I think a good episode to watch in terms of multiple threads going on which eventually come together is 'The Germans' episode of Fawlty Towers.
You have Sybil (and Basil) in hospital, you have the fire and then the Germans themselves not to mention the mad scene with the moose head. Each section is a mini sitcom show in its own right and wonderfully executed.
Quote: Deferenz @ January 25 2009, 2:37 PM GMTWhat are you currently writing or planning?
Def.
I can admit straight out that I'm not (yet?) a writer; but I'm very interested in it.
Quote: Blenkinsop @ January 25 2009, 3:59 PM GMTYes, really.
I'm not suggesting that it's the only one or indeed the definitive example but it does IMO undoubtedly have plots and subplots aplenty.
Do you not agree?
I dunno, I like the show but it seems quite 'narrow' when compared to something like, say, Seinfeld, which I would say is more transparent in its multi-plotting, with each character having their own stories, and so on. I'm not saying it doesn't have sub-plots, just that there are clearer examples of it elsewhere.
I'm sure your're not wrong there Matthew. But as I have said I wasn't contending that LB is the leading example in this area.
I thought that your "really?" was perhaps the written equivalent of a raised eyebrow and that maybe you thought that LB didn't have this particular structure at all.
B
Quote: NoggetFred @ January 25 2009, 5:22 PM GMTI can admit straight out that I'm not (yet?) a writer; but I'm very interested in it.
If you're interested in it then give it a go. Perhaps you'll catch the bug and then your every waking moment will be spent thinking about jokes, sentence structure, characters and plotting. 
Def.
Quote: Deferenz @ January 26 2009, 8:02 AM GMTPerhaps you'll catch the bug and then your every waking moment will be spent thinking about jokes, sentence structure, characters and plotting.
Or alternatively, catch the bug and five years later drink yourself to death in the bath, while stabbing your thigh with a HB pencil shouting "Syntax, you fool. Where's the bloody syntax?"