the evening.
I'll give it another go, but not great so far
Just re-watched the same clip on YouTube.
It's part of an episode where theres a ghost in it.
No reference to episode title but it has a bit where they go to a shed to talk, the girl gets invited to Maccies and Tessa Peake Jones has put up a shelf that the husband hasn't noticed. Gripping stuff.
It's better than when I watched it last night but I can't like the husband, he doesn't act he just shouts his lines out(in this 8 min clip anyway).
Though I don't mind the ghost, Tessa Peake Jones or the next door neighbour.
The husband reminds me of some bloke from Hollyoaks