in case u think only writers here bicker...
sudonim
"Freaks And Geeks" -- and Mark Brazill -- creator of "That 70's Show" and
before that, a writer on "Third Rock."
Definitely real and worth the read --
*********************************
Mark,
I am writing you because I left a message but did not hear back. I
understand from Gail Berman that you were upset about me not calling you to
ask if Topher could do our show. Since Fox executives were talking to
Topher about it I thought it was cool with you. Also, since I hadn't
written it yet, I wasn't at the point of asking if it was possible to have
him do it. I would have called your show then. I mentioned the names of
several people who were interested in doing cameos on our show to the
Variety guy. They decided to only mention Topher. Maybe I shouldn't have
mentioned it. I didn't realize it would create a problem. I never wished
to offend you. If there is some protocol to people on Fox doing guest shots
on other Fox shows, I didn't know what it was. Regardless, I'm sorry that
this resulted in such a mess. If you are mad at me about this or something
else from our past, please tell me. I only remember us having fun in the
early nineties and it troubles me that it seems like you have a beef with
me.
Best regards,
Judd Apatow
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--------------------------------
Judd,
Yeah, we were friends in the early nineties. And if you don't recall what
happened, I'll remind you. I had a pilot at MTV called "Yard Dogs" about a
rock band living in Hollywood. I told you about it and you proceeded to
completely rip it off, storyline and all, for the Ben Stiller show. You
called it "Grungies." MTV and UTA were working on an overall deal (MTV's
idea) with me, based on that pilot. When it turned up on your show
everything went away overnight. I had just had my son Jack and I had no
job, no money, nothing. There's a saying, "I forgive but I don't forget.
And I don't forgive." So, now you know. Although I kind of think that you
already did.
-Mark
------------------------------------------------------------
Mark,
I truly don't remember anything you are talking about. Jeff Kahn wrote The
Grungies sketch, a parody where we did Seattle bands as The Monkey's. I
don't remember you ever calling me after that saying you were mad. Ben and
I would get fifty sketches a week from the writers and then we'd pick the
one's that we thought were funny. I never connected the two. Even now they
don't seem similar. Ours was a goofy over the top parody, not a situation
comedy about musicians in LA. Nobody watched our show so I don't see how
that could be the reason your pilot died. That sketch aired once up against
60 Minutes, so it didn't have any impact in town. I am sorry you are upset.
I am not a thief of ideas. I'm sorry you believe differently.
Judd Apatow
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--------------------------------
Judd,
The show I wrote was also over the top and it let down the fourth wall.
Since it's registered at the WGA, you could compare the two. And as an Exec
Producer, we both know you have input into every sketch. As for no one
seeing the show everyone knows everything in Hollywood. There are no
secrets. Personally, I feel you've made a career out of being a sycophant to
Carrey or Shandling or Roseanne and when you weren't kissing ass, you were
stealing from lesser known comics or leeching off other people's ideas
(Celtic Pride, Cable Guy). I noticed how outraged you were to not get a
writing credit on Cable Guy until it came out and was panned. You dropped
that cause like the showbiz weasel you are. You may not think you're a thief
but most comics know otherwise. And again, you know that too. Have you ever
read "What Makes Sammy Run"? I think you'd like it. Get cancer.
Love,
Mark
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
Mark,
Come on, we all wrote for comics at the beginning of our careers. I wrote
for Roseanne, you wrote for Dennis Miller. If that makes me a sycophant,
then I guess I am. And so are the writers for Caesar's Hour. I dropped my
Cable Guy law suit not because the film got bad reviews, but because I spent
eighty grand on it and my lawyer told me I was going to lose. You would be
upset if you re-wrote the vast majority of a script and received no credit.
I wish you had called me about this years ago. I'm sure we could have
worked it out. Try not to be so angry. Not everyone is as bad as you
think. You should call Jeff Kahn and ask him how that sketch originated.
If it turned out that I didn't steal your idea would you still want me to
get cancer? I swear to God that I didn't know you were mad about this.
Until six weeks ago I was still referring to you as an old friend. Maybe
one day I'll be able to say that again.
Judd Apatow
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
Mark,
It's come to my attention that you are upset with Judd Apatow about the
sketch, "The Grungies." I completely understand why you would have been
pissed off about seeing something similar to what you were working on at the
time. However, the idea for, "The Grungies," and all the initial writing
and rewriting came from me. I also cast it, acted in it and edited it. I
was and still am influenced by pop music and I thought it would be funny to
satirize the seriousness of the Seattle grunge music scene with the
ridiculous superficiality of "The Monkees" 1960s show. I hope that this
clears up any misunderstanding.
By the way, I am a huge fan of "That 70's Show." Congratulations on its
well deserved success. I also think it's cool you set it in Wisconsin. I
went to the University of Wisconsin at Madison and loved it.
If you have any other questions don't hesitate to E-mail me.
Jeff Kahn
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
-----------------
Mark,
I have no interest in talking with you on the phone any more. I know you
are very successful and think that gives you the right to judge people and
berate them regardless of the facts, but I have had enough of you for one
day. I know it's hard to believe that your rock band TV idea, which every
writer in this town has thought of at one point, was not on my mind half a
year after you told it to me. Yes, you thought of breaking the fourth wall.
Groucho and George Burns stole it from you. Maybe you should sue Bernie
Mac. Why don't you sue the guys who have that new show "How To Be A Rock
Star" on the WB. I must have told them your idea. Nobody has ever goofed
on rock bands, not Spinal Tap or The Rutles or 800 Saturday Night Live
sketches. I should have told everyone on the show, no rock band sketches,
that's Brazil's area. So hold on to your hate and rage, even though it
makes no sense. I'll go back to my life of thievery and leaching. As for
the cancer, I'll wait till you get it and then steal it from you. By the
way, that joke was one of my writer's, Rodney Rothman (see I credited him).
See, I have no original thoughts. Sorry I bothered to figure this out.
Judd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
Judd
How appropriate that you had to use someone else's joke to take a swipe at
me. I told you my idea. You did it two weeks later, VERBATIM. Spew
revisionist shit all you want. Everyone knows you're a hack. Also, everyone
knows how you fucked over Paul Feig on the new show. All your press mentions
"your" brilliant Freaks and Geeks, as if Feig didn't even do the series. It
must have killed you when the true genius behind it got nominated for an
Emmy. Is your wife still livid about someone in the neighborhood building a
house just like hers? Tell her I know how she feels. The reason I called
was to tell you to piss off. We'll never be "friends", regardless of the
pussy whining from your last e-mail. I respect you zero.
See ya at the upfronts, bitch!
Well...unless you get canceled before that.
Until then, die in a fiery accident and taste your own blood.
(Is that too angry?)
Love, Brazill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
Mark,
I hope your anger is a joke, because if it isn't...wow. Here's a line by
line reply. I have starred (*) the replies if you are confused by my
format.
How appropriate that you had to use someone else's joke to take a swipe at
me.
***That was the joke. How interesting that you couldn't understand that.
You would think someone with the lineage of "Yard Dogs" would have the
intellectual acumen to pick up on that. I feel for the writers that have to
pitch to you. Never doubt how much they hate you.
I told you my idea. You did it two weeks later, VERBATIM. Spew
revisionist shit all you want.
***How could I hear your idea, steal it, and then have it air two weeks
later? It was a filmed sketch show . Sketches were written months before
they aired. They were filmed six weeks before they aired. I thought you
were a producer. Shouldn't you understand how these shows are made? Do you
start writing episodes two weeks before they air? Maybe you stole "Yard
Dogs" from me.
Everyone knows you're a hack.
***That's why I kiss the ass. Let me know who thinks I am a hack so I can
kiss their ass as well. I also suck dick lately. That's how I got my
Dreamworks deal.
Also, everyone
knows how you fucked over Paul Feig on the new show. All your press mentions
"your" brilliant Freaks and Geeks, as if Feig didn't even do the series. It
must have killed you when the true genius behind it got nominated for an
Emmy.
***I'm sure it's hard for you to believe, but I do not control the national
media. That is only true in your paranoid mind. If I create a show they
often mention the last show. If you create a new show by yourself, I doubt
they will spend a lot of time talking about the Turners. When they write
about "That 80's Show" I am sure they won't ever mention "That 70's Show."
I wrote an entire article in the LA Times, a cover story in the calendar,
that credited Paul for his work. He went from a struggling actor to an
established writer/producer over the course of a year. He is still my
friend and I am very happy that he was nominated for two Emmy's. He
deserved it. I wasn't upset about his Emmy nominations, I already have
enough. The certificates are so big you can only hang so many before it
starts looking tacky.
Is your wife still livid about someone in the neighborhood building a
house just like hers?
*** Yes.
Tell her I know how she feels.
***I'm on it.
The reason I called
was to tell you to piss off. We'll never be "friends," regardless of the
pussy whining from your last e-mail.
***The funniest part of these e mails is how bad your sense of humor is.
You neither get nor can tell a joke. After you said "get cancer" did you
really think I was looking to heal our relationship? Usually the cancer
insult is a closer. I'm sure everyone who has suffered with that
appreciates your sharp wit.
I respect you zero.
***Oh no.
See ya at the upfronts, bitch!
Well...unless you get canceled before that.
***If you think cancellation hurts me at this point, you haven't been
following my career as closely as I thought. I guess you are too busy
tracking my real estate problems.
Until then, die in a fiery accident and taste your own blood.
***That's a Sam Kinison line you stupid fuck!!!! Hypocrite!!!!
J'accuse!!!!
(Is that too angry?)
Love, Brazill
***Mark, I have enjoyed this. It's good to see the tragedies of the past
few months haven't watered down your passion. I guess if Mark Brazill
doesn't go insane over stuff that makes no sense, the terrorists win.
Good luck with "That 80's Show." And I look forward to "That 90's Show."
Judd Apatow
Oranse
went to the University of Wisconsin at Madison and loved it. >>
I knew they were soft. 2001, the return of them Gangstas, the University of
Miami Hurricanes, #1, and headed to Pasadena for the jewelries.
Oranse
Swinging Chad
for
the cancer, I'll wait till you get it and then steal it from you."
Pissed off people kick ass.
Keith
"sudonim" <f...@ngames.com> wrote in message
news:vNAP7.1583$fN.357...@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com...
Jacques E. Bouchard
news:vNAP7.1583$fN.357...@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com:
> As for the cancer, I'll
> wait till you get it and then steal it from you.
That's my favourite line.
jaybee
Russell Boyd
this
My Post Of The Year nomination goes to sudonim.
Please don't burst my bubble and say it didn't really happen.
Russell
BrickRage
>From: "Russell Boyd" rus...@dramadog.com
>Please don't burst my bubble and say it didn't really happen.
Naw. Nobody could make up anything that venal.
Nesci
Success at any price is over-priced.
The FAQ for m.w.s is http://www.communicator.com/faqs.html
Kent Lane
"sudonim" <f...@ngames.com> wrote in message
news:vNAP7.1583$fN.357...@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com...
Mr. Neeek, Sr.
wind with a lusty:
>It's between Judd Apatow -- creator of Fox's "Undeclared," co-creator of
>"Freaks And Geeks" -- and Mark Brazill -- creator of "That 70's Show" and
>before that, a writer on "Third Rock."
>
>Definitely real and worth the read --
>
For the record, I had a hairstyling shop on Westminster Ave in Venice,
50 feet off the boardwalk in 1988, before I decided I should be a
writer. Next to my store was a storefront with a rock and roll band
from Fremont, California, living in it. They were called "Flame."
They were pretty damn grungy. Their drummer was the drummer in Spinal
Tap, a guy named Rick. He had to blow up, if I recall correctly. I did
a treatment for television about these guys and the bizarre shit they
got into while they were waiting to fail and go back to Fremont.
I forgot what it was called but I pitched it to some people back then
-- many of my clients were in the biz; that's part of the reason I got
fooled into thinking it might be a good career move.
At least I know where those guys got the idea now...
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Warmest Regards Always, except for you repuglicans!<br>
<br>
Mr. Neeek, Sr. (Writer/Lover/Philosopher/Patriot)<br>
<br>
<font size=3>"If you voted for Bush in the last election, you can't take a dump <br>
here. Your asshole is in D.C." <br>
--- Spotted in the men's room of the Outback Steakhouse<br>
in Tacoma, Washington <br>
<br>
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