The checkmark method! So simple, so powerful. Anytime I'm stumbling through the woods of some light-smiles "comedy" I'm writing, what gets me out is knowing where the laughs are (or aren't). Not every funny script has to hit '30 Rock' LOL levels but yes, if you're not aiming for some kind of bodily response then what you're writing isn't actually a comedy.
Screw Substack. Just kidding but I just wrote you perhaps the world's greatest comment since Al Gore invented the Internet and it just disappeared. Yours being first of course. I'm shortening it, in case it gets eaten again. In your humble opinion, what is the ideal number of characters that can be developed in a show or film?
Forever indebted. Not to you, just forever indebted.
Oh nooooo!!! I hate when shit like that happens. 😲Especially on a platform as trusted and reputable as Substack (they’re listening)
It depends wildly. There are some amazing shows that have 7 or 8 core characters - notably, Veep did a great job balancing the different storylines that all get tied up/connected by the end. That said… there are some limitations and challenges that come with a bigger cast.
Happy to discuss more in depth if you want to hop on a call - DM me through Substack if you want to Connect!
I loved everything about this. I’m one of the very few, dedicated comedy writers in my writing groups, and I am so tired of reading “comedy”scripts that don’t make me laugh. It is my personal, driving quest to get people to actually, out-loud laugh during a table read.
And now… I’m going to read this post again. Thanks for sharing all this with us.
I think there are so few of us because it’s such an uphill struggle. Telling truly funny stories that are also compelling is one of the hardest things to do, and it takes a whole lot of failing before you get good at it. I still don’t think I’m there after a decade of working with professional comedy writers.
This came into my inbox at the perfect time—currently trying to make my pilot not unfunny and was grasping at straws. This called out many of my “jokes” in the best way. Thank you! 🙏
John: Great post!!! I laughed out loud several times. Hope all is well with you.
Great article this week Jon! I read a lot of comedy pilots and it's really hard to get me to pee myself, but it does happen occasionally.
The checkmark method! So simple, so powerful. Anytime I'm stumbling through the woods of some light-smiles "comedy" I'm writing, what gets me out is knowing where the laughs are (or aren't). Not every funny script has to hit '30 Rock' LOL levels but yes, if you're not aiming for some kind of bodily response then what you're writing isn't actually a comedy.
Screw Substack. Just kidding but I just wrote you perhaps the world's greatest comment since Al Gore invented the Internet and it just disappeared. Yours being first of course. I'm shortening it, in case it gets eaten again. In your humble opinion, what is the ideal number of characters that can be developed in a show or film?
Forever indebted. Not to you, just forever indebted.
Oh nooooo!!! I hate when shit like that happens. 😲Especially on a platform as trusted and reputable as Substack (they’re listening)
It depends wildly. There are some amazing shows that have 7 or 8 core characters - notably, Veep did a great job balancing the different storylines that all get tied up/connected by the end. That said… there are some limitations and challenges that come with a bigger cast.
Happy to discuss more in depth if you want to hop on a call - DM me through Substack if you want to Connect!
I loved everything about this. I’m one of the very few, dedicated comedy writers in my writing groups, and I am so tired of reading “comedy”scripts that don’t make me laugh. It is my personal, driving quest to get people to actually, out-loud laugh during a table read.
And now… I’m going to read this post again. Thanks for sharing all this with us.
I think there are so few of us because it’s such an uphill struggle. Telling truly funny stories that are also compelling is one of the hardest things to do, and it takes a whole lot of failing before you get good at it. I still don’t think I’m there after a decade of working with professional comedy writers.
I can’t wait to read this — in the meantime, yes — I’m happy. Very happy. Great titles shouldn’t go to waste. Especially when they’re gloriously nsfw.
This came into my inbox at the perfect time—currently trying to make my pilot not unfunny and was grasping at straws. This called out many of my “jokes” in the best way. Thank you! 🙏
Glad to be helpful!