How to Structure a Sitcom
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2024
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Today I look at an article written by Noah Charney where he broke down how a sitcom is structured.
Cracking The Sitcom Code: www.theatlantic.com/entertain...
Fundamentals of Screenwriting Playlist: • The Fundamentals Of Sc...
Practical Screenwriting eBook: www.practicalscreenwriting.co...
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Instagram: @mowery
#Screenwriting #Sitcom #Storytelling - Фільми й анімація
Get Practical Tools to Write Your Great Screenplay: www.practicalscreenwriting.com
I've always been interested in writing a comedy/sitcom. I really love shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation. This video has helped me, thanks man
I tried, my first attempt is on my page here, Its Blazing budgets, give it a shot. Let me know what you think!!
I've always been interested in the Sitcom Dynamic & structure. Thanks for the breakdown, Mate!! 👏👏👏
Glad it was helpful!
This is perfect! I am working on a sitcom idea and I am struggling. Then a notification pops on my phone and says ''How to Structure a Sitcom'' by Tyler Mowery. Unbelievable! Thank you Tyler! I love your videos and podcast. You are doing amazing job. Professional, very well explained, valuable, helpful and inspiring content. Thank you!
It sounded like the format is Hero's Journey without character development. Basically characters carried out their usual rituals, but failed to learn from their behaviors. Their antics and quirks are what the viewers find so attracting and familiar.
Okay what in the hell... I've just started watching the office and am currently at an episode called performance reviews. Then I start thinking about my own plan of creating a sitcom and decide to do some research on how to do it. I have now entered the second minute of this video and he mentions the exact same episode of the exact same show that I am watching at the exact same moment.
1:38 “teasers” are mostly given to soap operas. In sitcoms, they're mostly called cold opens
I'm really surprised you didn't use "Community" as a reference. It was the testing ground for Dan Harmon's Story Circle theory and adheres to it perfectly
I disagree. Everyone uses community as a reference when talking about Dan harmon. It's refreshing seeing the formula linked to more famous sitcoms.
Isn't Dan Harmon kind of overrated? Given what an egotistical clown he is, it's arguable that Rick & Morty's merits come from Justin Roiland's efforts.
@@SirBlackReeds you're asking if he's overrated as if that's a fact. That is just your opinion. And honestly, I'd say that it's attributed to both of their efforts.
@@SirBlackReeds he is super influential, probably amongst the most influential as a writer, his story circle is used by many writers - that is something you dont see many people achieving
@beep boop then who invented the Dan Harmon story cycle if it wasn't Dan Harmon?
I love the fact that I watched all shows you talked about and remember the episodes vividly
Great information 67 years old and been wanting to write a sitcom. The real scary thing is to go watch a sitcom where there is no "can laughter " no machine to insert the fake laughter. Scary how many sitcoms i love that aren't really that funny. Hope i can find the talent to make my characters stand on their own and be funny
Seinfeld and The Office are the two shows that changed sitcom history. Good choice to use them as a reference.
Why do I all of a sudden want to write a sitcom
Really liked your video. I have a sitcom pilot draft that I’m looking to edit right now and this is great for setting up the overall pacing of my story. Thanks!
New nerdwriter on the rise❤️
wow Tyler, u are always the best, I really need this episode, thank you so much.
WoW Just WoW, I have Just Started Writing One and This Gets Uploaded !
Great Content! Hope to see more TV writing basics content from you especially 40 Minute Episode DRAMAs similar to The Sopranos and Breaking Bad.
Love the breakdown, thank you!!
I think why Seinfeld was so good because they have an a plot B plot AND c plot AND they combine them at the end
I hope one day I make my own sitcom
Thanks for the info Tyler I want to write sitcoms
Very well made and informative
Appreciate this. Very helpful
This guy, we love this guy.
I am disappointed by the lack of footage from Malcolm In The Middle, 30 Rock, The IT Crowd, Silicon Valley, and Titus.
Very useful video.
Thank you
I would love to see your take on the structure and content of UA-cam sitcoms.
What's UA-cam Sitcoms?
@@kaissersreich Basically a youtube show (a shorter show) that is a sitcom.
@@amjadshukkoor could you name me some??
@@kaissersreich The Guild is pretty famous.
You're a real life Deus Ex Machina swinging in out of nowhere to save the day.
Pretty ironic that someone who probably hates Deus Ex Machinas, is a Deus Ex Machina.
@@TheLuisLopezChannel "ironic."
Super helpful video!
so insane, so helpful, so entertaining
Ty, you gotta show us your films or screenplays, would love to see them!
I think he's only written, like, one. You can find the link to download it at his "I Wrote a Screenplay in 48 Hours" video.
@@TomEyeTheSFMguy im sure has a lot more written.
He certainly has more written, but the one he did for the video (I wrote a screenplay in 24 hrs) is the only one he has put to the public as far as I'm concerned. He is trying to sell some to Hollywood. Last time I heard he said he had a good chance of a deal. But idk anymore than that.
@@benjaminread5287 oh OK then.
I hate to break it to you but this guys IMDb page is less than flattering.
Can you please do a video on How to create a Story with Two or More Antagonists?
Awesome!
Great vid
Great video. New subbie!!!!!
Very nice video
This is a bit confusing for me because I have no interest in a teaser and I'm writing a comedy-drama so it's less about constant laughs. Also I'm in the UK and I need the script to be the full 20 minutes (no ad breaks).
Just wondering how you got on with your script writing, mate? I'm also in the UK and looking to start writing a comedy script.
I have a question, don't know if anyone will read it though. Here it goes:
Sitcoms are limited usually to a 20-minute format. However, it's not hard to find extras scenes on youtube for episodes of The Office, for example. So when I sit to write an episode, should I write as many jokes as I can think and then cut the ones that I think it won't work? And if I do, how many more pages or jokes? I don't know how this process works in a Write's Room.
That is an interesting question.
The first draft of a sitcom episode will often be much longer, without polished jokes etc.
You create the plot for the episode, having in mind that the plot needs to leave some room for good joke material, then you write it out.
After that you revise and add in as many jokes as possible (3 jokes per page minimum) and then you cut any dead weight. (Might be a couple dialogue lines, jokes or even entire scenes).
The extra scenes were just cut as they were unnecessary for the story to work, too long, etc, so what I’d define as ‘dead weight’.
Remember, any story telling rule also counts for sitcoms, so having an unnecessary scene in the middle of the episode because you think there is a bomb joke and you just don’t want to cut it, is a big mistake, which probably every writer, especially in comedy, made in one point.
@beep boop Thx man
It's very complicated processes. A bunch of re-writes and post-production processes. They're workaholic. If you look at bonus contents of Seinfeld DVDs, you'll know how hard it is. It's much more difficult than posting complicated political posts in Facebook. People misunderstand talking politics is intelligent, but making sitcoms needs more brain than just writing politics posts with no regulations. You must be in the time slot, and condense into 22-minute conversation. Man, these people who are working in the post production of entertainment industry are way more intelligent than what we think they are.
Can you do one about British comedy like bottom?
Btw, “the teaser” is also the same as “cold open”
This dude’s podcast.. unreal. I absolutely love it! You need to check it out.
Glad you enjoy it!
Are you able to create a story with the 5 W(what why who when where)?
I love Seinfeld and I love this video
hey tyler I wanna ask would you like to read my screenplay that I'm writing I would really love some professional advice on it and its only gonna be 20 or 25 pages
hey, i just watched this video for like the tenth time and a very big question mark popped in my head about how much of these things you were talking about how nothing has really changed at the end of the episode applies for the pilot. cuz in pilot, the whole series is being constructed and of course, some sort of change is needed, for instance, in friends, they reunite with Rachel and ross has just get single again. i was wondering if those parts about change could ever be applied for the pilot. or not? i am desperately looking forward for any answer right now.
"Nothing has changed" usually applies to the characters and their personalities. Circumstances can change all the time in sitcoms (take Friends, they have relationships, babies, switch apartments, etc.), but fundamentally the characters are always the same. If you look at the end of the Friends pilot, the characters are the same characters they were at the beginning, they just have a new roommate, Rachel. (And Ross' divorce happened before the series even starts.)
That doesn't mean that characters can't ever change in sitcoms, but it's rare in the classic sitcom format of self-contained episodes, and it probably shouldn't happen in the pilot when you only have twenty minutes to show the audience what to expect from your show. At the end of the pilot the characters have to be clearly defined so changing them too much over the course of the episode would just confuse the viewers.
Hi thank you for your content I think it’s very helpful with every details one question though how can I found the video in your contacts starts in a minute 0:57 for the guy who explains on the board thank you
Look up "Dan Harmon story circle".
Dude, how long does this take you to edit?
When you're so early you can' think of a clever comment
How about first
Found it. Ty
🙏🏻
What’s the podcast?
do sit com pilots follow this structure too?
is there a reason why point #8 of the story circle was not touched?
In sitcoms, they don't really change. That may be why.
@beep boop yeah. Slightly.
The Office is still the best Sitcom ever!
Interesting challenge: Can anyone break the story/narrative of the bible down through the [Story Circle].
Is there really a narrative structure in the bible?
@@TomEyeTheSFMguy Yeah, there is. It's a unique system of story telling whereby the overall story/narrative of the bible is constructed by the 66 books in order from beginning/Exordium of humanity to the prophesized ending/Denouement; and the story of christ arriving on Earth as the son of the one true God over all, serving as the climax/Crescendo of the entire book.
Though, what makes it so cool and unique, to my writing eyes, is in this complicated system possess a beginning, rising and falling action, and conclusion for each book which uses there stand alone arcs to add up to the whole.
@@iamthisiam huh. Okay, then.
how do you make jokes throughout the episode? I wanna write a comedy sitcom but I'm good at writing but not good at the comedy part.
Well, for now one helpful piece of advice I can give you is that comedy comes from character. Not the situations they're in, but how they react to them.
@@TomEyeTheSFMguy ok thanks for the advice
@@Noahthegamer809 here's a good video on how comedy needs character
ua-cam.com/video/mzqDiSr4jY4/v-deo.html
@@TomEyeTheSFMguy ok thanks
Sitcom Rule 1: There is no learning.
Bulbulay
STELLLAAAA!!
00:21
great now i wanna watch THE OFFICE. Again.
Seinfeld is my favorite of all time
this is brilliant but baffles me how anyone can find the American office funny. UK one is genius!
second
First
37 seconds faster than me, yet the video was uploaded 37 seconds ago
Nobody gives a shit
@@suspect-king5267 nonfictions
@@truthin24frames73 *notifications?
@@TomEyeTheSFMguy yeah they’re fast
The main take from this video is that The Office is so bad. So very, very bad.
How is that the main take? That's just your opinion.
I, too, think it’s bad but because of the lack of imagination beyond the standard formulaic structure. But that’s my unpopular, nerdy writer perspective
Guys,be honest and tell me,how many of you here has written any sitcom? I really don't believe that just any person could become a sitcom writer after watching tutorials on youtube about how to write a sitcom,so im begging you to be honest,and tell me : Did you write anything that later on came on TV?
Unblock me on insta please, I'll stop writing to you 🙏😢