Oh, ok. How did you come to write an episode of it?
Drama or Comedy? Page 4
I haven't been on here much lately but glad the same people are still here. It's not like missing a week off EastEnders only to find the whole cast has changed to the one of ten years ago. I've been writing sitcom and film ideas and the drama side really starts to work itself in. Coming from a sketch/gag background.
Writing comedy or drama is hard enough by itself, but combining the two is even harder so that's why it may not be too common.
I guess I enjoy watching comedy over drama so that's why I write it. But if you can get both like Friends or Gavin & Stacey you're on to a winner.
Quote: ContainsNuts @ May 13 2011, 10:49 AM BSTI guess I enjoy watching comedy over drama so that's why I write it. But if you can get both like Friends or Gavin & Stacey you're on to a winner.
Friends had drama in it? 
And Gavin & Stacey had comedy?
Quote: ContainsNuts @ May 13 2011, 10:49 AM BSTI haven't been on here much lately but glad the same people are still here. It's not like missing a week off EastEnders only to find the whole cast has changed to the one of ten years ago.
In fairness since you have been away Roscoff has discovered that bushbaby is his mother, Steve Sunshine has come out as being black and Jake How's decomposed body has been discovered under a pile of sootyj sketches in Critique. Aaron is now his own twin brother.
I've been thinking a lot more about drama recently. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older and more serious or just that drama would be so much easier to write and less open to potential critical mauling.
People rarely complain about a new drama do they? Unless it's unforgivably-shit. Whereas average comedies actually offend and genuinely anger people. I have no idea why that is but comedy writers are up against the wall straight away. Drama writers get away with much more.
But then I'm so used to putting jokes in my stuff I really don't know if I'd be able to stop. If you ever see an episode of Doctors that features a man's buttocks blown off by an exploding whoopee cushion, you'll know who wrote it.
I guess comedy has to elicit laughs otherwise it's failed. The only other genre that has to elicit a specific response is horror, which has to scare you, otherwise it's failed.
Bugger. I log on to BCG and find that I'm just about to say exactly the same thing as Chipolata.
Quote: Graham Bandage @ May 13 2011, 2:24 PM BSTBugger. I log on to BCG and find that I'm just about to say exactly the same thing as Chipolata.
And to be fair, I stole it off Stephen King.
It's supposed engage you or at best move you. If you watch a drama that doesn't do that are you going to watch it again?
I think with sitcom it's raison d'etre is to make you laugh. It's got one reason to exist and if it doesn't make you laugh what's the point of it? That's on reason why people get angry.
In contrast, you watch drama for many, many different reasons. To be engaged, thrilled, intrigued, swept away, etc etc. And if it misses on a few of those, it's got a lot of others.
Or something.
Quote: chipolata @ May 13 2011, 4:06 PM BSTI think with sitcom it's raison d'etre is to make you laugh. It's got one reason to exist and if it doesn't make you laugh what's the point of it? That's on reason why people get angry.
In contrast, you watch drama for many, many different reasons. To be engaged, thrilled, intrigued, swept away, etc etc. And if it misses on a few of those, it's got a lot of others.
Or something.
Hmmm...I dunno. Comedy also has to engage, tell good stories, show us rounded, interested characters etc. I always think of a sitcom as a drama with gags in.
Quote: Lee Henman @ May 13 2011, 4:52 PM BSTHmmm...I dunno. Comedy also has to engage, tell good stories, show us rounded, interested characters etc. I always think of a sitcom as a drama with gags in.
Well, yes. I wouldn't disagree with you. But I think a sitcom must make you laugh above all else otherwise it's ultimately failed. And don't think I haven't noticed how Graham Bandage made the exact same point then buggered off without bothering to defend it!
What Chipolata said. Again.
This is a nightmare. It must be.