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« Jamie's My Boys Blog
Project Runway Meets My Boys
This week in "The Shirt Contest" (airing Thursday at 9;30 pm/ET), the Boys get embroiled in another one of their competitive moods. Let's just say Project Runway comes to Chicago. It was really fun shooting this one. I got to show a little more flesh than normal. As a redhead, it's always great to show the world a little more of my pasty white skin (note the heavy sarcasm). I'm almost as white as Jim Gaffigan, but my skin is covered with freckles and red fur. All of you redheads out there know what I mean. Nudity is not one of our strong suits. Even if I was Mr. Olympia, people would still scream, "Put your shirt back on. You're burning my eyes out!" It would be nice to go to the beach without wearing SPF Infinity!
OK, enough of the "ginger" talk. It's depressing me, and when you see my bare skin this week, just remember that I didn't write the episode. It wasn't my choice for you to see my bare flesh. I am merely a pawn in a greater scheme. And at this point, I think the writers are deliberately thinking of ways to torture me. And I will pay them all back one day! Ha-ha-haaaaaaaaaaa (evil laugh).
We also have a great guest star this week, Hayes Macarthur, who plays a very funny turn as a collaborator of PJ's. It's supposed to turn into a career opportunity for her, but things never seem to go as planned. That's as much plot as you deserve.
Have you all seen who was on the plane yet? Because this is the last week I won't talk about it. Next week, we're talking about it, so if you haven't seen it, get on it!
I just finished reading Rebels on the Back Lot. It's a book about the making of six films from the '90s, including Pulp Fiction, Being John Malkovich and Boogie Nights. After reading it, I'm amazed how any film ever gets made. To combine commerce and art is a delicate process. It's the same with TV shows. For us, the cast and crew of My Boys, it's about our craft, whether it's acting, writing, directing, casting, cinematography, editing, lighting, or any of the other many jobs that are included in the production of just one episode of our show. We all got into this business because of a love for what we do.
So what is the formula for a successful show? Can't you just look through history and piece together the next great show? Take a little bit of Cheers... throw in a cup of Seinfeld... add just a spoonful of The Dick Van Dyke Show... and bang! Commercial success. It happens every year. Hundreds of pilot episodes for new series are written. "It's like Northern Exposure meets Roseanne." "It's The Honeymooners, but Ralph is a columnist for the New York Post." "How about a WWII prisoner of war camp as the setting for a broad comedy?" (Yes, that one actually worked as Hogan's Heroes.) A few pilots are shot. And even fewer are aired. Out of those, only a couple will survive to see a second year, let alone a third.
So, what is the secret? I have no idea. It's lightning in a bottle. So, I want to hear what you think. Tell me your favorite shows and why you think they work on both a creative and commercial basis. How do some shows like Arrested Development win the Emmy for best comedy and still not find an audience (a travesty, by the way), while others receive terrible reviews but are huge successes? If we can figure this out, we will rule this town.
TBS' My Boys airs Thursday at 9:30 pm.
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Jun 25, 2008 5:04 PM
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ITA Why do some of these shows even make it to air then last forever, When really good shows get canceled. It makes me mad. But i love My Boys. It seems you guys really get along great too. I love every character, I cant name just one.
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Jun 26, 2008 11:18 AM
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I love your show. Glad you are still on. I love the episode where you get hit with baseballs in a batting cage. I do hate that on ABC, CBS, and NBC they take so few chances with good shows and want everything to be the same old thing every year and cancel shows that viewer love.
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Jun 26, 2008 1:23 PM
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I wish I knew the magic formula. Some of the shows I like are hits and some are...not. Of course, the shows I absolutely love are usually the ones that struggle to stay on the air and generally get the boot far too soon.
Looking forward to tonight's episode!
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Jun 26, 2008 1:37 PM
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I hate to admit it, but I have a soft spot for ginger kids. I feel for my co-worker every time he heads outside. Just thinking about the sun and he catches a burn. But I digress.
I think it's really interesting how shows are chosen. Not a fan of the network suits (most days I think I could do better than any of them), I occasionally feel bad for them. Their decisions are never based on "good" shows, but on good dollars.
They move shows around, put great shows up against giants like Idol and wonder why no one watches. Now everything is reality. I'm so sick of it. The major networks have really let advertisers drive their choices. IMO.
Personally, I am a bigger fan of the "other" networks. USA has Psych and Monk, which both failed on NBC but thrive on USA. Granted I know they're owned by the same company, but isn't everything owned by the same thing no a days?
FX has It's Always Sunny, a fantastic little show in another great city. Even FOX (which is a major station, but will always be out-there for me), had Arrested Development. A rare treat that should still be on today. At least it aired. It's found a cult-status in some circles and hopefully one day, we will see more of those crazy Bluths.
Anywho--TBS has done a nice job and My Boys is such a treat to watch. Great cast, great chemistry in a great city. I look forward to every episode and wish we'd get two a week like last year. A girl can dream.
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Jun 26, 2008 3:15 PM
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Ahh, a fellow Arrested Development fan. I knew I liked you, Jamie.
I think the strength in a show (My Boys included) is in the ensemble cast. If you don't care enough about more than one character or plot, where's the longevity? Of course, I can't figure out why so much of the general public chooses to care about dumb characters in lame plots of ridiculous TV shows. But I guess we're just smarter and more appreciative of wit and creativity than the majority.
On an unrelated sidenote: I saw you at the Arclight Cinema a few weeks ago. I thought about yelling out to you how much I love the show but opted against being the creepy fan who derailed what looked like a date you were on. You're welcome.
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Jun 26, 2008 3:22 PM
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It's not just the redheads who suffer... My hair is sort of a honey/caramel color, and my skin is so pale that I can't find make-up in the right shade. Once, I was even blinded by the bright glare off my pale, pale legs in bright sunlight on a hot day. Suffice it to say, I can totally relate, Jamie. And I bet you have a totally hot bod, freckles and all. 
As for what makes a show successful, I completely agree with imatvjunkie about a good ensemble cast. Think about a show like Homicide: Life on the Street. Sure there were some standout actors on the show, but it really was all about the ensemble. One of the things I love about Psych is that it's not just about Shawn, but the interplay among the characaters. Good writing doesn't hurt, either. My favorite shows are the ones I can relate to - like on My Boys, I really can imagine my friends and me hanging out and trading barbs the way the characters on the show do, but then also being super-supportive and caring when needed. Hell, one of my favorite bars in the city I used to live in had a board game closet, and that's what my friends I did most Monday nights. Or they are the shows that are just so well-written that cause me to think or that provide an intellectual level of humor.
Sorry for the rambling... and I'll probably post again tonight or tomorrow after I watch the show, assuming my power doesn't go out from the storm that is raging outside. Ah, summer in the midwest!
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Jun 26, 2008 4:45 PM
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I agree that an ensemble cast is the best ingredient of a successful show. Furthermore, a pivotal part of an ensemble is when its members are truly friends who enjoy each other’s company. Take FRIENDS for example. (This is my favorite show of all time.) I always felt the cast truly enjoyed each other’s company. They negotiated their salaries together and no one star made more money than another. When the show ended, it felt like they were as sad as I was. There were no egos conflicting. An out of control ego is the best way to destroy a great show.
Thanks for the columns Jamie! They are funny and a great break from the workday. I’ve always wondered why Mike wasn’t a more serious contender for women’s hearts, but he’s been rather creepy this season. (No offense!) I’m going to take a lesson from the show, and be weary of anyone who sounds a little too much like Matthew McConaughey! 
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Jun 29, 2008 8:37 PM
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While I can't personally understand what it feels like to be a redhead (I'm usually putting on the tanning oil rather than the SPF 50), two of my best friends are redheads so I can sympathize! Although I didn't see much fur in the last episode so be proud of that!
I agree with the other poster who said Mike's been creepy this season! Backless shirts? Really? I'm pretty sure if I ever saw a guy in a bar with a shirt like the one Mike designed I wouldn't be able to stop laughing! While I never though of Mike as a love interest for PJ, I was surprised he didn't get more tail. Except this season....I'm not that surprised.
As for shows catching on, some shows I think the network itself is mostly to blame. I mean how many shows have you seen that have very little advertising for them and/or the network keeps changing the night and time it's on? If it weren't for tivo I'd be screwed sometimes!
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Jun 30, 2008 10:16 AM
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So, what is the secret? I have no idea.
I don't know what the secret is either, particularly when it comes to comedies which I can't stand for the most part. So as far as I'm concerned when a comedy is funny and entertaining, such as My Boys and Seinfeld which are 2 of the few I've enjoyed watching, I think it's pure genius that someone found the perfect cast to pull it off. You all make it seem so natural.
Loved the shirt contest with the backless shirt you wore being the most hilarious .... and oh-so-flamo. Don't wear it to the gay men's league basketball games!
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Jun 30, 2008 10:58 AM
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Jaime,
Caught your interview on a Baltimore radio station last week. It cracked me up that in your 5 min spot 4 1/2 of it was you telling tipping stories...then in the last 30 secs you plugged the show. Too funny! I couldn't figure out why you were so embarassed to walk around the set in your shirt...until you turned around. Oh my!!! At least you kept cool. :p Oh and my husband and one of my sons are red-heads so I hear you. Nothing like having to spackle your 3 yr old with sunblock before he can go outside.
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Jun 30, 2008 12:31 PM
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I feel your redheaded pain, but there is one benefit from a lifetime of SPF infinity: fewer wrinkles. My friends who spent our teen years seeking the perfect tan now look much older than I do. I knew from an early age that the only tan I'd ever get was when my freckles ran together!
I'm enjoying the show this season, but I must agree with the other posters who have noticed a change in Mike. He was always a little brash and frat boy-ish, but he's become kind of obnoxious. Rest assured, my issue is with the writing, not the performance. The last episode particularly bugged me. It made no sense for someone who worked in the Cubs' front office to act like such an a** when meeting an MLB player. I thought that was lazy writing. Having Kenny react that way would have been much more believable.
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Jul 1, 2008 4:25 PM
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