The difficulty of breaking into TV comedy.

What do people think of this chortle article where controller of comedy commissioning, Lucy Lumsden 'admits' it's "incredibly difficult’ for women and those from ethnic minorities to break into TV comedy".

It managed to rather annoy me, as that quote doesn't appear to have the context to make sense.

My understanding is it's pretty hard for anyone to get into TV comedy. Even the accused white male hardly gets handed a development deal just for turning up. One quote says she receives more than one script a day with only a ‘small proportion’ coming from black and Asian writers. Surely then the problem is a lack of black or asian writers submitting stuff? If say the top 2% of submissions are 'developed' and only 5% at the start is from minorities then it seems really rather unlikely that many would get made.

Essentially I feel "We don't get enough scripts from ethnic minorities" would have been a much more accurate statement. "It's more difficult" just suggests calls for a 'positive discrimination' type system. If there are actually problems with the BBC's submission system favouring one background over another, then sure they really should sort it out, but shouldn't the main criteria be; Is it funny? Is it well written? Do you think people will like it?

I think there's been a wealth of ethnic stuff over the last few years.

Little Miss Jocelyn
Three Non Blondes.
Goodness Gracious me a few years back.

I'd go as far to say if you looked at all the creatives in comedy, the mix of men, women, black, white whatever would probably match the ethnic mix in the UK.

What concerns me is that may go down an 'actively seeking more ethnic or black comedy route' rather than making stuff that's funny.

I don't think, on the whole, comedy fans look at a show and go 'Oh, it's got someone Chinese in it, I will (or won't) watch that!'. People watch what is funny.

Have to agree with Seefacts there.
Funny is funny. No matter what sex, age, race etc you are.
There are more male stand ups though.

Sorry Charley and the rest of the girlies on here but I have watched several female stand-ups and nothing. As in I didn't even raise a smile. Jo Brand is currently one of the most successful. Again sweet FA. Perhaps it's just me? Not to say that all male stand-ups are hilarious, 'cos they 'aint.

I'm sure exactly the same percentage of male and female standups are funny.

Should go without saying.

So of course, if you've only seen a few, it's not surprising you haven't found any you like yet.

I haven't seen many stand up female comics. I saw Josie Long a few years back and did not get her twee nonsense one bit. And she's critically acclaimed!

I like Josie Long.
It's all a matter of taste, innit.

I guess so. I just don't find stories about bus drivers waving at each other funny!

Have seen and worked with 3 Girls in a Boat, and firmly believe they are gonna be big once they get discovered. They are soooooo talented.

But Charity and Anne-Marie have told me they have been finding it hard being an all girl group.

http://www.myspace.com/3girlsinaboat

Quote: dannyjb1 @ March 11, 2008, 9:14 PM

But Charity and Anne-Marie have told me they have been finding it hard being an all girl group.

http://www.myspace.com/3girlsinaboat

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Well I find it hard being in solo male group, trying to write comedy through endless nights alone with only Pot Noodles as sustainence and company, but you don't find me complaining.

Have they learnt to menstruate at the same time, because if not, that can cause friction?

Quote: Tim Walker @ March 11, 2008, 9:58 PM

Well I find it hard being in solo male group, trying to write comedy through endless nights alone with only Pot Noodles as sustainence and company, but you don't find me complaining.

Have they learnt to menstruate at the same time, because if not, that can cause friction?

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Well I find it harder being in a solo female group!

Actually, that's a lie. At the end of the day, you're either funny or you aint... bitchin' and moanin' doesn't cut it, and although I do feel that comedy is male dominated, it's not impossible for us girlies to get noticed. Having said that, I think positive discrimination leaves a nasty taste, and I'd personally rather make it on my own merit rather than purely by my ability to menstruate.

Quote: Seefacts @ March 11, 2008, 6:35 PM

I don't think, on the whole, comedy fans look at a show and go 'Oh, it's got someone Chinese in it, I will (or won't) watch that!'. People watch what is funny.

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Affirmative.

Its difficult for anyone to get in to comedy. Not impossible though. You just need talent and patience.

Well for what its worth, I've been to quite a few seminars/events on comedy in London and a couple of courses and there have been fewer women on them compared to men and even fewer from ethnic backgrounds. These events are open to all so anyone can go on them but they just don't.

I don't know if that's because they feel they will be discriminated against further down the line, but I hope we aren't trying to force a group of people into doing something that might just not interest them, at least in the masses.

Certainly the ratio of people at the events that I have been to reflect the type of people producing comedy at the moment.

I might be stating the obvious here, but presumably Lucy Lumsden already knows a bit about the writer of each script she reads?

Because if not, how would she be able to determine the ethnic background of the writer from just reading their script?