ARTICLES

November 1998
What does it take to make TWO GUYS?

How much work really goes into producing an episode of TWO GUYS, A GIRL AND A PIZZA PLACE? Recently ABC.com visited the set for an up-close look at what really goes on behind the scenes on the first day of the show's five-day workweek. We discovered that they don't call it show business for nothing.

TWO GUYS begins its workweek on Wednesdays. The following Tuesday-when each episode tapes-is considered the end of the week. The initial step in the process is called the "table read," which is the first time that the cast and crew read through the new script together to get a feel for the dynamics of the episode and to decide what works and what doesn't.

It's just after noon when the cast and crew arrive at Twentieth Century Fox in Los Angeles for the reading. Staffers help themselves to a catered brunch and find a chair at one of four long tables configured to form a big square in the middle of TWO GUYS' soundstage. Cast members Traylor Howard, Ryan Reynolds, Richard Ruccolo and Suzanne Cryer (Berg's new girlfriend, Ashley)-- armed with bottles of water and freshly xeroxed scripts for "Two Guys, a Girl and a Thanksgiving"--take seats next to one another.

Sitting opposite the cast are director Marjorie Weitzman; executive producer Danny Jacobson; and co-executive producers Kenny Schwartz, Rick Wiener and Alex Ganzel--who also shared writing credit on the episode.

Actor Nathan Fillion (who plays Sharon's new boyfriend Johnny) is the last to arrive--ten minutes late--to a rousing round of applause. Now that all the seats are full, Marjorie calls everyone to attention. Reading the stage direction herself, she asks the actors to read their lines straight from the script--just as if they were performing them. The main difference being that the cast is allowed to laugh at the jokes along with everybody else! Several producers step in to read the lines for guest characters who had not yet been cast.

Without stopping for breaks, the episode is read from beginning to end. Writers, director and producers then begin what is called the "notes" session--an intense discussion about everything from changes to the script, casting of guest stars and overall direction for the episode.

At the conclusion of notes, the staff scatters. As writers rush to make changes in the script, the casting director begins hiring guest stars and extras, directors consult about camera placement, and costume designers rush to wardrobe. Everybody on staff has only four days in which to complete preparations before a final camera rehearsal the next Tuesday morning.

Despite what can only be described as organized chaos, all the work gets done. In less than a week the studio audience will be taking their seats for the live taping.

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