Is sarcasm the new alternative comedy in Wales now?
Help required with my new sitcom about a taxi firm Page 2
Quote: Aaron @ March 18 2009, 2:35 PM GMTWhat's all the white business about? I don't see "no darkies" or any such phrase to that effect in Sebastian's posts. Apart from the hopefuly specification of Martin Jarvis as the actor, there's no indication of any characters' personal backgrounds.
The comment was nothing to do with Sebastian's post, it was to do with Nogget Fred's suggestion that, to avoid the issue Lee brought up, (of cabbies mainly being Asian) it might be an idea to set the story in the past.
Quote: Sebastian Melmoth @ March 18 2009, 11:19 AM GMTHoward Deveto
Wasn't he the guy from Buzzcocks and Magazine?
Quote: shaggy292 @ March 18 2009, 2:55 PM GMTWasn't he the guy from Buzcocks and Magazine?
Yes, and also, apparently, Taxi!
I used to be a taxi driver...
...but I'm saving all my real life weird happenings for my own sitcom about a taxi firm. 
Not being funny, but I don't think people are going to really help you with your plots, because, as a writer, you should be able to do that yourself.
Quote: jonny2 @ March 18 2009, 2:41 PM GMTA great idea, Sebastian
I love the characters you have in mind, i.e., a washed-up cabaret singer, a retired jewel thief, a resting actor, a female wrestler, a former MP, an out-of-work sex therapist, a surly tinker and an astronaut. These are sound ingredients for a hilarious sitcom. You obviously have a great sense of humour! I look forward to the first episode - hopefully, there will be one.
Long may you stay on this site, Sebastian!
*sarcasm detector explodes*
Quote: David Bussell @ March 18 2009, 2:50 PM GMTThe comment was nothing to do with Sebastian's post, it was to do with Nogget Fred's suggestion that, to avoid the issue Lee brought up, (of cabbies mainly being Asian) it might be an idea to set the story in the past.
I was mainly aiming towards Lee, prompted by your mention of it. Anyway, I thought that Nogget Fred's suggestion was more another idea inspired by Lee's comment than a suggestion of a way around it.
Quote: Mikey J @ March 18 2009, 3:08 PM GMTNot being funny,
No change there then.
Quote: jonny2 @ March 18 2009, 4:47 PM GMTNo change there then.
He's a f**king cab driver! Of course he's got change.
Quote: Marc P @ March 18 2009, 4:49 PM GMTHe's a f**king cab driver! Of course he's got change.
No - the customer said he could keep that.
Quote: Marc P @ March 18 2009, 4:49 PM GMTHe's a fücking cab driver!
A fücking ex-cab driver!
Apropos the claims of there being a surfeit of white characters and lack of ethnic minorities in my sitcom, may I just point out that the astronaut is actually an American.
And jonny, thank you for your kind words earlier. I literally wept hot tears of gratitude for such stirring support and, as the laudanum began to wear off, actually reached for the sock.
Quote: shaggy292 @ March 18 2009, 2:55 PM GMTWasn't he the guy from Buzzcocks and Magazine?
I was just going to say that.
And did anyone mention Roger Roger? (Waits for the explosion)
Then there was the James Hazeldine thing with the gorgeous Amanda Redman.
And of course Corrie!
This sitcom puts me in mind of World of Pub. I know it had nothing to do with taxis, but it had the same madcap quality that this idea seems to have.
That cabbie sitcom with Keith Barrett you mention... that would be Marion and Geoff.
The Bafta nominated triple award-winning Marion and Geoff.
And you don't like it?
hmmm. Why?
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 18 2009, 12:41 PM GMT"Taxi" is hardly "dimly-remembered", it's one of the best-loved comedies of all time. And it's Danny DeVito, not Howard.
But anyway, I believe there are several million taxi firm scripts floating around - maybe it's just an obvious choice. That's not to say it wouldn't get made if it wasn't good enough of course. I'm sure there was an asian comedy on Radio 4 about a taxi firm a while ago though.
And that may be a problem with your exclusively-white characters...(there's nobody whiter than Martin Jarvis!). How many taxi firms do you know who employ mostly white drivers? Maybe it's just my area but there aren't any at all. Seriously, I haven't met a non-asian cabbie for years.
Actually my Dad did a stint as a cabbie back in the sixties and told me how his mate had taken a guy from Middlesbrough to London. Obviously the fare was astronomical and when he finally got there, the guy had died. The cabbie went through the corpse's pockets and got the fare before contacting the police. There's a story for you!
Weird, there isn't a single asian cabbie round my parts, at least I haven't met them if there is. A few women though. Mainly fat, middle-aged, white, blokes though.