Write Environment w/ Phil Rosenthal

The Write Environment
A compelling new series that takes us backstage into the heretofore unseen world of the writer's room for an intimate one-on-one interview with some of Hollywoods most prolific TV writers.
Phil Rosenthal

Prior to his success as Creator and Executive Producer of CBS's long running sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Rosenthal journeyed to Hollywood with dreams of being an actor. His quick wit and effusive charm seemed to make him a natural. Rosenthal was quickly disgruntled and soon found himself writing for a sitcom starring legendary dramatic actor, Robert Mitchum. In this interview, Rosenthal discusses his on the job training in the world of TV sitcoms. He also reveals how he kept Raymond fresh for nine years, the importance craft service plays on creating and keeping a happy writing staff, and why his best work comes from lying down on the job.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• writing
• screenwriting
• teleplay
• tv
• television
• lost
• buffy
• vampire
• slayer
• heroes
• simpsons
• entourage
• everybody
• loves
• raymond
• ray
• romano
• dollhouse
• serenity
• firefly
• joss
• whedon
• damon
• lindeloff
• tim
• kring
• phil
• rosenthal
• sam
• simon
• doug
• ellin
• jeffrey
• berman
• LOST
• everyone
• ramano

[codename617]

One question. If you have a good story for a tv show and it is not exactly written in a traditional teleplay format, can someone else rewrite it into a teleplay?

[codename617]

Cool. I always felt there was some level of drama on that show. THat is why it was so successful. it only ended because a mutual decision among the cast and crew. If it had not ended it would go on until Peter Boyle's death. RIP. This is awesome. Thnaks.

[pumkinpi2]

The Road

[CULEX0R]

it's not meant to be taken that literally, lighten up a little. it's meant to illustrate a point.

all he's saying is it's easier to find comedy in the misfortune of others rather than your own misfortune. to go back to the fruit story, his mother thought having a lot of fruit in the house was a tragedy and one of the worst things that could ever happen to her. as someone looking from the outside, the fact that she's reacting that dramatically over fruit is funny. i mean..it's fruit.

[grainofsandfan]

So, if somone else falls in the sewer and dies, that's funny.

But if it's your brother or your Mother or your Father, that's not?

I don't think that's comedy. I think that's psychotic.

But maybe Hitler would have disagreed.

[NevadaGrey2010]

You can tell why Phil's so successful just listening to him for 2 or 3 minutes -- he's so funny and really knows his comedy/story/craft. (The pear story cracked me up!) I can totally see the comedic brilliance sparkling behind his eyes.