Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and More

by James Burrows

The group fell back into the rhythms that only real friendship enables you to do, reminiscing and reading from scripts, re-creating classic scenes. JA and Schwimmer talked about how they were crushing on each other at the time but couldn’t act on those feelings because both were romantically involved with other people.

Unless you have a distinctive quality or a unique set of skills, it’s difficult for an actor to repeat success in the sitcom world. Very few actors have been able to replicate their successes, especially as a center. Teddy Danson made it work with Cheers, Becker, The Good Place, and now with Mr. Mayor. Bob Newhart was able to do it multiple times because of his unique presence and style. Ted Knight followed TMTMS with the short-lived The Ted Knight Show (and way too many Love Boat episodes) but then had a seven-year run with Too Close for Comfort. After Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards didn’t work as centers, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus is an incredibly strong center. She did The New Adventures of Old Christine, which didn’t get great ratings but won her a Lead Actress Emmy, and then starred in Veep, which was a huge hit, and more Emmys followed. It happens occasionally and is a tribute to great acting and great writing.

I told Eric McCormack the same thing I’d told Teddy Danson sixteen years earlier: “Don’t try so hard to be funny. You’re the center—react. Don’t hit the lines too hard. Throw them away.”

Be prepared for rejection. Get used to the word “no.” Even smart people say no. It’s easier and safer to say no in this business, because you’ll be right 98 percent of the time. But, oh, that 2 percent! ABC said no to The Cosby Show, NBC said no to Roseanne, and Tom Selleck turned down the role of Indiana Jones. I passed on both Seinfeld and Designing Women. I didn’t see the potential of either at the time. It happens.