Cramming best jokes into your pilot

I'm almost at the stage where I'm about to send out my pilot script to production companies. I also perform stand-up and have pages and pages of jokes. I've left loads of good ones out of the pilot with a view to using them in future episodes. However, should I:

a) Include as many as I can in pilot with a view to it being commisioned and then write new ones (hopefully!) for future episodes
b) Hold back and use them in future episodes on the off-chance that it does get commissioned

There's plenty of funnies in the script already but some could be replaced by even funnier ones, if you know what I mean....

Put your very best in there and write some even better ones down the road.

It seems to me that if the jokes aren't organically growing out of the characters, the plot, and the characters' reactions to the plot then you're probably shoehorning them in to ill effect.

I'm saying that as a viewer of comedy, rather than a writer. More experienced writers may have a different opinion.

EDIT: I started typing that before Griff posted. Er, what he said.

Quote: Griff @ August 28 2008, 2:03 PM BST

Don't crowbar jokes into a script where they don't really fit.

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Good point. There's nothing worse than a script in which somebody is trying way too hard to impress and shoving too much stuff into it. I think in one of Michael Jacob's blogs talking about failed College of Comedy entries he talked about some people coming across as too desperate.

Quote: chipolata @ August 28 2008, 2:06 PM BST

I think in one of Michael Jacob's blogs talking about failed College of Comedy entries he talked about some people coming across as too desperate.

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Don't listen to a word he says - he was playing footsie with me!

From the sounds of it, the pilots which are submitted are almost never the pilots which get made. either they have massive re-writes or just act as a sort of calling card to get someone interested.

So I guess in that case, putting as many jokes as possible into a pilot script is good but only if the jokes fit in there naturally. If you can think up pages and pages of jokes to cut from the pilot, you can probably think up even more pages of jokes for the remainder of the series should you need them.

Basically I'm just saying that comedy should be as funny as possible and agreeing with the others who have already replied.

Quote: David Bussell @ August 28 2008, 2:08 PM BST

Don't listen to a word he says - he was playing footsie with me!

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I never normally listen to him. I see him as a brutal unfeeling tyrant we're all waiting to see deposed. A sort of white Robert Mugabe.

Thanks all. I'm relatively new to this forum but am impressed at the speed of replies from obviously very busy people

Quote: al_gernon @ August 28 2008, 2:26 PM BST

from obviously very busy people

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We've got f**k all else to do!

It's said that sitcoms aren't about jokes/gags, they're about laughs coming naturally from characters/storyline.
'My Family' has no jokes but it is very funny.

Withholding jokes sounds like a terrible idea, if you can put in your best stuff; do so. What if you die never having put them in anything?

Plus, I imagine TV network commisioners can spot 'B' material.

Quote: chipolata @ August 28 2008, 2:27 PM BST

We've got f**k all else to do!

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Nail on head, Chip.

Ok Griff try 'last of The Summer Wine then, that's funny without jokes

Quote: chipolata @ August 28 2008, 2:25 PM BST

I never normally listen to him. I see him as a brutal unfeeling tyrant we're all waiting to see deposed. A sort of white Robert Mugabe.

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he shunned you as well?

Quote: bushbaby @ August 28 2008, 3:25 PM BST

Ok Griff try 'last of The Summer Wine then, that's funny without jokes

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So is Sootyj.

Quote: Morrace @ August 28 2008, 3:30 PM BST

So is Sootyj.

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Oh, snap!