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Still, after more than 170 MTM shows, the polish remains so high that viewers can see their own faces in the surface. The MTM touch has become synonymous with Midas' — up to and including some of the unpleasant side effects. "We're working 18-hour days, six days a week," admits Burns, who is confident that for pressure and unreasonable hours, television is the worst busi ness in the world. The easiest show for the two is Mary's. "We know the characters so well," says Burns. "For opposite rea sons, the Paul Sand show is the most difficult. We are pleased with about four out of the twelve shows."
To relieve the pressure, Brooks employs unique measuring devices for jokes. A buzzer signifies lines with less than unanimous approval. A gag that breaks up their colleagues trig gers a music box that plays The Impossible Dream. From the sound of music issuing from the MTM offices, the dream gets more possible every day.