Radio Sitcom

Anyone know who are the best people to send a radio sitcom to? It seems a good route to get from there to TV and there are some really terrible ones out there at the moment - I'm sure most of us can do better.

E.g. Hut 33 on Radio 4. Sounded great from the write up, but it turns out I couldn't force myself to sit through even one whole episode of this patronising, contrived, predictable, formulaic, unoriginal and unfunny pile of utter utter $%£&*$$*g b*llocks!!!!!!!. Phew, I feel calm again now.

I actually grown to quite like Hut 33. Some of it is predictable but there's some good lines in amongst it in my opinion.

Sadly, unlike TV, most of the BBC's radio output is produced in house which makes it very hard to get a script in... but not impossible. I'm sure others can shed some light. There's a handful of writers in our directory who've had stuff on the radio.

Thanks, I hoped maybe radio would be more open to scripts, but I guess not.

On hut 33 - I only listened to the latest episode, so it may've been a bad one to choose, as I got the impression it was a good idea anodized by lazy writing.

For a start, I wouldn't go into radio thinking it as just an way to get into TV. That doesn't sit well with radio producers and commissioners.

Quote: chipolata @ July 30, 2007, 10:52 AM

For a start, I wouldn't go into radio thinking it as just an way to get into TV. That doesn't sit well with radio producers and commissioners.

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Well the fact is that it is and that most people are hoping to do so. You don't make it obvious but most people know the score. I've yet to see someone turn down a chance for their radio show to go on tv.

I would be equally happy to write for Radio or TV, but it seems like a lot of famous TV writers started in radio, so even for those members who aim for TV it is a possibility (is what I was saying in a round about way!).

I've seen a few job adverts for creative writers who can write ads for commercial radio stations, but they are all asking for show reels and experience. Does anyone know how you get started doing that?

For those interested, Hut 33 is returning for a second series, with tickets currently going for recordings.

Radio comedy is probably more difficult to write than TV comedy. And, if you can pull it off, you stand more chance of getting a radio sitcom commissioned as a first time writer than a TV show commissioned.

Quote: Ian Wolf @ January 29, 2008, 11:27 AM

For those interested, Hut 33 is returning for a second series, with tickets currently going for recordings.

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I thought it was the best new radio comedy for a while so pleased it is coming back.

Quote: Griff @ January 29, 2008, 11:38 AM

Obviously, I wouldn't turn down a radio commission and I don't suppose anyone else on here would either. But I'm not sure that radio is a way into TV, except that it obviously boosts your overall credibility as a writer.

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If you can write a good radio comedy, I think you can write anything. Having to rely solely on words certainly puts the focus on making the dialogue funny - something a lot of TV sitcoms could learn from I think (rather than them relying on tired slapstick or actors making silly faces).

From what I understand, but I'm no expert, radio sketches are the best way into the industry - if you're good enough you'll then move over to TV sketches.

Of course the problem with the statements in this thread is that they're suggesting radio comedy is somehow inferior and people would rather write for TV. Some Radio 4 comedies get more listeners than BBC3 sketch shows so I'd certainly not knock the genre.

Quote: Griff @ January 29, 2008, 11:38 AM

There was a big piece in the Grauniad about radio comedy last year sometime, and they pointed out that the percentage of radio comedies which transfer to TV is tiny and getting smaller.

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Interesting.

It should be noted though that at least two comedies in this spring's schedule have come from radio:

That Mitchell and Webb Look
Teenage Kicks

So it's still a route that does work from time to time.