Give it structure
Friday 28th April 2023
In many of the scripts we've received this year, one of the things that's been lacking the most is a clear structure. Unfortunately, it's not enough to string together some funny scenes, we want to see your main character(s) striving to achieve something. It's often best if this is an attempt to achieve their super objective. An example we often use is Blackadder Goes Forth. Knowing that Edmund's 'Series Want' is to escape the trenches and live, what's his goal this week?
One clear way of structuring your episode is by following a classic sitcom format like the one below.
In the first couple of pages we want to see their goal for this episode and then shortly after there should be an obstacle that threatens to stop them achieving this.
Cue their first misguided attempt to overcome this and achieve their goal. We say misguided because it should be an attempt that comes from one of their key character flaws and eventually leads to them actively making things worse.
Next they come up with a second plan that clears up the mess they've already made and will also get them to their goal. Unfortunately, the pattern is repeated and they make things worse again! Ideally we want a rising tension with the problems your character creates for themselves.
In the end, the situation is resolved. Either they achieve their goal or not and - if you want to really play around with us - your character can get the thing they wanted but realise it wasn't worth all the effort.
We've been suggesting this format for a while now and pleasingly something very similar was echoed by Daniel Peak (co-writer of one of the longest running sitcoms - Not Going Out) at the recent Big Comedy Conference (which you should definitely go to when it next comes up!). An extra bit of spice that he added was that once Lee (the main character) makes an attempt to achieve his goal things actually go right for a little while before blowing up in his face. This is of course a great addition as your main character has further to fall when their success is swept from underneath them.
Have a watch of shows like Not Going Out and see if you can spot this pattern. Then use it in your own writing to catapult you to sitcom glory! Or at the very least the finals of this year's Sitcom Mission competition.