James Cary
- 49 years old
- English
- Writer and script editor
Press clippings Page 23
Sitcom Writing: The first two minutes
I'm not a particularly big fan of Dad's Army. It's show I respect - but not one I especially find myself wanting to watch. (Hi-De-Hi was the rising show as I was growing up and getting into comedy.) But I watched the opening of the episode that was on BBC2 on Saturday (why make new comedy when you could repeat the 70s sitcom about the 40s?). Sadly it's not on iplayer, so I can't link to it. It think it's the Brain vs Brawn episode from Series 5. The first two minutes were very impressive from a writing point of view, and worth stopping to think about for a moment.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 27th April 2011Script Competitions
I've never been keen on sitcom competitions, script initiatives, new writing prizes and all that.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 13th April 2011Story of Variety review: So Seventies
Last night, I finally got round to watching Part 2 of The Story of Variety with Michael Grade. Part 1 was excellent, interesting and surprising - full of stuff about the thousands of variety acts criss-crossing Britain to play the hundreds of variety. Part 2 was a little bit rubbish and covered the well-trodden variety acts who ended up on TV.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 14th March 2011James Cary: Annoying People & Boring Bits
This week, I watched an episode of Red Dwarf Series IV that somehow I had never seen before. I am a huge fan of Red Dwarf and Series V and VI, especially - a really good blend of characters, gags and sci-fi imagination. But I missed the Waxworld episode all those years ago and never caught up.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 9th March 2011James Cary reviews Friday Night Dinner
Let us begin with a few caveats. The first is that Sitcom Geek is in awe of Robert Popper, the writer of Friday Night Dinner.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 2nd March 2011A Big Silly Thing
Okay, enough talk about money and courses and radio. Let's do some script nitty-gritty: the time, A Big Silly Thing.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 28th February 2011Comedy Writing: In praise of radio
There is no doubt that TV is where it's at. Every new sitcom that comes out is reviewed by all and sundry, generates a thousand tweets and opinions. The aspiring comedy writer, then, could be forgiven for overlooking radio. But they'd be missing out on acres of opportunities.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 25th February 2011A Course with Yours Truly
Can comedy be taught? You can be the judge. On Friday 25 March, I'll be joining forces with experienced comedy guru Dave Cohen for a day of teaching comedy writing for radio. A week later, on Friday 1st April, we'll be in the same place thinking specifically about sitcom for television.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 7th February 2011Blog: Getting Arrested
I remain a big fan of the show and I watched the show again the other night, catching up on the first episode - and laughed out loud, very loud, several times. But I was wondering why I still didn't love the show...
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 31st January 2011Give 'em what they want: sitcom
Despite their popularity, the TV channels seemed determined not to make scripted narrative comedy. Come on, BBC. More sitcom, please.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 26th January 2011