From East Hall to Hollywood, Tufts class of 1989 alumnus Kenny Schwartz has made a name for himself as a prolific television producer. After operating as the creator and co-producer of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, Schwartz is currently acting in the same capacities for the WB network's new show, Do Over. Schwartz spoke candidly in an exclusive interview with the Daily, and discussed his new comedy, the future of network television, and his experiences at Tufts.
Do Over tells the story of the rare opportunity given to 34-year old Joel Larsen; the chance to go back to high school and redo his life. His 2002 mind is placed into his 1980 body as he starts his freshmen year of high school in Newton, Mass. The show places an emphasis on Joel's attempts to fix his family, such as preventing his parents' imminent divorce, and stopping his sister from becoming a drug addict.
"The show is about wish fulfillment and second chances" Schwartz said. Schwartz, and co-creator Rick Weiner, thought up the idea in meetings with television producers, and ran with it. This is in spite of the fact that he is constantly running between the set, the editing rooms, and meetings with WB network heads.
Schwartz explains "Unlike the normal multi-camera sitcom, where the entire episode is shot in one night in front of a studio audience, Do Over is a single camera comedy. Shooting goes on every day with a director, much like how a feature film is produced."
In order to keep Do Over true to the 80's, Schwartz keeps a keen eye on the wardrobe of the times. Characters wear all the styles of the time, like Members Only jackets, Izod shirts with the collars up, and parachute pants. He found that there is some difficulty, however, as much of the cast is younger even than the 'x-generation', and weren't even born when the show is based.
The writers use events like the premiere of Empire Strikes Back and the "Miracle on Ice" (US Olympic hockey team beats the Soviets).to keep Do Over's 80's style real.
Do Over has been a modest success; the WB recently renewed the show for nine more episodes. The similarly themed program, That was Then, was cancelled by ABC soon after its release, raising doubts about Do Over's future. Yet The WB has great confidence in shows that they believe in," Schwartz said, a quality that Schwartz says he loves about the network, will guarantee that the show is given a good chance to succeed.
For those Jumbos uninitiated into the history of Tufts on television, Schwartz's previous show, Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, was based on three Tufts graduates and their hilarious experiences. Set in a pizzeria similar to Theo's Pizzeria in Teele Square, Two Guys had a specific episode solely about Homecoming at Tufts.
Schwartz looks forward to infusing Tufts into Do Over as well. Some ideas he has to accomplish this include having characters wear Tufts sweatshirts, or placing the sister of Do Over's star on a Tufts college tour. The sole problem with the latter option would be somehow avoiding any modern buildings, like Olin or the Mayer Campus Center. In addition, if the show becomes a bonafide hit, Schwartz hopes that they could shoot on location at Tufts or in Newton.
There is current a dichotomy in commercial television, as cable networks like HBO and FX produce hit shows and taking away viewers from the free network stations. Schwartz says that the best way for networks to combat this impeding problem is to continue to produce great shows.
"The reason people watch HBO is because shows like The Sopranos or Curb Your Enthusiasm is because the shows are so great. If the networks also produce great shows, they will win back viewers." Said Schwartz.
While an English major at Tufts, Schwartz was also a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
"I met my best friends and experienced some of my greatest memories there." Schwartz said.
He also played on the Tufts soccer team and delivered pizza for the Somerville House of Pizza, now known as the aforementioned Theo's. After graduation, he immediately moved out to Los Angeles and started as a production assistant (PA). The PA's are essentially the gofers of the business; they deliver packages, fetch coffee, etc. He then found a job as a writer's assistant for Mad About You, what Schwartz calls "the hardest job in Hollywood."
"They are the first ones there and the last ones to leave each and every night." Later, he became head writer for Mad About You, and eventually took his own path with Two Guys.
Schwartz offered advice that he would give to any Jumbo looking to break into the show business. "Move out to the West Coast. Get a job anywhere, as a writing assistant if you can, but it has to be out on the West Coast."
Despite his great success as a television producer on the other side of the country, Schwartz is making sure that Do Over keeps East Coast roots in tact _ just in a TV studio a few thousand miles away from Tufts.
More from The Tufts Daily
