How Important Is The Writer?

With so many writers on board I feel as if I’m shoving a stick in to a bees nest and giving it a good old poke.

But if you had to put a percentage on it, just how important is the role of a writer in creating a great sitcom? Many have criticised show such as Roman’s Empire and Gavin and Stacey as being poorly or lazily written but I’ve found then still very watchable, so has the production team and actors made up the different.

Even great show like Dads Army seem to owe more to the great cast than great scripts.

I'm always trying to figure this out.

Writer, director and actors are all equally important I think. And then of course the editor - who could cut out all the good bits if they weren't careful.

I don't know, in other words.

I think, the writer is the most important followed by the actors. I mean if a line is not funny, no oscar performance will pull it off. Actors have to be right. I mean look at whats his name who plays Frank in shameless. That is one fine actor there. Who also has great lines. The writing style and the actor work in conjunction in a way but foundations need to be set.

Sometimes you can write with a particular actor in mind.

Actors are just moving props.

The writer is the foundation of everything

The Director? Huh!

I think the writers hold all the equipment. without them you only have reality television and cooking shows. A great actor can hold the screen but the writer explains it all.

I forgot about the director. He is defo up there at no.3. Bad actors can make a masterpiece of writing shite.They are very important. The writer is numero uno tho. I mean lets be honest. Have you ever seen a film that was as good as the book?

Writers will never be taken over by computer technology. Ask Jeeves if you dont believe me.

I think the director is the most important followed by the producer. The writer is then third along with the production team. Then the actors are at the bottom (I don't like actors that much). For me, however good a writer is, if the producer and director aren't any good then the whole project will be rubbish.

The writer, certainly. Everyone else is only working from what the writer has created, without a writer, theres no show. Actors and directors are important of course, and can turn a script thats only good into a great finished programme.

It's a bit like asking: how important is your heart compared to your lungs, liver, kidneys (not for donation), brain, etc? If you get all the right bits working together you can create magic. If one element doesn't work then you can die on your arse.

By 'great sitcom' I suppose most people mean one with quotable lines, so that would suggest the writer.

I agree with Badge. I`m looking on it as a collaborative process.

It starts with the script, but then there are all the other parts of the jigsaw to fit together, before (or even if!) it gets to the finished product.

We should make a ouija board and ask Oscar Wilde he'll have all the answers

hello
this is my first post so please be kind.
i think the writer is crucial.
other aspects are important such as casting, performance, music, direction, editing etc but ultimately if the script is poor then none of the these can save the show. if the script is great then the other things can all contribute to making a great sitcom.
whilst its not my favourite sitcom, THE OFFICE is a beautifully crafted piece of television. if you read the scripts then they are just as funny as the show itself, if not funnier in my opinion.

cheers

Well Hello there Johnny. Just read your profile. Well done you. I should hate you as I am a jealous tart but I feel drawn to like you already. It has nothing to do with the hope that you push a few buttons for me. LOL

Welcome to the BSG board. Well done with your sitcom & your comments on the Office are very true.