Doc.

Neil "Doc" Simon died this passed week.  The day after John McCain died.
He was a major influence on my life.
I started reading plays because he started writing them.
He was the most prolific playwright of all time.
And he wrote more good ones than anybody else.
A lot of people think it begins and ends with "The Odd Couple".
When the "Odd Couple" first opened, I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
And it's served at least me and my career well.
But it's not close to the best thing he ever wrote.
Some may think its sacrilege to point out that it has no third act.
In a play that is written in a three-act structure, the play peters out miserably.
At parties and gatherings of people who know their theater, I would challenge anyone to tell me how
the play ended.
And I'd hear things like ''two friends move in together, one is neat, the other is sloppy".
And there's a hilarious poker game right at the beginning..
And I'd say, "No that's the theme.
How does it end.  Do they stay together?  Does one of them move out?
Nobody was ever to answer that question accurately.
(He moves in upstairs with the Pigeon Sisters.)
He sold off the rights for the TV series for a flat $100,000.  Convinced that it had no series potential.
He did endless rewrites, particularly of the third act.  He knew it was trouble.  But he got away with it,
A really great play requires that it has a great ending.  It has great scenes, and great moments.
But a great ending?
This the "Odd Couple" does not have.
"The Sunshine Boys" has a similar problem.
The first act is as funny as anything.
The second act is only sad and depressing.
If you're looking for tight structure, all the way through, check out
Last of The Red Hot Lovers,
Prisoner of Second Avenue, and
Lost In Yonkers.
So he was capable of delivering the goods.
Just not all that consistently.
When I told my wife that Neil Simon had died, she thought I meant Neil Diamond.
And she broke into a chorus of "Cracklin' Rosie"
I had to correct her.
But attention still must be paid to Doc.
At least as much as was paid to John McCain.

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My books, "Show Runner" and "Show Runner 2" can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store,

along with newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".

They are all compilations of blog entries have since been removed from the blog.

So this is the only way you can find them.,

You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.

Check them out.

You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.

Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.

The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.

But they are available for people without Kindle.

I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.

If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, there's my reading of my screenplay of my unmade "Laverne and Shirley" movie on "YouTube".

More Podcasts, An Addendum

More podcasts worth your time:

1-The Comedy Store Podcast.

About 5 comedians, all very funny and know each other.  I didn't know any of them, and it didn't matter.  It is based in L.A., taped at the original Comedy Store, and captures much of the history of the Comedy Store from its inception.

2-Who's Paying Attention?  With Alonzo Bodden.

You might recall Alonzo Bodden as a comic who scored well on "Last Comic Standing"  He is most articulate, and very political, in a most anti-Trumpian way.

3-The Comedy Cellar- Live From The Table.

A New York version of the Comedy Store  podcast I found it to be much fnnnier.

4-Penn's Sunday School.

Penn Jillette without Teller, and without the Magic.  He's a pretty compelling talker on many subjects. 

5.  I Blame Dennis Hopper.

Hosted by Illeana Douglas, the actress who has many interesting guests, and is a great interviewer.

6- Kill Me Now!  Judy Gold's podcast.  She's a great comedienne.  And books many great guests.
She can be very loud and overbearing.  She insists on ringing her "Jew-Bell" whenever there is a reference to anyone or anything "Jew-y"  She should stop doing that.  Otherwise, I like her a lot. 

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My books, "Show Runner" and "Show Runner 2" can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store,

along with newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".

They are all compilations of blog entries have since been removed from the blog.

So this is the only way you can find them.,

You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.

Check them out.

You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.

Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.

The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.

But they are available for people without Kindle.

I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.

If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, there's my reading of my screenplay of my unmade "Laverne and Shirley" movie on "YouTube".

More Podcast Thoughts.

Last week, I listened to the Carson Podcast.  The guest was Marcia Carsey.  Best known as the co-creator of the Cosby Show, and Roseanne.  I thought it would be interesting to hear what she had to say about those shows.  They spent the entire time talking about when she worked for Johnny Carson
as a "shlepper" on the "Tonight" show in New York.
She had nothing interesting.to say about working on the Tonight Show.
And basically said that she had nothing to say anything that was interesting about her time on the
Tonight show.  She met Carson maybe once after working there about two years.
So why have her on?
Her husband was John Carsey, someone who worked on the Tonight Show going all the way back to the Steve Allen days.  I remember hearing about him from the Jack Paar days.
Knowing that John and Marcia Carsey were married immediately gave her the funniest name in show business.  Chicken Little?  Henny Penny?
Was he still alive?
A quick check at Wikipedia revealed that he died in 2002.
His name came up plenty.
But nothing about his current  status
And her business partner during the Cosby, Roseanne days, was Tom Werner.
The most unpleasant, humorless man who ever ran a sitcom.
And is now part-owner of the Boston Red Sox.
What happened there?
So I'm taking the Carson Podcast off of my top ten list.
And next time I'm going  to offer up another 5 Podcasts worthy of your time.

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My books, "Show Runner" and "Show Runner 2" can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store,

along with newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".

They are all compilations of blog entries have since been removed from the blog.

So this is the only way you can find them.,

You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.

Check them out.

You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.

Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.

The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.

But they are available for people without Kindle.

I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.

If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, there's my reading of my screenplay of my unmade "Laverne and Shirley" movie on "YouTube".