Who was the last customer on CHEERS?

Thanks for your Friday questions. Here are four more:

From Bob Sassone:

Who was it who played the last customer at Cheers, the one who Sam told the bar was closed? I have a friend who insists it was someone famous but I say it was just part of the crew/cast/behind the scenes people.

That final customer was agent Bob Broder. He represented the Charles Brothers, Jimmy Burrows, and more importantly, me and my partner. Bob was instrumental in getting the show on the air and keeping it on the air. Also, he was (and still is) the best agent we ever had.

From another Bob -- Summers:

Do networks really buy shows that they know are only going to make it four or six episodes?

Networks rarely give orders, even short ones, to shows they don’t believe in. If they do it’s usually to fulfill a commitment. A number of years ago there was a comedian NBC wanted to keep in the fold as a possible replacement for Johnny Carson when he retired. So they gave this comedian a six episode order for a sitcom. They hated the resulting episodes so much they kept the show on the shelf for a year. Finally, they decided to just burn it off and air the show.

That show was SEINFELD.

In the past, when networks didn’t own the shows, they tried on several occasions to order six episodes and the studios balked (back in the days when they could). The practice was generally discontinued and shows got picked up for thirteen.

Still there were some short-order shows like for the summer. Our series BIG WAVE DAVE’S was one. Considering it got a 19 share and kept 100% of its lead in, MURPHY BROWN’S audience it deserved a better fate than six and out. Not that I’m bitter all these fucking years later.

Doug R has a good one:

How often does it happen that someone is hired onto a writing staff, and it turns out he or she isn't as good as their spec script or other sample indicated? How long are they given to turn it around before they're given the boot?

Back in primitive times (the 70s) writers were not hired on staff until they turned in a freelance script that impressed the producers enough to hire them on staff. That’s how we got our first two staff jobs (THE TONY RANDALL SHOW, MASH).

But now shows hand out very few freelance assignments. And if someone writes an impressive spec chances are several shows will want him. So to sign him the producer must take a flyer and put him right on staff. No longer is there an opportunity to test the neophyte writer beforehand.

So yes, way too often these people don’t work out. Their scripts don’t live up to their specs, they’re a zero in the writing room, they don’t get any better, and the dazzling spec script gave no indication that they didn’t bathe.

Generally, there are options built into their deal so that after six or thirteen episodes the producer can elect not to pick up their option.

But hiring writers today is like buying a house based on a couple of pictures you’ve seen on the internet.
And finally, from Kevin Stern:

When did you get your first chance to direct for television? What did you have to do campaign-wise to get the job and move out of the writer's room? Were you prepared for the task on your first day/week?

In 1994 I directed an episode of WINGS. The account of that experience is here. I had been auditing directors for several years and during my show running stints I often would reblock scenes, deal with actors, and oversee editing. I once asked Jimmy Burrows what’s the best advice he could give me in preparing to direct? He said, “Get the job” and he’s right. You can audit forever but until you’re the one in the driver’s seat you’re never going to really learn.

But how do you get that first job? In my case, I was lucky. I had been consulting WINGS since the series began so everyone in the production was familiar with me (and a few even liked me). Producers Peter Casey, David Lee, and David Angell took a chance and gave me an assignment. And David Lee was kind enough to spend a whole Saturday helping me with the camera blocking. So the short answer is I knew somebody and caught a good break.

What's your question??