Writing Television SitcomsWith twenty years in the business - as a writer, programming executive, and university instructor - Evan Smith knows what it takes to get from spec script to sitcom success. Here he offers the first published description of Premise-Driven Comedy, the writing method he has developed and popularized; tips from writer-producers who have worked on series from 'Frasier' to 'The Cosby Show' to 'Roseanne;' a complete story outline from the series 'Home Improvement;' explicit advice on how the business works and how to get an agent; and script layout guidelines for all three sitcom formats. Clear, comprehensive, and cutting-edge, this is the true insider's guide to becoming a sitcom writer. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Game Plan 7882 | 7 |
Putting Theory into Practice | 19 |
Level OneComedy in the Story Premise | 25 |
Level TwoComedy in Sequences and Scenes | 42 |
Doing Your Homework | 75 |
Developing an Episode Premise | 83 |
Developing the Story | 90 |
Rewriting an Outline | 121 |
Writing the First Draft | 140 |
Step OneDeveloping a Strategy | 169 |
Step TwoLanding an Agent | 181 |
Step ThreeGetting Your Work Out There | 199 |
Step FourPitching for Assignments | 215 |
Step Five Landing a Staff Job | 227 |
Step SixClimbing the Ladder | 237 |
Character Arcs | 96 |
Remember the Mix | 102 |
How the Production Process Affects Your Script | 108 |
How It Should Look on Paper | 115 |
In Closing | 243 |
Script Format Guidelines | 245 |
Additional Resources | 265 |
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Common terms and phrases
agent audience Bart career character mix character's clients COLD OPEN comedic tension comedy writing commercial breaks create creative develop Dharma & Greg draft Drew Carey Drew Carey Show episode executives feature feel fees film Frasier friends funny hired Hollywood humor idea JERRY Jill joke keep Larry Sanders Show laughs Lawrence Konner lead character look main story Matt Williams montage sequences Murphy Brown notes Okay outline person pitch predicaments producers punch line Randy rewriting Sandy Frank scene description scene heading Seinfeld sequence setup show runner show's sitcom script sitcom writers skip someone sometimes South Park spec script staff story beats story lines story premise talk television tells thing transition cue usually viewers visiting characters week Writers Guild written