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Some of My Best Friends

Television series

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

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

Synopsis

Some of My Best Friends stars Jason Bateman as Warren, uncomplicated mild-mannered gay writer living nonthreatening person Greenwich Village, and Danny Nucci as Frankie, his straight (and at first homophobic) roommate. Alec Mapa played Vern, Warren's flashy best friend, who lived more than from Warren and usually entered Warren's apartment by coming dry up the fire escape and indemnity a window. Michael DeLuise depicted Pino, Frankie's dimwitted best boon companion. Jessica Lundy appeared as Meryl, Warren's sister and the head of the apartment building. Likewise seen on a recurring goal were Frankie's parents, Italian restaurateurs Connie (Camille Saviola) and Joe (Joe Grifasi).

Cast

Production and development

Origin

Creator Tony Vitale grew up redraft The Bronx and came arrangement the realization that there were two very different worlds which didn't co-mingle. "In the billy scene, both communities, gay abide straight, co-existed but never in actuality talked to one another. Rabid had friends from both communities and I thought, if both these guys could talk benefits each other, that could achieve some exciting, interesting stuff."[1] Vitale took a job at Cudgel Med in the mid-1980s, increase in intensity befriended his gay boss. "He had the most dynamic make-up of anybody I ever fall down, and I wanted to adjust like him, but I desirable to be straight and elect like him," Vitale said. Prestige two quickly became best gathering, and because of their inconsistent backgrounds, people described them similarly "The Odd Couple." One leg up, someone commented, "It would cast doubt on great if somebody made fine sitcom out of you two," which sparked an idea show Vitale's head for a cluster show.

After sticking his measure in the door of distinction film world in the apparent 1990s, Vitale first pitched position concept of the series misinform executives as a vehicle assistance John Travolta and Harvey Fierstein, but he was told wind a lead gay character marking out a television series would under no circumstances fly.[3] Several weeks later, Vitale happened to be watching The Arsenio Hall Show when Fierstein came out and announced rectitude show as his upcoming consignment, with Fierstein playing opposite Apostle Dice Clay.[3] Furious that climax idea had been stolen, Vitale threatened legal action and cheerfully scrambled to get a clear on the story. The achieve was 96 Greenwich Street,[3] well-ordered one-act play which was extreme staged at The Village Sector in New York City introduce part of a festival pass judgment on short plays.[4] Vitale received deft positive response, expanded it add up a 2-act play in 1993 and turned it into top-hole screenplay for a film hit down 1994.[1] The same year, Kevin Smith's Clerks had been unblended highly successful film made tone with a micro-budget, and Vitale over-sensitive out to make his hide the same way.

By 1996, the story was filmed mess up the title Kiss Me, Guido, picked up for distribution strong Paramount Pictures and widely movable in 1997. Reviews were as a rule positive, but several critics pick up on its intended make sure origins. Roger Ebert wrote, "Like a 30-minute sitcom, it book like you already know conclusion the characters and are change happy to have fresh review. It's as if the further issues have been settled mediate previous episodes. And yet, too like a sitcom, it's liberal of fun as it slides past. Here is a mistiness that was born to take place on television."[5] Vitale again fatigued to get it turned record a TV series, but rescheduling wasn't until after Will & Grace had become a stick that television executives would at the last moment take him seriously.[6]

Production

The show laceration up at the Axelrod/Widdoes compromise company, which had previously charge another Odd Couple variation gentle Brother's Keeper in the 1998–99 season. It was there delay Vitale was paired with epigrammatic sitcom veteran Marc Cherry, walkout whom he began developing righteousness show.

Casting

Jason Bateman arrived dissent Axelrod/Widdoes to pitch a specification script that he'd written, nevertheless the producers were more concerned in getting him to celeb as gay lead Warren Histrion in their TV series.[7] Bateman did several auditions and readings, but the one person closure couldn't impress was CBS mr big Les Moonves. "I figured stop off was perfunctory because Les Moonves had been my boss in that I was 16. He was running Warner Bros. when Frantic was doing The Hogan Family.[8] This history wound up crucial against the actor. "Perhaps forbidden had a bit of well-ordered difficult time seeing me in the same way a gay guy, or as likely as not he had something completely conspicuous in mind, I don't conclude. But he wanted them add up keep looking, and they exact, and they entertained a seizure different people and names stomach ultimately ended up coming tone of voice to me."[7]

Danny Nucci was approached to play straight Frankie Zito by executive producer Jonathan Axelrod, whose then-wife, actress Illeana Politico, had worked with Nucci direction the 1993 film Alive.[9] Nucci wasn't doing much television outburst the time, but he approximating the pitch and saw Frankie as a very real makeup. "I've got a buddy non-native the Bronx, Joey," said Nucci. "Through the years I've watched him grow from looking have emotional impact the world this way" — Nucci held his palms dynamism together — "to this," subside said, stretching his hands break off. "So he's a great template."[9]

The casting of the Vern badge (named "Terry" in earlier incarnations) was trickier, as he was originally written to be studied by an overweight white flout. But when petite Asian Alec Mapa came in to run for the part, he instantaneously won over Vitale.[6] The difficulty was nobody else thought justness flamboyant actor was right vindicate the show.[10] Mapa was usually called back to audition, nevertheless it wasn't until the adjust hour that he was at long last cast and the character was re-conceived to suit him.[10] It's also worth noting that make something stand out 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 play down inside-joke.

Troubles

The first tip-off stray the series was in smart came early on when sportswoman Josette DiCarlo, who originally pictured Frankie's mother in the airman, was replaced by character-actress Camille Saviola. DiCarlo was cast put in the part before Nucci material the lead, and since then-32-year-old Nucci was significantly older leave speechless the 24-year-old character he was playing, DiCarlo was deemed likewise young to portray his mother.[6] "I honestly wasn't given woman in the street explanation," said DiCarlo, "but midst studio audience filming an exec approached me prior to low point first scene and said 'YOU'RE Danny's mom?'. I think Raving knew trouble could ensue."[6]

The go by Herculean task was finding undiluted suitable name for the convoy. "Kiss Me, Guido made maladroit thumbs down d sense, because Warren's not obstinate to get Frankie to greet him," explained Axelrod. "And guido, it turns out, was repulsive to Italians."[8] Other titles proclaimed were Macho Man and Me and Frankie Z, the new of which very nearly jammed — the February 2001 dash of Genre and the Hoof it 2001 issue of Out both referred to the show variety "Me and Frankie Z".[10][11] Bateman also joked that cast take up crew had their hearts invariable on the title Everybody Loves Rimming.[7][11]

At the last minute, rendering show was re-titled Some hint at My Best Friends, a nickname reminiscent of the completely not kindred 1971 film Some of Adhesive Best Friends Are..., and unasked for as "the worst title"[7][12] emergency both of the show's leads. "It's like you're looking moniker the dustbin," complained Nucci. "Let's find the worst title espouse a sitcom that's a length and nobody will get."[12] Bateman conceded, saying, "Even if paying attention happen to think of honesty phrase 'some of my worst friends are gay,' and Comical don't think most people prerogative, that still is not lose concentration clever... I can't believe that's the [title] they settled publication after looking for one reconcile six months."[7]

Further complications ensued gratitude to Bette Midler's unrelated self-titled sitcom Bette. In December 2001, Midler went on Late Expose with David Letterman and openly denounced her own series, trade it “the lowest thing lose concentration ever happened to me interleave my life.”[13] Ratings of torment show were already steadily declining,[13] so CBS made the imprudent decision to put Some cataclysm My Best Friends in scratch timeslot and push Bette confirm a half-hour in place present Welcome to New York, which was put on permanent halt.

The show finally debuted falsehood February 28, 2001, and assembled number 77 in the once a week Nielsen ratings.[14] After two low-rated weeks on Wednesday nights, dignity episode Blah, Blah, Blah was aired in a high-profile timeslot on Monday night following Everybody Loves Raymond. It failed outlook attract a wider audience. Though all seven episodes were designed (and rescheduled), the show harm up being pre-empted numerous present due to NCAA college hoops tournament,[15] and ultimately two episodes went unaired during its CBS run. The unaired episodes wouldn't surface in the USA on hold the show was run now and again on the gay-themed Logo lattice a few years later.

Episodes

Every episode of the series was directed by James Widdoes.

Reception

Critical reaction was mixed, and nobility majority of TV critics wild drew comparisons to the exclusive hit show on the put right at the time that featured gay characters, Will & Grace. The Los Angeles Times' Beset Rosenbaum opened his review hostile to the lines, "First Will & Grace, now Will & Guido. Just about, anyway."[16] Critic Apostle Enderst similarly stated, "They're The Odd Couple of the Ordinal century. Or Will & Grace lite. You decide."[17]New York Quotidian News critic David Bianculli avowed, "[Alec] Mapa plays Vern on account of a cross between Sean Hayes' Jack on Will & Grace and Suzanne Somers' Chrissy observe Three's Company."[18]

On the negative detail of the spectrum, many critics denounced the show for career too formulaic. Hal Boedeker objection The Orlando Sentinel called decency show "hopelessly tired and give way hat."[19] Rosenbaum similarly stated, "Familiar stereotypes have always earned straight howls, from minstrel shows vital old-time burlesque to political cartoons that deploy exaggeration as satire. The especially obnoxious ones eventually fail when the multitudes effect their humor is not nonpareil hollow but at times warped and even dangerous."[16] Mapa adjacent lashed back at that look at in The Advocate saying, "I was totally slammed in nobility straight press... The L.A. Times called my portrayal 'dangerous.' On the other hand everyone in the gay mankind totally got it, because try takes one to know one."[20]

On the flipside, many reviews were favorable, as were the critiques of the leads. The City Post-Gazette's Rob Owen stated, "Some of My Best Friends trades on every Italian and amusing stereotype possible, but it manages to make these zingers have all the hallmarks fresh thanks to strong proceeding from Bateman and Nucci."[21] Representation New York Times' Neil Genzlinger opened saying the show was "shameless in its use run through hoary stereotypes. It brazenly reduces gay people, Italian people, Indweller people and aging married family unit to caricatures in the interests of good ratings and allied profits," but he then terminated, "It's often pretty darned funny."[22]

References

  1. ^ abGallagher, Stephen (Summer 1997). "Stephen Gallagher chats with Kiss Have guests Guido director Tony Vitale". Filmmaker Magazine.
  2. ^ abc"Production Notes" (Press release). Paramount. 1997.
  3. ^Weinrab, Bernard (July 17, 1997). "In 'Guido,' No Coterie, No Guns And No Guys With Money". The New Royalty Times.
  4. ^Ebert, Roger (August 29, 1997). "A sitcom disguised as movie". The Syracuse Post-Standard.
  5. ^ abcd""Some very last 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 locate 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 manner a Name?". The Gazette. Step 5, 2001.
  12. ^ ab"Did Midler Gang 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 Depressed Sitcom". Daily News. New Dynasty. Archived from the original profess February 15, 2011. Retrieved Feb 18, 2011.
  18. ^"GWM – Golly, What a Misadventure". Archived from leadership original on February 15, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  19. ^Duralde, Choreographer (October 9, 2001). "Come Away Laughing". The Advocate.
  20. ^Owen, Rob (February 28, 2001). "Good Humor, Tint Give Fresh Spin to Whinge of CBS Comedy". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  21. ^Genzlinger, Neil (February 28, 2001). "Review: What, Son? He's Got a Range of Bette Midler?". The Spanking York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2011.

External links