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Friday, April 30, 2004 Fun Movie News. #078: Sorkin and Schlamme. Sports Night enthusiasts may recall Sam Donovan's (William H. Macy) Farnsworth riff, from episode 2.3: THE DOOR OPENS AND SAM ENTERS-- SAM Hey. J.J. Hi, Sam. SAM How's it goin'? J.J. It's going fine. SAM I just came in here to get some coffee. J.J. There's coffee at the Craft Service table. SAM Hmm, not so much. I'm sorry, is it Jim-Bob? J.J. J.J. SAM Really? J.J. Yeah. SAM I thought it was Jim-Bob. J.J. No. SAM Take a walk with me, would ya? J.J. Where? SAM It's a surprise. SAM HEADS OUT THE DOOR AND THE OTHERS FOLLOW HIM INTO-- INT. NEWSROOM/CORRIDORS/STUDIO - CONTINUOUS - (NIGHT 2) SAM (CONT'D) Do you guys know who Philo Farnsworth was? J.J. (BEAT) Philo Farnsworth? SAM Yeah. J.J. What's going on? SAM He invented television. I don't mean he invented television like Uncle Milty, I mean he invented the television. THEY'VE ARRIVED IN THE STUDIO AND SAM STANDS BY THE ANCHOR DESK. SAM (CONT'D) In a little house in Provo, Utah. At a time when the idea of transmitting moving pictures through the air would be like me saying I've figured out a way to beam us aboard the Starship Enterprise. J.J. Yeah, look-- SAM He was a visionary and he died broke and without fanfare. The guy I really like though was his brother-in-law, Cliff Gardner. He said to Philo, "I know everyone thinks you're crazy, but I want to be a part of this. I don't have your head for science, so I'm not gonna be much help with the design and mechanics of the invention. But it sounds like in order to do your testing, you're gonna need glass tubes." TASKER J.J., I don't think there's really-- SAM See Philo was inventing a cathode receptor, and even though Cliff didn't know what that meant or how it worked, he'd seen Philo's drawing and he knew they were gonna need glass tubes and since television hadn't been invented yet, it's not like you could get 'em at the local TV repair shop. "I want to be a part of this", Cliff said, "and I don't have your head for science. How would it be if I taught myself to be a glassblower? And I could set up a little shop in the backyard. And I could make all the tubes you'll need for testing." (BEAT) There oughta be Congressional medals for people like that. MITCHEL Maybe so-- SAM I've looked over the notes you've been giving over the last year or so, and I have to say that they exhibit an almost total lack of understanding of how to get the best from talented people. TASKER Excuse me, but-- SAM I've also read pieces that Dan and Casey have published in magazines from Sports Illustrated to The New Yorker, and it's hard for me to understand why anyone would want them to write like Keith or Kenny or Craig. We're gonna ask Dan and Casey to write like Dan and Casey for a while, see if that doesn't help us out. MITCHEL I don't think it's up to you to decide-- SAM Day to day creative decisions'll be made by the show's Executive Producer, Dana Whitaker. She's the most capable and interesting producers I've met in live television and if she goes someplace else she'll bury you. TASKER Mr. Donovan-- SAM Her two chief associates could easily have the top spot on another staff. The crazy guy-- Jeremy-- If you asked him where he lived, I don't think he could tell you within three streets. He never goes home. The brunette? Natalie? She prays before a show. She doesn't know I've seen her, but I have. I think it's nice, but she needn't bother. There's nothing anyone can do for her that she's not capable of doing for herself. You said before that for whatever reason, I seem to be able to exert authority around here. I assure you, it isn't because they like me. It's because they knew two minutes after I walked in the door that I'm somebody who knows how to do something. I can help. I can make glass tubes. That's what they need. One last thing: The first and last decision making authority on this show will rest with Isaac Jaffee until Isaac Jaffee says otherwise. And if you disrespect him again in my presence, I'll re-dedicate the rest of my life to ruining the rest of yours. If you think I'm just mouthin' at you, ask around about me, I have absolutely no conscience about these things. J.J. Sam, why did you bring us out here? SAM 'Cause the exit's right there. That's all. The meeting's over. posted by Linus | 7:32 AM |
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