Is funny sitcom writing natural talent? Or...

building on others ideas?

Sometimes when I watch what I consider to be a very funny sitcom, I wonder how can the writer/s think up so many funny lines. But then I wonder, have they just learnt from past writers and their tricks and have they learnt certain technical tricks from past writers that they just put into action when they write?

I know some people who are very witty in real life and just come out with things all the time. Yet I've also heard that some comedy writers aren't funny at all in real life.

What do you think??? (I remember when Adrian Mole asked his English teacher what qualifications you need to be a sitcom writer she replied "You don't need qualifications, Love, you just need to be a moron".)

So is being a funny person important or is being creative what counts.

We just produce bad sitcoms, that's all in the main.

The reason why writers can't be funny in social situations may be because we aren't stand up comedians, we can only be funny on the page (sometimes...)

The requirements to being succesful at something, fall into two sections; skills that can be acquired ( learnt ) and those that can't ( Things like attitude.) Writing is a skill that can be acquired, okay some people have a natural talent for it that allows them to develop quicker than others, but it is skill a skill that can be learnt.

After you have acquired the skill, you need to build on it and make your ability better. And at the same time look at your other skills and see what you can do to correct those other things.

Look at football.

We can all kick a ball so why aren't we all playing in the Premiership?

The answer is that most of us don't want to be footballers and amongst those of us who do, the majority don't have the talent or single-mindedness to make a career out of it.

I remember some manager saying that he felt the difference between a Premiership player and a Fourth Division journeyman wasn't so much to do with technical ability, but that the Premiership footballer had a much stronger (even pathological) desire to succeed.

I think it's just something you're born with. For instance there's a little girl in my son's class at school who's an amazing artist, years and years ahead of the rest. She wasn't taught that skill, it was just there as she grew. Same for creative writers I think, or any of the arts - music, dance, whatever. A pianist can be taught how to read notes off a sheet, but you can't teach the same pianist to compose great music if he has no natural aptitude for it.

As for comedy writers being funny in real life, I know tons of writers and comedians who rarely crack jokes and blind you with witticisms. I mean, you can be in a room with a bunch of comedy writers and you could be at a banking convention. You'll get the odd gobby one but largely they're pretty normal. I think one of the reasons for that is most writers and comedians are very self-aware and wouldn't want to be seen as being one of those twats who're "always on". That's my take on it anyway.

I've been told that one of the exceptions is Rob Brydon. He's apparently exactly the same offscreen as you see him onscreen, but in a good way, not an annoying way.

Quote: Lee Henman @ July 26 2010, 7:27 PM BST

I've been told that one of the exceptions is Rob Brydon. He's apparently exactly the same offscreen as you see him onscreen, but in a good way, not an annoying way.

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I've heard quite the opposite actually. Saying that Kevin Eldon is as funny offscreen as he is onscreen.

I think it's a natural talent too. You could maybe teach someone to write a technically well laid out scene, but it might have no discernible humour.

Quote: Jinky @ July 26 2010, 8:01 AM BST

Look at football.

We can all kick a ball so why aren't we all playing in the Premiership?

The answer is that most of us don't want to be footballers and amongst those of us who do, the majority don't have the talent or single-mindedness to make a career out of it.

I remember some manager saying that he felt the difference between a Premiership player and a Fourth Division journeyman wasn't so much to do with technical ability, but that the Premiership footballer had a much stronger (even pathological) desire to succeed.

View original

Parents have got a lot to do with it as well. In my case, I grew up in a house where football was never watched on TV or spoken about, so I didn't get into the game until I was old enough to start making my own decisions, and big enough to take control of the TV remote. My mate Paul, on the other hand, had a Dad who was a coach of a kids' team, then later, a proper non-league team, and he (Paul) eventually had trials with Liverpool.

The writer or comedian need to pick up on either life experiences or just be very clever in what their main topic of humour is. For example Billy Connoly draws on his life & Bill Hicks on Politics. Both are funny funny men but I would say Bill Hicks was the clever one.I laugh harder at Connoly but Hicks makes you laugh & think.

Barry Cryer (I think it was him) said that if you say somnething to someone and they respond humourously they are comedians. If you come back half an hour later with a funny response they're a writer.

Quote: Chappers @ July 27 2010, 4:51 PM BST

Barry Cryer (I think it was him) said that if you say somnething to someone and they respond humourously they are comedians. If you come back half an hour later with a funny response they're a writer.

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Like it.

That's excellent!

Two of my daughters are ultra witty and are always the centre of attraction at parties etc, they're like a double act. I asked both would they help me write sitcoms and they said they couldn't as the wit comes from the top of their head in the moment they're at. They did try once with me but neither could do it. I'm quite introverted in company [except if they're actors/writers] and find I'm more comfortable on my own just writing.

It is good one whoever said it, though these days panel games leave so little to chance that they are blurring the distinction.

Quote: Griff @ July 27 2010, 5:16 PM BST

Much as I love Barry Cryer, I've always understood this was a Douglas Adams quote:

"I'm not a wit. I'm a comedy writer. A wit says something funny on the spot. A comedy writer says something very funny two minutes later. Or in my case, two weeks later."

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It may have been. I think he was quoting somebody else but I remember hearing him say it on the radio.

Barry Cryer is playing near me soon.