College 6, etc
Well, it's sort of summer, and plans are progressing for the first college workshop next month. It has a venue, a shape, guests, an outing, a surprise, and an inaugural lecture which is occupying quite a lot of my time, but researching it is proving massively entertaining. Delving into the history of broadcast sitcom - which goes back much further than I thought - is throwing up all sorts of fascinating information, so with one reference leading to another reference, and the need to double check everything, I feel I'm either becoming a bit of an expert or a bit of a bore.
When I've written it I'll either post it here (quite lengthy) or put up an edited version, but until it's complete, I'm not going to pre-empt the content. So don't ask.
The workshop is going to look at comedy on BBC1, BBC2 and BBC3. We'll be viewing pilots and analysing their essentials. The writers will be going to a recording of After You've Gone,a mainstream success. And we'll be workshopping scripts by the writers, so it feels like a full and, I hope, fun week. I'm looking forward to getting to know the writers better, and to them getting to know one another.
The guests are Paul Mendelson (May to December, My Hero); Hugo Blick (Marion and Geoff, Sensitive Skin); and Susan Nickson (2 Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Grownups). As part of the After You've Gone trip, the writers will meet Ian Brown and James Hendrie, who were showrunners on My Family and have the same function on AYG.
College aside, I'm pursuing various development projects, two of which seem to be finding favour higher up the food chain (but some way to go). Towards the end of next month, we're organising development reads for the writers, colleagues and me on three scripts which feel as if they need one more heave to become pitchable. One is funny but has a central character who needs another comic element. One is seen by me and the writer as an audience show, but by others are a non-audience show, and the read should help us decide on a route. The third seems as if it should work but doesn't feel as if it is quite there, and the read should illuminate that.
Advice to new writers always includes the suggestion that they should try to hear their work, but it's just as useful for established writers and producers.
Meanwhile, My Family is approaching the recording of its 100th episode - in a series to be broadcast next year - so there will be celebrations. Few British sitcoms get to the hundred mark, and it's a considerable achievement to run for nine series, maintain sizeable audiences, and contradict the critics who hate it.
Indeed, My Family, along with 2 Pints, are the two most excoriated yet successful sitcoms in recent years. Interesting.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~37~RS~)
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I always thought Hugo Blick was a Joker!
:)
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And talking of Paul Mendelson, what news of 'Bewitched' with the bewitching Ms Sheridan?
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No news. But then it's not an in-house show, so there might be!
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If you could tell Mister M I would like to write an episode if there is when you next see him then please. :)
And if anyone thought I was being rude about Mister Blick
Here he is:
http://cdn-www.cracked.com/articleimages/wong/superrules/origin2.jpg
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@Michael
Do you care that the critics hate a show like 2 Pints? And do the people involved care?
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2 Pints to me is one of the best sitcoms alongside Gimme Gimme.
I don't care very much for My family and think it should be classed as light drama or light entertainment. It's certainly not sitcom
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@AspieBoy
Well, in the end if a show runs for years, is regularly repeated, and has a large and loyal audience, critical plaudits would be welcome, but obviously aren't essential.
I suppose what irritates me is the lack of recognition by previewers, who invariably dismiss/sneer at/attack 2 Pints and My Family, without recognising that their longevity stems from audience appreciation. It's really quite patronising.
My ideal would be to work on a show which both critics and audiences loved, and I'm sure writers and producers and actors would too. But, as my mum used to say, fine words butter no parsnips, and I think everyone would prefer to be able to buy butter (and parsnips) than try to pay the mortgage with a puff in the Guardian Guide.
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well, I have to say that My family was very funny tonight, it's the first time I have belly-laughed at it
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That's nice, Juggles.
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my pleasure
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Out of interest Micheal are the six developing a new pilot sketch show/sitcom through the year, or will they be working on ones that they pitched to get into the scheme in the first place.
I guess if some of the sketches were already performed and some of the sitcoms are in development elsewhere probably not the latter. Is the end ideal - to have a pilot at reading/performing stage for the showcase next march?
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@MisterP
They're all developing new narrative shows. A lot of the submissions were already in development elsewhere as you suggest.
The plan is also as you suggest (you want my job?!). The new work will be developed with a mentor until ready, and then showcased at the end of the scheme.
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Well I was going to offer to be a mentor. :)
I don't see as failing to get on the course should disbar me from that.
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wow you're so clever Micheal, I didn't even understand the question
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