I'm writing a Sitcom - what do you enjoy about them?

yer_averagejoe · 15 Mar 2006 at 00:02

Genius:

Zach Braff.

kitten_caboodle · 15 Mar 2006 at 09:16

yer_averagejoe said:
Genius:

Zach Braff.

Quoted for truth. Love that guy.

GravyMonster · 15 Mar 2006 at 09:30

OMG! I can't believe I missed this thread until now!

I've actually written a pilot of a sitcom myself which is currently going through the motions at the BBC, although i'm still waiting to hear back as to how far they want to take it.

I had a load of helpful links on scriptwriting and sitcoms, but they're not on this machine. I'll have a dig around for you.

My idea was for a sitcom, but shot in the single camera movie style, no audience and definitely no laugh track, ala Scrubs and Teachers, to basically allow for more directive flair and give it a distinct visual style.

Anyhoo, I'll post the links when i find them.

kitten_caboodle · 15 Mar 2006 at 09:32

Spunkey said:
My idea was for a sitcom, but shot in the single camera movie style, without an audience, ala Scrubs and Teachers, to basically allow for more directive flair and give it a distinct visual style.

Anyhoo, I'll post the links when i find them.

I think that style works better at the moment. I certainly think Scrubs is the pivotal comedy of our time

, totally underrated.

ALLI · 15 Mar 2006 at 12:16

OK what about "Curb your Enthusiasm" ?

Scriptless comedy filmed on the fly. Very very funny at times. Have the whole lot on DVD given to me as my g/f's Dad bought it and didn't find it that funny. This is a guy who didn't rate Peter Kay when we saw him live because his humour was too close to home to be really funny. (!)

kitten_caboodle · 15 Mar 2006 at 12:25

ALLI said:
OK what about "Curb your Enthusiasm" ?

Scriptless comedy filmed on the fly. Very very funny at times. Have the whole lot on DVD given to me as my g/f's Dad bought it and didn't find it that funny. This is a guy who didn't rate Peter Kay when we saw him live because his humour was too close to home to be really funny. (!)

Don't think I ever saw it

Oh another one for your list re: ex/undertaker

'He'll always have business. It's not a dying trade'

!bluetonic! · 15 Mar 2006 at 12:27

How about a sitcom about a bunch of different minded people who write on a t'internet forum....

Sure fire winner.

OR

Funniest thing was recently on Eastenders.

Kevin (Phil Daniels) planned to go off on his world travels. He gets drunk, says goodbye to everyone, somehow him or his family get involved in a Friday-night EastEnd fight and ends up staying for another week. This happened two Friday's on the trot. Should happen every Friday.

kitten_caboodle · 15 Mar 2006 at 12:38

!bluetonic! said:
How about a sitcom about a bunch of different minded people who write on a t'internet forum....

Sure fire winner.

OR

Funniest thing was recently on Eastenders.

Kevin (Phil Daniels) planned to go off on his world travels. He gets drunk, says goodbye to everyone, somehow him or his family get involved in a Friday-night EastEnd fight and ends up staying for another week. This happened two Friday's on the trot. Should happen every Friday.

..looks like it might!

caff · 15 Mar 2006 at 13:19

Give your characters real depth and emotion, as well as being funny, is my only piece of advice.

People like to watch other people struggle too - it puts your own life in perspective.

ALLI · 15 Mar 2006 at 16:28

kitten_caboodle said:
Don't think I ever saw it

Oh another one for your list re: ex/undertaker

'He'll always have business. It's not a dying trade'

To be honest, it's not a job you can get far in. The competition is stiff!

kitten_caboodle · 15 Mar 2006 at 16:35

ALLI said:
To be honest, it's not a job you can get far in. The competition is stiff!

So Curb your Enthusiasm is worth a look? Might take your advice on that and rent it

Q: A snake and an undertaker wanted to get married. What will they put on their towels?
A: Hiss and hearse! :rolleyes:

DailyGeek · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:00

Spunkey said:
OMG! I can't believe I missed this thread until now!

I've actually written a pilot of a sitcom myself which is currently going through the motions at the BBC, although i'm still waiting to hear back as to how far they want to take it.

I had a load of helpful links on scriptwriting and sitcoms, but they're not on this machine. I'll have a dig around for you.

My idea was for a sitcom, but shot in the single camera movie style, no audience and definitely no laugh track, ala Scrubs and Teachers, to basically allow for more directive flair and give it a distinct visual style.

Anyhoo, I'll post the links when i find them.

Hey - good luck mate! Will be handy if you can give me any pointers. I've had stuff looked at by C4 and things in the past, but like I say, sitcoms are a new thing to me.

mark_t50 · 15 Mar 2006 at 22:00

For me I like to see characters that have flaws and vulnerabilities just like us.

For example in Friends each of the characters had flaws, my favourite chracter (Chandler) had problems from his childhood that meant he had difficulties forming relationships and also couldn't deal with any form of crisis, he used comedy to cover it up. All the other characters had flaws and these were played on to great comedy effect. I think it draws an audience in as most people like to feel they can relate to a character.

It may sound daft, but for all the comedy I think it's essential to have the odd emotional or sad moment in a sitcom. I think that this helps a viewer bond with a character more, seeing them go through a bad spell or struggling with some personal issue again gives people a link to the characters and a real feeling of emotional attachment.

JonC · 15 Mar 2006 at 22:13

DailyGeek said:
You know your sitcoms I love Spaced!

Managed to convince my girlfriend that spaced was the best thing since sliced bread, I just wish they'd make (just a few) more.

One thing I really look for in a good sitcom/comedy in general is a mixture of levels. Thngs like spaced/simpsons have the overtly funny bits (that anyone will get), but more importantly the well set-up and/or more subtle bits.

Some of my friends have been compiling sketch ideas for a while, with an eye to (maybe at some point when one of us is independently wealthy) making a short sketch show. I'd probably like to have a slightly stronger narrative, but hey, what can you do.

jonc

alexakasloth · 15 Mar 2006 at 22:29

Friends, friends, friends!

ALLI · 15 Mar 2006 at 22:48

kitten_caboodle said:
So Curb your Enthusiasm is worth a look? Might take your advice on that and rent it

Q: A snake and an undertaker wanted to get married. What will they put on their towels?
A: Hiss and hearse!

If you were a hamster I'd send you to your cage for that joke.

I like CYE... Makes me laff. Try it, what's the worst that can happen?

*grin*