A question about ****ing swearing

Okay, so I'm writing a sitcom, and the context in which it is set (rather not give away the concept at this point) is one in which everybody swears like sailors all the time (no, i'ts not set in the navy). I know because I worked there for 2 and a half years.

I'm trying to keep the swearing to a minimum,but for it to feel genuine the language used has to be pretty coarse. So far I've avoided using the C word but the F-bombs are flying.

Basically, is this still a problem in this day and age? I know shows like The Thick Of It etc. etc. use swearing, but are there rules about how much you can use?

And before someone asks, no, it's not *necessary* to the script, but it adds both realism and characterand, on balance, if it's not going to kill any chance of my script getting made, I'd prefer to keep it in.

What are other people's experiences/opinions?

All I can say is if it was me I would try to space it out and be as sparing as you possibly can, for two reasons I suppose.
1, Not everyone takes to swearing, whether it's realistic or not, and I would think you may be making the odds a little longer for yourself if the person who reads your script happens to be one of these people.
2, I feel too much swearing, I mean unecessary swearing that isn't really a part of any joke, may shift attention away from the words in your script that really do matter.
I also think there is a danger of someone misinterpreting your intention and thinking that you may be using bad language in a Roy Chubby Brown fasion - that is, just to make the jokes seem funnier by dint of having these words in them.
That's my penn'eth anyway.

Clement & La Frenais famously got round the problem by making up their own swear words.

Yep. And 'smeg' got around the problem in Red Dwarf.

Dan

If it's got to feel genuine, I'd maybe avoid made-up swear words.

Without knowing where your script is set, I think if you can avoid swearing altogether you give your script more chance of getting made just cos less swearing = wider potential audience.

If your choices are 1) lots of lovely, juicy, bad swears 2) neutered, fluffy, unrealistic swearing or 3) no swearing at all, I'd go for either 1) or 3) in a "realistic" script, or 2) or 3) in a daft studio-set thing.

On the whole I agree with James. I have often wondered how much grittier and more menacing Porridge would have felt if naff and nerk had been replaced by f**k and c**t. Mind you I think we all knew that is what they meant.

Timbo has a point there. They swear a helluva lot in prison (believe me, I know..) and it never hurt 'Porridge' to tone it down in terms of making the audience laugh and becoming a top sitcom.

Well, Timbo and Frankie Rage have given you the pointers. Be creative. It's never necessary and always funnier if you use another word.

My rule of thumb is one 'f**k' in an unsolicited script. Any more and it looks like you can't write.

I don't buy it. Every sitcom is set where people swear but they don't all need to swear to keep it real. Blackadder to Porridge to Yes Minister....all places where they'd be swearing like mad...but in a script it would be distracting to say the least.

In an unsolicited script you need to put as few barriers between your comedy and the producer seeing it.....and f**k is a barrier to many people. Whether thats because they dont like swearing, they think it will narrow the audience, they think it shows you use it instead of gags, whatever...it will be more a barrier than a step up.

Even if you get the OK to swear (you can always add it to script easy enough) it's still better used lightly (IMO)...The Office's finale f**k was all the more powerful because of it's isolated use.

My favourite sitcom swearing is in Arrested Development - and it's all bleeped out and cleverly shot so you can't even lipread the actors. Bleeped swearing is big and clever.

Apart from Tobias' "you're a cun... try music lover" which is just rude.

Quote: Frankie Rage @ July 6 2008, 10:36 AM BST

it never hurt 'Porridge' to tone it down in terms of making the audience laugh and becoming a top sitcom.

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I think this is the point. Sitcom is not docudrama. The aim is to be funny, and you can be truthful without being literal.

Bleeped swears are hilarious. Graham Linehan is the king of using bleeps.

I would avoid swearing altogether. I throw in the odd 'shit' but even when I think about it, I reckon I cut them out.

Don't cut out 'cock'..

I think the occasional swear word is ok. Although it depends what time slot you're aiming something at.

Agree with the consensus that less is more. One strategic 'f' word in a whole script is more shocking than constant "f@@@ing mother-f@@@ing c@@ts." Used poorly, swear words lose their impact. Plus as writers, we're supposed to make our dialogue as concise as possible without sacrificing character /plot. Swear words really add to the word count without contributing too much in return.

I was once told that density matters too. A single "shit" is fine but "shit, shit, shit" wouldn't be looked on differently.