Quote: simon wright @ July 26 2010, 11:55 PM BSTThe point about putting a script through lots of drafts came not from me, but a very successful comedy producer. Someone who was puzzled and frankly disappointed to be watching exactly the same script twice.
I'm puzzled by this bit, to be honest. What did he/she expect? And what do DVD comedy sales rely on - people watching a different version of the script every time?
Yes, re-write all you can if you can improve it, with all the constraints that Griff pointed out. But if the producer liked it first time are you saying he/she hated it second time? Or were they just looking for an excuse to say no to something they really didn't like that much to start off with?
Point is, if Cleese and Booth rolled up with "Communication Problems" you and the producer wouldn't be looking to change it much between shows. At the same I doubt any of you is expecting the finished article to be staged. If the TV/radio people want perfect sitcoms to be dropped in their laps and improved markedly between competition rounds then maybe they should be putting their moeny behind this sort of thing and giving you a development funding cheque?