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Archive-name: tv/mad-about-you/faq/part8
Posting-frequency: quarterly Last-modified: 97-01-30 Version: 5.1 URL: http://www.alumni.caltech.edu/~witelski/may-faq8.html Copyright: (c) 1994-1997 by Ramaswamy [ramax@ultranet.com] See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
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Frequently Asked Questions list (8/9) for
"Mad About You" and the
Usenet newsgroup alt.tv.mad-about-you
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Archive-name: tv/mad-about-you/faq/part8
Posting-frequency: quarterly
Last-modified: 97-01-30
Version: 5.1
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This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for the TV Comedy show
"Mad About You" is, as a collection of information,
Copyright (c) 1994-1997 by Ramaswamy [ramax@ultranet.com].
All Rights Reserved.
This document may be freely distributed in electronic form for
personal use only, provided it is distributed in its entirety
and with all original author and copyright information intact.
Distribution by any other means must be by permission of the
copyright holder. This material is for non-commercial use only
and any sale for profit is expressly forbidden. It may not be
included in any commercial documents, archives or CD-ROMs, nor
uploaded to any BBS or online service without the permission
of the copyright holder. The removal of this copyright notice
is prohibited.
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Sections with updates will be flagged with asterisks (*) in the
Local Table Of Contents below. Almost all sections have
updates in this re-organized document, hence none is flagged.
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Please send in corrections/comments to: [ramax@ultranet.com]
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Main Table of Contents
Local Table of Contents
8.0 Where can I find some MAY production related information?
8.1 Where is MAY produced and by whom?
8.2 When does the production season begin and end?
8.3 How can I get tickets to a filming session?
8.4 What is the word from the Set?
8.5 Where can I watch MAY outside North America?
8.6 When did MAY enter Syndication in North America?
8.7 Where can I get information about MAY Syndication telecasts
in my area?
8.8 Where can I get information about MAY satellite feeds?
8.9 Where can I purchase tapes of MAY episodes?
8.10 What major awards has MAY garnered?
8.11 Where can I purchase scripts to MAY episodes?
8.12 Where can I send in my idea/script for a MAY episode?
8.13 Are there books about MAY or by cast members?
8.14 Where can I buy the Buchman bed, the Buchman chair etc.?
8.15 Where can I purchase MAY T-shirts and other merchandise?
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8.0 Where can I find some MAY production related information?
Information about the 5 seasons of MAY and the complete list
of MAY episodes telecast so far is to be found in section 1,
but for other production related information, please read on...
8.1 Where is MAY produced and by whom?
MAY is produced by Nuance Productions (Paul Reiser's company)
and InFront Productions (Danny Jacobson's company) for Montrose
Productions, a holding company. MAY is distributed by Columbia
TriStar Television, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment...
I just heard Paul Buchman say "let it go!" and I shall.
Episodes of the show are filmed (not taped) at the Culver City
Studios soundstage #11 in Culver City, California, on Friday
evenings. All interior scenes, like the Buchman apartment and
Riff's Bar, are filmed on the set, while some street scenes are
done in other studio lots. Other exterior scenes such as the
Rockefeller Plaza ice-rink, the New York subway, etc. are filmed
on location. Certain elaborate scenes, such as Lisa's engagement
party in [4.22], are filmed at other soundstages in Culver City.
The closing credits in a MAY episode may indicate InFront
Productions and Nuance Productions, but the address for viewer
comments about the show, as well as mail to the cast members is:
Mad About You,
9336 W Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232.
Tel: (310) 202-3337
FAX: (310) 202-3296
The Production companies themselves don't handle audience
correspondence about MAY, so mail addressed to them will be
forwarded and incur some delay.
The name of Paul Reiser's company has occasioned some comment.
It can be traced back to the character Modell played by Reiser
in Barry Levinson's film "Diner." In its opening scene
Modell talks to his pal Boogie (played by Mickey Rourke) and
mentions being uncomfortable with the word 'nuance,' much as
Paul Buchman might have. The lines were remembered nine years
later as the new company was launched.
8.2 When does the production season begin and end?
Typically a season begins in mid-July as the crew gets going with
the sets and other paraphernalia for the new season, and the first
scripts are written. The writers themselves are known to work
through the summer hiatus (from early May through mid-July) on
upcoming story-lines and scripts. The cast usually assembles in
early August for the shoot of the season opener.
Usually an episode takes a week to rehearse and shoot. With weeks
off for the Emmy awards ceremony, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New
Year's and other reasons, the production season stretches out to
early April, when the finale is shot.
Post-production activity usually takes 4 weeks; by early May the
company is ready to batten down hatches for the summer. Note that
this happens even before the Finale is aired by NBC, in mid to
late May.
8.3 How can I get tickets to a filming session?
Episodes of MAY are filmed (not video-taped) in front of a studio
audience. Tickets for the sessions can be obtained in advance;
allow upto 4 weeks for processing the request. Send a stamped
self-addressed envelope to:
Audiences Unlimited
100 Universal City Plaza
Building 153
Universal City, CA 91608.
To hear a recorded announcement of the next 7 days' shooting
schedule, for MAY and many other shows, call (818) 506-0067,
but be prepared to listen to a looped message of upto 5 minutes.
- According to the taped message, one has to be at least 21 years
old to be admitted to a MAY taping session. But according to
Audiences Unlimited literature, the age limit is 20.
Try to look 21. "This is what I'm saying!"
To get the schedule for the next month's shooting, send a stamped
self-addressed envelope to the above address.
Please note that a previously scheduled shooting may be cancelled;
having a ticket for a particular day is no guarantee you'll see
anything. It is always worth checking with the TriStar office or
Audiences Unlimited before making the trip to the studios.
The studios accomodate 196 (seated) and about 15-20 more in a
holding area. The SRO folks are directed to seats by Pages as
some of the seated folks leave early. More than half the seating
is usually allotted on a priority basis to friends and families
of the cast and crew and other VIPs. Next on the proverbial totem
pole are folks with tickets to previous shoots that were denied
admission for whatever reason. Then come the ticket-holders of the
day, and last are folks that just show up at the gates and hope.
A tip: During the holiday season in December there are many
last-minute cancellations by friends and family, so the chances of
getting in right off the streets with no advance tickets can be
quite good. Think of it as flying stand-by!
Filming at the Culver City Studios begins at about 6PM and usually
lasts till 11PM (but can go on as late as 3AM), with interruptions
for costume changes, multiple takes, last-minute changes, etc.
Try to arrive well before 5PM, since the queue starts forming by
about 3PM and there is the Friday evening traffic to think of.
Depending on how the rehearsals went Friday afternoon, the evening
may begin with a tape of a previous episode or a montage of Teases
and Tags being shown on the monitors.
Another tip: Take a pair of binoculars to the shoot and if
you get there early (before they screen off the set, preparatory
to introducing the cast) you can spend some time scanning the
details on the set. Later on with all cameras and boom equipment
in the way, not to mention all the crew, it may be more difficult.
It can get cold in the audience section, so a jacket will help;
layered clothing is the key. Security checks all bags at the door
for weapons etc. No food or drink is allowed in the studios, so
eat before you get there.
Residents of and visitors to the Los Angeles area can also try
their luck for (even same day) tickets at:
FOX Television Center,
5746 Sunset Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90028.
just off the 101 Freeway at the Sunset Boulevard exit. The ticket
office is on Van Ness Street, a block west of the Freeway. The
office hours are:
Mon-Fri: 8:30AM-6:00PM and
Sat-Sun: Noon-5:00PM
Groups of 40 or more should call 818-753-3470 for more
information on tickets.
8.4 What is the word from the Set?
The Week that is:
A typical work week leading up to the Friday evening shoot of a MAY
episode goes something like this:
- Monday morning begins with a read-through of the draft script
round the table
- Fine tuning of the scenes and the lines continues though
Wednesday, with a multitude of revisions to the script
- The Final Mimeo Draft of the script is generated, usually in
yellow, and rehearsals get under way on the set
- First rehearsal on the Set is on Thursday, with the scenes
usually being rehearsed out of order, to better use the cast's
time and minimize the time any guest actors have to spend
- Many more revisions to the script occur, tracked with color-coded
pages by the script supervisor
- Some scenes with special effects or a complex setup are shot
Thursday night and shown to the studio audience Friday evening
to avoid delays during the live shoot
- More rehearsals on Friday morning and afternoon with the action
in all the scenes being blocked, actors' marks marked with
color strips on the floor and all the camera angles figured
out, then finalized using stand-ins for all actors, and
verified in a subsequent rehearsal with the cast
- Rehearsals end by 3PM on Friday if things work out, 4PM is a
more likely cut off time (if the shoot starts at 6:30, you
know why!)
- Cast and crew have dinner before the evening shoot
On Friday evening:
- The studio audience starts trickling in at 5PM and by 6PM the
ball is ready to roll. If there is time, a tape of a previous
episode or a montage from old episodes is shown on the
monitors
- The Audience Warmer-Upper takes charge of the microphone and
introduces the cast to the audience
- Five minutes later, the director calls for action and Scene A
of Act I is under way
- All the scenes are shot in sequence so as not to confuse the
studio audience, with each scene run through at least twice,
or more, for safety and as more changes are made to the script.
Often changes occur on the basis of audience reaction, or a
late burst of creativity
- Any pre-shot scenes are shown (in sequence) on the monitors to
capture audience responses, twice, as with all other scenes
- At the end of the last scene of Act II, anywhere from 10PM to
11PM, the cast takes a bow to a round of applause and most of
the audience streams out
- After a 10 minute break, any Tease and/or Tag is shot, as well
as any promos for the show. These bits are often not written
until Friday morning, and usually rehearsed right on the set
and shot. So for a taste of the rehearsal and stage management,
with cues and marks being finalized, tape measures from the
cameras to the subjects, a lot of milling about and the Stage
Manager yelling "QUIET!" just before the Director calls for
"Action," don't leave the studios with most of the audience!
- When it is a wrap, anywhere from 11PM to an extreme case of
3AM, they start knocking down the non-permanent parts of the
set and the cycle begins again as the cast is handed the script
of the next week's episode (if it is on, that is).
The script used in the Friday shoot is substantially different from
the Mimeo draft generated just 48 hours before. The scenes shot can
amount to anything from 25 to 35 minutes of action, and when the
post-production process takes over to whittle it down to less than
22 minutes episode you see on-air has shrunk quite a bit again.
In other words, the script of the finished product is a bit shorter
than the script shot that Friday evening.
Part of the charm of attending a shoot is that it is live theatre,
and later you can try to figure out what was cut from the scenes.
The other part is appreciation of all the effort that goes in
behind the scenes, the effort Helen Hunt acknowledged recently at
the Golden Globe awards, of William 'Cos' Cosentino, the 'stage'
manager and assistant director, of Laura Petticord, 2nd assistant
director, of Karen Lee Holley, property master, and of Victoria
Weisbart, script supervisor.
The Set
The Set itself is laid out as a strip with the Apartment to the left
and all the 'external' areas like Riff's, Hospital rooms, Buchman's
Sporting Goods interior, Jamie's office and the like to the right.
If there is insufficient space for 'external' sets, a "swing" set is
used to the extreme right (as is the case with Joan's office on
occasion), literally around a corner that the audience cannot see
(the action can be viewed only on the monitors in front).
The Buchman apartment is laid out before you with the Kitchen to
the left, then the Living/Dining room, and the hallway beyond the
front door, framed by the Conways' door to the right. Behind this
hallway is the apartment hallway connecting the livingroom and the
bedroom. Thus the Buchman bedroom and the Buchman bathroom are not
visible when there are 'external' sets in front. It is a matter of
choice in every episode; bedroom and bathroom scenes mean there are
not too many 'external' sets to be had. Conversely if a lot of the
action takes place outside the apartment, the bedroom and bathroom
are often used for storage, with the bed dismantled as completely
as in [3.16].
Thus the Kitchen and Livingroom are the only permanent sections of
the set, covered up with spreads when not in use. There is no
"ceiling" to the Apartment, to accomodate all the lights and booms.
The Kitchen occupies the entire depth of the set and features
pane-less cupboards in the back (to avoid camera reflections), but
cupboards on the side directly across from the refrigerator have
panes since cameras never shoot from that angle. The butcher-block
table is quite a presence and one can almost smell a turkey with
one's back to the kitchen window. Next to the window are 2 framed
pictures of Parisian doorways that used to be above the headboard
in the Bedroom in season #1, so the Buchmans move their pictures
around!
The Livingroom decor has changed a lot over the seasons, and the
number of books the Buchmans own is staggering. The loveseat
(I mean.. couch) looks and feels comfortable, and used. Murray's
tastes can be depended upon. The mirror in which Jamie looked at
herself turning 30 at 2:01AM is surprisingly small. The bicycle is
still parked under a window, the poster for Richard III has
been a constant and these days there is a framed wedding picture of
Paul and Jamie on a small table by the front door.
The Production:
MAY uses a multi-camera setup to shoot episodes. Four Panavision
cameras are used on most takes, some require only two. All cameras
are operated concurrently, filming the same action from different
angles. They are labelled A, B, C and X (D is not used since it
sounds too much like B). Each scene is shot at least twice and at
times some sub-scenes are redone with re-written lines or with a
different emphasis or intonation, with the script supervisor
constantly noting revisions. The director uses a monitor with a
4-way split-screen display of all four cameras' output, although
the studio audience gets to see only one of the feeds on the
monitors slung above the first row of seats (this too is one of the
small details attended to during final rehearsals Friday afternoon,
since in rehearsals all the monitors show the same split-screen
output the director sees). It is therefore a good idea not to occupy
a seat in the front row, especially if you are obliged to follow the
action from the "swing" set on the monitors.
As the scenes are shot in sequence, audience responses are dutifully
recorded. The first take often generates the best reaction, with
later ones getting quieter, or worse, with laughs in anticipation.
If you have an explosive laugh you are likely to be featured
prominently on the sound-track and could even win a "Mad About
You" T-shirt from the grateful Audience Warmer-Upper whose job
it is to keep the audience alert and reacting and responding
throughout the long evening.
The Post-Production:
Typically there is no more than 30 minutes of footage (about 16000'
of film), excluding the obvious out-takes, for an episode requiring
about 21 and a half minutes of material, expanding to the regulation
22 and a half minutes with the addition of the opening credits and
the many pre-shot/canned links between scenes.
The four (or more) Panavision cassettes are sent to a local Lab for
processing and then digitized and edited using AVID Technology. All
the takes are kept around, else Dick Clark would be unhappy. The
four weeks it takes to get an episode ready for air is when Craig
Knizek and Sheila Amos do all their work; they rarely attend the
Friday evening shoot.
A Final Word:
If the Producers decide that an entire episode cannot be shot in
front of an audience in one evening, sometimes because preparation
is not complete by Friday afternoon, they cancel the shoot and opt
for "block and shoot," a technique also employed for episodes
involving complex sets and many street scenes in outside lots.
The season #3 Finale was one such case, as was the second half of
the season #4 Finale. Thus there is no guarantee that advance
ticket-holders, who acquire their tickets long before the story-line
of that week's episode is decided upon, will get to see anything.
Such cancellation is unusual, but it can and does happen.
8.5 Where can I watch MAY outside North America?
MAY is shown internationally on various broadcast and cable networks,
especially in Europe on SKY and RTL. In Central and South America the
Sony Entertainment Television network has been showing MAY episodes
from Mexico to Argentina and Chile. In these and other parts of the
world, listed in alphabetical order:
- Argentina: Sony ETV, Thursdays, 9:00PM (21:00).
Currently showing episodes from season #5 within 2-3 weeks of
the North American telecasts, sub-titled in Spanish and with
commercials. Also being shown syndication style on Channel CV
on Saturdays, with 2 episodes from 5:00PM (17:00) to 6:00PM
(18:00). Believed to be season #1 episodes, they are dubbed
into Spanish and the title is 'Loco por ti.'
- Australia: Channel 10, Tuesdays, 8:00pm (20:00).
Started with Season #1 episodes on August 30, 1994. Season #2
episodes began telecast on January 31, 1995 and all episodes
through season #4 have been shown as of September 1996.
Season #5 is expected to begin in February 1997.
The telecasts are rated PG.
- Austria: Channel ORF1, Tuesdays, 7:00pm (19:00).
Started with season #1 episodes on Sundays at 7pm on January 7,
1996 and season #2 episodes have been airing since August 11,
1996. Telecasts switched to Tuesdays as of September 17.
Season #2 is expected to wrap up early in February, 1997.
The running time is 22:30 minutes with no commercial
interruptions. Episodes are dubbed into German. The title is
'Verröckt Nach Dir,' which is a direct translation.
Visit the German languages Web sites for information on
episode titles and dates of telecast.
- Belgium: Channel BRTN1, Wednesdays, 10:30pm (22:30).
Started with Season #1 episodes on September 7, 1994.
The telecasts ceased for the summer, presumably after the
40th episode [2.18]. Currently showing season #3 episodes.
The title is unchanged and the telecasts are sub-titled.
- Brazil: Sony ETV, Tuesdays, 9:30pm (21:30).
The national network Globo TV aired season #1 episodes in
1995 to disappointing ratings. Bandeirantes TV then picked
up the series with season #2 in 1996 with Saturday evening
(7:30pm) telecasts. After a lull, they proceeded to show
seasons #3 and #4 on a daily basis for 2 months and quit.
Currently the Sony Entertainment TV cable channel is showing
season #5 episodes only 2-3 weeks behind the North American
telecasts. Episodes are sub-titled in Portuguese.
- Canada: NBC and Global TV.
NBC telecasts are on Tuesdays, 8:00pm.
- Finland: Yle TV1, Fridays, 7:30pm (19:30).
Running time of 22:30 minutes, without commercials.
Started with Season #1 episodes on September 23, 1994
and concluded season #4 in July 1996. Season #5 is
expected to start in the Spring of 1997. Episodes appear
to be shown in production number sequence; Kimmo Ketolainen
maintains the telecast list and other information online:
http://iki.fi/kk/tv+film/Mad_About_You_in_Finland.html
The title is 'Hulluna sinuun' (a direct translation:
hullu -> crazy/mad, sina -> you, sinuun -> about you),
and the telecast is sub-titled in Finnish (not Swedish)
with white transparent lettering.
- France:
MAY was shown in 1995 on RTL9 cable channel at either
7:00pm or 7:30pm (weekday not known). Episodes were
dubbed into French. The title is 'Dingue de Toi.'
(an update to the above information is solicited).
- Germany: Telecasts to begin in May, 1997.
RTL is expected to be showing the series. Episodes will be
dubbed in German. The title will be 'Verröckt Nach Dir'.
Visit the German languages Web sites for information on
episode titles and dates of telecast.
- Hong Kong: TV-B Pearl, Mondays, 6:50pm (18:50).
Season #2 episodes were telecast early in 1994 on
Wednesdays at 6:55pm. Season #4 concluded January, 1997.
There is no word yet on whether they'll continue with
season #5, or if it will be resumed at a later time.
Episodes are subtitled in Cantonese (reportedly often
incorrect, because the humor is hard to translate).
- Israel: Family Channel (3), Mondays, 10:05pm (22:05).
Running time of ~22 minutes, without commercials.
Started with Season #1 episodes earlier in 1994, and beginning
in July 1995, Season #3 episodes were shown (the day has changed
from Fridays to Mondays). Season #4 concluded its run in August
1996, and season #5 is expected to begin in January 1997.
The title is 'Mishtagim me ahava' (the translation:
mishtagim -> going crazy, me -> from, ahava -> Love), and
the telecast is sub-titled.
Viewers of Channel 3 are treated to mini-marathons of some
popular series on Saturday evenings, beginning at 8:00pm (20:00),
and MAY has been featured. There is no set schedule for these
marathons, so keep a lookout!
- Italy:
(MAY is known to have been shown on Italian TV, but no information
is available on the telecasts).
- Japan: Not being shown.
- Malaysia: TV3 channel, Thursdays, midnight (0:00).
It is not known when season #1 started, but season #2 was being
shown in the Fall of 1995. Currently saeson #4 is airing and is
expected to conclude in February 1997.
- Netherlands: NED-3, Wednesdays, 8:30pm (20:30).
Season #1 episodes were shown in their entirety in 1993.
Started with season #2 episodes on October 5, 1994, but
ceased during summer. Currently showing season #3 episodes.
Telecasts are uninterrupted (22:30 minutes) and sub-titled.
- New Zealand: TV2, Wednesdays, 8:00pm (20:00).
Episodes were being shown 5 times a week, from December 5,
1994, until the 40th episode was shown. Then the series
resumed with weekly telecasts, and has concluded season #4
as of December 1996.
The TV-NZ telecast schedule has been fitful to say the least, and
at the risk of editorializing but providing, as Jamie would like
me to, a break from perusing this soulless list of telecasts, the
following is a review by an ardent Kiwi fan (a year ago):
In New Zealand, you may or may not know, we've been sorely
tested by TVNZ, who:
- played the first eight episodes of the first series,
back in early '94.
- pulled them with no warning, and sat on them for months
- ran the rest of the first series and most of the second series in
a nightly slot over summer (Editor's note: NZ summer that is)
- settled down and ran the rest of the second series, and some
of the third series, in a weekly slot (which rated! surprise!)
- pulled it for several months
- ran the rest of the third series (jumping ahead to start with
an episode with Rachel Hunter, who being a New Zealander is
obviously sooo beloved by MAY viewers) in a weekly slot
- ... and finished up, several episodes short of the end of the
third series, with the third (fourth?) episode of the
fourth series...
One day sanity may return. Or Lisa'll get a day job.
One or the other.
Editor's note: The last item about the 3rd episode of season #4
is presumably "The Test," a season #3 offering [#325, 3.23]
which was telecast in North America after season #4 got under way,
but shown as part of season #3 in New Zealand.
- Portugal: TV-I, Mondays, 8:30pm (20:30).
Season #1 commenced on June 11, 1996 on Fridays, with a switch
to Mondays on September 3rd. Episodes run about 25 minutes with
commercial interruptions and are sub-titled in Portuguese.
The title is 'Doido Por Ti' which is a direct translation.
- Singapore: TCS Channel 5, Mondays, 11:30pm (23:30).
Season #3 episodes were being telecast in the summer of 1995 and
season #4 concluded in July 1996. Season #5 is expected to resume
in April, 1997.
- Slovenia: Slovenia 2, Mondays, 7:30pm (19:30).
repeating on Slovenia 1 the same day at 11:40pm (23:40).
Season #1 began on Slovenia 1 (with repeats on Slovenia 2) in
October 1995 and ended in March 1996. Season #2 is currently
airing as of August 12, 1996. Episodes are sub-titled.
The title is 'Noro Zaljubljena.'
- South Africa: SABC 3, Mondays, 8:30pm (20:30).
Season #2 episodes were being shown in 1996, presumably through
the end of the season. It is not known when the next season will
resume. The schedule of South African TV is online at
http://www.sabc.co.za.
- South Korea: AFKN Channel (day and time unknown).
No further information is available.
- Spain: TV3, Weekdays, 7:30pm (19:30).
The time of telecasts varied from season to season, with
8:00pm (20:00) and 8:30pm (20:30) start-times also in effect.
Season #1 was first shown after the Barcelona Olympic Games
in 1993 and repeated with season #2 in 1993/94. Season #3 was
shown in 1995 and season #4 has been shown from October to
December, 1996. The schedule for season #5 is not yet available,
but is likely to be late 1997. Dubbed in Catalan and with
commercial interruptions.
- Sweden: KANAL 1, Thursdays, 11:30pm (23:30).
Started with season #1 episodes on September 8, 1994.
Telecasts are uninterrupted (~22 minutes) and sub-titled.
Note: This information has not been verified since 1995.
- Switzerland: Not being shown.
If and when shown, it is likely to be dubbed.
- Taiwan: TV Time cable, Mon-Fri, 8:00pm (20:00).
2 more episodes on Tuesdays, 11:00pm-midnight. Seasons #1 and
#2 have been shown already, but there is no indication that
season #3 is airing (The TV programs list in China Times no
longer lists the telecasts). Episodes were neither dubbed nor
sub-titled. The title is 'Wei-Ni-Phon-Guan'.
- UK: SKY One (cable 21), Thursdays, 9:30pm (21:30).
Started telecast of season #1 on Fridays at 8:00pm on November 8,
1995, and switched to Thursdays on January 2, 1997. The episodes
air with one 4-minute commercial at the end of Act I.
8.6 When did MAY enter Syndication in North America??
MAY entered syndication in North America on September 9, 1996 with
94 half-hour episodes from the first 4 seasons. NBC has now lost its
rights to telecast these episodes. Episodes of the current (fifth)
season will join syndication ranks in September, 1997.
In other words, no episodes from seasons past will ever be seen on
NBC again.
8.7 Where can I get information about MAY Syndication telecasts
in my area?
Your best bet is to consult the local edition of TV Guide or the
TV supplement to the local Sunday newspaper. Neither print source is
likely to have the episode titles, so you'll have to match up any
description you find with the synposes and keys in the MAY Episode
Guides.
While the original episodes air on NBC, there is no telling what
station with what affiliation will be carrying MAY in syndication.
In one market it may be FOX, UPN in another, WB is a third. Please
note that you are *not* watching MAY in syndication on FOX or UPN
or WB; your local syndicator just happens to be the FOX, UPN or WB
affiliate. And no, that is not Lisa's logic at work!
The number of episodes shown per week also varies by market;
the following patterns have been seen around the US:
- 5 episodes per week (Mon-Fri)
- 6 episodes per week (Mon-Sat)
- 10 episodes per week (Mon-Fri, twice a day)
- 11 episodes per week (Mon-Fri, twice a day, Sat)
- 12 episodes per week (Mon-Sat, twice a day)
The SONY Web site for MAY provides some indication of episodes in
syndication nationwide, complete with Episode titles, but the
information is not applicable to every syndication market, and
at times is not updated on a timely basis.
If all else fails, you can of course post an inquiry at
alt.tv.mad-about-you.
The episodes can be shown out of order; the sequence is not decided
by your local station, but by the distributor. Episodes with a holiday
theme are likely to be shown close of those holidays. The early and
the later episodes on a single day will be from different seasons.
With 94 half-hour episodes in syndication, markets with 2 episodes
per day will be able to show all the episodes in just under 3 months.
The station may also pre-empt the MAY telecast in favor of a sporing
event or a special, causing more disruption in the original order of
the telecasts. Sometimes the pre-empted episode may be shown in
another slot, sometimes just ignored; it is all at the discretion of
the local syndicator.
The episodes are also shorter than the original (NBC) telecasts since
FCC rules permit more commercials in a syndicated show than in a
first-run network show. The snips amount to about 1 minute, mostly
in the Tag, but sometimes also in the opening Tease. Often a small
part of a scene will be missing. But by and large the cuts in MAY
have been gentle.
8.8 Where can I get information about MAY satellite feeds?
If you have a C-Band satellite dish, you will be able to receive
unscrambled signals for personal use (only) quite legally as the
episodes are being distributed to the syndicators. Each episode
will have a title slate with the production number and the episode
title as well.
The feeds used to be on Telstar 401 until it failed early in January,
1997. The feeds have been moved and the current schedule for the US
is:
- Mon-Fri 02:00 am Galaxy 4, 12
- Mon-Fri 09:30 am GE-1, 22
- Mon-Fri 10:30 am GE-1, 22
- Mon-Fri 03:00 pm GE-1, 22
- Mon-Fri 04:30 pm GE-1, 22
- Mon-Fri 08:00 pm GE-1, 22
- Mon-Fri 08:30 pm GE-1, 22
- Mon-Fri 09:00 pm GE-1, 22
All times are for the Eastern Time zone.
As far as is known, syndicated MAY episodes are not broadcast to any
Direct Broadcast Satellite dishes such as PrimeStar, DSS, USSB,
Alphastar etc. The only national Superstation that carries MAY is
WSBK Boston, which airs episodes Monday-Friday at 7:30pm and 11:00pm
(Eastern Time) and 7:30pm on Saturday.
8.9 Where can I purchase tapes of MAY episodes?
Episodes of MAY, or excerpts from them, are not available for sale
on video tape (or laser discs, or CD-ROMs) the way certain episodes
of "The X-Files" and most of "Star Trek" are.
MAY is now in syndication in the North American market and taping
episodes off air is your best option to build a library. Any other
answer to this question enters a grey area that this FAQ will not
venture into.
It is unlikely that video tapes of MAY will be available commercially,
though sale on DVDs (Digital Video Discs) in the not so distant future
is one option some entrepreneur may be willing to explore.
8.10 What major awards has MAY garnered?
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the US hands out the
Emmy Awards annually in various categories to television programs
shown in the US. An asterisk (*) marks the Emmys awarded to MAY:
For the 1992-93 season, MAY was nominated for one Emmy Award:
- Best Comedy Actress (Helen Hunt)
For the 1993-94 season, MAY was nominated for seven Emmy awards,
with Peter Damski and company picking up the first Emmy for MAY:
- Best Comedy Series
- Best Comedy Actor (Paul Reiser)
- Best Comedy Actress (Helen Hunt)
- Best Guest Actress in a Comedy (Cyndi Lauper: [2.9])
- Best Director of a Comedy (Lee Shallat: [2.12])
- Best Director of a Comedy (Tom Moore: [2.19])
- *Best Sound Mixing (Peter Damski et al: [2.8])
For the 1994-95 season, MAY was nominated for seven Emmy awards,
with Carl Reiner and Cyndi Lauper winning, and Peter Damski's team
repeating:
- Best Comedy Series
- Best Comedy Actor (Paul Reiser)
- Best Comedy Actress (Helen Hunt)
- *Best Guest Actor in a Comedy (Carl Reiner: [3.15])
- *Best Guest Actress in a Comedy (Cyndi Lauper: [3.19])
- Best Editing (Sheila Amos: [3.7])
- *Best Sound Mixing (Peter Damski et al: [3.22])
For the 1995-96 season, MAY was nominated for four Emmy awards,
with Helen Hunt finally picking up her Best Actress award. Paul Reiser
was the Master of Ceremonies the evening of September 8, 1996:
- Best Comedy Series
- Best Comedy Actor (Paul Reiser)
- *Best Comedy Actress (Helen Hunt)
- Best Sound Mixing (Peter Damski et al: [4.8])
In 1994, Helen Hunt received the Golden Globe award and
America's Comedy award as Best Actress in a Comedy series. The
Golden Globe awards are presented by the Foreign Press Association
of Hollywood.
In 1995, Helen Hunt again received the Golden Globe Award as Best
Actress in a Comedy series, and "Mad About You" received the
Best Comedy series award (tied with "Frasier").
In 1996, Gordon Hunt received the Director's Guild Award for
Best Director of a TV Comedy Series for the very first MAY episode
he directed: "The Alan Brady Show" [3.15].
Earlier this month, for 1997, Helen Hunt won her third Golden Globe
award as Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy.
8.11 Where can I purchase scripts to MAY episodes?
A store named Book City, staffed by very courteous folks, sells
scripts to a few MAY episodes, as well as for many other shows.
A very good selection of movie scripts can also be purchased.
Book City,
6631 Hollywood Boulevard,
Hollywood, CA 90028.
Tel: (213) 466-0120.
The stock varies, and the store ships only via UPS. The cost is
$7.50 per epsiode (presumably $15 for dual-episodes), and the
shipping charges are $3.50 for the first 2 scripts ordered and
$2.50 for each additional pair ordered. The cost of most movie
scripts is $15. All prices and charges subject to change.
8.12 Where can I send in my idea/script for a MAY episode?
In one word, nowhere.
Not without being represented by an agent, and letting the agent
handle the matter.
Spec scripts have been used on MAY; check out the MAY Episode
Guides for a writer's name that appears no more than once and
you're probably looking at a spec story-line or script (or at least
part of a script). But the production company will never accept an
idea or script off the street. Unsolicited material is routinely
turned over unopened to the Tristar legal department which will
return it to the sender if possible, else shred the contents.
Therefore hire an agent first, then proceed.
As for posting ideas for all to share at alt.tv.mad-about-you,
there is no problem at present since no one involved directly with
the production of MAY episodes is know to even lurk in this newsgroup.
However, if that were to change in future, such expressions will have
to be curbed, or that MAY writer/producer will opt not to participate
in discussions. This is no reflection on anyone's freedom of speech
and such, them's the legalities. Refer to section 9.2 as well.
8.13 Are there books about MAY or by cast members?
Paul Reiser has written a book that reads a lot like the basis for
MAY, all protestations to the contrary, and another book about
parenthood is in the works, with a Spring 1997 publication date:
"Couplehood" by Paul Reiser
Published by Bantam Books
ISBN 0-553-09683-4
October, 1994.
(but was available by August, 1994)
352 pages, give or take a few.
US $19.95, Canada $24.95.
A book of MAY trivia is also available, with 601 questions and
answers and some not so surprisingly familiar material:
"What's Your Mad About You I.Q.?" by Stephen Spignesi
Published by Carol Publishing Group, a Citadel Book
ISBN 0-8065-1682-8
Summer, 1995.
US $8.95, Canada $12.95.
8.14 Where can I buy the Buchman bed, the Buchman chair etc.?
Replicas of Paul and Jamie Buchman's bed are available in Los Angeles
at a home furnishings store called Civilization. They do not have a
catalog, but if you call (310) 202-8883 and mention "the bed in Mad
About You" you should be on your way. The store's address is:
8884 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90034.
Be prepared to be set back about $700 plus tax (and/or shipping and
handling).
The Paul Buchman chair is an Aemes (pronounced Eeems) chair. From all
indications, it is not hard to locate.
8.15 Where can I purchase MAY T-shirts and other merchandise?
A fair selection of MAY T-shirts and nightshirts are available from:
Entertainment Weekly Studio Store,
Dept. EW-16,
P. O. Box 60044,
Tampa, FL 33660-0044.
Tel: (800) 393-3559.
The shirts in 100% pre-shrunk cotton are in slate-blue, with the
"Mad About You" logo in white lettering on a green background.
T-shirts are available in L and XL sizes (ATT006) for $16.95,
while the Nightshirt (one size fits all - ATN001) sells for $19.95.
Made in the USA.
All items are shipped via Federal Express.
For orders upto $25.00: add $4.95,
for $25.01 - $50.00: add $5.95,
for $50.01 - $100.00: add $7.95.
Another source is the Movie Madness Merchandise stall at the VIAMall
on the net, who even have the Bing Bang Boom T-shirt and a few mugs:
- http://www.viamall.com/moviemadness/mad.html
The "Helen Hunt Rules" T-shirts are not for sale
anywhere. That was just more DeGeneres humor at the Emmys.
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