"Becker" (1998)Serie TV 1998-2004

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Data di uscita:

2 novembre 1998 (USA)

Genere:

Comedy

Slogan:

His bedside manner is no manners at all!

Plot:

Dr. John Becker goes through his daily routine of being a doctor, stopping at his favorite diner, and other various situations, all the while hating life and everything around him.

Plot Keywords:

Bronx New York | Sitcom | Doctor | Medical | New York

Premi:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Recensioni degli utenti:

Caustic, sharp, bitter, sweet, and nigh-on perfect

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 27	3:00 AM	USA	Papa Does Preach	#5.7
Mon. July 28	12:30 AM	WGNSAT	One Wong Move	#3.3

Cast

Ted Danson	...	Dr. John Becker (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Hattie Winston	...	Margaret Wyborn / ... (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Shawnee Smith	...	Linda (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Alex Désert	...	Jake Malinak (127 episodes, 1998-2004)
Saverio Guerra	...	Bob (109 episodes, 1998-2003)
Terry Farrell	...	Regina "Reggie" Kostas / ... (94 episodes, 1998-2002)
Nancy Travis	...	Chris Connor (39 episodes, 2002-2004)

(ancora)

Series Directed by
Andy Ackerman		(54 episodes, 1998-2003)
Ken Levine		(14 episodes, 1999-2003)
Darryl Bates		(13 episodes, 2000-2003)
Chris Brougham		(11 episodes, 2001-2004)
Gail Mancuso		(9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Wil Shriner		(7 episodes, 2001-2003)
Lee Shallat Chemel		(4 episodes, 1998-2000)
Gregg Heschong		(4 episodes, 1999-2002)
Michael Uppendahl		(4 episodes, 2003-2004)
Leonard R. Garner Jr.		(2 episodes, 1999-2002)
Joyce Gittlin		(2 episodes, 1999-2001)

Series Writing credits
Ian Gurvitz		(16 episodes, 1998-2004)
Russ Woody		(14 episodes, 1998-2003)
Marsha Myers		(13 episodes, 1998-2002)
David Isaacs		(10 episodes, 1998-2003)
Michael Markowitz		(10 episodes, 1999-2002)
Matthew Weiner		(9 episodes, 1999-2002)
Kate Angelo		(8 episodes, 2000-2003)
Ken Levine		(7 episodes, 1999-2003)
Liz Astrof		(6 episodes, 2001-2003)
Dana Klein		(5 episodes, 1999-2001)
Dave Hackel		(4 episodes, 1998-2004)
Anne Flett-Giordano		(3 episodes, 1999-2002)
Chuck Ranberg		(3 episodes, 1999-2002)
Earl Pomerantz		(3 episodes, 1999-2001)
Gary Dontzig		(3 episodes, 2001-2004)
Steven Peterman		(3 episodes, 2001-2004)
Gigi McCreery		(3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Perry M. Rein		(3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Rowe		(3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Mark Egan		(2 episodes, 2000)
Maisha Closson		(2 episodes, 2003-2004)
Bobby Gaylor		(2 episodes, 2003-2004)

Series Produced by
Dave Hackel	....	executive producer (86 episodes, 1998-2004)
Tim Berry	....	producer / executive producer (58 episodes, 1999-2004)
Matthew Weiner	....	co-producer / producer (48 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ian Gurvitz	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2003)
Liz Astrof	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Maisha Closson	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Gary Dontzig	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Gigi McCreery	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Steven Peterman	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Perry M. Rein	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Michael Rowe	....	producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Russ Woody	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Andy Ackerman	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Matt Ember	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Michael Markowitz	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Lori A. Moneymaker	....	co-producer / producer (unknown episodes)
Marsha Myers	....	co-producer / producer (unknown episodes)
Ross Woody	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Bruce Miller		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Tony Askins		(unknown episodes)
Gregg Heschong		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Darryl Bates		(41 episodes, 1999-2003)
Debra DeSilva		(3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Skip Collector		(unknown episodes)
Susan Federman		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Emily Deshotel		(unknown episodes)
Suzanne Goddard-Smythe		(unknown episodes)
Sheila Guthrie		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Roy Christopher		(31 episodes, 1999-2003)

Series Art Direction by
Amy Skjonsby-Winslow		(35 episodes, 2002-2004)
Richard Fernandez		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Linda Cooper		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Sharon Sampson		(107 episodes, 1999-2004)

Series Makeup Department
Paula Sutor	....	makeup department head (31 episodes, 1999-2004)
Brenda Blatt	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Leslie Lightfoot	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Neil Rapp	....	production manager (1 episode, 1998)
Cheryl Downey	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)
Pamela Thur	....	production manager: New York (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Randy Carter	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Brian Fong	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Marisol 'Ari' Oyola	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Tom Phillips	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Cynthia Riddle	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Amy Skjonsby-Winslow	....	set designer (94 episodes, 1998-2002)
Matt Furginson	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Kevin Morrissey	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Charlotte Raybourn	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Nick Els	....	sound mixer (126 episodes, 1998-2004)
Laurence Abrams	....	boom operator (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Judi Frenkel	....	sound (7 episodes, 2003-2004)
Charles Bruce	....	sound effects editor (2 episodes, 1999)
Robert Adams	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Michael Ballin	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Clark Conrad	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
John DiSante	....	sound utility (unknown episodes)
Rich Jacob	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Scott C. Kolden	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
John Lazear	....	utility sound (unknown episodes)
Richard Luckey Jr.	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Dana Mark McClure	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Timothy Pearson	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Mark Server	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Noel Vought	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Greg Anthony	....	stunt double (1 episode, 2002)
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Charles R. Young	....	camera operator (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Mark L. Johnson	....	second assistant camera (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Craig T. Mathew	....	still photographer (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Rick Lamb	....	assistant camera (2 episodes, 1999)
Joey Alvarado	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Lance Dickinson	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Paul Ferrara	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
David French	....	grip (unknown episodes)
John Graham	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Chava Monjaraz	....	best boy grip / grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Liz Dean	....	casting intern (unknown episodes)
Linda DeArmond	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Kevin Goldson	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)
Thom Klohn	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)
Helen Mossler	....	casting executive (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Beth Beasley	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Debra Millison	....	key set costumer (unknown episodes)
Sharon Sampson	....	costume supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Debra DeSilva	....	assistant editor (83 episodes, 1998-2004)
Leslie Arras	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Dave Karson	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Chips Swanson	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Gary Edelman	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Zuzana Cernik	....	assistant to executive producer (128 episodes, 1998-2004)
Mark Maitlen	....	production secretary / production coordinator (54 episodes, 2001-2004)
David Isaacs	....	creative consultant (42 episodes, 1999-2004)
Bob Ellison	....	creative consultant (35 episodes, 1999-2003)
Matthew Weiner	....	executive story editor (24 episodes, 1999-2000)
Naisa Wong	....	assistant coordinator (24 episodes, 2001-2002)
Richard T. Arami	....	assistant accountant (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Trip Gould	....	production secretary (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Howie Edelson	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brian Reeder	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Georgyne LaLone	....	assistant: Bob Ellison (unknown episodes, 1998-2002)
Keith Addis	....	executive consultant (unknown episodes)
Shelley Andagan	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Ken Blankstein	....	script coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gena Bravos	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Chris Brougham	....	technical coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gaye Ann Bruno	....	photo publicity (unknown episodes)
Kimberli Collette	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jeff Collins	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (unknown episodes)
Anne Flett-Giordano	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Suzanne Goddard-Smythe	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (unknown episodes)
Rob Greenberg	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Ken Halsband	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Kristin Jones	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
H. Lee Kagan	....	medical consultant (unknown episodes)
Kim Kessler	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)
Dana Klein	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Markowitz	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Conner McKinley	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)
Marsha Myers	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Kimberley Nessler	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Teresa O'Neill	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Jayme Petrille	....	assistant to producer / production assistant / ... (unknown episodes)
Chris Porterfield	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Christopher Porterfield	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Chuck Ranberg	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Sean Simmons	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Susan Stein	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (unknown episodes)
Michael Uppendahl	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (unknown episodes)
Tennille Vega	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Dena Waxman	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Dave Hackel Productions
• Industry Entertainment
• Paramount Network Television Productions

Distributors

• CBS Television
• CanWest Global Communications
• Viacom (worldwide)

Other Companies

• Bryant & Johnsen  main title sequence
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Larson Sound Center  sound
• Laser Pacific Media  electronic laboratory

Durata:

30 min (including commercials - 129 episodes)

Nazionalità:

USA

Lingua:

Inglese

Colore:

Colore

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sonoro:

Stereo

Divieti:

UK:12 (some episodes) | UK:PG (some episodes) | UK:U (some episodes) | Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG

Luoghi delle riprese:

Astoria, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Dave Hackel Productions

Curiosità:

In one episode, Bob is walking out of Reggie's Diner as Becker walks in. He says, "Out of my way Gulliver," referring to Ted Danson's role in Gulliver's Travels (1996) (TV)

Citazioni:

Margaret: I don't like to lie. It's wrong.
Dr. John Becker: Says who?
Margaret: The Lord!
Dr. John Becker: The Lord? Margaret, this is the Bronx. Believe me, he's not here.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Scene Smoking: Cigarettes, Cinema & the Myth of Cool (2001)

Caustic, sharp, bitter, sweet, and nigh-on perfect

Razor sharp comedy starring Ted Danson might not appeal to everyone, given its focus on a cantankerous and highly grumpy doctor, but the script is incredibly strong.

Becker is a traditional style sitcom, much in the blend of the popular ones which went before it like Frasier and Cheers. Like Frasier, it stars a major actor from Cheers, in this case Ted Danson, but otherwise shares absolutely nothing with it and certainly isn't a follow-up. The only other thing the 2 share is that the star of Frasier, Kelsey Grammar, also features in a cameo in an episode of it.

The situation part of the 'sitcom' of Becker is that John Becker, a slightly bitter and abrasively outspoken doctor has set up a crummy practice in the middle of New York's Bronx. Suffering the 'morons' of regular society makes his attitude decline by the day and he constantly preaches his rants at Reggie's Diner where both his best friend Jake (Who's blind) runs a newspaper stall, and Bob the amiable pest hang out.

Becker also lives alone in a fairly seedy apartment where the rest of the block's residents universally loathe him.

Add his long suffering surgery assistant Margaret who's basically his rock, and the dipsy 'receptionist' Linda and you have the overall picture.

Sure, this doesn't perhaps sound all that original or even inspiring to any degree on paper, but bring it to life with a sharp script and quality actors and you have one of the finest comedies it's been my personal pleasure to witness.

To say Danson *is* Becker is the understatement of the year. He has created a character with complete life here, and embodies what he represents absolutely perfectly. His line delivery is totally spot on and he commands every scene such is his definite presence. Now when looking at him I see Becker, and not Sam Malone.

The other characters are pretty good as well, even Bob, who after simply getting on our nerves to start with eventually grows on you. Jake is extremely well played by Alex Desert as well, managing to portray a fairly decent level of vulnerability while trying to be as tough as possible. The only matter of taste with a blind character in a sitcom are the inevitable jokes at the expense of said blindness. Subsequently, it goes without saying that Becker is *not* PC - at times some of the gags can be slightly offensive, but nothing is ever truly over the score.

However, next to Becker the best character was the simply fantastic Reggie, who was played by Terry Farrel up until she was bizarrely fired based on reasons of 'creative direction' late on in the show's run by the producers. She gave the show a touch of glamour, but we identified with her because she never seemed to have anything go for her, and yet soldiered on in a state of light despair. Farrel captured her brilliantly, and her loss was felt big time. The replacement, Chris, was OK, but simply nowhere near in the league of Reggie.

However, this is an aside; the strength of Becker is and was the quality of the script. The dialogue was, at times, acidly delicious with razor sharp wit. In fact, most of the time it was like this. Becker's constant rantings might be repetitive, but they were always funny because we can actually relate to the aspects of life which got his goat up so much.

Furthermore, while he was shown as a cantankerous old git, Danson gave him plenty of self-deprecating moments too. Not only did we laugh at what he said, we laughed at his situations and the amusing body language he emitted regularly.

His practice was also a massive character in itself, with patients combining hypochondria and hemorrhoids much to the amusement of the viewer.

The other characters got plenty of hilarious lines as well, so this wasn't just the Ted Danson show, and consequently it was an extremely well-rounded show and not relying on any one character. But, as Farrel's absence later on showed, all of the main characters were vital. Bob was also written out for season 6, and his replacement Hector simply didn't fit in at all.

Despite these drawbacks, up till the chopping and changing, the show ran seamlessly and hilariously smoothly. It's a testament to the script that even *without* the main characters, although we didn't like their replacements, they still made us laugh.

Overall it's a superb comedy, and it's a rank pity it wasn't more levied by the Americans, many of whom seemed oblivious to its existence.

Said one: "Becker? The German tennis guy? I didn't even know that he had his own show," "Is it on BBC America or something?"...