Sitcom Geeks Page 3
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.
Previous Episodes
Episode 17 - Writing Topical Comedy
11th February 2016. 33 minutes.
With a new series of Newsjack starting on BBC Radio 4 Extra, James and Dave discuss why you should be writing for it, and how. They're joined by Dead Ringers...
Episode 16 - Doing It Yourself!
28th January 2016. 41 minutes.
Do your big plans for 2016 include making a YouTube video to showcase your brilliant sitcom script? Listen to the advice of James and Dave before you decide. Plus the...
Episode 15 - The Shape of Sits to Com
14th January 2016. 34 minutes.
In this action-packed episode, Dave and James discuss what commissioners say they're looking for in 2016, and what they really are looking for. They're joined by The Times' Comedy Critic...
Episode 14 - Sitcom Highlights of 2015
31st December 2015. 31 minutes.
A look back at the sitcom highlights of 2015 with special guest Alex Hardy, comedy critic for The Times. And another 10 page challenge.
Episode 13 - Jokes
17th December 2015. 43 minutes.
James and Dave talk about those things that are easily forgotten as you establish your characters and plot your stories: jokes. We also look at the First Ten Pages of...
Episode 12 - Writing for Radio
3rd December 2015. 39 minutes.
This episode James and Dave are joined by producer extraordinaire David Tyler (Victoria Wood, John Finnemore's Cabin Pressure, Milton Jones, Steve Coogan, Marcus Brigstocke, Jeremy Hardy and dozens more) to...
Episode 11 - The Rise of the Writer-Performer
19th November 2015. 38 minutes.
With the rise of the writer-performer sitcom, Dave and James look at what this means for the humble sitcom writer. (SPOILERS: There are pros. And there are cons.) Also: The...
Episode 10 - Secondary Characters
5th November 2015. 45 minutes.
This week: secondary characters who populate your sitcom. Dave (the posh snob) Cohen and James (the cockney spiv) Cary discuss how to make sure your archetypes don't turn into stereotypes....
Episode 9 - Ensemble Sitcoms
22nd October 2015. 35 minutes.
We've had larger-than-life monsters and odd couples, in this episode James and Dave explore the ensemble sitcom, where many characters vie for our attention. Expect the name 'David Croft' to...
Episode 8 - The First Ten Pages
8th October 2015. 35 minutes.
Hey! You! Look! Producers and script readers need to be grabbed by your script from the opening page. In this episode, James and Dave discuss the essential ingredients required in...
Episode 7 - Finding the Right Stories
24th September 2015. 44 minutes.
What's the story? Now you have characters you need lots to happen to them. Things that allow them to dig themselves so deep into holes it'll take the rest of...
Episode 6 - Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Part 2)
10th September 2015. 36 minutes.
In the second of a two-part special, James talks to Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Gnomeo & Juliet, Little Britain and more) about Hyperdrive, Black Books, The Great Outdoors and...
Episode 5 - Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Part 1)
27th August 2015. 31 minutes.
In the first of a two-part special, James talks to Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Black Books, Veep, Gnomeo & Juliet, Little Britain and many more) about how they got...
Episode 4 - Writing Pilots
13th August 2015. 34 minutes.
This episode Dave and James offer advice about choosing the best story to write up for your pilot episode. And using the benefit of hindsight they send you off to...
Episode 3 - Odd Couples
30th July 2015. 35 minutes.
This week James and Dave discuss mismatched couples and why, despite everything, they stick together. Whether they're part of a family, partners, work colleagues, or simply unable to separate, these...
Episode 2 - Larger Than Life
16th July 2015. 38 minutes.
James and Dave discuss sitcom characters, how they need to be 'Larger than Life' and how you can normally push them much further than you think. They also discuss characters...
Episode 1 - What's Your Sitcom Really About?
2nd July 2015. 31 minutes.
Dave Cohen and James Cary talk about the difference between what your sitcom appears to be about (ie. situation) and what it's actually about (something more profound, ideally).