Pamela Fryman
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.
Pamela Fryman | |
---|---|
Born | Pamela Gail Fryman August 19, 1959 |
Occupation | Television director and producer |
Years active | 1988–present |
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.[1] 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.
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]
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.[7]
- 1990 Won - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team (Santa Barbara)
- 1991 Won - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team (Santa Barbara)
- 1998 Nominated - Directors Guild award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("Halloween (Part 1)") (Frasier)
- 1999 Nominated - Directors Guild award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("Two Girls for Every Boy") (Just Shoot Me!)
- 2000 Nominated - Directors Guild award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("The Flight Before Christmas") (Frasier)
- 2001 Nominated - Directors Guild award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series ("And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon (Part 1 & 2)") (Frasier)
- 2009 Nominated - Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series (How I Met Your Mother)
- 2011 Nominated - Online Film & Television Association award for Best Direction in a Comedy Series (How I Met Your Mother)
- 2011 Nominated - Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series ("Subway Wars") (How I Met Your Mother)
- 2011 Won - Women in Film Crystal + Lucy award, Dorothy Arzner Directors award
- 2020 Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special (Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times") (shared with Andy Fisher)
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Producer | Actor | Role | |||
2001 | The Gene Pool | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2001 | Count Me In | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2003 | The Snobs | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2006 | You've Reached the Elliotts | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2006 | Sex, Power, Love & Politics | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2006 | Inseparable | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2007 | The Minister of Divine | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2009 | The Karenskys | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2009 | CBS Fall Preview | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2010 | True Love | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2010 | Livin' on a Prayer | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2010 | Freshman | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2011 | The Assistants | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2011 | And They're Off | No | Yes | No | Feature Film; Producer | |
2012 | Table for Three | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2013 | Divorce: A Love Story | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2014 | Save the Date | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2014 | Cuz-Bros | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2014 | Cabot College | Yes | Yes | No | Television Movie; also Executive Producer | |
2014 | How I Met Your Dad | No | Yes | No | Television Movie; also Executive Producer | |
2015 | The Perfect Stanleys | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2015 | The History of Us | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2016 | My Time Your Time | Yes | Yes | No | Television Movie; also Executive Producer | |
2016 | Good Fortune | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2017 | Real Life | Yes | Yes | No | Television Movie; also Executive Producer | |
2018 | Most Likely To | Yes | No | No | Television Movie | |
2018 | History of Them | Yes | Yes | No | Television Movie; also Executive Producer | |
TBR | Distefano | Yes | Yes | No | Television Movie; also Executive Producer | |
TBR | Making Friends | Yes | Yes | No | Television Movie; also Executive Producer |
Television
Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Producer | Actor | Role | |||
1990–1993 | Santa Barbara | Yes | No | Yes | Whispy Figure | 21 episodes (director); 177 episodes (also associate director) Episode: "#1.916" (actor) |
1994 | Cafe Americain | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Oh, Brother" | |
1994 | Muddling Through | Yes | No | No | 3 episodes | |
1994–1997 | Friends | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
1995 | The Boys Are Back | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Bad Hair Day" | |
1995 | Bringing Up Jack | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Close Personal Friends" | |
1995 | The Single Guy | Yes | No | No | unknown episode | |
1995 | Dweebs | Yes | No | No | 9 episodes | |
1995–1996 | Bless This House | Yes | No | No | 3 episodes | |
1996 | Ned and Stacey | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Friends and Lovers" | |
1996 | Good Company | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
1996 | Caroline in the City | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Caroline and the Cereal" | |
1996 | Hope & Gloria | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
1996 | Pearl | Yes | No | No | unknown episode | |
1996 | Townies | Yes | No | No | 7 episodes | |
1996–1997 | The Naked Truth | Yes | No | No | 3 episodes | |
1996–1997 | Cybill | Yes | No | No | 4 episodes | |
1997 | Fired Up | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
1997 | Suddenly Susan | Yes | No | No | 5 episodes | |
1997-1998 | George and Leo | Yes | No | No | 4 episodes | |
1997–2001 | Frasier | Yes | No | No | 34 episodes | |
1998 | The Simple Life | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Pilot" | |
1998 | Maggie Winters | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Pilot | |
1998 | Encore! Encore! | Yes | No | No | Episode: "I Am Joe's Ego" | |
1998 | The King of Queens | Yes | No | No | 3 episodes | |
1998–2003 | Just Shoot Me! | Yes | Yes | No | 95 episodes (director); 46 episodes (also Executive Producer) | |
1999 | Norm | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Drive, Norm Said" also known as "The Norm Show" | |
1999 | Work with Me | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Pilot" | |
1999 | Love & Money | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Pilot" | |
2000 | Welcome to New York | Yes | No | No | unknown episode | |
2001 | Three Sisters | Yes | No | No | 3 episodes | |
2001 | Inside Schwartz | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
2002 | In-Laws | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
2003 | My Big Fat Greek Life | Yes | No | No | Episode: "The House Gift" | |
2003–2004 | Happy Family | Yes | Yes | No | 22 episodes (director); 21 episodes (also Executive Producer) | |
2004–2005 | Two and a Half Men | Yes | No | No | 20 episodes | |
2005–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Yes | Yes | No | 208 episodes (Executive Producer); 196 episodes (also director); | |
2006 | Courting Alex | Yes | No | No | Episode: "A Tale of Two Kisses" | |
2009 | Accidentally on Purpose | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
2011 | Mad Love | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Fireworks" | |
2011 | How to Be a Gentleman | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes | |
2012 | Friend Me | Yes | No | No | unknown episode | |
2013 | Mom | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Pilot" | |
2014–2015 | The McCarthys | Yes | Yes | No | 11 episodes (director); 11 episodes (also Executive Producer) | |
2015 | Truth Be Told | Yes | Yes | No | 7 episodes (director); 7 episodes (also Executive Producer) | |
2016–2017 | The Odd Couple | Yes | No | No | 3 episodes | |
2016–2018 | Man with a Plan | Yes | No | No | 12 episodes | |
2017–2018 | 9JKL | Yes | Yes | No | 8 episodes (director); 8 episodes (also Executive Producer) | |
2017–2020 | One Day at a Time | Yes | Yes | No | 11 episodes (director); Episode: "This Is It" (Executive Producer) | |
2018 | Murphy Brown | Yes | Yes | No | Episode: "Pilot" (director); Episode: "Pilot" (also Executive Producer) | |
2019 | Abby's | Yes | Yes | No | 5 episodes (director); also Executive Producer | |
2019–2020 | Carol's Second Act | Yes | No | No | 8 episodes (director) | |
2019 | Merry Happy Whatever | Yes | Yes | No | 4 episodes (director); also Executive Producer | |
2019 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" | Yes | No | No | Television special (director) | |
2021–present | Call Your Mother | Yes | Yes | No | 1 episode (director); also Executive Producer |
References
- "DGA Quarterly Spring 2010 - Director Profile: Pamela Fryman". Archived from the original on 2011-02-28.
- "DGA Magazine January 1999 - Fraiser".
- "Neil Patrick Harris Directs Episode of 'How I Met Your Mother' Airing 1/18". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
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.
- Maria Elena Fernandez (October 19, 2008). "The set mom on 'How I Met Your Mother'". Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
- "Dreams from the top". variety.com. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
continuing to direct "How I Met Your Mother" is her fantasy realized."
- "Neil Patrick Harris Marries David Burtka". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
- "Pamela Fryman". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-06-02.