Well for what it's worth mine is in. (ep.3 Finders Keepers). Squeezing a credible plot into 15 mins is hard work; but it really sharpens up those editing skills. I watched that Hancock documentary the other night, where Galton and Simpson explained about Tony taking all the jokes OUT of the script, so as to make the dialogue totally natural. I like the idea that the characters must not know what they're saying is funny, only the audience must see the joke. Here's hoping they see mine.
Galton and Simpson explained about Tony taking all the jokes OUT of the script, so as to make the dialogue totally natural. I like the idea that the characters must not know what they're saying is funny, only the audience must see the joke.
Absolutely. One of our bugbears is the stand-up routine masquerading as sitcom where one character will suddenly rant about post office queues or airline food and everyone else listens open-mouthed at his (always his) brilliance. Not many great sitcom lines stand up out of context. How funny is 'don't tell him, Pike' if it isn't delivered by that character in those circumstances?
"Don't tell him Pike!!" Ah yes, reminds me of my scrip about a family coping with the father's dementia and his insistence that WW2 was still ongoing. It was called Dad's Barmy; never got commissioned though. 
Just when you thought you'd heard every "what about" question, here comes "what about musical intruments?" Not real "songs" as such, but some strumming on an electric guitar and a mic (I could hopefully provide these and an amp if needs be). Are these logistical no-nos?
When is/was the deadline?
I thought it had passed
It's been moved to the 28th Feb now.
Thankyou Mr J
Re: guitars and amps.
That's fine, just remember it's going to take time to get these things on and off and don't expect a full band or orchestra.
Cheers, Declan
Just wondered if rule 11: Applies to the prize from Hatrick. Presumably that will be broken into payment stages as well for the lucky winner?
In return for the assistance provided to the writer by Every 1's A Critic Ltd, the writer agrees to pay to Every 1's A Critic Ltd a fee calculated as 12.5% gross of any money received by the writer for the Script in respect of script development, script production or pilot production of any kind by any producer, broadcaster, production company or production financier without limitation. This agreement will expire on the date 18 months from the date of the show's first performance as part of a Sitcom Mission showcase.
Hi Marc
Every 1's A Critic Ltd aren't taking any of the Hat Trick payment to the winner, so they get to keep all the £5000 for themselves.
Cheers, Declan
Cheers Declan, sounds like a good deal either way. If Hat Trick go on to make a series though, won't you be kicking yourselves! Great opportunity for someone. Well done.
Cheers Marc.
I do have a sitcom I could enter for this but it's rather wacky.
That's good, you might say, but over the last decade or so, most "sitcoms" have been too realistic, with no real laughs or heightened characters or events in them.
Can a wacky sitcom survive in a world dominated by "light realism dramas" such as Roger And Val and Gavin And Stacey?
Miranda?
Yes. True. I stand, sit, whatever corrected. 
Although, funnily enough, I've never really "got" Miranda.
Another funnily enough, one of the female leads in mine is called Miranda. I wrote mine 2 years ago, so I got there first, but alas, a name change is in order.
And yes, I know. Miranda has been Miranda all her life, but... well, you know...