I realise a newbie may have little hope of getting a staring role and I understand why an uber successful writer may not feel the need.....but I'd have thought lots of writers would have fancied giving themselves a part...if only for a "look, it's me on TV" ala Hitchcock stylee!
At worst it's just a dumb cameo at best it works and they end up like merchant on Extras.
Are all writers really ugly?
Stephen King is in most of his films.
I wrote myself a large part once but it was severely edited.
I always imagined being 'Man in Hat 2' or something in my sitcom. Yes, I have high aspirations.
Graham Linehan always has good cameos, in his own shows.
Quote: Tiggs @ July 3 2009, 2:48 PM BSTAre all writers really ugly?
Of course not. There's Bussell, for one.*
*Sample study of one. Research conducted by zooo.
If I appeared on screen, I'd have to speak with a different accent, to stop myself cringing.
Quote: Tiggs @ July 3 2009, 2:48 PM BSTI realise a newbie may have little hope of getting a staring role
A writer friend of mine played a peeping tom once.
Quote: Marc P @ July 3 2009, 2:56 PM BSTI wrote myself a large part once but it was severely edited.
Confused. Are we talking anatomy here?
Just because you wrote it, doesn't mean you're going to get the final say on who appears in it. Why would the producer, unless you have some performace background, even consider the writer for a part in the show?
Quote: hey_nonny @ July 3 2009, 3:18 PM BSTConfused. Are we talking anatomy here?
What's the point of having a full artistic license if you don't use it.
Quote: Tiggs @ July 3 2009, 2:48 PM BSTAre all writers really ugly?
This is my mate Dean who wrote himself the part of a wizard in his CBBC sketch show "Stupid". So to answer your question, no, all writers are incredibly handsome. 
Oh and this is him when he wrote himself the part of a wino.
Quote: Joseff @ July 3 2009, 3:13 PM BSTA writer friend of mine played a peeping tom once.
Yes, but did he win?
Lee, yay, Dean is a great guy. He gave the Slaggs a much-needed boost and is always remembered fondly by us... or memorably fondled. I forget which.
Quote: SlagA @ July 3 2009, 9:00 PM BSTYes, but did he win?
Lee, yay, Dean is a great guy. He gave the Slaggs a much-needed boost and is always remembered fondly by us... or memorably fondled. I forget which.
How did you come by him? He lives around the corner from me and often pesters me into boozey pub nights, watching vintage children's TV shows and sticking fridge magnets onto neighbours' cars. (long story).
But yeah, he's a good lad.
I suppose the most notable sitcom writer to give himself the most "bigger" roles in their own shows is Graham Duff, who writes and stars in both Ideal (playing Brian) and Nebulous (playing Rory).
Jimmy Perry originally wrote Dad's Army because he wanted to perform in a sitcom with a good part for himself in it. The character of Walker was meant for him to play. However, David Croft thought it would be better for him to be off-stage.
In the radio version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams insisted on playing the role of Agrajag, the reincarnating being whom Arthur Dent keeps accidently killing. The really interesting thing about this part is that Douglas was dead by the time the series went out. His lines were taken from Douglas's reading of the audiobook version of Life, the Universe and Everything and Mostly Harmless.
I was going to say I would never do it because I can't act.
But that didn't seem to stop "The Green, Green Grass"..