Book 4 (of 52) – Just The Funny Parts

Just The Funny Parts: …And A Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into The Hollywood Boys’ Club – Nell Scovell

Television writer and producer Nell Scovell looks back at her career in this funny and biting memoir.  She tells the story of her career, starting in magazines, moving to television and movies, and teaming with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg on her book Lean In.  Usually one of the only women in the writing room, Scovell was only the second female writer hired by Late Night with David Letterman and, following Letterman’s 2009 admission of improper “relationships” with female staffers, she wrote an essay in Vanity Fair calling his show a “hostile work environment” for women.  Besides Late Night, Scovell has written for The Simpsons, The Wilton North ReportCoachMonkMurphy BrownCharmedNewhartThe CriticNCIS, and Space Ghost Coast to Coast, amongst others.  She also created Sabrina The Teenage Witch, adapting the Archie Comics character for ABC.

Odds are good that you have seen a program written by Scovell at some point over the last 3 decades.  She tales a serious subject, the roadblocks to a writing/directing/producing career in Hollywood for women, and wrapped it in funny anecdotes of her time bringing beloved characters to life.  Hopefully this work opens more opportunities for her, and others like her.

Concert Flashback: Garfunkel & Oates

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As I detailed somewhat last October, Garfunkel and Oates were coming to town.  I had made plans to attend with two friends from work, but they dragged their feet on getting back to me and all of the seated tickets were sold out.  When they found out we would have to *gasp* stand for the show, they bailed, leaving me with 2 extra tickets.  Seeing as it was the start of my birthday weekend, I decided to head down to the Abbey Pub without them and enjoy myslef as much as I could.  And enjoy myself I did.

20131201-205308.jpg The show started with a comic whose name escapes me at this point.  Once he finished his set, the girls came out and did their thing, mixing banter between themselves with their comedic songs.  In addition to the “hits” from their existing albums, they performed some of their newer songs, including Bernadette’s Song, which they wrote and had debuted on The Big Bang Theory the night before, and God’s Loophole, an exciting ditty about anal sex.

Once the show finished, both Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci came out to sign autographs and take pictures.  I got their autograph on one of my three tickets for the night and got my picture taken with both of them, which has been my Facebook profile picture ever since.  If they were to ever come back to town, I would definately go see them again.  Meanwhile, I’ll look forward to their IFC show, which should be coming out sometime this year.