Quote: Declan @ March 8 2011, 2:22 PM GMTFor anyone going through a crisis of writing confidence, here's our highly recommended Introduction to Sitcom Writing workshop on April 2nd:
Now there's a great piece of promotion 
Quote: rwayne @ March 8 2011, 11:52 AM GMTSounds good. I didn't do a premise/character break down at all. Nor did I worry about formatting it correctly. I want all you frustration to be saved for the script.
I admit it, I laughed out loud
Quote: KLRiley @ March 8 2011, 6:26 PM GMTLess than a week before my dreams are crushed.
Chill out dude.
One thing I've learnt with writing competitions is to get used to rejection like your favourite dish.
It's gonna happen a lot
I agree with Bushbaby!!!!
Bloody Hell, what a week iv'e missed, that damn work getting in the way again. It has taken an hour just to catch up, but as I caught up my smile got bigger and bigger.
Not once did Declan and/or Simon (has anyone ever seen them in the same room together?) mention recieving too many, or rejecting any ideas along the lines of my inspired entry. The Amsterdamesque live show with Lindsy Lohan and the lass who works in the Opticians on town and myself for an half hour stage romp. Im gonna be living the dream. 
Wheyey!
I think I will tell the Boss to stuff it right now.
Oh Happy days are here again..................Happy Days are here again. 
Quote: Batleywriter @ March 8 2011, 10:59 PM GMTThe Amsterdamesque live show with Lindsy Lohan and the lass who works in the Opticians on town and myself for an half hour stage romp.
Half an hour? But the scripts were only supposed to be 15 minutes! Nnoooo! Looks like you need to halve your script, best go with just one of the lovely ladies you've mentioned.
Personally I'd go for Optician girl. Good specs.
Its ok, because as usual my part will last no longer than 45 seconds.
Anybody going to the Comedy Writers Festival?
I have to disagree, the economy is something we can all relate to no matter what period. Take a look at the likes of Only Fools and Horses and Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Both about the struggling economy yet still remain a hit today. Good comedy is timeless and will still remain a hit whether it be in 2 or 20 years time.
Quote: MWhitn @ March 9 2011, 9:48 PM GMTI have to disagree, the economy is something we can all relate to no matter what period. Take a look at the likes of Only Fools and Horses and Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Both about the struggling economy yet still remain a hit today. Good comedy is timeless and will still remain a hit whether it be in 2 or 20 years time.
I agree with this. Declan's blog post says: "The problem with presenting topical material for a possible sitcom is that it takes about two years for an initial script to make it to broadcast, whether on screen or radio, and what's topical now won't be in two years time." That may well be very true. But I disagree with the hypothesis that sitcoms about people losing their jobs or men being emasculated are "topical material" that only apply today because of the recession. To my mind they are pretty universal themes that are not time-dependent - anyone can lose their job or suffer financial hardship at any point. I hope otherwise decent entries haven't been dismissed because of this prejudice.
Quote: Griff @ March 9 2011, 10:00 PM GMT*writes sitcom about decimalisation*
Or one about an Elizabethan "fixer"?
Quote: Griff @ March 9 2011, 10:00 PM GMT*writes sitcom about decimalisation*
If it's about jobs being lost as a result you could call it One in Ten.
So Monday is a 'Bronson & Fonda' style showdown? short list announced?
Quote: Ash Man @ March 9 2011, 10:18 PM GMTSo Monday is a 'Bronson & Fonda' style showdown?
I think the 'Massacre of the Innocents' would be a more fitting image.
Badge
It's not prejudice, it's what we've been told by a BBC producer.
Weak men who need to stand up and prove something to themselves and to their women are timeless characters. Weak men who need to stand up and prove themselves specifically because of the 2010 spending review aren't. Best to keep this material for sketch shows.
If something is fantastically funny and interesting, we're not going to reject it on these grounds, but we'd probably put a note in to the writer that they need to cut the topical references.
Something like The Vicar of Dibley came about because of a specific and historical action by the church, but I can't remember it being referred to much after the first few episodes, it was more a fish out of water sitcom than specifically about the Church of England accepting women vicars.
Can anyone think of a sitcom that responds to topical trends and references? I know Only Fools did with the yuppie thing in the 80s, but these days it tends to be restricted to panel shows like HIGNFY and Mock the Week, which are really dated when viewed on Dave.
I'm thinking of recent successful sitcoms - The Inbetweeners (timeless), Rev (timeless), Miranda (very timeless), Pete vs Life (timeless theme, but with postmodern delivery), Episodes (timeless), Todd Margaret (timeless).
Discuss. Give me more information. I'm going to read some more scripts.
Quote: Declan @ March 9 2011, 11:26 PM GMTBadge
It's not prejudice, it's what we've been told by a BBC producer.
So it is prejudice - it's just not yours.
Quote: Declan @ March 9 2011, 11:26 PM GMTIf something is fantastically funny and interesting, we're not going to reject it on these grounds, but we'd probably put a note in to the writer that they need to cut the topical references.
That's what I wanted (and expected) to hear!
As for the question of sitcoms adapting to the times, OFAH stands out probably because it was given a long run (and Sullivan was smart enough to pick up that Del was the ideal yuppie wannabe). How many sitcoms set in the present day have been given a long enough innings to develop in such a way?