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Sitcom Geeks

Sitcom Geeks

A podcast series for those interested in the mechanics of situation comedy. James Cary and Dave Cohen discuss the art of sitcom writing for TV and Radio.

Episode 104 - The Sacred Art of Joking

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Published: 17th January 2019.   Length: 43 mins.   Size: 49.9mb

Today's special guest is none other than James Cary. Well he has a great new book out called The Sacred Art of Joking and it offers a fresh perspective on the evergreen topic of causing offence in comedy. Find out what makes people get angry at comedy, why Jesus was funny and listen to the rare sound of James and Dave disagreeing with each other.

Previous episodes

Tiernan Douieb.

Episode 99 - Tiernan Douieb

13th December 2018.   42 minutes.

Dave talks to stand-up, podcaster, kids' comedy pioneer Tiernan Douieb about juggling stand-up, podcasting and kids' comedy (but not juggling), and the dangers of spreading yourself too thin.

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Sitcom Geeks.

Episode 97 - The Complete Comedy Writer

29th November 2018.   43 minutes.

Dave has got a book out! About comedy writing! Who better to interview him about it than James? Plus questions answered about theme tunes, building your world, audience v non...

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Sitcom Geeks.

Episode 89 - DIY Comedy

27th September 2018.   46 minutes.

Dave and James talk about kickstarting - and continuing - your career by making comedy yourself, in all its forms. What are the options?

Listen

Sitcom Geeks.

Episode 87 - Is Bake Off A Sitcom?

30th August 2018.   54 minutes.

Dave and James back from the summer with lots to report including the return of Newsjack, the great audience sitcom revival part 897 and several attempts to answer the impossible...

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Saskia Schuster.

Episode 86 - Saskia Schuster

16th August 2018.   45 minutes.

Dave and James have a strangely therapeutic conversation with Saskia Schuster, Controller of Comedy at ITV; about how sitcoms get on to ITV and the agony of turning shows down....

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Sitcom Geeks.

Episode 85 - Jonathan Ames

2nd August 2018.   52 minutes.

James talks down the line to top US comedy writer and novelist Jonathan Ames about the hilarious HBO series Bored To Death, being championed by David Letterman and... Are You...

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Hayley McKenzie.

Episode 84 - Hayley McKenzie

19th July 2018.   48 minutes.

"My job isn't to tell the writer how to be better, my job is to help them figure out what they want to write." Plenty of excellent advice for ALL...

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Contact Us

Email questions to sitcomgeeks@gmail.com

Biographies

James Cary.James Cary is a comedy writer for BBC TV and Radio. His latest series is Bluestone 42 for BBC Three, which he co-created and wrote with Richard Hurst. He met Richard working on Series 1 & 2 of BBC's award-winning sitcom, Miranda. James has also written episodes of My Hero and My Family for BBC One. His radio credits include three series of Hut 33, four series of Think the Unthinkable, and sketch show, Concrete Cow. He has also written four series of Another Case Of Milton Jones with, er, Milton Jones for BBC Radio 4. sitcomgeek.blogspot.co.uk @sitcomgeek

Dave Cohen.Dave Cohen, a Perrier nominee in a previous century, was a founder member of the Comedy Store Players. In recent years he has become more known as a comedy writer, having written for Have I Got News For You and Not Going Out, and as a comic songwriter, co-creating the Radio 4 hit 15 Minute Musical and writing loads of songs for the hit BBC Childrens' Show Horrible Histories and ITV's Newzoids. His book How to be Averagely Successful at Comedy was published in 2013. davecohen.org.uk @cohendave

Theme music: Jane Watkins