British Comedy Guide

Linehan question

Howdy.

This is probably a massive shot in the dark, but I heard in an interview recently that Graham Linehan was interested in becoming a 'showrunner' for the next series of 'IT Crowd' (being more of a creative overseer and using other writing talent to create the eps). He also mentioned in an Interview (can't remember which one, but it was on Robin Kelly's blog recently) that he was considering using Twitter as a means of testing out new writing talent for the show.

I don't use Twitter (sorry, I just don't get it - don't judge me!), but I do work in IT so maybe one cancels the other out...?

Ok probably not. But anyway I was wondering if anyone else heard of this and perhaps knew what was expected of candidates (not in terms of comedy - just how to apply)? Is it just a Twitter thing?

He seems in all his interviews and from his blog posts to be a sincere, likeable bloke and I certainly don't want to hassle him personally via his blog and I wouldn't want to start a stampede of people performing similar antics...but if an opportunity's out there I'd cut my arm off to grab it.

So that's what I did - I posted my arm to his home address. I figure that's the least intrusive method of drawing me to his attention, right?

Seriously - anyone know anything? If you do, don't reply to this post...

...ok, do reply to this post.

Just a quick clarification - I used the words 'candidate' and 'apply' there, but I don't want to give the impression he mentioned an actual 'application' process in any way - he didn't.

In fact this may all be just something I imagined.

That does happen.

I don't get Twitter either and never will as long as I live

You mean I'm not alone??? Oh thank God!!

I normally take a while to adopt new feeds/technologies/platforms and such, but when I do I normally see them as good things overall.

Twitter?

No.

I heard an interview with him on the Lauren Laverne show I think it was and from what I remember he said he had already picked the writers he wanted to use.

Not certain but that's what I seem to recall him saying.

Ah.

Suppose it makes sense - you wouldn't advertise a chance like that if it was still open, cos you'd find yourself deluged with people like me going 'gizza job!'

Never mind - thanks for that Chris.

Wonder if I can get Parcelforce to stop delivery of my arm?

Might still be able to re-attach it.

Quote: Frantically @ June 30 2010, 7:56 PM BST

...ok, do reply to this post.

Here's one piece of advice. Never, EVER, say anything critical about his work. He has the thinnest skin in the world.*

Actually, anything less than "Everything you have ever done, including Big Train, is perfect" means you will never have a chance of working with him.

*Even saying that he is thin-skinned will upset him.

Big Train is brilliant.

And who cares how thick his skin is?

Twitter is an odd public way of texting each other. As to why people use it, well...

I agree about Big Train - superb. Always welcome a chance to mention it again.

'Consider' could mean anything, but you can tweet @Glinner and his page is here: http://twitter.com/GLINNER

I think people get in the habit of doing repetitive actions, that's what Twitter's about really. It's just all that follower crap and trending topic crap with it.

Quote: Tim Azure @ June 30 2010, 11:45 PM BST

'Consider' could mean anything, but you can tweet @Glinner and his page is here: http://twitter.com/GLINNER

I think people get in the habit of doing repetitive actions, that's what Twitter's about really. It's just all that follower crap and trending topic crap with it.

Or you could laugh at my jokes www.twitter.com/TonyCowards, I've been described as the "Tim Vine of twitter" by someone of this very parish.

:D

Quote: Tony Cowards @ July 1 2010, 3:02 PM BST

Or you could laugh at my jokes www.twitter.com/TonyCowards, I've been described as the "Tim Vine of twitter" by someone of this very parish.

:D

Wouldn't Tim Vine be the Tim Vine of Twitter - or is he only on Facebook?

Quote: Jinky @ June 30 2010, 10:43 PM BST

Here's one piece of advice. Never, EVER, say anything critical about his work. He has the thinnest skin in the world.*

Actually, anything less than "Everything you have ever done, including Big Train, is perfect" means you will never have a chance of working with him.

*Even saying that he is thin-skinned will upset him.

Leave it alone, Matthews!

I've never heard of Linehan being thin skinned. Not that this is definitive proof to dispel that idea, but here's what he recently said about criticism:

"A comedy writer who can take criticism, you have to take criticism. If you think that writing is about fighting against any change that people want to make you're wrong, you have to act on people suggestions."

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