Chat Transcript Live Chat with Mark B. Perry Sunday, Januar 17 1999 [21:06] Please note: this chat will be moderated. To submit questions join #PerryQuestions (just type "/join #PerryQuestions " and hit enter). [21:07] Please do not try to chat privately with Mark! He will answer as many questions as he can but it's just impossible to chat privately with everyone. [21:07] Welcome to Mark Perry's first live chat session! [21:07] Hi Mark, thanks for being here today! [21:07] Hello everyone. What an honor! [21:08] I'd also like to welcome Peter Schubert (TWYChatInfo) and Henry Stewart. Peter will help you if you have any problems and Henry will supervise #PerryQuestions [21:08] And just to dispell all the rumors... [21:08] I am NOT Marilyn Manson! [21:08] the pleasure is all our's :) [21:08] haha [21:08] not? oh! [21:08] To submit questions please join #PerryQuestions (just type "/join #PerryQuestions " and hit enter). Please do not submit questions in private chat. Thanks. [21:09] So... don't be shy... [21:09] If you have any problems: [21:09] just type "/msg TWYChatInfo I need help!" [21:09] Mark, would you like to make any opening remarks before we delve into questions? [21:09] sure [21:10] It's just very cool to be asked to do this today. Working on teh Wonder Years was a highlight in my career [21:10] and it's incredible to know that the show has found a global audience [21:10] and a whole new generation of fans! [21:10] ok, so let's start [21:10] so it's an honor to be here and I hope I don't bore everyone to death! [21:10] ready when you are [21:11] :-) here is our first question: Hi , I would like to know if Perry intends to return to the Party of Five productions until the show is on air. [21:11] Well... at the moment I have no plans to return [21:11] the show was also a wonderful experience [21:11] but I left to pursue other opportunities [21:12] ok, then here is our second question from Kirk in Australia: [21:12] I'd like to ask a stupid one straight off the bat (it is 6.30 am Monday in Oz remember) - What does the WG stand for in WG Snuffy Walden [21:12] Do I get a bonus prize if i answer right? [21:12] I think it stands for... [21:12] Wise Guy? [21:12] Actually, I have no idea... [21:13] I never met Snuffy the entire time I was on the show [21:13] I'd like to know what mark does know about the circumstances TWY ended [21:13] that's a hard question, actually, [21:13] because I left the show before the last season. [21:14] I think the show ended because everyone, [21:14] the producers included [21:14] were ready to go out while the show was still on top [21:14] what does an executive story editor do exactly? [21:15] Well, you work your way up the ranks as a writer on a TV show [21:15] you start as a staff writer -- which is basically where you grovel and pray they don't fire you [21:15] then, if you survive that, you become a story editor [21:15] which means you have a bit more responsiblity [21:15] in terms of rewriting scripts by other writers [21:15] from there, you become executive story editor [21:15] the dish washer story? [21:15] which hopefully gives you still more responsiblity [21:16] until you hit co-producer, producer, supervising producer and the ultimate goal... [21:16] executive producer [21:16] As a producer, you're more involved in all aspects of the production [21:16] from being on the set and working with the directors [21:16] to being in the editing rooms cutting the episodes [21:16] whew! [21:17] basically, it's about job titles and climbing the ladder [21:17] ok, we should pay attention that we don't write to long answers or you could be kicked because of flooding... [21:17] whoops! [21:17] how could you mark? [21:17] haha [21:17] what a loser! [21:17] what was your favorite episode to write? [21:18] Manuel : To submit questions please join #PerryQuestions (just type "/join #PerryQuestions " and hit enter). Please do not submit questions in private chat. Thanks. [21:18] Well... it would have to be my very first... [21:18] does anyone know what that was? [21:18] no :o) [21:18] ummm.... [21:18] DOH! [21:18] there goes my celebrity status! [21:18] My first episode was Summer Song [21:18] this is like a sitcom :-) [21:18] and i wrote it as a spec script for the show [21:19] it was about something that actually happened to me when I was 14 years old [21:19] a girl taller than you?? [21:19] the producers liked it and hired me [21:19] HA! Older, in my case, certainly not taller! [21:19] but terri was taller :o) [21:20] yes, she was [21:20] We got some questions about lost scripts (e.g. "The Big Spin"): what do you know about episodes that were written but never made it to the screen? (do you have done one of them? can we have them?) [21:20] was she supposed to be taller? [21:20] she was taller due to casting! [21:20] but no, only older [21:20] as to lost episodes [21:21] I know a few were written and abandoned [21:21] I wrote an episode my first season that was never filmed [21:21] about Norma going into the hospital [21:21] did they ever go into production at all? [21:21] no [21:21] can we have the scripts? [21:21] :) [21:22] I believe there are several WY scripts registered with the copyright office but all of them were spec scripts that had nothing to do with the actual production of the show [21:22] actually, because of copyright issues, I can't give out the one I have... sorry! [21:22] our first e-mail question: Last year there was a reunion of the WY cast in the LA museum of TV (?). Were you also there and do you still have contact with the actors and crew? [21:23] I have some contact with the staff and crew [21:23] but for some reason, was not invited to participate [21:23] neither were we [21:23] ha! [21:23] what a surprise that we weren't there... [21:24] Do you have pilots in the work for the 1999-2000 tv season? [21:24] If you have any problems: [21:24] just type "/msg TWYChatInfo I need help!" [21:24] yes... I have two pilots currently in the works [21:25] with 20th television [21:25] one is a comedy drama about a dysfunctional family in Atlanta [21:25] the other is about a couple of buttheads who decide the coolest job in the world would be to become private investigators [21:25] I don't know if either of them will ever see the light of day [21:26] because television is basically a crap shoot! [21:26] How was to work with Ken Topolsky? (on TWY and Party of Five) [21:26] Ken Topolsky is an amazing force of nature [21:26] he's probably the best at what he does in the business bar none [21:26] The first time I met him he tried to throw me off the set [21:26] becuase he didn't know who I was [21:26] thought I was a crazed fan getting too close to the actors! [21:27] hehe :-) [21:27] Ken also called me and asked me if I would consider working on Party of five its first season [21:27] I took the job and had a great experience [21:27] he directed some of my episodes and did a wonderful job [21:27] in case you can't tell [21:27] I can't say enough good things about Ken [21:28] did you actually work on set (to shape an episode) or mainly write them? [21:28] both... TWY was a very writer friendly show [21:28] and the writers were usually on the set [21:28] we worked with the directors in terms of making sure things were right [21:28] have you worked on other shows that weren't so writer friendly? [21:28] good question... answer: yes. [21:29] what shows? how were they unfriendly? [21:29] well... unfriendly is a bit harsh I guess [21:29] but for instance, PF was an unusual experience because David Kelley wrote every episode the season I was on the show [21:29] he's an enormously talented man [21:30] but I didn't have a lot to do that year [21:30] so it was a bit frustrating. [21:30] there are some questions about reunion shows: do you think that there will be one or did you write one yourself? and what do you think about a reunion? [21:30] Personally, I like renunion shows if they're done right and with a lot of integrity [21:30] I never wrote one and don't know of plans to do a WY reunion [21:31] but I'd love to write one if they'd offer it to me [21:31] it would be hard though because Jack supposedly died two years after the show went off the air [21:31] and it would be weird to have a reunion without Jack [21:31] do you think it was a good idea to let jack die? [21:31] well... yes and no... [21:32] I believe Neal Marlens father died suddenly when Neal was very young [21:32] and Jack was supposed to be modeled after Neal's father -- I think this is what I heard. [21:32] Personally, I always thought the final episode should have actually dealt with Jack's death, because when you lose a parent, that's really when your Wonder Years come to an end... [21:32] another e-mail questions: Did you ever meet the creators of the show, Neal Marlens and Carol Black? [21:33] I met Neal and Carol only briefly. They had already left the show when I was hired on. [21:34] here is another questions about the last episodes: Did the producer/actors knew that it would be the final episode when they filmed it? Or did they have plans for a seventh season? [21:34] I think they knew the show was over when they made the episode [21:34] as I said, I wasn't there [21:35] anything else about Jack's dead/reunion/WY ending? [21:35] ok, so here is our next question from Andy in Germany are the scripts he made memories of his own "wonder years" in some way? [21:36] absolutely [21:36] writing about that specific time and age, I naturally reached back into my own adolescence to remember how things felt and how strange the world was [21:37] like Summer Song... the second act of that basically happened to me exactly as it does to Kevin [21:37] Wayne on Wheels? My sister used to terrorize me when she got her driver's license [21:37] and would dump me out of the car a block before [21:37] we got to school because she didn't want to be seen with me! [21:38] haha [21:38] so yes... many times all the writers would rely on their own personal experience [21:38] and that's what gives the show such a universal appeal [21:38] but hopefully she wasn't nasty like Wayne... [21:38] are you kidding? She WAS Wayne! [21:39] poooooor Mark :-) [21:39] oh! [21:39] In Who's Aunt Rose, I even gave Wayne a childhood nickname that was actually my sister's childhood nickname [21:39] does anybody remember what that was? [21:39] tell us in #PerryQuestions, guys! [Read the #PerryQuestions transcript to see all answers] [21:39] now there's a trivia question! [21:40] scrote/butthead/buttbrain??? [21:40] a relative is harrassing him a bit [21:40] and says he used to call himself that because he couldn't pronounce his own name [21:40] it was weegie [21:40] I still call my sister by this name sometimes... [21:40] DING DING DING! the duck just dropped! [21:40] A real WY fan! [21:41] congratulations, Katie. you just won a shrubbery :-) [21:41] ha! [21:41] (I watched too much Monty Phyton and the Holy Grail...) [21:42] a question about another show you worked on: [21:42] ok [21:42] I remember watching many years ago "Moon Over Miami" and I tought it was an excellent show. Wanted to know what is experience on that show was like? [21:42] well... another fantastic experience [21:42] so naturally, we got cancelled after only 8 episodes had aired [21:43] uh [21:43] it was a really fun show -- and I wrote one of my favorite episodes of television for that series [21:43] Do you intend to write anything to the Cinema and if so will you invite any actors from PO5 or TWY to work with you? [21:44] I would love to write a feature film... [21:44] and I would work with any of those actors on anything anytime [21:44] Manuel : To submit questions please join #PerryQuestions (just type "/join #PerryQuestions " and hit enter). Please do not submit questions in private chat. Thanks. [21:44] I have been so fortunate to work with wonderful casts! [21:44] In 1989, I wrote a spec screenplay with a writing partner. [21:44] It went to every studio in town [21:45] it was passed on by every studio in town. [21:45] The reason? [21:45] A: They said it was way too expensive to produce [21:45] and [21:45] B: [21:45] they said nobody wanted to see a movie about... [21:45] THE TITANIC!!! [21:45] So I guess i was a little ahead of the times! [21:45] hehe [21:45] haha [21:46] and you didn't have Leonardo diCaprio :-) [21:46] was he even born in 1989? [21:47] ha! [21:47] no, he's only 8 years old [21:47] haha :-) [21:47] back to The Wonder Years (without Leo) did he have a fav character to write for/about? Why? [21:47] well... I loved writing for the Parents [21:47] and I loved writing for Paul Pfeiffer [21:47] See... I really empathized with Paul... [21:48] especially in the early episodes [21:48] and Ally and Dan were such incredible actors [21:48] it was always nice to have them in my episodes [21:48] my favorite episodes dealt more with the family than with school [21:48] if we're talking about Paul: here is a paul-question via e-mail: Somewhere I heard that Fred Savage and Josh Saviano had problems and that was the reason why we didn’t see Josh very often in season 6. Is that true? [21:49] that would be news to me [21:49] they got along great when i was on the show [21:49] guys, please ask you're questions as if you would ask directly. So I don't have to rewrite them. thanks [21:49] TWYChatInfo : To submit questions please join #PerryQuestions (just type "/join #PerryQuestions " and hit enter). Please do not submit questions in private chat. Thanks. [21:50] but i don't know a great deal about that last season [21:51] As he seen "Working"? Fred's not so new show? what does he think of it? [21:51] I saw one episode... the first one with Danica [21:51] I actually don't have time to watch much tv [21:52] I thought it was quite funny [21:52]

did you keep watching the show(s) after you left it, to see how it was going? [21:52] sad to say not really... [21:53] I saw the show "Reunion" since it was story I had done my last season on the show [21:53] and I watched the finale [21:53] but to be quite honest [21:53] the older Kevin got [21:53] the more it felt to me that the show was outgrowing itself [21:53] what about winnie and kev not ending up together?? [21:53] Well... isn't that the way life works out? [21:54] Kevin and Winnie are always meant to be those star crossed lovers [21:54] Schu, this is a questio of Bat-Luiz who is in the room but don't get to enter here: Hello, i would like to know hat do you think about the new actors and actress coming from v series, like Neve Campbel and Jeniffer Love? [21:55] I think they're both terrific [21:55] JLH actually shed a tear when I left party of five [21:55] come to think of it... maybe it was a tear of joy! [21:56] ok, two long email questions from Kirk, because he has to go to work (it's Monday morning in Australia....) [21:56] probably [21:56] ok... [21:56] Firstly thanx for being part of 2 of my all time fav shows - WY & Picket Fences (absolute quality TV I must say). On tWY you wrote two of my alltime fav episodes Episode 24 'Summer Song' where Kevin meets Teri with an 'ri' on summer vacation and Episode 37 'St Valentine's Day Massacre'. I have 2 questions on these eps - [21:56] sorry Kirk [21:56] 1. The ending of 'Summer Song' was one of the best endings to a WY ep with Kevin kissing Teri on the beach then chasing his family along the beach(and jumping on his dad's shoulder) to the music 'In My Life'. What I want to know is did you specify particular bits of music in the script because often this takes what can be a plain scene into an absolutely memorable one. [21:56] really good question [21:57] and REALLY GOOD TASTE!!! [21:57] bonus points to Kirk! [21:57] another shrubbery? [21:57] actually, the only song I specified in the script we ended up not using [21:57] but yes, sometimes you suggest music... [21:57] what song? [21:57] and sometimes you wait until you have the film all edited together [21:57] we used to sit in Bob Brush's office with a video tape of the final cut [21:57] and a CD boom box [21:57] with CDs spread out all over the floor and [21:57] try different songs with the picture [21:58] until we got just the right LUMP FACTOR [21:58] I wanted the episode to end with Chad and Jeremy's Summer Song [21:58] thus the title [21:58] but when we played it against picture, it didn't work [21:58] sometimes you never know what will work and what won't until you see and hear it [21:59] ok, here is Kirk's second question [21:59] hit me [21:59] 2. 'St Valentine's Day Massacre' was effectively a continuation of the previous ep but you didn't write the preceding ep. How did you work it out with the other writers (in regards continuity and character development)? This also happened where you wrote the episode where Karen got married which was a continuation of the previous ep [21:59] Henry-S hits mark [21:59] Manuel slams Henry_S. He's our celebrity, so be nice! [21:59] well... [21:59] A transcript will be available soon on http://wybook.cjb.net ! [21:59] the writers of those particular episodes would "break" the stories in the same room with BB [22:00] so we knew what came before [22:00] by the way, Karen's wedding episode is also one of my all time favs [22:00] as it was my swan song to TWY [22:00] MPerry laughed at getting hit [22:01] and here is a comment from Kirk: I have so much more I could ask but I'm sure if I write too much I won't get any of it asked, so thanks again and as far as Picket Fences goes I loved this show as well, the only comment here is that when you were writing for it the show was definitely story driven (Season 1-2) whereas the last season was very much character driven. But the show remained unique through out. All over probably the best writing I have ever seen for a TV show. Thanks again, hopefully I can get in on the chat but I'm in Australia so the time zones may lose me. [22:02] yes, PF was a well written show... unfortunately, I dind't get to do a lot of that writing [22:02] mostly I just came up with episode ideas [22:02] like... an idea about the old town doctor quietly euthanizing the elderly became a story about a rappeling singing nun who quietely euthanized the elderly [22:02] an idea about Brock getting shot during a routine burglary [22:03] became an episode where Michael Jeeter was singing and dancing frog songs [22:03] I couldn't really predict what the story would ultimately look like [22:03] so I went off to do Moon Over Miami [22:04] you just answered a big part of my Picket Fences question :-) What did you think about PF in general and what do you think about Kelley's new shows Ally McBeal and The Practice? [22:04] Well... I remembert telling David after I turned in my first PF script that I thought his first few episodes were some of the most amazing scripts I'd ever read [22:05] I have to admit I've only seen Ally once and I've never seen the Practice [22:05] back to The Wonder Years: Jets_To_Brazil> you portrayed 70's life very realisticly. how much effort was put into the minor details? [22:05] I really liked PF [22:05] We had an incredle group of people who brought TWy to life each week. [22:06] From Scilla hernandez and her costume people (who also do the wardrobe on PO5 by the way) [22:06] to props and set dressing and locations [22:06] there was an interesting segment on primetime once in 1991 or so that said a lot about the set design of twy [22:06] we even tried to script 70s references into the show so that we could achieve that degree of verisimilitude which made the show come alive [22:07] I think I saw that special [22:07] back to your sister... some of our non-american friends want to know what a "weggie" is (and I don't know it either) [22:07] HA! [22:07] it doesn't mean anything! [22:07] it's just a silly nickname [22:07] like Pooky or Snoogums [22:07] how nice :-) [22:08] So what is the story in the ep 'Little Debbie' when Paul's sister has a cruch on Kevin - who had the crush on MArk???? [22:08] LOL [22:08] Henry-S : verisimilitude - appearance of being true [22:08] who DIDN'T? [22:08] right. hm [22:08] actually, there was a girl in my 8th grade [22:09] who once left me a couple of anonymous secret admirer letters in my locker [22:09] which was also the inspriation for St. VD Massacre [22:09] but LD came about simply because I loved the character of DP when she appeared in Birthday Boy [22:09] And wanted to tell a story about her crush on Kevin [22:09] that episode has one of my favorite endings, too [22:10] as for Mr. Pfeiffer's five dollars? [22:10] We got the 8X10... [22:10] and a dozen wallet size. [22:10] that was cute [22:10] thanks [22:10] Think you will direct one of your own scripts someday? Want to? [22:10] if the opportunity ever presents itself, sure. [22:11] Jan from germany asks (btw: guten abend aus der Schweiz): Is there any chance for Picket Fences to come back again ? [22:11] I seriously doubt it. It had dwindled significantly in the ratings and was never a real ratings performer [22:11] perhaps a reunion show? [22:11] but that would be up to DEK [22:12] he said in an interview that he'd love to continue with the show, but that everyone has other jobs now [22:13] some people asked for Mark Perry autographs. what do you tell them? [22:13] as a writer I feel really weird giving autographs [22:13] save that for the celebrities! [22:13] you're so humble...you ARE a celebrity! [22:13] [22:13] Manuel suggests that you visit http://wybook.cjb.net - there you can see a photograph of Mark and Fred Savage [22:14] Great Manuel... now everybody's gonna leave [22:14] hee hee [22:14] lol - the photo will still be online tomorrow... [22:14] but back to our questions Q: Were Kevin and Winnie having sex ever discussed in the before the last season? [22:15] I think it might have been discussed briefly. [22:15] but our feeling was always that once you've had sex, there's not much left to "Wonder" about [22:15] and frankly... they were way too young. [22:16] dawson's creek has 15 year olds having sex [22:16] :) [22:16] oops, Schu was disconnected. Let's hope he'll be back soon [22:16] yes, but their 15 year olds are played by 40 year olds [22:16] :) [22:16] did I say that? [22:16] haha. that's it [22:16] hee hee [22:16] Did he work with Julie Condra at all - because she seems to be a popular girl as far as WY fans go? [22:17] To submit questions please join #PerryQuestions (just type "/join #PerryQuestions " and hit enter). Please do not submit questions in private chat. Thanks. [22:17] I met Julie on the set one day, but didn't get a chance to work with her. [22:17] I didn't write any of the Madeline episodes [22:17] :( [22:18] here is a questions from Terry in Italy (buona sera!): I would like to know where the Arnold's and Cooper's houses exactly are in Burbank. I have an holiday's house there from one year and I didn't find them yet. Can you help me? [22:18] Mark will be back in a minute [22:19] ok, here we go [22:19] wow! italy! this is amazing [22:19] [TWY is called "Blue Jeans" in Italy...] [22:19] are you going to answer in italian? [22:19] anyway, the house is on University Ave. in Burbank -- both actually -- and Paul's is right around the corner [22:20] I don't have the exact address, but you'll recognize it [22:20] just PLEASE don't disturb the people who live there [22:20] I'm sure they've had to put up with a lot of "fan" traffic [22:20] so guys: you know where to pass your next holiday :-) [22:20] :) [22:20] exactly, they live there, so be nice [22:21] i'm sure they get their fair share of tour buses, etc... [22:21] just be respectful of people's privacy [22:21] we shouldn't peek in their windows? [22:21] it's Los Angeles... [22:21] you might get shot! [22:21] without the "k" [22:21] haha [22:22] enough... :-) an e-mail question from Zer: I know this will be a special chat for TWY fans but as Perry worked in Party of Five too, I would like to know how was to Perry, work in another TV serie with Ken Topolsky. And how was too work with another young star: Lacey Chabert? [22:22] Well, as I said earlier I cannot say enough good things about Ken [22:22] He got me the job on Po5 [22:22] and Lacey was a lot of fun to work with [22:23] I got to write some fun Claudia episodes [22:23] which were a bit WY influenced... [22:23] such as the episode where she stuffs her bra [22:23] and the one where she smokes and gets into trouble with her friend Jody [22:24] Mark, did you read Henry's comments in #PerryQuestions ? [22:24] about being shot on the set? [22:24] yeah :-) [Read the #PerryQuestions transcript to understand this...] [22:25] to my knowledge... [22:25] nothing like that ever happened [22:25] what a surprise! [22:25] here are some questions from our dear friend Henry :-) did you ever have to cut scenes out of the wonder years because an episode ran too long, or the network wanted something cut, or something like that. if yes, can you tell us anything about them? [22:26] yes [22:26] and every time it hurt [22:26] like cutting off a limb [22:26] in Summer Song, one of my favorite scenes got cut [22:26]