Nope, the comedy comes from Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen's stand-up. Interpret that any way you want.
Writing sitcom as a drama before adding in humour. Page 2
Quote: Marooned @ September 3 2010, 8:52 AM BSTIs it working for you?
Well it's developing. Whether or not it works is in other peoples minds.
I can't imagine doing this. I mean - I do rough-plan an episode first scene-by-scene with no funny lines in, but to actually write it as a drama and then go back and add funny bits in afterwards makes about as much sense as cooking a chicken first then slapping cold stuffing on the outside.
I'm sure a farce or even Fawlty Towers (which is basically a farce anyway) couldn't be written like this. Blackadder, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and League of Gentleman are some examples where it would also be difficult.
I did think it was strange but Graham Linehan gave the bit of advice (although he did say that some writers do it, meaning besides himself).
I think the idea is a sound one, but not meant to be taken quite so literally. or precisely.
Aren't Sitcom & Drama pretty similar in a lot of ways?
Quote: Tim Azure @ September 3 2010, 10:20 PM BSTI'm sure a farce or even Fawlty Towers (which is basically a farce anyway) couldn't be written like this. Blackadder, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and League of Gentleman are some examples where it would also be difficult.
Not sure I follow this Tim. Farce is all about narrative structure.
Quote: Marc P @ September 3 2010, 11:48 PM BSTNot sure I follow this Tim. Farce is all about narrative structure.
Yes but daft narrative structure-the humour is in the situation.
Quote: Tim Azure @ September 4 2010, 8:07 AM BSTYes but daft narrative structure-the humour is in the situation.
Not really it's usually all about jeopardy, like action thrillers - good farce is very difficult to write and it requires a lot of thought re the storylining.
Quote: Marc P @ September 4 2010, 9:06 AM BSTNot really it's usually all about jeopardy, like action thrillers - good farce is very difficult to write and it requires a lot of thought re the storylining.
Yep, like knowing the correct time to bring a vicar in is when the lead character has spilled coffee all over himself and is therefore wearing his wife's stockings and suspenders while she launders him a new pair of trousers. Meanwhile the man's boss unexpectedly arrives for dinner who just so happens to have a pathological fear of the clergy and transvestites.
From "Whoops! More Tea Vicar?", a forthcoming farce from Contrived Productions 
Quote: Marc P @ September 4 2010, 9:06 AM BSTNot really it's usually all about jeopardy, like action thrillers - good farce is very difficult to write and it requires a lot of thought re the storylining.
Yes but funny jeopardy-you can't take the humour away from the jeopardy. There tends to be a bit of character in farces than action thrillers too.
It's only funny when I laugh.
Quote: Lee Henman @ September 4 2010, 12:12 PM BSTYep, like knowing the correct time to bring a vicar in is when the lead character has spilled coffee all over himself and is therefore wearing his wife's stockings and suspenders while she launders him a new pair of trousers. Meanwhile the man's boss unexpectedly arrives for dinner who just so happens to have a pathological fear of the clergy and transvestites.
From "Whoops! More Tea Vicar?", a forthcoming farce from Contrived Productions
yeah but that is exactly writing it all in prose, then putting in the comedy script wise
The noughties (and beyond) method of writing a sitcom is to not put anything funny in at all and use canned laughter after characters speak their unfunny lines. The audience is now so far dumbed down and meh ridden that it works fine.
Quote: Frankie Rage @ September 5 2010, 3:49 AM BSTThe noughties (and beyond) method of writing a sitcom is to not put anything funny in at all and use canned laughter after characters speak their unfunny lines. The audience is now so far dumbed down and meh ridden that it works fine.
Sort of true - the reality is that we are now producing shows that are 'Gag Fests with all the characters being 'funny'. David Croft never wrote a 'gag' in any of his shows - comedy routines that came from the character, yes, but not jokes. The Execs want shows to be like the American sitcoms - what they don't seem to understand is that isn't the way the British sense of humour works. 5 jokes a page isn't difficult - comedy coming out of the character is!