Network notes – Columbo…
Studio notes – Blade Runner…
Studio notes – Back to the Future…
Network notes – various (from the book A Martian Wouldn’t Say That)…
“Please do not sensationalize the dead gopher.”
“I think you’re making a mistake having so many French involved in the production of Les Miserables.”
“We’re concerned about the uniforms on Star Trek. They look like the whole crew is wearing Dr. Dentons.”
“Considering today’s sensibilities, when you discuss euthanasia, be sure you do so in a positive light”.
“I know this is short notice but the network wants to see the script for the pilot very badly and very quickly.
“Is there any way you could write the script now and do the research later?”
“Although Connie is a sociopath, make sure she’s not without warmth.”
“This is the best script of Addams Family we’ve read in a year. Attached are the notes for the rewrite”.
“We have run the sequence of the barmaid serving drinks over and over. There is too much cleavage.”
“In response to your list of suggested writers for your upcoming pilot; who is Truman Capote?”
“Is it possible to improve the caliber of writing without doing a disservice to the show’s popularity and excellent demographics?”
“Please change the dialogue on Page 14. A Martian wouldn’t say that.”
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Once again indicating that network/studio execs are basically idiots and should be ignored on any artistic (or otherwise) issue.
If I remember right from the SG director commentaries, “More peril?” and “Ticking clock?” were also script margin favourites.
Oh my goodness! LOLOLOL! This reminds me of yet another Columbo episode…”Make Me a Perfect Murder” in S7. I hope we get that far eventually.
My question is this – what did Levinson and Link decide to do?
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They elected to ignore the note. More to the point, they informed the executives that they would have to shut down production to address the notes and the executives, fearing cost overruns, backed off.
That Back To The Future note gets me every time! What was he thinking?
The Columbo notes seem like standard executive stupidity to me. Not really a surprise there. The Back to the Future notes have to be a joke. But I actually have to agree with most of the Blade Runner notes. That movie was indeed incredibly dull. As someone who has never fallen asleep while watching a movie (except one time while watching Eegah, but I had the flu at the time) I literally had a hard time staying awake watching Blade Runner. I will never understand how that movie ever became popular.
Which version of Blade Runner did you watch? The one with the voice-over or the one without? The voice-over was done at the request of the studio.
And the Back to the Future notes are, alas, not a joke.
I don’t know which version it was. It was on tv, and it was quite a few years ago. I honestly don’t remember all that much about it.
Imagine those notes since January 20th 2025…