Hi gang (and especially Becca),
I'm back - and - off again on another assignment next week (those photo shoots just keep a girl busy)!!
But in the meantime, I sent on Becca's questions to Mr. Frankel and Mr. Hagen.
Graciously, Mr. (faster than a speeding bullet on the keyboard) Frankel has already sent back his responses!!
Thank you so much, Ernie - you're terrific!!
Ernest Frankel
1. What were the best and worst things about writing for "I Spy"?
—The best was coming in with a story idea, talking it out with Sheldon or Mort and David, adapting it to the location where it would be shot, writing it, and then getting a generous phone call from one of the guys with perhaps some suggestion for a bit of humor or a way of adapting the idea to a certain guest star. A couple of times I heard nothing until I saw the show on the air. Mort, David and Sheldon were great people, but they were professionals of the first order; and they expected their writers to be professionals. Although they might give an off-hand compliment, the way you knew you pleased them was that they called and offered additional story assignments.
—The worst was knowing before you typed, "Fade-In" that you were destined to see the actors leave out story points in favor of a wisecrack, go against character to accommodate a cutsey bit of dialogue, or defuse any sense of jeopardy in order to evoke a quick, cheap grin. (Bitter? Well....much time has passed...and all is forgiven.)
2. When you wrote an episode for "I Spy," were you always present for the filming as well?
—Generally, no. There were exceptions. At least once I was on the set for scenes shot on the sound stage after the bulk of the film had been shot on location. And....I wrote "Apollo;" and that was a special circumstance since I had worked on the Apollo project at North American Aviation, and was able to assist on getting permission to shoot at the Space and Informations Systems Division at Downey, and at the Rocketdyne test stands in Simi Valley, California. Therefore, I was on the locations for several days.
3. How much trouble did you have with actors on "I Spy" rewriting scenes or going off-script with dialogue?
—See "the worst!"
4. During the location scenes in "Turnabout for Traitors," it looks like the weather was extremely hot. Do you remember anything in particular about that filming?
—No. It was shot in Mexico; and I was pleased to be in Los Angeles.
5. Did you have ideas for other "I Spy" episodes that never made it to production and if so, can you tell us what they were?
—During hiatus, when I was set to produce and write for the season that never arrived, there were quite a few scripts prepared by the writers I hired, and I do recall a script I wrote entitled. "The Day They Gave The Bride Away." I've given the MS, along with a stack of other scripts from other shows, to the Library of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, so I can't look it over, and offer a report. I do remember that it was to be shot in London and the surrounding countryside.
Thank you again for sharing your responses with us. It is truly appreciated!!
As always,
Tatia
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