Recreating "Everybody Loves Raymond" for Russia

from San Diego:

Creating a hit television sitcom requires talent, instinct and maybe just a little luck. But it isn’t until the taping of the pilot episode that you know whether you’ve created magic or misery. Phil Rosenthal lived through both scenarios with the sitcom he created, “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

Rosenthal’s success story revolves around a TV show about a regular guy (Ray Romano) and his wacky family that ran from 1995 to 2005 on CBS. The show was such a hit, in fact, that the studio wants to re-create a version for Russian audiences, like they had done so successfully with sitcoms like “The Nanny” and “Married With Children.” And so begins Phil Rosenthal’s comedy nightmare, as portrayed in the documentary he wrote and directed, “Exporting Raymond.”

Rosenthal is about as un-Hollywood as you can get. Think of a mix between Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld; geeky, sharp and funny with a serious streak when it comes to comedy. These qualities make Rosenthal an endearing guide on this odd journey, even if he is irrationally afraid of kidnappings, poisonings and rickety buildings that cause cancer. (Maybe we should add a little Woody Allen to that personality mix.)

Fears aside, Rosenthal is ready to travel to Russia to re-create “Raymond” using the same formula of mining humor from the everyday lives of average American families. Here’s the problem — this is Russia. Even if Russian families are remarkably similar to Americans, as Rosenthal seems to think they are, that doesn’t mean they want to see something resembling real life on television (and based upon the way Russia is portrayed here, I don’t blame them).

This potential problem doesn’t seem to occur to Rosenthal or the American studio executives brokering the situation until the Russian creative team begins fighting Rosenthal’s advice at every turn. Why cast an average-looking actor for Raymond when you can have a hunk? Why dress his wife in casual clothes if she can clean the house in glamorous garb (or the Russian version of glamorous, which recalls American fashion circa 1988)?

What we get is a cultural standoff, and it’s awkward, nonsensical and really funny. Certainly funnier than the television show that’s coming together inside the rundown industrial building that serves as the television studio. Rosenthal’s exasperated expressions and reactions may make him the comic, but he’s also a tough negotiator who rarely backs down from his vision, even if it would make his life easier. And sometimes it even works.

As enjoyable as the debacle is to watch — especially when Rosenthal interacts with his delightfully flighty parents, the inspiration for Raymond’s parents — there is something slightly disingenuous about the documentary itself. Although he never explicitly says so in the film, it’s clear that Rosenthal took on the project with the goal of turning the experience into a documentary — presumably a funny one. While the Russian way of doing business does create increasingly ridiculous barriers that make for comedy gold, I couldn’t help but wonder how Rosenthal’s desire to make an entertaining documentary might have shaped his actions on camera and in the editing room. There’s no denying the hilarity of these cultural differences and quirky personalities (a TV director who performs music with enema bags as a hobby?), but the whole project seems so outrageously untenable that you have to question the motivation for attempting it all.

While these concerns came to mind more than a few times during the film, they were promptly shoved aside by a genuine laugh at whatever craziness happened next. I don’t think a television writer hopes for anything more than that.

Neat.

In other news, 50 Cats Straight Chillin'.

Gilbert Gottfried continues being a jerk

from Chicago:

Expect a tsunami of audacious comedy when Gilbert Gottfried returns to Zanies Comedy Nightclub in Vernon Hills on May 7. 

"People will either laugh or throw a chair at me," said Gottfried, 56. The fare will include lots of dirty jokes and riff on recent events. 

Known for his sharp wit, flawless delivery and distinctively irritating public voice, this Brooklyn native straddles the entertainment world with his feet firmly planted in both children's entertainment, as a voice actor for Disney, and the anything-goes poster-child for the dark corners of adult stand-up.  

...

He said he feels bound to discuss the reasons he's been the recent subject of media scrutiny. "Like the elephant in the room, it is impossible to avoid it," said Gottfried.

That elephant would be his firing last month as the voice of the AFLAC duck in commercials, a job he's had since 2000. The supplemental insurance company that does 75 percent of its business in Japan, felt he'd gone much too far when he used his Twitter account to post several jokes in questionable taste about the tsunami and earthquake that shook that country.

"Centuries from now, when aliens land and they are digging up the remnants of our society, they'll probably see all the reports and think I was the cause of those tsunamis," said Gottfried.
Finding the funny in disasters is nothing new for him.

"I was the first one to do a September 11 joke," he recalled. "The funny thing about that is it was with a September 11 joke that I completely lost the audience, and won them back by talking about bestiality and incest."

Oh, Gilbert.  What won't you say?  Besides "AFLAC," which you are no longer legally allowed to say.

Will Ferrell isn't as cool as Steve Carell

from The Daily Bruin:

For now, let’s just say it’s strange. For more than six seasons, “The Office” has been at times hilarious, wonderful, misguided and boring, but Carell was the constant. He wreaked havoc until you wanted to punch him but showed just enough heart that you held back and laughed instead.

Now we’ll have to divide “The Office” into two eras, like Van Halen or “American Idol,” and it’s hard to imagine the post-Carell show measuring up.

Two episodes in, Ferrell has been decidedly unfunny. Part of that may be the actor’s nervousness at filling such big shoes, but it also seems the writers are hedging their bets. Last week’s episode actually revolved around Vickers’ inability to tell a joke, a worrisome sign if the character is going to stick around much longer.

At this point, though, it’s hard to imagine something that wouldn’t be worrisome – this being television, a resistance to change is unavoidable.

Let's ignore the fact that both of the actors are regional stand-ins for Ricky Gervais.  What's he up to, besides ruining award shows?  Let's go get him instead.

Rob Schneider gets married to someone far too sexy

from The Examiner:

Comedian Rob Schneider was married on Saturday in Beverly Hills, California. The 47-year-old actor married Patricia Azarcoya Arce on Saturday in a private ceremony. The news, confirmed by a statement from the comedian, came as a shock to some fans who didn’t realize his courtship was serious or that the marriage was actually going to happen.

To stop the fans from dismissing the news as rumors, Rob Schneider released a report Monday night confirming his marriage and sharing the joy in his new life.

"We had a great time at the wedding and are looking forward to our honeymoon." says Rob Schneider from a released statement.

Proof that you don't have to be handsome, or particularly talented, to marry someone way, way out of your league.