your enthusiasm for the clearly-new editing tools is adorable and infectious (which is bad, because I need to do some non-enthusiastic classy editing at work now).

I say break the pole-dancing episode.

Forget about The Fortress of Solitude, the Batcave and Justice Society Headquarters. When our favourite superhero Michelle Paradise needs a break from fighting crime, she goes to Denny's!

Loved the VLOG! It is facinating to learn about the whole writing process when it comes to creating a show. I am totally sympatheic with regard to writing, re-writing, and writing some more. At least you have Billy to bounce ideas off of. ;-) I need a Billy in my life, especially when it comes to editing my own work. Is he available???

Glad to see you made it through, though. Good luck over the next couple of weeks.

Or a tripod. Stacks of books and a drum stand will not do! ;-)

But for walking around a monopod would be good.

Here's a list of them and a video on how to use one.

Hey MP could you check out my second comment from 2.1, I would love to know what you thought about bout that. 

Also for the season 1 script please show us EPISODE 3!....the one when Sam and Jen fight, love that scene, that emotion. Flawless writing!!! 

 

 

http://jusjay.blogspot.com

Michelle, Denny's? Really? Hilarious. Billy, that must be were all the comedic genius comes from. Admit it, Michelle, you're only typing...

I'll second CrayolaRabbit on this : break down the pole dancing ep !

And also, will we get to witness some drum practising? I'm sure you'd make it funny.. Keep up with the good work, we're waiting !

Hey, great Vlog. I love watching these..

Just wondering if there will be much focus on crutch and emmy again next season as they are my favourite couple.

Also if the DVD will at any point be available in the Uk. As i love the show so much.

:)

1) I vote for episode 3 of season 1 - I do so enjoy the competition between Jen and Sam.

2) I used to have one of those drum pads. Does yours make electronic beat sounds? Mine didn't, it just sounded like hitting rubber with a stick. Very unmotivating.

3) It may warm your heart to know that my fiancee went to great lengths recently to acquire a Beaver Cafe shirt for me for my birthday. I'm British and live in England - from which credit cards are not accepted and delivery addresses are not recognised during the Beaver Cafe shirt purchasing process. She therefore had to enlist a mutual friend in America to purchase the shirt and mail it to her, and then had to mail the friend back some dollars to cover her hard work. All totally organised behind my back of course. Can anyone find any evidence to the contrary that I am the only person in England with this shirt?

It made my day :-) I gave her less than three.

I'd like to see the writing process behind the season 1 finale episode.

~ Angie

 

Hilarious vlog, as always!

I'd like to recommend "Pole Dancing and Other Forms of Therapy" for you to review in detail for future vlogs.I think it'd be hilarious.  

-----

"The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right..." - Judge Learned Hand, The Spirit of Liberty

I'm not the first one to mention this episode, but I have to say that I'd love to see the pole dancing episode. Hilarious!... And, I love that your office-away-from-the-office is Denny's, haha. That's really cool that they let you sit back there and write. Also, your having a drum pad reminds me of the guitar sitting in my room that I'm supposed to be learning to use...Point is, great Vlog! I'm excited for more :)

I do appreciate your efforts for more steady camera work,
but your fried brain accidently messed up the comments on the last vlog.
It was me (CorkyTEC) who was getting seasick not Alisha, who might be a bit confused watching this (she had the comment under mine…). 

Anyway, love both episodes and as I said; it’s totally worth a minor case of seasickness.

So don’t worry, just keep the episodes coming! 

It's so great having you back with a new season of vlogs Michelle and I'm really excited for the new season of the show too. It's really interesting being able to follow the process of making the show.

Hi guys! I agree ,i love this vlog:it's very interesting to what happens before the tv show ,i think it's the first time that a writer,producer and actress explains the differents phases before shooting the show.I'm sure the season 2 wiil be great and i can't wait to see it.i'm also for more pole dancing!!(maybe an episode when michelle takes part to a pole dancing's contest?)

I was stoked to hear you say you're learning how to play the drums!  I've played for over 10 years and I just have to tell you that drummers are the most underappreciated. lol!   But, in my opinion, it's the most gratifying instrument. :)  Hope you enjoy playing as much as I do.

 

 

(To be youself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.)

I love the vlog - and your clearly mad editing skills - but the video needs some music!  How about a drum solo by you and/or a song from Marnie????

I also wanted to know if that Denny's is closed - or condemned - there was nobody else there! :)

Finally, I totally agree that it should be the season 1 ep where Jen and Sam fight!

Can't wait for Season 2! You'll have to tell us when the show airs what script this was!  

I was all ready to say with complete conviction that I would love for the Pole Dancing episode to be used to show the process.....then I read the other comments and changed my mind with each one.....I loved the bowling one with Kris and Chris; and the one where Sam and Jenn fight; but then there is the season finale.  Really, how could I pick one??

So, my suggestion becomes.....toss all the episodes in a hat and see which one gets selected.

It was nice to get to meet Billy.  And, it's wonderful to be taken behind the scenes to see that it's not all red carpets and awards.  Actual work must take place (Imagine!).  Plus, it's a great way to fill the void until early 2009..........please tell me that Showcase in Canada has picked up season 2 and will start showing at the same time it's airing in the States.

Any road is a good road when you don't know where you're going.

I vote for the pole dancing episode.

And don't put books on the practice pad again. It's just too painful to watch. Not to mention sacrilegious.

you're right flower 4,MP vlog should have a theme song!!!If Michelle is not ready for a drump theme song (she's got another job to do;i don't want to see season 2 in 2010!)i suggest michelle to ask to the band: uh huh her ,they made a very good theme song for the Liz Feldman show?

LFromFrance:a little insomniac and very addicted to after ellen vlogs (and also chocolate).

 I cant wait to see your next vlog. i'm trying to become a writer myself and it is hard lol!

 

"All you need is love"- Beatles

NICE TO MEET YOU!!!

...and thanks MP for introducing him!!!

When I saw the books on the stand, all I could think of is "What are the books & authors that inspired you & Billy to write? One of my favorite past times is collecting & reading the books that have inspired the favorite people of my life. I have done this since I was a child by collecting books of favorite teachers & close friends. Now, Oprah's mag. cateters to my hobby with a famous person listing every issue.

So, as the writers of a show the I love, what has inspired you two?

Favorite episode, #1 & the final. I liked #1 because of the important leason of "letting go". The final because of the dialogue between Jenn & Seanea (...and then they end up in bed).  CLASSIC!!!!!

Dearest Michelle,

   Don't you get into the habit of eating those Denny's flapjacks and grilled cheese sandwiches in your little Denny submarine.  Run silent, run deep.  Run fat free.  I'm sure you tip them for all that hangin out.  This is random, I was thinking since you are Greek and all, you could replace all the many books in your stack with just some honkin books like the Iliad and the Odyssey, and maybe you know Ulysses, and Praryerth, or the Bible.   Or maybe you don't have a Bible, I could care less but I'm sure someone out there cares whether or not you do, and if you would display it.  It's late.  A tripod is probably best. xxoo

I totally heart the editing and commentary, but feel the need to explain the bathroom! You see, it's a common cliche that people do their best thinking in the bathroom. And thus, in my wonderous little mind, that's where you'd do your best working! Where you do your best thinking! Seee?!? *crickets* I am, however, flattered to be memorialized in your vlog in such a manner.

My first thought on episode dissection was the pole dance one, but then I remembered how great the finale was. So I'd like to know how you built up to that point! So I vote finale, then pole dance.

So, will Jen be playing drums this season? In a band w/ Crutch performing at the Beaver Cafe perhaps? ;) Seeing a drum pad again reminds me of elementary school...good times.

Can you give an example of what it means when something doesn't work and what kinds of things you talk through to get it to work?

you being you makes me see that me being me and loving to create characters and making people care about them isn't as odd as my mother says it is! You're helping me keep my dream alive! Thanks! (Again) Keep up the good work. Can't wait for season two!

Kudos to you for learning the drums....I am soooo enjoying seeing you in longer hair...it really looks great, and with your beautiful blue eyes, cute dimples...yummy!

I can appreciate the writing process. I enjoy writing poetry, and speaking for myself...I find it very difficult to be inspired on demand. I have such great respect and admiration for those that can write like that...some of my best poems came from moments that would "hit" like a lightening bolt and are "born". Personally i carry a small journal type book with me and would write little snippets of ideas to correlate in a particular "theme" for a poem...personally I like to write poems OF people...like doing portraits in prose. You can check it out in my blog on my myspace page:

www.myspace.com/glindared

Sorry for the shameless plug...we're all friends and family here right?!

Since you made a point of pointing it out...what was all the pounding about?

I am so loving your office away from the office locale...is it because of the

eggs over my ham ee dish?? Or is it the super bird platter...don't know if you're vegan, and if you are...SORRY, didn't mean to offend with the meat dishes...best to my knowledge, Denny's isn't exactly known as a vegan place...at least not here in CT where I live...

Anyhoo, getting back to the point of this blog post-comment...I bow to you in your talent of writing on demand, and for writing great material. Any possibilites of Bridget McManus making a guest appearance??? Possibly as love interest for Jen?? Bringing Becks back for Sam??? Definitely include in a future vlog of your drumming practice...Oh...also possible story idea...Sam singing...

 

Loving you from CT

Be Well,

Patti

 

 

It's great getting an inside into what goes on in creating a TV series...

....it's educational as well as really funny...I'm talking about the rambling and the randomness-oh and I heart the snarky written comments.

*Snicker* @ Blair Witch Style Vlog... 

- - - - - - - - - -

-Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

For the Roses

This vlog is so awesome. So so so awesome. I want so badly to work on the set of Exes and Ohs. Do you guys need a grip or a PA or something? I'll totally move to Vancouver for you, Michelle Paradise.

Though it's probably going to be beaten out by Pole Dancing and Other Forms of Therapy, I need to put in one more vote for Cutthroat.

Now that Logo is showing season one a whole lot more and I'm getting a chance to watch it again (I'll buy the DVDs soon, I swear! Money is just tight at the moment), I have to say that this show is extremely rewatchable (something I'm finding very rare for most tv shows these days) and I catch something new and awesome or funny on every viewing. Yay show!

 

I love your humor, it makes my day. During the writing process do you ever listen to music to help with creativity? And if so what gets ya goin'.?

I love your humor, it makes my day. During the writing process do you ever listen to music to help with creativity? And if so what gets ya goin'.?

HI Bill and Michelle´s cat, oh and hi Michelle :o)

Thank you for taking us along with you for the whole experience of making a new season of EXES & OHS . Episode Cutthroat or Dancing and other forms of therapy to break down.

 

 

<3 less than three your rambeling you make me laugh every time

See you next time

 

Question: Do you keep the first drafts of the scripts or do you just keep the once that are actually filmed?

 

 

I was thrilled to hear that you do your work at Denny's. All through college and grad school I did the majority of my work at Sharis and I've never met anyone who didn't look at me like I was insane when I told them. It's perfect, they have wireless internet, an initial cheap but filling meal followed by constant refills on water and coffee, random soft rock music that combines with chatter to create the perfect amount of indistinguishable noise, and big tables on which to spread everything out. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman

 

Great episode Michelle.  Writing is quite a process.  I never think that you actually have to write in things like the character turning and picking up a cup etc.

OK...so how much does Billy look like another certain famous Bill????

 

"

 

 MP i heard you say very breifly that you were heading to vancouver. Is it for filming or is after ellen comming to the pride parade? (i would assume not considering that everyone seems to be in hollywood... but we are considered holly north!) In any event, I apologize if you get this message like 3 other times as I try desperatly to contact you and find out when you are in town and why. You are such an inspiration to me and I know that even if you were in vancouver we probably wouldn't be able to meet, but I hope you enjoy your stay!! (and hopefully this wind storm that is currently going on outside will end)

 Thanks, and i know you are crazy busy, but if you could pretty please reply just so I don't go crazy with curiosity:P

 

*Let no man bring you so low as to make you hate him* -Booker T. Washington

*sucess is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm* -Churchilll

I vote for the bowling episode! (Cut throat)! 

First off, you're awsome!  I really enjoyed the vlog, especially the inserted comments.  If a Denny's-like restuarant would happen to appear in season #2, we now know why! LOL  Good luck with the rest of the writing process for season #2, and thanks for taking us along for the ride! :-)

Dear Michelle, love ya so much, you always make me laugh, and I love listening to you very much, bought the first season of course, so you plug is useless on me. As for an episode I'm curious about the writing process, it would be the third one, Cutthroat, when Jen and Sam were having a big fight, and Jen was trying to be more 'loose' to prove she wasn't uptight, I don't know why, but that episode got to me the most, it was really good.

I have just one question.

Why do you work in the café and not at home or the office? I would think it’s for inspiration but it didn’t look as if there was much going on.

Gawwwwwwd. Michelle is adorable. Can't wait for the next vlog. ;)

I'm just wondering how much (if at all) you're influenced by viewer feedback on the show. Obviously you read and respond to comments about the vlog, but as you are sitting down and writing season 2, are you affected by the audience response to season 1? Do you base any decisions about plot and character based on how well they were received by the fans?

This doesn't really have anything to do with Exes and Ohs but, has anyone seen Michelle in the new Comcast commercial? I was so excited to see her show up on network T.V.

And I guess to wrap this around Exes and Ohs, keep up the good work! I can't wait until 2nd season comes along, the anticipation is kind of killin' me.