Quote: Seefacts @ July 20, 2007, 9:29 PMThe characters were a bit bland, and although it did have lots of good lines, it was no classic.
I'll have you know that Coupling was/is a classic!! Nice to see we've managed to stay on topic so well.
Getting on the inside Page 4
Quote: earman2009 @ July 20, 2007, 9:35 PMI'll have you know that Coupling was/is a classic!! Nice to see we've managed to stay on topic so well.
I do like it, I will say that and I'd certainly watch a new Moffat show if it arrived. (Which according to Wiki it will do)
I also think he should shine as an example of intelligent plotting, something which is absent from a lot of British stuff.
Also from Wiki (about the school he and his dad worked):
"When the school was used for Harry Secombe's Highway, he mentioned to the producers that he had an idea for a television series about a school newspaper. The producers asked for a sample script, to which Bill Moffat agreed on condition that it was written by his son. Producer Sandra Hastie said that it was "the best ever first script" that she had read"
Would that happen now?
The 18 year old kid who wrote that one off pilot on BBC three which, I gathered, was puerile garbage, got into it by pestering Paul Mahew-Archer (whom did a talk at his college) into reading his pilot. PMH loved it and handed it to the relevant people and the rest is . . . a bad sitcom on a rubbish channel, but you get my point.
Quote: Jeremy Smith @ July 20, 2007, 9:18 PMWho was dissing Coupling? That is a world class sitcom, people on here only wish they could write something as cleverly structured and funny as that.
Similarly I can enjoy Coupling (the TV show) but HATE Friends.
It's identifying with the Englishness rather than Yanks. (see my Lead Ballooon comment)
Quote: David Chapman @ July 20, 2007, 9:54 PMSimilarly I can enjoy Coupling (the TV show) but HATE Friends.
It's identifying with the Englishness rather than Yanks. (see my Lead Ballooon comment)
What's all this 'yanks' bollocks?
I have a rule that says anyone who goes on about 'the yanks' is normally a moron. Do you hate the French as well?
Of course you can identify with the Americans. All the dating stuff in Coupling is done virtually the same in Friends, and far far better in Seinfeld. The social conventions are the same.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 20, 2007, 9:27 PMWhat's you favourite stuff from the pre-Russel era, by the way?
Well, I know a lot of people dont like a lot of the eighties stuff, but I genuinely think that McCoys second and third series were amongst the very best the series ever produced; Fenric, Ghost Light, Rem of Daleks, Greatest show in galaxy, etc-all great stories. Though there was utter shit like Silver Nemesis as well. Well, it wouldnt be Doctor who without the odd shit story now would it? i was seven when he started, so hes my doctor. Apart from him, Troughton and the best Tom Baker stories. Really, i tend to like it all, even deriving perverse pleasue out of the stories that are rubbish!
Quote: Seefacts @ July 20, 2007, 9:59 PMWhat's all this 'yanks' bollocks?
I have a rule that says anyone who goes on about 'the yanks' is normally a moron. Do you hate the French as well?
Of course you can identify with the Americans. All the dating stuff in Coupling is done virtually the same in Friends, and far far better in Seinfeld. The social conventions are the same.
OK - I'm a moron! But that doesn't stop me NOT finding the American sitcoms you mention remotely funny.
To repeat - ad finitum - I love Cheers, South Park, Police Squad - but just cannot get into Curb, Frasier and Friends!
Quote: David Chapman @ July 20, 2007, 10:11 PMTo repeat - ad finitum - I love Cheers, South Park, Police Squad - but just cannot get into Curb, Frasier and Friends!
AH well, horses for courses.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 20, 2007, 10:04 PMWell, I know a lot of people dont like a lot of the eighties stuff, but I genuinely think that McCoys second and third series were amongst the very best the series ever produced; Fenric, Ghost Light, Rem of Daleks, Greatest show in galaxy, etc-all great stories. Though there was utter shit like Silver Nemesis as well. Well, it wouldnt be Doctor who without the odd shit story now would it? i was seven when he started, so hes my doctor. Apart from him, Troughton and the best Tom Baker stories. Really, i tend to like it all, even deriving perverse pleasue out of the stories that are rubbish!
I know what you mean, one of my favourites is Nightmare of Eden, which probably has the worst acting of any TV show ever in the character of Tryst, but the story's so good. I liked McCoy and all of the stories you mentioned are good (particularly Ghostlight IMO) and I thought he got a bit of a raw deal really, but most of my most favourite stuff is in the Hinchcliffe era. If you saw the show as a child when it was broadcast, I think that adds something that is hard to appreciate if you didn't experience it. Doctor Who really did help to form my imagination. I'd like to see Russell commission Chris Boucher, but i don't suppose that is going to happen.
I haven't read this thread but I feel the need to make a joke off the title, along the lines of Prison Break and having a tattoo all over your body. 
Your all writers, I'll let you make the joke yourselves.
just looking over this thread made me laugh.
i remember looking at it and giving my 2 cents worth. trying to get on the inside! but what strikes me is that i still feel i'm right, and around half the people involed in this thread believe me too. what steve moffat(coupling) said was that you have to write a perfect script. he's right. being a comedy writer isn't just something that you get up in the morning and decide u want to do, its a craft, a job, a journey. it takes time to learn how to create a great plot, to structure it correctly and to create GREAT CHARACTERS(most importantly), how to get every characters dialogue spot on. you only get experience of writing-by re-writing. but at the same time you have to be a very funny person! most people think cos they can make their friends and family laugh they can write a great sitcom/sketch, it dosent work like that. it takes all of the above-plots,characters,structure,situations,being funny and luck. and until you take all this into consideration, and dont just send off your first draft, with spelling mistakes,poor characters,weak plot etc, you wont get nowhere. so i say think, alot more, about all of the above when you are sending off your work, and complaining about lack of chances, because i guarantee if you do the baulk of what i say, you will have a great chance of making it in this tough tough enviroment.
p.s-i have taken all the above advice into consideration myself-and its depressing me too!!!
p.p.s-and if you ever read and of steve moffats work or it ever did get sent into a production company/bbc-it would be snapped up like that!
Not this thread again.
Am I the only one who finds the DVD cover of Jekyl unintentionally hilarious? No-one could be frightened by a man with permed hair.
I also like the 'season one' reference. They call them seasons in America because their shows last for a season, dumbass!
Jekyl is FOUR episodes!
Quote: Godot Taxis @ September 13, 2007, 5:08 AMNot this thread again.
Am I the only one who finds the DVD cover of Jekyl unintentionally hilarious? No-one could be frightened by a man with permed hair.
I also like the 'season one' reference. They call them seasons in America because their shows last for a season, dumbass!
Jekyl is FOUR episodes!
I thought it was six? Either way, definitely not a 'season'. Hah!
I've just watched them back-to-back actually... and I thought the show was utter rubbish. Fractured writing... and too many illogical areas for me to maintain a suspension of disbelief. For example, 'Mr. Hyde' can throw a lion out of its pen but not break down a locked door?
The timeline seemed to be screwed too... but I was so depressed with it all, I couldn't be bothered to go back and verify.
Gina acted as if she was still in an episode of 'Coupling' (it really did sound comical - if you get the chance, turn away from the screen and just listen to her lines... bloody awful). And the ending was a joke... surely?
It was so bad, it got me thinking that perhaps there was nothing wrong with the writing (for who could produce such nonsense?) but something had gone terribly wrong in the edit instead...
That's not what happened though, is it?
The only nice bit in the whole series was the idea of 'love' as 'psychopath'. I wish that had been explored a little more.
*Sigh*
P.S. I loved McCoy as the Dr. I thought he was a great choice for the part. Not sure about 'Ace' but hey...
q just looking over this thread made me laugh.
i remember looking at it and giving my 2 cents worth. trying to get on the inside! but what strikes me is that i still feel i'm right, and around half the people involed in this thread believe me too. what steve moffat(coupling) said was that you have to write a perfect script. he's right. being a comedy writer isn't just something that you get up in the morning and decide u want to do, its a craft, a job, a journey. it takes time to learn how to create a great plot, to structure it correctly and to create GREAT CHARACTERS(most importantly), how to get every characters dialogue spot on. you only get experience of writing-by re-writing. but at the same time you have to be a very funny person! most people think cos they can make their friends and family laugh they can write a great sitcom/sketch, it dosent work like that. it takes all of the above-plots,characters,structure,situations,being funny and luck. and until you take all this into consideration, and dont just send off your first draft, with spelling mistakes,poor characters,weak plot etc, you wont get nowhere. so i say think, alot more, about all of the above when you are sending off your work, and complaining about lack of chances, because i guarantee if you do the baulk of what i say, you will have a great chance of making it in this tough tough enviroment.
p.s-i have taken all the above advice into consideration myself-and its depressing me too!!!
p.p.s-and if you ever read and of steve moffats work or it ever did get sent into a production company/bbc-it would be snapped up like that!
this thread wasent a listen to me,
it is just reality!
I've just read this thread trying to learn something from it!
I conclude that:
1. If you're already successful (or you know the right people) you can get a good 'ready-to-go' script accepted.
2. If you're a new writer who doesn't know the right people, you need to have an exceptional 'ready-to-go' script to break through.
Is that a fair conclusion or I have I missed something? 
A funny script and a lucky break. Simple.