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| The Practice News - March 2003 |
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Posted: Wed., Mar. 5, 2003, 10:00pm PT
'Practice' makes perfect for Kelley
Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for TV: David E. Kelley
By DAVID S. COHEN
It makes me feel old," jokes David E. Kelley about receiving the
Television Laurel Award from the WGAW on Saturday. And, indeed,
Kelley, 47, seems young to receive a lifetime achievement award.
Yet in his 20-odd years of writing, from his start on "L.A. Law,"
through "Picket Fences" and "Ally McBeal," he's created a vast body of
work that includes "The Practice" and "Boston Public," which are still
on the air.
Besides penning several long-running hits Kelley rewrites every script
on the shows he's running, and other writers stand in awe of his sheer
speed -- his ability to go from concept to finished draft in just a
few days.
Yet as a boy, the Maine native never imagined he'd be a writer.
"Growing up on the East Coast," he recalls, "that's not even tossed
out there as one of the options." He went to Princeton, got a law
degree and joined a Boston firm. Even a few years later, when he wrote
his first screenplay, he never imagined writing would become his
career.
New medium
That changed in 1986 when he joined "L.A. Law." "I remember my very
first story meeting with Steven Bochco and his writing staff," says
Kelley, "and I felt pretty comfortable in it. When I look back, given
it was a new medium and a new world, I'm struck by how odd it was that
I did feel comfortable, but looking backwards I can only guess that I
sensed that I was in the right place doing the right thing."
Bochco, who brought Kelley into television, knew the aspiring scribe
was a special talent. "I remember saying that by the end of the second
season, he'd be a star," recalls the "L.A. Law" creator. "Television
is this voracious monster that just devours stories, day after day,
week after week, year after year. And when somebody has the skill to
generate original stories, that's one of the most valuable skills
anyone can bring to the table. David always had that skill from the
day I met him. And his ability to go off in a room and do it is really
awesome."
Never done
Kelley admits that the pace of television is still a grind. "It's true
that the next script is always due. You're never done. Fortunately I
love writing, so I never look at the writing part as work. At the end
of the day, that's always been the joy. The work is everything else
that goes with it, but the writing of the scripts, which is really
primarily what I do, I've always loved."
Date in print: Thurs., Mar. 6, 2003,
********
The Writers Guild of America West winners
say....
Many speakers noted that the growing popularity of reality TV has been
taking away jobs from writers. "Don't look back on it as the year you
lost your job to a reality show about coeds drinking paint, but as the
first time you got free DVDs for nominated films," Maher noted.
David E. Kelley, who won the Paddy Chayefsky Award for his TV
contributions, sounded the same warning. "We live and work in a time
when the medium is no longer respected by many of its guardians," he
said. "I do believe there are executives who would rather than make a
show with Aaron Sorkin than have lunch with the next contestant of
'How to Marry a Terrorist."
"This award means something tonight," Kelley added. "Whether it means
something 20 years from now depends on us."
***********
Polo,
MacDowell to Make 'Practice' Perfect
Writers Guild will honor David E. Kelley
Bridget
Fonda drops out of a planned stint on ABC's The Practice
Fonda Flips
Car
Kelley Plots Reality Shot SPOILERS
Kelley Plots Reality Shot
Thu March 6, 2003 02:06 AM ET
By Josef Adalian
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Producer David E. Kelley is preparing to launch
a broadside against reality TV -- and he's recruited some of
television's top executives to help him do it.
The scribe is putting the finishing touches on an episode of his ABC
drama "The Practice" that's tentatively titled "Les Is More,"
according to numerous industry insiders who've seen a draft script.
In the episode, a deranged woman takes CBS Television president Leslie
Moonves hostage and tries to sell CBS a reality show about the
kidnapping -- and a possible execution of the network president.
While ex-thesp Moonves has made several cameo appearances on various
CBS shows over the years, his part on "The Practice" is described as a
meaty part that will feature him throughout the episode. 20th Century
Fox TV president Sandy Grushow and, if he's asked to take part, NBC
programming chief Jeff Zucker, will likely be seen in a brief fake
news report in which the two offer comments on the situation. Zucker
hasn't been formally approached about making the cameo, but a part has
been written for him, insiders said. (20th Century Fox TV produces the
series.)
The script is expected to take shots at all the networks. Insiders
said the plot will likely have Fox executives offering a plan to save
Moonves' life but in a way that would allow the network to score big
ratings. NBC likely also will take some hits.
Curiously, no ABC executives have been asked to take part in the
episode. Network officials are aware of the episode and have approved
it.
Kelley was furious with ABC earlier this year when the network decided
to move "The Practice" to Mondays at 9 p.m., where the series
immediately ran into the reality juggernaut that was "Joe
Millionaire." The Emmy-winning legal drama has taken a major ratings
hit since shifting into its new slot, though its numbers edged up a
bit this week.
A 20th Century Fox rep said the studio had no comment on future
"Practice" plotlines.
MacDowell, Polo play 'Practice'
March 05, 2003
Andie MacDowell and Teri Polo are set to do guest shots on ABC's legal
drama "The Practice." In a rare TV series appearance, MacDowell will do
one episode, playing a woman hired by Jimmy Berluti (Michael Badalucco) to
represent her in a delicate negotiation. The segment also will feature
Polo and CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves. Polo will do to at least
three episodes of the 20th Century Fox TV/David E. Kelley Prods. series,
playing a love interest to series star Dylan McDermott. She is stepping in
for Bridget Fonda, who was originally slated to do the arc but had to pull
out after being injured in a car accident last week. Polo will play a U.S.
attorney in Washington who returns to her native Boston, where she bumps
into old flame Bobby Donnell (McDermott). As the two rekindle their old
feelings, the fling puts a strain on Donnell's marriage. ICM-repped
MacDowell has starred in such movies as "sex, lies, and videotape,"
"Groundhog Day" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral." Last year, she toplined
CBS' drama pilot "Jo." Polo was recently cast in the untitled Henchy/Pennette
romantic comedy pilot for ABC. The actress is set to reprise her starring
role opposite Ben Stiller in "Meet the Fockers," the sequel to "Meet the
Parents." She is repped by UTA and Bob McGowan of McGowan Management.
(Nellie Andreeva)
Writers Guild will honor David E. Kelley
By Pat Nason
UPI Hollywood Reporter
From the Life & Mind Desk
Published 2/17/2003 12:58 PM
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The Writers Guild of America said Monday it
will present one of its highest honors, the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award
for Television, to David E. Kelley.
The Chayefsky Laurel -- the guild's most prestigious TV award -- is given
to writers "who have advanced the literature of television through the
years, and who have made outstanding contributions to the profession of
the television writer."
Kelley joins a list of previous recipients that includes Larry Gelbart,
Carl Reiner, Rod Serling and last year's joint recipients, Glen & Les
Charles. The list also includes Steven Bochco, who brought Kelley in as a
writer-producer on the '80s legal drama "L.A. Law."
Kelley earned seven Emmy nominations for writing on "L.A. Law," winning
one in 1990. He twice won producing Emmys for the show, when it was named
outstanding drama series in 1989 and 1990.
Kelley, who was a practicing attorney in Boston before he broke into
writing for film and TV, earned five more producing Emmys -- all for show
set in the world of legal practice.
"Pickets Fences" was named outstanding drama in 1993 and 1994. "The
Practice" won for outstanding drama series in 1998 and 1999. Kelley made
Emmy history by winning the top prize for both drama and comedy series in
the same year when "Ally McBeal" won for best comedy in 1999.
"David E. Kelley has changed what we see on television," said Victoria
Riskin, President of the WGAw. "His writing is so unique and distinctive
that it has redefined television drama"
Kelley is one of the most decorated writers in TV history.
"The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" have both won Peabody and Golden Globe
Awards. Kelley won the Humanitas Prize in 1996 (with Nick Harding) for en
episode of "Picket Fences." He won a second Humanitas Prize in 2002 (with
Lukas Reiter) for an episode of "The Practice." Kelley is a member of the
Humanitas Prize Television Board of Trustees.
He is also the creator-producer of "Boston Public" on Fox and the medical
drama "Chicago Hope," which ran on CBS from 1994-2000.
Kelley was nominated for WGA five times for "L.A. Law" and once for "Ally
McBeal." The guild honored him in 1996 with its Paul Selvin Award for a
two-part episode of "Picket Fences."
He joined "L.A. Law" as a writer in 1986 and eventually became a
supervising producer during the show's third season. He and Bochco
co-created "Doogie Howser, M.D."
In 1998, the Producers Guild of America honored Kelley with is Norman
Felton Award for Episodic Television for "The Practice." In 2001, the PGA
presented Kelley with its David Susskind Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kelley is a member of the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and a
winner of the Publicists Guild of America Television Showmanship Award.
The Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television is named for the Emmy- and
Oscar-winning writer of "Marty," "Network" and "The Hospital." The WGA
will present the award to Kelley on March 8 at the 55th Annual Writers
Guild Awards, in ceremonies to be held simultaneously in Beverly Hills,
Calif., and New York.
Copyright © 2001-2003 United Press International
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