Has anybody heard of any writer with no previous TV writing credits, ever having had their sitcom commissioned?
UPDATE: OK lets qualify the thought. Writers with no credits in other media; radio, stage etc. In other words, 'straight off the street'.
Do Unproduced Writers Ever Get Commissioned?
Yes.
I expect so. Think about it logically!
...or, if you prefer, abstractly.
Award for the most ill thought out first question on this forum?
Yes, it does happen.
It's not that unreasonable a question, I think. The OP seems to be asking if someone who had absolutely no kind of TV writing credits whatsoever, managed to get their sitcom commissioned. The answer is still yes, of course.
The first commissions I had were for sitcoms - never got made. And the first Drama commission I had was for a pilot for an original fifty minute series - never got made.
What are you planning not to get made next, Mr P?
Quote: David Bussell @ September 7 2010, 4:21 PM BSTAward for the most ill thought out first question on this forum?
It's a logical moebius strip!
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2010, 4:24 PM BSTIt's not that unreasonable a question, I think. The OP seems to be asking if someone who had absolutely no kind of TV writing credits whatsoever, managed to get their sitcom commissioned. The answer is still yes, of course.
But can you, or anyone, name some people who have had sitcom series commissioned (and made) with no broadcast credits, no public performance of their work, no slogging around the stand-up circuit making contacts, no working in the 'industry'? In other words, as asked, 'straight off the street'.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2010, 4:42 PM BSTWhat are you planning not to get made next, Mr P?
Dinner, hic, going to plan! 
Quote: JohnnyD @ September 7 2010, 5:27 PM BSTBut can you, or anyone, name some people who have had sitcom series commissioned (and made) with no broadcast credits, no public performance of their work, no slogging around the stand-up circuit making contacts, no working in the 'industry'? In other words, as asked, 'straight off the street'.
Tim Dawson? As far as I know Paul Mayhew-Archer was doing a comedy writing day at Tim's school, read some of Tim's stuff, liked it, and passed it onto a producer who then got it made. That was Coming Of Age, which a third series has just been commissioned for 2011. I think that's how it went anyway.
You're right though, it's pretty rare for sitcom writers to come from absolutely nowhere. They've usually been hanging round the scene for a bit, writing sketches for existing shows, doing bits of radio, theatre, entering BBC writing competitions, getting to know people in the industry etc before they get a sitcom away. In Tim's case there was obviously a clear difference - I think BBC3 were actively looking for a young writer and he was there at the right time.
Quote: Lee Henman @ September 7 2010, 7:29 PM BSTTim Dawson? As far as I know Paul Mayhew-Archer was doing a comedy writing day at Tim's school, read some of Tim's stuff, liked it, and passed it onto a producer who then got it made. That was Coming Of Age, which a third series has just been commissioned for 2011. I think that's how it went anyway.
You're right though, it's pretty rare for sitcom writers to come from absolutely nowhere. They've usually been hanging round the scene for a bit, writing sketches for existing shows, doing bits of radio, theatre, entering BBC writing competitions, getting to know people in the industry etc before they get a sitcom away. In Tim's case there was obviously a clear difference - I think BBC3 were actively looking for a young writer and he was there at the right time.
In other words it's not what you know but who you know and that's how the industry works and will ever be so
Quote: bushbaby @ September 7 2010, 11:38 PM BSTIn other words it's not what you know but who you know and that's how the industry works and will ever be so
Like any business, knowing people and making new connections always helps. But it only helps so far. At the end of the day there are no TV producers who actually want to make crap. After all, their jobs depend on creating great products, not helping their mates out.
As far as I can see, most people in the industry are mainly of the same mindset - to make good TV. Some producers are better at it than others. Some writers are better at it than others. Sometimes crap gets through the process and makes it to screen, and sometimes genius does the same.