Writing Television Sitcoms

Writing Television Sitcoms

Author: Evan S. Smith

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 310

ISBN-13: 9780399525339

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Describes the writing method called premise-driven comedy, examines how comedy affects character development and story structure, discusses guidelines on script layouts, and offers advice on establishing a career


Writing Television Sitcoms (revised)

Writing Television Sitcoms (revised)

Author: Evan S. Smith

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2009-12-01

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 1101151625

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This new edition of Writing Television Sitcoms features the essential information every would-be teleplay writer needs to know to break into the business, including: - Updated examples from contemporary shows such as 30 Rock, The Office and South Park - Shifts in how modern stories are structured - How to recognize changes in taste and censorship - The reality of reality television - How the Internet has created series development opportunities - A refined strategy for approaching agents and managers - How pitches and e-queries work - or don't - The importance of screenwriting competitions


Successful Sitcom Writing

Successful Sitcom Writing

Author: Jurgen Wolff

Publisher:

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 213

ISBN-13: 9780330350525

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This is a definitive guide on how to write and, more importantly, sell scripts for situation comedies. It provides tips on character development, sub-plots, manuscript formats and comedy and timing.


Elephant Bucks

Elephant Bucks

Author: Sheldon Bull

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781932907278

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This comprehensive guide is for those who want to launch a career as a television sitcom writer and features detailed inside information on how to write scripts that will get noticed.


Crapalachia

Crapalachia

Author: Scott McClanahan

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781937512033

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A colorful and elegiac coming-of-age story that announces Scott McClanahan as a resounding, lasting talent.


Writing Sitcoms

Writing Sitcoms

Author: John Byrne

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 171

ISBN-13: 9780713665260

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Almost every writer, whether professional or beginner, has thought of a good sitcom idea at one time or another, but fleshing that idea out is a long and complicated process of character development, plotting, dialogue writing and rewriting and then putting the whole package together in a way that will attract producers. In this book, successful sitcom writers John Byrne and Marcus Powell break that process down into a series of easy to follow steps. With chapters devoted to concept, characters and plot through to proposals, commissioning and production, Writing Sitcoms covers every aspect needed for success in the UK.


the little book of SITCOM

the little book of SITCOM

Author: John Vorhaus

Publisher: Bafflegab Books

Published: 2012-05-25

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13:

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Writing situation comedies isn’t really that hard. So much of what you need to know is already defined for you. You know that your script needs to be a certain short length, with a certain small number of characters. You know that your choice of scenes is limited to your show’s standing sets and maybe one or two swing sets or outside locations. You know how your characters behave and how they’re funny, either because you invented them or because you’re writing for a show where these things are already well established. Sitcom is easy and sitcom is fun. Sitcom is the gateway drug to longer forms of writing. It’s a pretty good buzz and a pretty good ride, a great way to kill an afternoon, or even six months. And now, thanks to comedy writing guru John Vorhaus (author of THE COMIC TOOLBOX: HOW TO BE FUNNY EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT), writing situation comedy is easier than ever. In THE LITTLE BOOK OF SITCOM, you'll find a whole trove of tools, tricks and problem-solving techniques that you can use -- now, today -- to be the sitcom writer of your wildest dreams. Ready to write? Ready to have fun? THE LITTLE BOOK OF SITCOM is the big little book for you.


How NOT to Write a Sitcom

How NOT to Write a Sitcom

Author: Marc Blake

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2011-09-23

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 1408130890

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The craft of sitcom is possibly the hardest of all screenwriting genres, demanding a complex set of skills. How NOT to Write a Sitcom is a troubleshooting guide aimed at both the novice and the practising sitcom writer. It illustrates and explains the many pitfalls in concept, characterisation, plotting and dramatic/comedic writing,which pepper the hundreds of scripts submitted every year. Each point is illustrated with an example of the error and each section contains practical suggestions and exercises for the writer to apply to their own writing. The book makes no assumption of the reader other than an interest in the form. It contains interviews with current producers as well as interviews with successful practioners of the craft. Marc Blake is a script consultant, writer and teacher of writing for sitcom. In this book he acts as a `script mechanic' for writers - stripping a sitcom down to its component parts, isolating the faults and fixing them. What script editors and producers are looking for are scripts that work. Naturally they want a genius in embryo, but above all they first want to see something that is roadworthy.


Sitcom Writers Talk Shop

Sitcom Writers Talk Shop

Author: Paula Finn

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2018-09-22

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 1538109190

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Behind every great television show is a group of professionals working at the top of their games—but no one is more important than the writers. And while writing comedy, especially good comedy, is serious business—fraught with actor egos, demanding producers, and sleepless nights—it also can result in classic lines of dialogue. Sitcom Writers Talk Shop: Behind the Scenes with Carl Reiner, Norman Lear, and Other Geniuses of TV Comedy is a collection of conversations with the writers responsible for some of the most memorable shows in television comedy. The men and women interviewed here include series creators, show runners, and staff writers whose talent and hard work have generated literally millions of laughs. In addition to Reiner (The Dick Van Dyke Show) and Lear (All in the Family), this book features in-depth interviews with: James L. Brooks (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Simpsons) Al Jean (The Simpsons, The Critic) Leonard Stern (The Honeymooners, Get Smart) Treva Silverman (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) Ken Estin (Cheers) Matt Williams (Roseanne, Home Improvement) Dava Savel (Ellen) Larry Charles (Seinfeld) David Lee (Frasier) Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond) Mike Reiss (The Simpsons) From these conversations, readers will learn that the business of writing funny has never been all laughs. Writers discuss the creative process, how they get unstuck, the backstories of iconic episodes, and how they cope with ridiculous censors, outrageous actors, and their own demons and fears. Sitcom Writers Talk Shop will appeal to fans of all of these shows and may serve as inspiration to anyone considering a life in comedy.