Exposition!
Often described as 'flab and waffle', is that all it is?
Why can't it be funny?
Is there no room for it in a sitcom script?
Exposition!.. Exposition!.. Exposition!..
Exposition's great. My advice, cram your script with as much as possible. Tell, not show.
No!
Quote: john lucas 101 @ April 8 2009, 2:13 PM BSTNo!
Lightweight. My cutting-edge new-wave scripts contain nothing but pages and pages of people talking about what's happening, what's just happened, and what's about to happen.
Quote: random @ April 8 2009, 2:11 PM BSTExposition!
Often described as 'flab and waffle', is that all it is?
Why can't it be funny?
Is there no room for it in a sitcom script?
It's using dialogue to explain things. I.e
JOHN
Hello Mike. How are you after your wife Cathy left you last week?
MIKE
Ok, thanks John, but I've just lost my job at the bakery.
JOHN
Oh dear. You worked there for 10 years didn't you?
MIKE
Yes, until I was caught with my fingers in the till.
JOHN
Were you arrested?
MIKE
No, I was taken to A&E. Three fractured fingers and a broken thumb.
Sometimes you can use it for a bit of fun - like in Father Ted, but generally should be avoided and reveal in other ways.
Quote: chipolata @ April 8 2009, 2:15 PM BSTLightweight. My cutting-edge new-wave scripts contain nothing but pages and pages of people talking about what's happening, what's just happened, and what's about to happen.
Quote: chipolata @ April 8 2009, 2:15 PM BSTLightweight. My cutting-edge new-wave scripts contain nothing but pages and pages of people talking about what's happening, what's just happened, and what's about to happen.
Alright, you've convinced me.
To pin point an extreme example would be something like Early Doors, they had two police men who appeared out the back in each episode chatting, who rarely (if ever) pushed the plot/storyline forward.
It worked exceptionally well 
Don't you think?
Only as a successful pre-empting to a coma.
Quote: random @ April 8 2009, 2:19 PM BSTTo pin point an extreme example would be something like Early Doors, they had two police men who appeared out the back in each episode chatting, who rarely (if ever) pushed the plot/storyline forward.
It worked exceptionally well
Don't you think?
Exposition does push the plot forward when it explains back stroy, what is happening now, what might happen. And it's obvious and it's lazy. It's not the same as padding.
Quote: random @ April 8 2009, 2:19 PM BSTTo pin point an extreme example would be something like Early Doors, they had two police men who appeared out the back in each episode chatting, who rarely (if ever) pushed the plot/storyline forward.
I'm not sure that was exposition as I understand it. To me, it's when characters keep stopping to explain to each other the plot. And the writers clearly doing it because he's worried it's not making sense otherwise. It's just bad storytelling.
Hello? Can anyone hear me???
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 8 2009, 2:22 PM BSTAnd it's obvious and it's lazy. It's not the same as padding.
I agree with Dolly. 
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 8 2009, 2:22 PM BSTExposition does push the plot forward when it explains back stroy, what is happening now, what might happen. And it's obvious and it's lazy. It's not the same as padding.
I take it it you didn't rate the two coppers in Early Doors.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 8 2009, 2:24 PM BSTHello? Can anyone hear me???
Sorry, you'll have to speak up.