James Cary
- English
- Writer and script editor
Press clippings Page 10
Why you should consider writing for radio
There is no doubt that TV is where it's at. Every new TV sitcom that comes out is reviewed by all and sundry, generates a thousand tweets and opinions. The aspiring comedy writer could be forgiven for overlooking radio. But they'd be missing out on acres of opportunity.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 4th December 2015Writers: Make the most of your freedom
Here's the one advantage the writer has over the writer-performer. The writer can write about anything. Anything at all. Any one. Any time. Any place. Any where. You have freedom. FREEDOM!
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 19th November 2015James Cary talks about TV commissioners
Sitcoms are not made to order, because nobody knows that they want. And nobody has any way of knowing what they want. Because the audience doesn't know what it wants. Until it sees it.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 16th November 2015Does your character have to be likeable?
There is a long running debate in comedy about whether comic characters need to be likeable.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 28th October 2015Third time lucky - refining the idea
On the last blog post, I kicked off an idea for a new sitcom called Third Time Lucky, a sitcom about a Geoff and Lynette who are getting married for the third time - the second time to each other. Someone left a comment which is quite interesting, which I'm going to comment on here.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 29th September 2015Developing a sitcom From scratch
On this blog - and my book - I've written a lot about set-up, characters, story and plot. Whilst I try to provide examples from both my own work and existing shows on TV and Radio, it's hard not to be wise after the event. So, for the next series of blog posts, that may go on for weeks or months, I'm going to start a sitcom from scratch here on the blog. As I do so, I'll talk about the decisions that I'm making all along the way, and what's in my mind as I make them.
James Cary, Beyond The Joke, 25th September 2015James Cary's top 10 sitcoms & the glaring omissions
Anyone who's been looking at this blog over the last few weeks will know that I've been going through my favourite ten British sitcoms. These are not shows which I think are objectively 'the best', or most technically brilliant, although I'd argue that on some of them. They are shows which I've grown up with, fallen in love with or which have inspired me to start writing, or, more likely, try harder.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 13th August 2015Writing the plot
In the latest Sitcom Geeks podcast, we talk about writing the pilot episode. I talk about stuff that I also cover in my book, Writing That Sitcom.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 13th August 2015James Cary's top 10 sitcoms, #1 - Yes, Prime Minister
The eighteen episodes of Yes, Prime Minister are, to me, perfect situation comedy. Because I've always been such a sitcom geek, whenever I watch any sitcom I sometimes get itchy and think that the writers have missed out a joke, or have let a weak scene get through, or there are plot holes that need fixing. I watch Yes, Prime Minister and my sitcom geek alarm never goes off. It powers down and goes into sleep mode. Because Yes, Prime Minister is perfect.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 12th August 2015James Cary's top 10 sitcoms, #2 - Blackadder
How can anyone not love Blackadder? We may be divided about which series we like the most (I'm a 4, 3, 2, 1 man), but we all love the characters and the stories, but most of all, we love the jokes, the memorable, lovely, wordy jokes that draw on the richness of the English language.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 11th August 2015