Dave and James talk about... talking. How do you bring your comic conversations to life? What gets left out? How do you make it funny? And find out which hugely famous TV writer calls dialogue "the least important part of my job".
Creator of the great comedy monster Martin Fishback, Fergus Craig talks about his early love for Mr Bean, the Edinburgh hit double act of Fergus & Colin, and tries to persuade James that Reeves and Mortimer are the business. Watch the Martin Fishback pilot on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0014bxd/martin-fishback "Build A Sitcom" begins Friday 6 May. Email funnyup02@gmail.com Stand Up, Barry Goldman is now available to download. Sign up for the Situation Room Newsletter for ...
Dave and James talk to Hat Trick boss Jimmy Mulville about his decades of phenomenal comedy success, developing new writing talent and why you should never send him a substandard script.
Part 2 of the advice-packed interview from Daniel Peak, one of our most successful sitcom creators. Code 404, Not Going Out - and he's not afraid to talk about the ones that got away. This week, Daniel heroically relives Big Top, an episode or six of what happens when a sitcom fails to please the Lords of TV Criticism.
...announced in this week's bonus episode. Dave and James discuss what made it onto the shortlist, how the quality of scripts has improved in recent years and why the future of narrative sitcom is hopefully assured. (And congratulations to Lloyd Glanville for the winning script Unsustainable). For show notes see https://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/sitcom_geeks/episode_188/
Part 1 of our deeply insightful natter with brilliant sitcom writer Danny Peak, regular writer on Not Going Out and creator of one of Sky's most popular comedies, Code 404.
James and Dave have read your Hat Trick Script Competition Scripts and here are the headlines: 1. It really is hard. 2. Thanks so much for sending them in. Oh and a few thoughts about mockumentaries, sociopaths and the language of sitcom scripts.
Currently one of our most successful comedy writers, Georgia Pritchett talks to Dave and James about the long road to success, working virtually in LA and making Armando laugh.
Dave reports back from his first two years of trying to become a novelist, and details the ups and downs of starting a new writing career. Warning: includes ignorance about the industry, misplaced arrogance and emotional attachment to worn out old ideas.
Work deep, build habits. Dave and James return from the break with great ideas to improve your writing productivity and increase fun. Plus a great new topical opportunity for 2022.
Make 2022 The Year Of The Comedy Writer. James and Dave offer a great guide for ensuring that next year is your best for writing yet. Includes hopes and goals, brutal frankness and the number one key to comedy writing success.
Still time to polish that Hat Trick sitcom script to perfection. In this episode we answer your last-minute queries. What's a self-contained episode? How do we introduce characters? How much rewriting should we do? How can we be sure you won't steal your ideas? (SPOILER: we won't)
The Hat Trick Sitcom Script competition window is now open. Brrr! You've got five weeks to bash that script into shape. Everyone talks about the first ten pages but how do you write the end? James and Dave explain why "it's not about the pumpkins."
Good news - TV's top comedy commissioners want the same as we do for our Hat Trick Sitcom Script Competition. Dave and James discuss Broadcast magazine's Commissioners Panel meet in which Channel 4, Sky and UKTV are all asking for broad, multi-generational, family-like sitcoms by new writers, and not a narrative arc in sight. Plus details of when to send us your scripts. And how to make the leap from episode outline to first draft. James's Sitcom Supercharged online course is here https://jamesc...
You've got two months to write your script for our Hat Trick Sitcom Contest. In this episode Dave and James talk about the pros and cons of setting your sitcom at work, home, in outer space or the land of the fairies. Find out which settings are most likely to work for this particular competition.
Exciting news - today Sitcom Geeks launch our Sitcom Script Competition in association with the mighty Hat Trick and BCG Pro - with £1000 for the winning script. What we're looking for, what we're not looking for, why it's free to enter and what to do next, all discussed in breathless excited detail by James and Dave. Competition website: www.comedy.co.uk/hattrick
Stuart Goldsmith is a great stand-up and host of the superb long-running podcast examining what makes people funny. Great advice for freeing yourself up, going to Edinburgh "every show this year was a work in progress". And a searingly honest examination of his own favourite question "why aren't I more successful?".
Dave and James go deep into smelling the flowers, keeping perspective and learning to love Bill Gates - all of which can help you to become better comedy writers. Also exciting news about the autumn's topical shows The Skewer and Breaking The News.
Top comedy writing teachers Chris Head and Kay Stonham join Dave and James with great tips for how to develop your career. A big shout out for the solo comedy writers in this age of the comedy-performer, understanding there's room for everyone - plus The Joy Of Sketch, and the excellent 'Big hat little hat' theory of comedy writing.
You've created a great character - congratulations! Now all you need to do is create another, and another, and build your stories around them. This episode Dave and James delve deep into creating relationships between characters.
Writer John Vorhaus has been teaching us how to do comedy for decades - his 1994 Comic Toolbox is one of the oldest and best guides for sitcom writers and this episode is PACKED with profound knowledge and glittering jewels of advice.
You can find a million books, blogs and vids about how to make that first draft sparkle - but hardly a word about the next step. This episode James and Dave fill the chasm and offer tips on how to turn your possibly-not-yet-perfect work into something special.
James and Dave explain what's needed in the final steps before you write the first draft of your script. Plus comedy news - the backlash against the government's Channel 4 sell-off and Life Of Brian - The Musical.
Last year David Tyler of Pozzitive Productions asked for your radio sitcom scripts. 600 competition entries later he joins Dave and James, armed with masses of encouraging help and advice - and hopefully some positive news for the winners.
If you thought the Bible was a proper serious tome, prepare to have your viewpoint challenged by James's new book The Gospel According To A Sitcom Writer. Also in this episode, Dave explains why there has never been a better time to think about writing for Children's TV.
Dave talks about his debut novel Stand Up, Barry Goldman ("funny and fascinating, a lovely tale" Jo Brand) out on 8 June, and he and James discuss sitcom story arcs - who needs 'em?
Sketches are BACK! Charlie Dinkin and Ben Sutton talk about comedy quickies and Daddy's Super Yacht TV, a production company focused on making online and TV sketches. They're joined by Becca Bain and Alex Garrick-Wright, winners of Dave's Making A Scene Of It competition. Tons of inspiring information and advice about how to be short, sharp and silly.
Sitcom Geeks/BCG Pro Script Challenge winner Peter C Hayward took our advice, went out there and made a pilot of his radio sitcom. Yes, it can be done! He tells Dave and James how he created the show during lockdown, and how with the help of Kickstarter he's planning to make the whole series. Ever wondered what happened to the co-creator of Phoebe's Smelly Cats? Peter has the answer. Listen to Night Crew here: https://www.nightcrewpodcast.com/
As viewing habits change, we have to find new ways to hook our viewers. Dave and James talk about big entrances, life changing starts, tough choices and when you should have sex on a bus. Plus why it's vital you should 'go' to Edinburgh this summer.
What will the comedy writing landscape look like as we come out of covid? James and Dave are surprisingly upbeat about the future for comedy writing despite the demise of BBC Four and the question marks hanging over the future of stand-up.
