Three Eras End

 Perhaps, I'm the only person who could tie these together, however in just two days, three constants, for me, one a decade and a half, one over two decades, and lastly, a multi-generational one, came to an end.

Tuesday morning, one day after Labor Day, I read that Ken Levine curtailed his 16 year blog, something that I read every day, showing me there were still bloggers out there.  

Tuesday night, I watched on TV as the Seattle Storm lost in the WNBA playoffs, it being the last game for Sue Bird, who inspired our area with her outstanding play, her charisma and compassion for over 20 years.  Bird won championships, Olympic Gold Medals, and the hearts of area sports fans.

Thursday, Queen Elizabeth, who served for well over seven decades, ruling Great Britain, but virtually "grandmother" to the world slipped away, leaving us something that most of the world has never seen, a King of England. 

Ken Levine Thinks Cooper Right For Jeopardy

 TV comedy writer and daily blogger Ken Levine is like me, a real Jeopardy fan.  I mean who would not  love a show where you can watch three contestants stumble on an answer that you know?  I remember that happening on a final Jeopardy question, a week or so ago, and really, I had a lucky guess, with no pressure with TV lights, etc., but I digress.

Ken, in his latest post, thinks that Anderson Cooper, the latest in a series of celebrity fill in hosts, is THE right one for the job, which was vacated by the death of  Alex Trebek.   You can find out why, by clicking here.

Ken Levine Is Used As A Jeopardy Answer

Ken Levine posted this on his blog, while I saw this live.  Ken and his partner,  David Isaacs were part of a question (answer) on Jeopardy.  The question, by the way, was "what is Cheers?"
As a reader of his blog and a Facebook friend, we have interacted on many occasions.  Ken has been, of course, a writer, producer, and director on some of TV's all time greatest comedies, as well as a former Seattle Mariner radio play by play announcer. 
He still blogs daily.

Ken Levine Interviews Iconic Sports Announcer

In his weekly podcast, Hollywood And Levine, Ken Levine interviews arguably his most famous guest yet, NBC sports announcer Al Michaels.  

Levine, primarily known as a TV comedy writer, also has announced baseball for a variety of Major League teams including the Seattle Mariners.

Michaels talks about working the 1989 World Series in San Francisco, where a devastating earthquake struck before the game matching Bay Area teams, the Giants and The Oakland A's.   He also speaks of his switching networks from ABC to NBC. 

The interview with Michaels was done in two parts, with part 2 coming out late next week.  You can hear the Levine-Michaels interview by clicking here. 

Levine Podcast--How Do Writers Know What's Funny?

Veteran comedy writer Ken Levine, who has written for shows like Mash, Frasier, and Cheers, talks about how writers can get a feel of what audiences will think is funny.  You can catch that on his weekly podcast by clicking here. 
Levine, perhaps TV's best comedy writer, has had a new blog post every day for the last 12 or 13 years.  His weekly podcast, started a little over a year ago.

Ken Levine Does Great Review Of The Oscars

For the second  year in a row, TV writer Ken Levine gives his snarky (biting comedy) review of the 2018 Academy Awards.  You can hear it by clicking here.   

A Tribute To Glen Campbell

Ken Levine does a great job of paying tribute to Glen Campbell who passed away last week.  I agree that social media embraced Campbell in the way it did, being that he may have been on the North side of the so-called generation gap of the latess1960s and early 1970s.
Of course, much of that is probably due to the grace in which he faced Alzheimer's Disease.  You can read Levine's tribute by clicking here.

Sports Illustrated Mariners Tribute Eddition

I don't know if it's a regional or a national release, but a special edition of Sports Illustrated pays tribute to the Seattle Mariners on the baseball club's 40 anniversary.  Many of the cast and characters of Mariners history are featured including Edgar Martinez, cover guy and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey,Jr, The Big Unit, Alex Rodriguez, whom I hear is dating Jennifer Lopez, and Felix.  Former Mariner broadcaster Ken Levine, also a renowned TV comedy writer, added a touching tribute to the heart and soul of the team, Dave Niehaus.

Comedy Writer Ken Levine Podcasts A Hit

I'm not a fan of podcasts.  Who wants to sit down and listen to someone talking, usually for 20 minutes or an hour.  At the beginning of this year, Ken Levine, whose blog I've been reading for years, has started a series of podcasts covering his experiences in show business, radio, and everything related.  Although it is usually just him, his podcasts are fascinating.
The title of the series is Hollywood And Levine, on his first, he gave an entertaining behind the scenes recall of an award shows that he has been involved with.
Ken Levine has been blogging for over 10 years.  He is an Emmy winning comedy writer, baseball announcer, playwright, and book author.   He began his career as a top 40 DJ in LA radio.  He speaks in a very down to earth style but is never boring.
You can listen to Ken's podcasts here.

Around The Blogosphere--The Saga Of A Charlie Brown Christmas

Everyday, I check the Ken Levine blog.  It has been a real inspiration to me.  In this post, Ken writes on how A Charlie Brown Christmas almost didn't get aired.  Click here

Ken Levine Celebrates 10 Years

I read Ken Levine's blog because it is funny and updated every day.  Ken is hosting a party in LA tonight for all of his blog readers to celebrate 10 years of blogging.  Who knows if 3 or 300 will show up.  If I lived in LA or had enough notice, I would attend. However, I here in windy, rainy, Seattle, so I'll have to read the post on his blog or look on youtube.

Ken Levine Writes Dick Van Dyke

Last Monday, comedy writer and popular blogger Ken Levine undertook a unique project.  He posted in 4 successive days, a script for an episode of the 1960s comedy Dick Van Dyke show that he would have written.  In other words, a fantasy episode.  It was written as if it were the early 60s when the show took place.  I was really impressed and entertained with how the episode turned out.  To see for yourself, click here    Actual shows that Levine has written for are MASH, Frasier, and Cheers.

BOMV Writer Mentioned In Ken Levine

TV comedy writer Ken Levine has an incredible blog. He somehow posts at least once everyday.  His writing is very pointed and funny, probable because he has written for some of the best comedies television has shown.  Shows like Mash, Cheers, and Frasier.
I was happy to see that Levine mentioned me in a a post from 2007.  You can find that by clicking here.  I have often commented on his blog, simply because the posts often trigger my imagination.  I'm glad to see this one still pumping out great material.
Levine is also a former play by play announcer for the Seattle Mariners.

Ken Levine's Unique Tribute To Robin Williams

When a celebrity passes on, bloggers and blog readers will often go to TV writer Ken Levine's well written By Ken Levine   In this touching piece, Ken eulogizes Robin William the way he feels Robin would want it.  click here

Levine Salutes TV Moms

With Mother's Day approaching, Ken Levine, a TV writer, pens a great story on TV Moms through history  June Cleaver pictured above.  Click here

Ken Levine's Observations On Walla Walla

The world may finally be taking Walla Walla, Washington seriously, but that didn't stop TV writer/baseball announcer Ken Levine from writing a charmingly funny blog post his visit there to promote the Walla Walla Sweets Baseball team.  Check it out here.

Baseball News From Walla Walla

I'm hoping to get back to Walla Walla for a weekend this summer to watch the Walla Walla Sweets play baseball.  Now, I realize I can watch Major League baseball here in the Seattle area, however cool things are happening for this organization is that is not even a minor league baseball team. 
The team has a new announcer, Howard Hoffman.  Hoffman is a nationally known radio voice talent. He is also now a resident of Walla Walla.  On May 2nd, the team will host it's season party with special guest Ken Levine.    Levine is a network sit-com writer with such shows as Mash, Cheers, Frasier, and Everybody Love Raymond.  He is also a former announcer for the Seattle Mariners.  His blog has been heralded as one of the best.  Undoubtedly, he will do a humorous and light hearted story on his blog about his visit to the "valley of the double Wallas".
The Walla Walla Sweets are a member of the West Coast League, a summer collegiate league.  Another former Mariner announcer, Ken Wilson, is the league president.

Annette Funicello Tributes

Seattle Radio Icon Pat O'Day is shown hear with Disney Star and Teen movie icon Annette Funicello who passed away a couple of days ago.  While I was a little young to get the full impact of her life and the mark that she made on her generation,  Ken Levine wrote a heartfelt blog post that captures it.
Click here.

Ken Levine Should Be Full Time Mariner Announcer

Two years after the sad passing of  legendary announcer Dave Niehaus, the Seattle Mariners have announced they will begin the search for a full time replacement.  My choice would be the man who had the position in the early 90s.  Ken Levine replaced Rick Rizzs, who departed for a brief time to work for the Detroit Tigers.  Of course Rizzs was chosen to replace retiring Ernie Harwell.  When Harwell was talked out of retirement, Rizzs came back to the Mariners, where he has been ever since.  After the sudden death of Niehaus, the Mariners decided it was not a good idea to replace such an icon immediately, they instead, rotated amongst several former players and announcers, Levine was amongst those in the mix.
Levine is an author, a comedy TV writer and a blogger.  He loves the game of baseball and has a distinct descriptive style.  In a current poll on the Seattle PI web site, Levine is running ahead of other proposed replacements.  But first and foremost, he wants the job.

Meet Ken Levine

Part time Mariner announcer Ken Levine will be signing copies of his book "The Me Generation By Me" Monday August 20th at the Mariner team store.  Levine, also a TV writer, will be at the store from 5 until 7.  A ticket to the game is not needed to get in.  Levine rotates with several other announcers  as sidekick to Rick Riczz as the Mariners have not found a replacement for the Late Dave Niehaus.  In addition to Ken's book, you can also get Ichiro gear at half price.