Janet Ashikaga

Editor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her three-hour interview, Janet Ashikaga discusses her career cutting some of television's most beloved programs. She begins with tales of editing the cult classic Sledge Hammer! and several The Incredible Hulk TV movies. Ashikaga then describes her years as the sole editor of Seinfeld. She comments on her favorite episode, "The Chinese Restaurant," and shares behind-the-scenes tidbits of "The Big Salad" and "The Subway" episodes, among others. She talks of her respect for writer and comedy great Larry David, and for writer Aaron Sorkin -- the creator of two other critically acclaimed shows on which she worked: Sports Night and The West Wing. Ashikaga also edited Ink, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and the pilot of My Name is Earl. She describes her preferences for certain methods of editing, what it's like to be a female editor, and details her theory on the musicality of editing. Dan Wingate conducted the interview on August 25, 2010 in Van Nuys, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Editing and using close-ups can really punch up comedy. I think that really good comedy is very musical, and that a reason why sometimes comedy works or a joke works, is because of the rhythm of it. And once you upset that rhythm, you're upsetting the humor. I think that people just naturally are very musical and that's what they're responding to in a lot of comedy."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Editor Janet Ashikaga on how she inspired "The Big Salad" episode of Seinfeld

01:23

Editor Janet Ashikaga on her favorite episode of Seinfeld, "The Chinese Restaurant"

00:33

Editor Janet Ashikaga on the rhythm of great showrunners

00:21

On acting with the eyes and how that influences editing

00:34

On editing styles

01:38

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her childhood and early influences

On moving to California and her first job in Los Angeles assisting an editor; on enjoying editing and working on the cult show Sledge Hammer!

On editing TV movies of The Incredible Hulk and working with director Bill Bixby

On editing Seinfeld

Chapter 2

On editing Seinfeld

On the popularity of Seinfeld

On specific episodes of Seinfeld

On the cast and characters of Seinfeld; On the impact of Seinfeld on other comedies

On leaving Seinfeld when Larry David left the show and moving on to Ink and Sports Night

Chapter 3

On editing Sports Night

On working on The West Wing

On editing Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Frasier, My Name is Earl, Medium, Scoundrels, and Criminal Intent: Suspect Behavior

On how the editing field has changed over the years; on film versus video and digital editing

On advice for young editors and on editing today; on her proudest achievement and legacy

Shows

Bob Patterson

Editor Janet Ashikaga on leaving The West Win g to edit Bob Patterson

00:24

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior

00:17

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Larry David's persona as who he is on Curb Your Enthusiasm

02:37

Frasier

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing the pilot of Frasier

02:35

Ink

Editor Janet Ashikaga on working on Ink

05:14

Medium

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Medium

01:15

My Name Is Earl

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing the pilot of My Name is Earl

02:27

Scoundrels

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Scoundrels for ABC

01:38

Seinfeld

Editor Janet Ashikaga on getting hired on Seinfeld

20:20

Editor Janet Ashikaga on her favorite episode of Seinfeld, "The Chinese Restaurant"

00:33

Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Seinfeld director Tom Cherones on "The Parking Garage"

01:57

Editor Janet Ashikaga on "The Subway" episode of Seinfeld

00:36

Editor Janet Ashikaga on how she inspired "The Big Salad" episode of Seinfeld

01:23

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Seinfeld

52:37

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Parking Garage" episode of Seinfeld

00:54

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Subway" episode of Seinfeld

04:28

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Bubble Boy" episode of Seinfeld

00:52

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Contest" episode of Seinfeld

02:59

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Pick" episode of Seinfeld

05:18

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Junior Mint" episode of Seinfeld

04:24

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Pilot" episode of Seinfeld

01:57

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Cheever Letters" episode of Seinfeld

00:51

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Opposite" episode of Seinfeld

00:29

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Hamptons" episode of Seinfeld

03:06

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Big Salad" episode of Seinfeld

00:46

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Race" episode of Seinfeld

01:07

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld

02:52

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Secret Code" episode of Seinfeld

01:29

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Rye" episode of Seinfeld

01:23

Seinfeld: "The Big Salad"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on how she inspired "The Big Salad" episode of Seinfeld

01:23

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Big Salad" episode of Seinfeld

00:46

Seinfeld: "The Bubble Boy"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Bubble Boy" episode of Seinfeld

00:52

Seinfeld: "The Cheever Letters"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Cheever Letters" episode of Seinfeld

00:51

Seinfeld: "The Chinese Restaurant"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on her favorite episode of Seinfeld, "The Chinese Restaurant"

00:33

Seinfeld: "The Contest"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Contest" episode of Seinfeld

02:59

Seinfeld: "The Hamptons"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Hamptons" episode of Seinfeld

01:29

Seinfeld: "The Junior Mint"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Junior Mint" episode of Seinfeld

00:55

Seinfeld: "The Opposite"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Opposite" episode of Seinfeld

00:29

Seinfeld: "The Parking Garage"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Seinfeld director Tom Cherones on "The Parking Garage"

01:57

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Parking Garage" episode of Seinfeld

00:54

Seinfeld: "The Pick"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Pick" episode of Seinfeld

01:00

Seinfeld: "The Pilot"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Pilot" episode of Seinfeld

01:57

Seinfeld: "The Race"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Race" episode of Seinfeld

01:07

Seinfeld: "The Rye"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Rye" episode of Seinfeld

01:23

Seinfeld: "The Secret Code"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Secret Code" episode of Seinfeld

01:29

Seinfeld: "The Soup Nazi"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld

01:42

Seinfeld: "The Subway"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on "The Subway" episode of Seinfeld

00:36

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing "The Subway" episode of Seinfeld

04:28

Sledge Hammer!

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Sledge Hammer!

08:32

Sports Night

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Sports Night - an Aaron Sorkin show

03:49

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Sports Night

11:04

Editor Janet Ashikaga on the highlight of her career - editing Sports Night

00:12

Editor Janet Ashikaga on winning an Emmy for the "Small Town" episode of Sports Night and wanting Aaron Sorkin to win for writing

Sports Night: "Small Town"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on winning an Emmy for the "Small Town" episode of Sports Night and wanting Aaron Sorkin to win for writing

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

02:25

This is the Life

Editor Janet Ashikaga on her role editing This is the Life

01:53

West Wing, The

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing and no longer being a sole editor

17:12

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode "Evidence of Things Not Seen"

00:46

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode "Twenty Five" - Aaron Sorkin's last episode

00:36

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode, "The Birnam Wood," in which John Spencer has a heart attack

02:21

West Wing, The: "Evidence of Things Not Seen"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode "Evidence of Things Not Seen"

00:46

West Wing, The: "The Birnam Wood"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode, "The Birnam Wood," in which John Spencer has a heart attack

02:21

West Wing, The: "Twenty Five"

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode "Twenty Five" - Aaron Sorkin's last episode

00:36

Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Editor Janet Ashikaga on whether advertisers and Standards & Practices took issue with "The Contest" episode of Seinfeld

02:59

Emmy Awards

Editor Janet Ashikaga on winning the Emmy for cutting "The Subway" episode of Seinfeld

02:34

Editor Janet Ashikaga on winning an Emmy for the "Small Town" episode of Sports Night

00:48

Technological Innovation

Editor Janet Ashikaga on farming out special effects

01:01

Editor Janet Ashikaga on different editing systems

01:10

Editor Janet Ashikaga on film versus video

01:15

Editor Janet Ashikaga on how computers and digital formats have changed editing

02:58

Women

Editor Janet Ashikaga on women in the editing field and on knowing particular editing systems

03:57

Editor Janet Ashikaga on women in the editing field and on knowing particular editing systems

01:29

Editor Janet Ashikaga on being a female editor

01:34

Professions

Editor

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on being drawn to editing

00:30

Editor Janet Ashikaga on her training as an editor

00:33

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing with the Ediflex system

01:20

Editor Janet Ashikaga on the editing style of Seinfeld

01:18

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editors as part of production, not post-production

01:38

Editor Janet Ashikaga on "the walk and talk" style of Sports Night

00:26

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing

09:22

Genres

Comedy Series

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Seinfeld

20:20

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Seinfeld

52:37

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Sports Night

11:04

Drama Series

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing

09:22

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing the TV movies of The Incredible Hulk

08:25

People

Aaron Sorkin

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on showrunner Aaron Sorkin's rhythm

00:30

Editor Janet Ashikaga on working on Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night with Tommy Schlamme

03:49

Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Aaron Sorkin

02:42

Editor Janet Ashikaga on winning an Emmy for the "Small Town" episode of Sports Night and wanting Aaron Sorkin to win for writing

02:28

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Aaron Sorkin doing comedy and drama

00:26

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing based on Aaron Sorkin's schedule

02:01

Editor Janet Ashikaga on interpreting Aaron Sorkin's words

00:39

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode "Twenty Five" - Aaron Sorkin's last episode; on Sorkin's departure

03:12

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Aaron Sorkin's role in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

02:02

Bill Bixby

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on meeting and working with director Bill Bixby

00:54

Editor Janet Ashikaga on meeting and working with director Bill Bixby and working with him on TV movies

09:01

Editor Janet Ashikaga on meeting and working with director Bill Bixby and working with him on TV movies

01:00

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Bill Bixby falling ill and on his legacy

01:48

David Rasche

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on David Rasche in Sledge Hammer!

01:56

Diane English

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Diane English on Ink

05:14

Felicity Huffman

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working on Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night with actress Felicity Huffman

00:33

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Felicity Huffman's acting ability

01:21

Glenn Gordon Caron

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Glenn Gordon Caron on Medium

00:28

Jason Alexander

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Jason Alexander

02:36

Jerry Seinfeld

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on meeting Jerry Seinfeld

00:20

Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Jerry Seinfeld

01:18

Editor Janet Ashikaga on extending an episode of Seinfeld to one hour

02:07

John Spencer

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on The West Wing actor John Spencer

00:39

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing The West Wing episode, "The Birnam Wood," in which John Spencer has a heart attack

02:21

John Wells

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with showrunner John Wells after Aaron Sorkin left The West Wing

00:50

Larry Charles

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on a difficult question Seinfeld writer Larry Charles asked her

00:32

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Seinfeld with writers Larry Charles and Larry David

01:30

Larry David

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on meeting Larry David

01:04

Editor Janet Ashikaga on editing Seinfeld with writers Larry Charles and Larry David

01:30

Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Larry David and his personality

11:33

Editor Janet Ashikaga on how Seinfeld writers were involved in editing and what Larry David taught her about comedy

03:18

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Larry David using real life for storylines and extending an episode of Seinfeld to one hour

02:59

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Larry David's ideas

29:04

Lou Ferrigno

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on "The Hulk" Lou Ferrigno

00:26

Mary Steenburgen

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Mary Steenburgen on Ink

00:40

Michael Richards

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Michael Richards

01:43

Peter Krause

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working on Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night with actor Peter Krause

00:33

Richard Schiff

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on advice from actor Richard Schiff

01:01

Editor Janet Ashikaga on The West Wing actor Richard Schiff

01:00

Robert Guillaume

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working on Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night with actor Robert Guillaume

00:33

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Sports Night actor Robert Guillaume's stroke

01:39

Ted Danson

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Ted Danson on Ink

00:40

Thomas Schlamme

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working on Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night with director Tommy Schlamme

03:49

Editor Janet Ashikaga on Sports Night director Thomas Schlamme

01:39

Tom Cherones

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on working with Seinfeld director Tom Cherones on "The Parking Garage"

01:57

Warren Littlefield

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Editor Janet Ashikaga on learning about the budget for the Seinfeld pilot from Warren Littlefield

01:27

Editor Janet Ashikaga on extending an episode of Seinfeld to one hour

02:00