Pamela Fryman Explained

Pamela Fryman
Birth Name:Pamela Gail Fryman
Birth Date:19 August 1959
Birth Place:Philadelphia Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation:Television director and producer
Years Active:1988–present

Pamela Gail Fryman (born August 19, 1959) is an American sitcom director and producer. She directed all but twelve episodes of the television series How I Met Your Mother.

Early life

Fryman was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]

Career

Fryman got her first job on The John Davidson Show as an assistant to the talent coordinator, and went on to be a booth production assistant and secretary on Santa Barbara, eventually moving up to assistant director (AD), and director. In 1993, producer Peter Noah, with whom she had worked on the game show Dream House, gave Fryman a chance to direct an episode of the short-lived sitcom Café Americain. These would be the first stepping stones toward a long and successful career.[1]

Before her directing career blossomed, Fryman pursued stage directing. On the set of Frasier, rehearsal resembled a play staging, which is exactly what creator and executive producer David Lee had in mind when he hired her.[2] Fryman directed 34 episodes of the show from seasons four through eight.

She also became main director on Just Shoot Me!, directing 94 out of the 148 episodes the show aired.

Fryman directed the majority of the episodes of How I Met Your Mother.[3] Show creator Craig Thomas praised her communication skills, saying, "She makes everyone feel they've been heard and respected and she can connect with anyone."[4] Though Fryman's original career plan did not include directing (she figured she would "follow in her father's footsteps in merchandising"),[1] she has grown to realize that directing is her forte and passion. In Variety magazine, Fryman said that continuing to direct How I Met Your Mother is her fantasy realized.[5] In 2014, she officiated the wedding of How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, who played a side role in the show.[6]

She also directed 19 out of the 30 episodes that lasted How I Met Your Father.

She achieved the milestone of directing her 500th episode of television in 2016 with the third episode of the third season of The Odd Couple.[7]

Awards

Fryman has received recognition from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences also known as the (ATAS), the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Directors Guild of America, Goldderby.com, the Online Film & Television Association also known as the (OFTA), and the Women in Film organization.[8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleCredited asNotes
DirectorProducerActorRole
2001The Gene PoolTelevision Movie
2001Count Me InTelevision Movie
2003The SnobsTelevision Movie
2006You've Reached the ElliottsTelevision Movie
2006Sex, Power, Love & PoliticsTelevision Movie
2006InseparableTelevision Movie
2007The Minister of DivineTelevision Movie
2009The KarenskysTelevision Movie
2009CBS Fall PreviewTelevision special
2010True LoveTelevision Movie
2010Livin' on a PrayerTelevision Movie
2010FreshmanTelevision Movie
2011The AssistantsTelevision Movie
2011And They're OffFeature Film; Producer
2012Table for ThreeTelevision Movie
2013Divorce: A Love StoryTelevision Movie
2014Save the DateTelevision Movie
2014Cuz-BrosTelevision Movie
2014Cabot CollegeTelevision Movie; also Executive Producer
2014How I Met Your DadTelevision Movie; also Executive Producer
2015The Perfect StanleysTelevision Movie
2015The History of UsTelevision Movie
2016My Time Your TimeTelevision Movie; also Executive Producer
2016Good FortuneTelevision Movie
2017Real LifeTelevision Movie; also Executive Producer
2018Most Likely ToTelevision Movie
2018History of ThemTelevision Movie; also Executive Producer
TBRDistefanoTelevision Movie; also Executive Producer
TBRMaking FriendsTelevision Movie; also Executive Producer

Television

YearTitleCredited asNotes
DirectorProducerActorRole
1990–1993Santa BarbaraWhispy Figure21 episodes (director); 177 episodes (also associate director)
Episode: "#1.916" (actor)
1994Cafe AmericainEpisode: "Oh, Brother"
1994Muddling Through3 episodes
1994–1997Friends2 episodes
1995The Boys Are BackEpisode: "Bad Hair Day"
1995Bringing Up JackEpisode: "Close Personal Friends"
1995The Single Guyunknown episode
1995Dweebs9 episodes
1995–1996Bless This House3 episodes
1996Ned and StaceyEpisode: "Friends and Lovers"
1996Good Company2 episodes
1996Caroline in the CityEpisode: "Caroline and the Cereal"
1996Hope & Gloria2 episodes
1996Pearlunknown episode
1996Townies7 episodes
1996–1997The Naked Truth3 episodes
1996–1997Cybill4 episodes
1997Fired Up2 episodes
1997Suddenly Susan5 episodes
1997-1998George and Leo4 episodes
1997–2001Frasier34 episodes
1998The Simple LifeEpisode: "Pilot"
1998Maggie WintersEpisode: "Pilot
1998Encore! Encore!Episode: "I Am Joe's Ego"
1998The King of Queens3 episodes
1998–2003Just Shoot Me!95 episodes (director); 46 episodes (also Executive Producer)
1999NormEpisode: "Drive, Norm Said" also known as "The Norm Show"
1999Work with MeEpisode: "Pilot"
1999Love & MoneyEpisode: "Pilot"
2000Welcome to New Yorkunknown episode
2001Three Sisters3 episodes
2001Inside Schwartz2 episodes
2002In-Laws2 episodes
2003My Big Fat Greek LifeEpisode: "The House Gift"
2003–2004Happy Family22 episodes (director); 21 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2004–2005Two and a Half Men20 episodes
2005–2014How I Met Your Mother208 episodes (Executive Producer); 196 episodes (also director);
2006Courting AlexEpisode: "A Tale of Two Kisses"
2009Accidentally on Purpose2 episodes
2011Mad LoveEpisode: "Fireworks"
2011How to Be a Gentleman2 episodes
2012Friend Meunknown episode
2013MomEpisode: "Pilot"
2014–2015The McCarthys11 episodes (director); 11 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2015Truth Be Told7 episodes (director); 7 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2016–2017The Odd Couple3 episodes
2016–2018Man with a Plan12 episodes
2017–20189JKL8 episodes (director); 8 episodes (also Executive Producer)
2017–2020One Day at a Time11 episodes (director); Episode: "This Is It" (Executive Producer)
2018Murphy BrownEpisode: "Pilot" (director); Episode: "Pilot" (also Executive Producer)
2019Abby's5 episodes (director); also Executive Producer
2019–2020Carol's Second Act8 episodes (director)
2019Merry Happy Whatever4 episodes (director); also Executive Producer
2019Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"Television special (director)
2021Call Your Mother10 episodes (director); also Executive Producer
2021Pretty Smart3 episodes (director); also executive producer
2022-2023How I Met Your Father19 episodes (director); also executive producer
2023-2024Night Court6 episodes (director); also executive producer

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DGA Quarterly Spring 2010 - Director Profile: Pamela Fryman. dead. https://archive.today/20110228160011/http://www.dgaquarterly.org/BACKISSUES/Spring2010/DirectorProfilePamelaFryman.aspx. February 28, 2011.
  2. Web site: DGA Magazine January 1999 - Fraiser.
  3. News: Neil Patrick Harris Directs Episode of 'How I Met Your Mother' Airing 1/18. BroadwayWorld.com. Though a series regular, this will mark Harris's directing debut, and a rarity for the show as Pamela Fryman has directed 92 of 'How I Met Your Mother's' 97 episodes.. January 30, 2010.
  4. News: October 19, 2008. Maria Elena Fernandez. The set mom on 'How I Met Your Mother'. Los Angeles Times. 3.
  5. News: Dreams from the top. variety.com. continuing to direct "How I Met Your Mother" is her fantasy realized.". May 6, 2012.
  6. News: Neil Patrick Harris Marries David Burtka. PEOPLE.com. March 3, 2018. en.
  7. News: Pam Fryman Directing 500th TV Episode. Deadline. September 6, 2023. en.
  8. Web site: Pamela Fryman. IMDb. June 2, 2018.

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