How do you write a series about nothing? Steven Koren, an alum of the "Seinfeld" writers' room, shared some insight on the process.
Mel Magazine recently published an oral history on the creation of "Seinfeld" character Izzy Mandelbaum (Lloyd Bridges), an elderly fitness buff who lives in the same Delca Boca Vista community as Jerry's patients. Mandelbaum's debut is one of three storylines in the episode "The English Patient." The others involve Elaine being singled out as the one person who doesn't enjoy the eponymous film and George being mistaken for an attractive woman's (Chelsea Noble) boyfriend.
Koren, writer of "The English Patient," was interviewed for the feature. He didn't recall much of how he pitched the episode itself, but he was able to share how writing for "Seinfeld" differed from other series he worked on. For context: Koren got his start on "Saturday Night Live" and has since followed...
Mel Magazine recently published an oral history on the creation of "Seinfeld" character Izzy Mandelbaum (Lloyd Bridges), an elderly fitness buff who lives in the same Delca Boca Vista community as Jerry's patients. Mandelbaum's debut is one of three storylines in the episode "The English Patient." The others involve Elaine being singled out as the one person who doesn't enjoy the eponymous film and George being mistaken for an attractive woman's (Chelsea Noble) boyfriend.
Koren, writer of "The English Patient," was interviewed for the feature. He didn't recall much of how he pitched the episode itself, but he was able to share how writing for "Seinfeld" differed from other series he worked on. For context: Koren got his start on "Saturday Night Live" and has since followed...
- 10/15/2022
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
As Veep is coming to an end, the Emmy-winning series’ executive producer/showrunner David Mandel is staying in business with HBO.
Mandel has signed a three-year exclusive TV overall deal with the premium cable network to develop and produce series projects.
Seinfeld alum Mandel accomplished a rare feat on Veep. He was given the challenging task to succeed creator Armando Iannucci as showrunner after Season 4, which earned the Washington DC satire starring Julia Louis Dreyfus its first best comedy series Emmy Award. The show did not skip a beat under Mandel, winning the best comedy series Emmy for each for the seasons with him at the helm so far, Seasons 5 and 6. Veep’s seventh and final season is currently airing.
Before his stint on Veep, which also has landed Mandel two writing Emmy nominations, hel wrote for Saturday Night Live (92-95); Seinfeld, where he penned the “The Bizarro Jerry” (aka...
Mandel has signed a three-year exclusive TV overall deal with the premium cable network to develop and produce series projects.
Seinfeld alum Mandel accomplished a rare feat on Veep. He was given the challenging task to succeed creator Armando Iannucci as showrunner after Season 4, which earned the Washington DC satire starring Julia Louis Dreyfus its first best comedy series Emmy Award. The show did not skip a beat under Mandel, winning the best comedy series Emmy for each for the seasons with him at the helm so far, Seasons 5 and 6. Veep’s seventh and final season is currently airing.
Before his stint on Veep, which also has landed Mandel two writing Emmy nominations, hel wrote for Saturday Night Live (92-95); Seinfeld, where he penned the “The Bizarro Jerry” (aka...
- 4/16/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Steve Bannon has made a lot of money off “Seinfeld.” And that’s not sitting too well with one of the show’s former writer-producers. Bannon, the Breitbart News boss who’s soon to be a top adviser in the Trump White House, is a “raging anti-Semite” who has no business getting rich off a show based on “Jewish humor,” according to Peter Mehlman, one of “Seinfeld’s” best-known writer-producers. He has made “all this money off a show that’s associated with Jewish humor,” Mehlman told The Guardian. “That’s pretty galling.” Also Read: How Steve Bannon Made a...
- 12/12/2016
- by Scott Collins
- The Wrap
Here's a book that's not about nothing. Former Seinfeld writer and co-executive producer Peter Mehlman released his first novel, It Won't Always Be This Great, on Monday. The novel's tale, narrated by a Jewish podiatrist living in New York, begins with an uncharacteristic act of vandalism, and spirals out of control from there. There's a false arrest, flirtations with an attractive young patient and the looming threat of the narrator being found out. And while Mehlman says Seinfeld didn't inspire the novel any more than any of the many other parts of his life, there's plenty of neurotic humor for
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- 9/11/2014
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
All week, Vulture has been celebrating Seinfeld, which celebrates its 25th anniversary on July 5. Today, we talk to longtime Seinfeld writer and producer Peter Mehlman about the unique way the show was putu together. (Unlike most shows, there was no writers' room — each person wrote the episodes he thought of.) In addition to writing such classic episodes as "The Smelly Car," "The Hamptons," and "The Sponge," Mehlman — whose first novel will be published in September — created some of the show's most iconic catchphrases, including "shrinkage," "double-dip," and "yada yada." Here, he talks about what type of jokes Larry David liked more than Jerry Seinfeld, and getting yada-yada'd by strangers. I was wondering if you could walk me through the process of writing a Seinfeld episode.First, you come up with an idea — well, you really need to come up with four ideas, or three, because you have to...
- 7/2/2014
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
You may not know Peter Mehlman by name, but you likely know his work. During his tenure making the mundane seem hilarious as a writer on Seinfeld, he introduced “spongeworthy” and “yada, yada” into the pop culture lexicon. But despite writing for one of the most successful comedy series of all time, he says he never thought of himself as a TV writer per se. Mehlman, who worked as a freelance journalist before moving to Los Angeles and starting on Seinfeld, tells The Hollywood Reporter he doesn’t even particularly care for TV comedies. Video: Jerry Seinfeld Debuts 5 Minutes of
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- 3/29/2013
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Next month, a new sitcom called "Work It," about two out-of-work salesmen who dress up as women to get jobs, will make its debut on ABC. There's nothing new about the premise -- Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari covered the same ground on the early-80s sitcom "Bosom Buddies" -- and the tone isn't exactly novel either. The stars of the show, Ben Koldyke and Amaury Nolasco, are operating in the prevailing frat-boy mode perfected by Bradley Cooper and Seann William Scott.
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
- 12/14/2011
- by Richard Rushfield
- Huffington Post
Next month, a new sitcom called "Work It," about two out-of-work salesmen who dress up as women to get jobs, will make its debut on ABC. There's nothing new about the premise -- Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari covered the same ground on the early-80s sitcom "Bosom Buddies" -- and the tone isn't exactly novel either. The stars of the show, Ben Koldyke and Amaury Nolasco, are operating in the prevailing frat-boy mode perfected by Bradley Cooper and Seann William Scott.
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
In May, an 84-second trailer of "Work It" hit the Internet, instantly attracting more blogger rage than most shows accumulate over the course of several seasons. Gobsmacked by the very fact that "This got made! And is going to series!", The Futon Critic lambasted the show's "limp attempts at misogyny," "groan worthy madcappery" and "Mrs. Doubtfire hijinx."
The Best Week Ever blog took special umbrage at the network's...
- 12/14/2011
- by Richard Rushfield
- Aol TV.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are returning to their Boston roots to make a movie about New England's most notorious mobster, TheWrap has confirmed. "We're doing a Whitey Bulger movie," Damon told GQ.com. Affleck will direct and Damon will star as Bulger in the Warner Bros. movie. Terence Winter ("The Sopranos," "Boardwalk Empire") is writing. Bulger is a compelling character for Affleck, who has a deft touch in movies about his hometown. His 2007 "Gone Baby Gone" beautifully captured Boston's gritty side, and his 2010 film "The Town" nailed South Boston. Also read: Peter Mehlman's Whitey...
- 10/24/2011
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
Fox has started developing a comedy from Seinfeld writer Peter Mehlman. The project focuses on a young couple who do not realise they are living next door to a murderer, The Wrap reports. Mehlman explained that he was inspired to write the project when the mobster Whitey Bulger was discovered in Santa Monica after years of searching. "I can't imagine how many times I walked past him," Mehlman said. "They had a dog and walked it in Palisades Park. I walked [my dog] Izzy there every night at sunset. I probably saw him 50 times - and he has 19 (more)...
- 9/22/2011
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
A comedy based around recently apprehended mobster Whitey Bulger is one step closer to the small screen. Fox has purchased a project from former "Seinfeld" writer-producer Peter Mehlman, about a young couple who unwittingly live next door to a murderer, Mehlman told TheWrap on Tuesday. Though the half-hour, multiple-camera comedy will not literally feature Bulger (pictured at left) as a character, Mehlman told TheWrap in August that the pilot was inspired by the fact that Bulger, 82, was found living a life of leisure in Santa Monica, Calif., in June by the...
- 9/20/2011
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
A new comedy pilot involving a character based on Boston mob boss Whitey Bulger is to be produced. Twentieth Century Fox has signed a deal with writer-producer Peter Mehlman for a new comedy pilot about a young couple who get a new neighbor, none other than Whitey Bulger. Mehlman, who worked as a senior “Seinfield” writer for seven years, said he couldn’t believe that Bulger had been living the life of a fugitive in Santa Monica for 15 years. _______________________ Read more: ‘Twilight’ actor to produce movie of gangster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger’s life Whitey Bulger's secret links to the Ira and gun running Irish cop is credited with cracking 'Whitey' Bulger case _______________________ "I can’t imagine how many times I walked past him," Mehlman said. "They had a dog and walked it in Palisades Park. I walked [my dog] Izzy there every night at sunset. I probably saw him 50 times -- and...
- 8/23/2011
- IrishCentral
Exclusive Twentieth Century Fox has made a deal with writer-producer Peter Mehlman for a new comedy pilot about a young couple who get a new neighbor: notorious mobster Whitey Bulger. In an exclusive interview with TheWrap Wednesday, Mehlman shared his amazement that the 81-year-old Bulger lived the leasurely life of a fugitive in Santa Monica for 15 years. "I can’t imagine how many times I walked past him," Mehlman said. "They had a dog and walked it in Palisades Park. I walked [my dog] Izzy there every night at sunset. I probably saw...
- 8/18/2011
- by Sharon Waxman
- The Wrap
Sports and web series are like egg nog and Canadian Whisky—mixed together they make even the worst of Mondays mornings tolerable. Athletes are natural pranksters and the world of sports is so rife for parody it’s no wonder jocks make the best SNL hosts. By now, we thought Espn’s plucky send-up Mayne Street and Vuguru’s Back on Topps have thoroughly mined the world of sports cameos, not to mention the one-on-self athelte punking Double Take (watch Shaq’s ep again) that bowed in November. But then comes this latest call-up, an indie comedy, Sports Ballz, from creators Jason Schmid and Jake Bern in its initial run on Funny or Die. Related News:‘Narrow World of Sports’, Peter Mehlman’s Fresh Jock Comedy ‘Flash Sports Tonight’ – A Cleverly Crass Espn Roid Fest ‘Palisades Pool Party’, One Sexy Fun Awkward Conundrum...
- 1/3/2011
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
Rj Williams is on a mission to conquer Hollywood, one fun celebrity interview at a time. From face time with some of the biggest names in Hollywood to championing up and coming talent that will be the next big thing, the Young Hollywood team works around the clock. In order to create a celeb friendly environment—and actually get those celebs to show up—Young Hollywood has set up their studio in a suite at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. Williams is so dedicated to the success of Young Hollywood, he has moved into the hotel to keep his focus zeroed in on the day to day workload it takes to make the Young Hollywood world happen. He does takes a few breaks to head downstairs to modern Italian restaurant Culina. A man’s got to eat. Yesterday Tubefilter visited the Young Hollywood set, to see this...
- 9/15/2010
- by Julie Wolfson
- Tubefilter.com
Due out in early April, We Are With the Band follows internet blogger Elle and recently unemployed Marci as they dive bottle-first into the Silverlake hipster scene. The series was conceived and produced by Vivian Kerr and Heleya de Barros as an outlet for their frustration at not finding quality roles for women in Hollywood. "I know Heleya's strengths as an actor and I thought I could write something that would showcase her," said Kerr. "I was watching a lot of Peep Show, a British comedy about two male best friends, and I was wondering what a female equivalent of that show would be like. La has such rich fodder for parody and hipsters are such an easy target. It sort of wrote itself." Barros continued, "Wawtb is about finding yourself, finding balance in your life. It's about being done with college, but still having no direction. Having dreams but...
- 3/25/2010
- by Jenni Powell
- Tubefilter.com
Plenty of terrible television programs have been conceived in a marriage of "Character-a is able to talk to non-human Character-b." I recall one such show a while back that featured a middle-aged man who talked with a stuffed dog with the voice of Bobcat Goldthwait. It was called Unhappily Ever After, ran for 100 episodes on The WB, and looked dreadful. How was someone convinced that such a premise could beget a program worth watching? Well, perhaps that someone was some kind of Larry Ellison-type visionary who had a brilliant idea that just couldn't be executed because the appropriate technology didn't exist. Or, more likely, that someone was some kind of well-connected stoner who had a zany idea and and a favor to cash in from network television. It's too bad that someone didn't cast Patrick Duffy nor his crustachioed friend. Clearly it's not easy to execute the "human talks to non-human" thing.
- 2/16/2010
- by Alex Crowley
- Tubefilter.com
Other than funding, the biggest challenge for content creators is striking that delicate balance between narrative and brand. It's a fine line between integral and intrusive when it comes to developing a branded entertainment piece that simultaneously delivers the compelling stories audiences crave, and the measurable Roi brands demand. And everyone seems to be walking the tightrope in the sometimes futile balancing act between product messaging and story integrity. But, in the case of Altoids' new mobile and web series, Brainstorm, in partnership with Fox Mobile Studios and Omelet, the brand integration is anything but delicate. In fact, it's so heavy handed that it may actually border on genius. Set in the fictitious ad agency, Yogurt, who, in the premiere episode, we find battling a round of layoffs after a huge creative misstep with one of their recent commercials that, you'll see is more than a little suggestive, when played...
- 9/30/2009
- by Gennefer Snowfield
- Tubefilter.com
By Peter Mehlman
About 650,000 people have watched me interview athletes on YouTube since Aug. 9. Is that a high number of people? A low number of people? No idea. The interviews are produced by BermanBraun which has a deal with Google who, unbeknownst to me, bought YouTube. There were lots of preliminary meetings and conference calls during which I was like a U.N. delegate without an interpreter. Some verbs used as nouns sounded familiar, like "hits" and "views." Some nouns were renovated into verbs, like "monetize." It was difficult to put any of it into c...
About 650,000 people have watched me interview athletes on YouTube since Aug. 9. Is that a high number of people? A low number of people? No idea. The interviews are produced by BermanBraun which has a deal with Google who, unbeknownst to me, bought YouTube. There were lots of preliminary meetings and conference calls during which I was like a U.N. delegate without an interpreter. Some verbs used as nouns sounded familiar, like "hits" and "views." Some nouns were renovated into verbs, like "monetize." It was difficult to put any of it into c...
- 8/28/2009
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
Yadda yadda yadda,” “Shrinkage,” “They’re real – and they’re spectacular.” Peter Mehlman, the writer-producer who penned those famous lines on the TV sitcom classic Seinfeld has moved beyond television and brought his unique sense of humor to the web. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” (Okay, that one was written by Larry Charles, but you get the point) Peter Mehlman’s Narrow World of Sports is produced by BermanBraun, the production company run by former TV executives Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. It can be found exclusively on YouTube and is sponsored by Palm, which receives one or two unobtrusive product placements in the intro and outro segments that wrap around each interview. In fact, they are usually pretty funny and play right into the style of the show. Turning his attention from the realm of self-centered New Yorkers to the realm of sports, Mehlman’s first...
- 8/26/2009
- by Tim Saccardo
- Tubefilter.com
NBC is jumping into the white lion's den with a 13-episode order for a groundbreaking CG animated series from DreamWorks TV about the lives of the family of lions who perform in Siegfried & Roy's Las Vegas magic show. Titled Father of the Pride, the half-hour family comedy is targeted to debut in fall 2004. Peter Mehlman (Seinfeld) and Jonathan Groff (Late Night with Conan O'Brien) have been tapped to write the pilot episode. "This is going to be the most anticipated series of the fall of 2004," NBC entertainment president Jeff Zucker said. "This is the first time this technology has been seen on TV. The fact that DreamWorks has become the dominant film animation studio in town and is now going to take its act to TV is a big deal." The project is the brainchild of DreamWorks SKG principal Jeffrey Katzenberg, who originally conceived it as a feature about 18 months ago. "I love animals, and I love the satire of being able to look at our world through their eyes," Katzenberg said. "I was watching the (Siegfried & Roy) show and the idea popped into my head: What must those lions be thinking? What must their life be like?"...
- 4/14/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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