Some BBC Likes and Dislikes

I went to a fairly intimate comedy writing thing with the BBC earlier today. There was a commissioner present who shared some of their current wants and don't-necessarily-wants.

I took some notes, which I thought I'd share because that's the kind of lovely guy I am.

Much will not come as news to many of you, but it may be useful to some.

More LOLs.

Less smirking.

Physical comedy.

Del Boy falling through the bar.

Studio sitcoms.

Single-camera sitcoms.

Iconic characters.

Miranda.

Middle-aged middle-class men with crises (there's a glut of these at the moment, apparently)

Nice one, Kevin.

*checks own sitcom*

*throws in bin*

This is great actually, and welcome the return to more studio based sitcoms. Hopefully it'll encourage people to write more interesting and original spins on it. Or just keep it contemporary, like The IT Crowd, which mixes both new and old styles.

Forgot to mention: "Not Going Out" is "coughing blood but not necessarily dead yet".

Eep!
All very interesting stuff.

What the BBC "wants" never seems to be backed-up by what the BBC commissions. They were making similar noises to this 3 years ago.

So... which of the list are "wants" and which are "not wants???"

Or are the sad faces not wants????

EDIT: Now I realise they are. (BLUSH!)

Hmmm, what about business lunches, entertaining 'clients' and stopovers at expensive hotels? Is that still a big fat ?

Quote: Tim Walker @ November 26 2009, 5:51 PM GMT

What the BBC "wants" never seems to be backed-up by what the BBC commissions. They were making similar noises to this 3 years ago.

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3 years ago??? --- and then some!! 20+ more like!

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ November 26 2009, 6:30 PM GMT

Hmmm, what about business lunches, entertaining 'clients' and stopovers at expensive hotels? Is that still a big fat ?

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A big fat YES!

On the entertaining 'clients' bit - very often THEY are the ones who are 'entertained' by either damn good agents (get one) or hard-selling Independent Production Companies

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 26 2009, 5:17 PM GMT

Single-camera sitcoms.

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'Single camera comedy' IS a 'requirement' at BBC website > > > http://tinyurl.com/ykfjqkn So what's that all about?

Bottom line(s):

All these 'intimate comedy writing things' , 'feedback', etc., are, in the main, to keep unknown writers happy and at arms length; meanwhile they get on with the serious business of commissioning agents' clients and friends & family. Once in a polka-dotted moon there's a Susan Nickson who (when 18 years old) was commissioned for her 'original' sitcom about the lives of five twenty-somethings. When this happens, they bang on incessantly about it, giving new writers the impression "If Susan Nickson with her 'Pints, etc' can do it, so can I." --- You wanna f**kin' BET?

Sour Grapes? Of course! I gave up on the BBC years ago and concentrate (or my agent does) on independent companies both here and abroad. The BBC is not the only pebble on the beach - albeit a massive pebble.

Fat commissions for new/unknown writers from the BBC are great if (big IF) you can get them and subsequently, your feet under the table at The BBC Club (aka 'The Meat Market').

If (another big IF) you've got the aggression and networking talents (I certainly havent) - it CAN be done. Also; talent and originality can help you get a fat commission from the BBC - but neither are compulsory.

Hope that helps.

Del boy falling through the bar Stu.

Quote: Morrace @ November 26 2009, 8:21 PM GMT

Hope that helps.

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Not really.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 26 2009, 9:01 PM GMT

Not really.

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Quote: Tim Walker @ November 26 2009, 5:51 PM GMT

What the BBC "wants" never seems to be backed-up by what the BBC commissions.

View original

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 26 2009, 5:17 PM GMT

Miranda.

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Quote: Griff @ November 26 2009, 5:57 PM GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/network/genres/comedy_detail.shtml

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Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 26 2009, 5:17 PM GMT

Much will not come as news to many of you, but it may be useful to some.

View original

Quote: Morrace @ November 26 2009, 8:21 PM GMT

All these 'intimate comedy writing things' , 'feedback', etc., are, in the main, to keep unknown writers happy and at arms length; meanwhile they get on with the serious business of commissioning agents' clients and friends & family. Once in a polka-dotted moon there's a Susan Nickson who (when 18 years old) was commissioned for her 'original' sitcom about the lives of five twenty-somethings. When this happens, they bang on incessantly about it, giving new writers the impression "If Susan Nickson with her 'Pints, etc' can do it, so can I." --- You wanna f**kin' BET?

Sour Grapes? Of course! I gave up on the BBC years ago and concentrate (or my agent does) on independent companies both here and abroad. The BBC is not the only pebble on the beach - albeit a massive pebble.

Fat commissions for new/unknown writers from the BBC are great if (big IF) you can get them and subsequently, your feet under the table at The BBC Club (aka 'The Meat Market').

If (another big IF) you've got the aggression and networking talents (I certainly havent) - it CAN be done. Also; talent and originality can help you get a fat commission from the BBC - but neither are compulsory.

Hope that helps.

View original

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 26 2009, 5:17 PM GMT

Middle-aged middle-class men with crises (there's a glut of these at the moment, apparently)

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Writers Room:

What we don't accept

We do not read any of the following:

(amongst others) Comedy sketches or sketch shows – we only read narrative comedy series and sitcoms.
BBC Commissioning > > > http://tinyurl.com/ykfjqkn

BBC One - Sketch Shows
Shape

30 minutes returnable pre- and post-watershed.
Requirement

Sketch shows remain a vital part of BBC ONE's comedy diet and we're keen to bring the next generation of sketch performers to the channel to sit alongside Armstrong and Miller. We're also keen to keep entertainment values at the heart of the sketch show - for example, by mixing sketches with stand-up.
________________________________________________________________________________

Again - So what's that all about?

I'll tell you - the Commissioning website is the business end of the BBC and The Writers Room is for... well, keeps you happy.

I think that commissioning site is aimed at production companies, rather than unknown writers.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 26 2009, 9:28 PM GMT

I think that commissioning site is aimed at production companies, rather than unknown writers.

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Absolutely - and agents!