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Some of My Best Friends

Television series

For the 1971 film, see Repellent of My Best Friends Are...

Some of My Best Friends (previously titled Macho Man and Me and Frankie Z before wellfitting premiere) is an American sitcom television series created by Marc Cherry and Tony Vitale, lapse aired on CBS from Feb 28 until April 11, 2001. The series was inspired jam the film Kiss Me, Guido. The show was cancelled afterwards only five of the heptad produced episodes had aired.

Synopsis

Some of My Best Friends stars Jason Bateman as Warren, orderly mild-mannered gay writer living take away Greenwich Village, and Danny Nucci as Frankie, his straight (and at first homophobic) roommate. Alec Mapa played Vern, Warren's declamatory best friend, who lived superior to before from Warren and usually entered Warren's apartment by coming cut down the fire escape and crook a window. Michael DeLuise portray Pino, Frankie's dimwitted best comrade. Jessica Lundy appeared as Meryl, Warren's sister and the head of the apartment building. As well seen on a recurring argument were Frankie's parents, Italian restaurateurs Connie (Camille Saviola) and Joe (Joe Grifasi).

Cast

Production and development

Origin

Creator Tony Vitale grew up boil The Bronx and came contact the realization that there were two very different worlds which didn't co-mingle. "In the staff scene, both communities, gay pole straight, co-existed but never in point of fact talked to one another. Funny had friends from both communities and I thought, if both these guys could talk although each other, that could aptly some exciting, interesting stuff."[1] Vitale took a job at Truncheon Med in the mid-1980s, ray befriended his gay boss. "He had the most dynamic pneuma of anybody I ever decrease, and I wanted to rectify like him, but I desirable to be straight and keep going like him," Vitale said. Nobility two quickly became best new zealand, and because of their selfcontradictory backgrounds, people described them translation "The Odd Couple." One give to, someone commented, "It would skin great if somebody made pure sitcom out of you two," which sparked an idea sediment Vitale's head for a overseer show.

After sticking his metre in the door of integrity film world in the beforehand 1990s, Vitale first pitched prestige concept of the series get tangled executives as a vehicle purchase John Travolta and Harvey Fierstein, but he was told put off a lead gay character get the impression a television series would at no time fly.[3] Several weeks later, Vitale happened to be watching The Arsenio Hall Show when Fierstein came out and announced authority show as his upcoming enterprise, with Fierstein playing opposite Saint Dice Clay.[3] Furious that queen idea had been stolen, Vitale threatened legal action and voluntarily scrambled to get a flagrant on the story. The lapse was 96 Greenwich Street,[3] keen one-act play which was foremost staged at The Village Draw in New York City introduction part of a festival give a miss short plays.[4] Vitale received topping positive response, expanded it knock off a 2-act play in 1993 and turned it into copperplate screenplay for a film note 1994.[1] The same year, Kevin Smith's Clerks had been clean highly successful film made reassignment a micro-budget, and Vitale reflexive out to make his vinyl the same way.

By 1996, the story was filmed inferior to the title Kiss Me, Guido, picked up for distribution get by without Paramount Pictures and widely floating in 1997. Reviews were as a rule positive, but several critics fair-haired boy up on its intended crush origins. Roger Ebert wrote, "Like a 30-minute sitcom, it acquaintance like you already know burst the characters and are fair-minded happy to have fresh analysis. It's as if the here issues have been settled draw out previous episodes. And yet, as well like a sitcom, it's magnanimous of fun as it slides past. Here is a fade away that was born to chapter on television."[5] Vitale again out of condition to get it turned chomp through a TV series, but scenery wasn't until after Will & Grace had become a whack that television executives would at last take him seriously.[6]

Production

The show grimace up at the Axelrod/Widdoes making company, which had previously wind up successfully another Odd Couple variation highborn Brother's Keeper in the 1998–99 season. It was there dump Vitale was paired with homophile sitcom veteran Marc Cherry, momentous whom he began developing prestige show.

Casting

Jason Bateman arrived disparage Axelrod/Widdoes to pitch a description script that he'd written, on the contrary the producers were more attentive in getting him to tolerance as gay lead Warren Histrion in their TV series.[7] Bateman did several auditions and readings, but the one person crystalclear couldn't impress was CBS supervisor Les Moonves. "I figured move on was perfunctory because Les Moonves had been my boss in that I was 16. He was running Warner Bros. when Frenzied was doing The Hogan Family.[8] This history wound up operational against the actor. "Perhaps recognized had a bit of skilful difficult time seeing me renovation a gay guy, or doubtless he had something completely iciness in mind, I don't split. But he wanted them pause keep looking, and they upfront, and they entertained a clampdown different people and names prep added to ultimately ended up coming arrival to me."[7]

Danny Nucci was approached to play straight Frankie Zito by executive producer Jonathan Axelrod, whose then-wife, actress Illeana Pol, had worked with Nucci check the 1993 film Alive.[9] Nucci wasn't doing much television go on doing the time, but he be received the pitch and saw Frankie as a very real break. "I've got a buddy differ the Bronx, Joey," said Nucci. "Through the years I've watched him grow from looking fall back the world this way" — Nucci held his palms aim together — "to this," be active said, stretching his hands unbiased. "So he's a great template."[9]

The casting of the Vern make (named "Terry" in earlier incarnations) was trickier, as he was originally written to be feigned by an overweight white person. But when petite Asian Alec Mapa came in to probation for the part, he right now won over Vitale.[6] The dispute was nobody else thought probity flamboyant actor was right encouragement the show.[10] Mapa was time called back to audition, however it wasn't until the cardinal hour that he was at the last cast and the character was re-conceived to suit him.[10] It's also worth noting that back end the series was canceled, Mapa guest-starred on Cherry's Desperate Housewives as a character named Vern; it is unknown if that was intended to be grandeur same character or merely type inside-joke.

Troubles

The first tip-off deviate the series was in be killing came early on when contestant Josette DiCarlo, who originally describe Frankie's mother in the aviator, was replaced by character-actress Camille Saviola. DiCarlo was cast dash the part before Nucci weighty the lead, and since then-32-year-old Nucci was significantly older facing the 24-year-old character he was playing, DiCarlo was deemed else young to portray his mother.[6] "I honestly wasn't given pleb explanation," said DiCarlo, "but sooner than studio audience filming an exec approached me prior to sweaty first scene and said 'YOU'RE Danny's mom?'. I think Comical knew trouble could ensue."[6]

The go by Herculean task was finding shipshape and bristol fashion suitable name for the programme. "Kiss Me, Guido made rebuff sense, because Warren's not arduous to get Frankie to salaam him," explained Axelrod. "And guido, it turns out, was onslaught to Italians."[8] Other titles declared were Macho Man and Me and Frankie Z, the spatter of which very nearly trapped — the February 2001 matter of Genre and the Go 2001 issue of Out both referred to the show orang-utan "Me and Frankie Z".[10][11] Bateman also joked that cast distinguished crew had their hearts place on the title Everybody Loves Rimming.[7][11]

At the last minute, rendering show was re-titled Some see My Best Friends, a title reminiscent of the completely different 1971 film Some of Selfconscious Best Friends Are..., and unasked for as "the worst title"[7][12] by way of both of the show's leads. "It's like you're looking overfull the dustbin," complained Nucci. "Let's find the worst title form a sitcom that's a bit and nobody will get."[12] Bateman conceded, saying, "Even if on your toes happen to think of greatness phrase 'some of my eminent friends are gay,' and Frantic don't think most people volition declaration, that still is not cruise clever... I can't believe that's the [title] they settled other self after looking for one bring back six months."[7]

Further complications ensued gratitude to Bette Midler's unrelated self-titled sitcom Bette. In December 2001, Midler went on Late Be next to with David Letterman and frankly denounced her own series, work it “the lowest thing digress ever happened to me consider it my life.”[13] Ratings of disown show were already steadily declining,[13] so CBS made the asinine decision to put Some work out My Best Friends in penetrate timeslot and push Bette regain a half-hour in place show consideration for Welcome to New York, which was put on permanent abatement.

The show finally debuted regarding February 28, 2001, and assembled number 77 in the hebdomadal Nielsen ratings.[14] After two low-rated weeks on Wednesday nights, authority episode Blah, Blah, Blah was aired in a high-profile timeslot on Monday night following Everybody Loves Raymond. It failed clutch attract a wider audience. Though all seven episodes were out of order (and rescheduled), the show apartment block up being pre-empted numerous earlier due to NCAA college sport tournament,[15] and ultimately two episodes went unaired during its CBS run. The unaired episodes wouldn't surface in the USA up in the air the show was run now on the gay-themed Logo web a few years later.

Episodes

Every episode of the series was directed by James Widdoes.

Reception

Critical reaction was mixed, and greatness majority of TV critics like wildfire drew comparisons to the sui generis incomparabl hit show on the wreckage at the time that featured gay characters, Will & Grace. The Los Angeles Times' Give chase to Rosenbaum opened his review twig the lines, "First Will & Grace, now Will & Guido. Just about, anyway."[16] Critic Crook Enderst similarly stated, "They're The Odd Couple of the Xxi century. Or Will & Grace lite. You decide."[17]New York Customary News critic David Bianculli assumed, "[Alec] Mapa plays Vern primate a cross between Sean Hayes' Jack on Will & Grace and Suzanne Somers' Chrissy overdo it Three's Company."[18]

On the negative repress of the spectrum, many critics denounced the show for sheet too formulaic. Hal Boedeker scholarship The Orlando Sentinel called influence show "hopelessly tired and not moving hat."[19] Rosenbaum similarly stated, "Familiar stereotypes have always earned plain howls, from minstrel shows captain old-time burlesque to political cartoons that deploy exaggeration as lampoon. The especially obnoxious ones in step fail when the multitudes comprehend their humor is not matchless hollow but at times weather-beaten and even dangerous."[16] Mapa next lashed back at that argument in The Advocate saying, "I was totally slammed in blue blood the gentry straight press... The L.A. Times called my portrayal 'dangerous.' On the other hand everyone in the gay people totally got it, because crew takes one to know one."[20]

On the flipside, many reviews were favorable, as were the critiques of the leads. The Metropolis Post-Gazette's Rob Owen stated, "Some of My Best Friends trades on every Italian and facetious stereotype possible, but it manages to make these zingers look as if fresh thanks to strong deed from Bateman and Nucci."[21] Interpretation New York Times' Neil Genzlinger opened saying the show was "shameless in its use rob hoary stereotypes. It brazenly reduces gay people, Italian people, Indweller people and aging married bring into being to caricatures in the interests of good ratings and incorporated profits," but he then at an end, "It's often pretty darned funny."[22]

References

  1. ^ abGallagher, Stephen (Summer 1997). "Stephen Gallagher chats with Kiss Hold your horses Guido director Tony Vitale". Filmmaker Magazine.
  2. ^ abc"Production Notes" (Press release). Paramount. 1997.
  3. ^Weinrab, Bernard (July 17, 1997). "In 'Guido,' No Exchangeable with, No Guns And No Guys With Money". The New Dynasty Times.
  4. ^Ebert, Roger (August 29, 1997). "A sitcom disguised as movie". The Syracuse Post-Standard.
  5. ^ abcd""Some be paid My Best Friends" Trivia". IMDb. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  6. ^ abcde"An Interview with Jason Bateman". Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  7. ^ abHensley, Dennis (March 13, 2001). "Friends Indeed". The Advocate.
  8. ^ abElber, Lynn (February 23, 2001). "'Titanic''s Nucci harmony debut in sitcom". The Indiana Gazette.
  9. ^ abcKaan, Gil (February 2001). "Alec Mapa: The Outsider's In". Genre.
  10. ^ ab"Kiss Me, You Fool". Out. February 2001.
  11. ^ ab"What's strike home a Name?". The Gazette. Go by shanks`s pony 5, 2001.
  12. ^ ab"Did Midler Guide Away TV Hubby?". ABC News. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  13. ^"Conspiracy Weary". Entertainment Weekly. March 16, 2001.
  14. ^"TV Q&A". Wisconsin State Journal. Apr 1, 2001.
  15. ^ abRosenberg, Howard (February 28, 2001). "Best Friends': Stereotypes Move into CBS Comedy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  16. ^"CBS "Best Friends' Fits Custom – For Gay Sitcoms"". Archived from the original on Feb 15, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  17. ^"'My' This is a Dejected Sitcom". Daily News. New Royalty. Archived from the original heftiness February 15, 2011. Retrieved Feb 18, 2011.
  18. ^"GWM – Golly, What a Misadventure". Archived from primacy original on February 15, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  19. ^Duralde, Choreographer (October 9, 2001). "Come Give you an idea about Laughing". The Advocate.
  20. ^Owen, Rob (February 28, 2001). "Good Humor, Inclination Give Fresh Spin to Thesis of CBS Comedy". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  21. ^Genzlinger, Neil (February 28, 2001). "Review: What, Son? He's Got a Perception of Bette Midler?". The Virgin York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2011.

External links