Dave and James chat with Australian writer Peter C Hayward, writer of Night Crew, the winner of our first BCG Pro/Sitcom Geeks Sitcom Script Challenge. Featuring giant toasters, Finnemore fandom, and a bee plot.

Sitcom Geeks

Episode 137 - A Winning Writer Speaks

Dave and James talk to John O'Farrell and Brenda Gilhooly at the Chortle Book Festival about all things writing, including coming up with the right idea at the right time.

Episode 136 - Chortle Book Festival

With the BBC comedy writing window all set to open on 16th March, Dave and James find out from Writersroom Comedy overseers Simon Nelson and Amanda Farley how to dazzle them with your comedy entries. They're joined by one of last year's winners and current Felix Dexter Bursary writer, Athena Kugblenu.

Episode 135 - Make Your Script Stand Out

James and Dave answer your sitcom script-based questions about turning your idea into a sitcom, making sure your idea hasn't been done (it has), what makes a studio sitcom script, resolving plots, series arcs, budgets and how much writers actually get paid. Plus exciting news about the upcoming BCG comedy writers' conference.

Episode 134 - Sitcom Scripts Q&A

Dave and James dig deep into the 15 scripts on the longlist of the BCG Pro Sitcom Geeks Script Challenge and explain what works, and how you can all move your scripts forward.

Episode 133 - Where Did We Go Right?

James and Dave talk more about the scripts from the BCG Pro competition, with some more thoughts on getting the story going, how story is character (saving you a fortune in Robert McKeen seminars) and when talking under your breath is funny, and when it isn't.

Episode 132 - Story Is Character

While you were eating and sleeping your way through the holidays Dave and James were reading your script entries to the BCG Pro Sitcom Geeks Script Challenge - all 65 of them. Ahead of announcing the final shortlist they discuss what they've learned. Essential listening if you want to enter this year's BBC Writersroom Script Competition.

Episode 131 - Writing Comedy Is Hard!

'My act is like putting a cartoon in someone's head.' Dave and James enjoy a fascinating session in the company of one of the country's top comedians, ahead of his biggest live tour in years.

Episode 130 - Milton Jones

Four comedy writers walk into a bar. Ahead of the comedy writers' Christmas Party, Dave chats with NFTS comedy graduate Sara Gibbs, improv superstar Pippa Evans and writing legend Paul Bassett Davies about women in writing rooms, the changing definitions of sitcom, Stephen King and Dolly Parton. Summing up: Yes it's still tough, but the opportunities are still there.

Episode 129 - Old And New

This episode Dave and James ask what's the difference between character and characters, story and stories, stand-up and acting? (Spoiler - it's not 8 quid). Also not to be missed - James's theory that all sitcoms are like biscuits. Nice.

Episode 128 - What's The Difference?

Dave and James revisit the dos and don'ts of plotting, adding sparkle to your stories, with added jeopardy for comedy drama fans.

Episode 127 - How To Plot Your Sitcom

Here's plenty of valuable last-minute tips from James and Dave before you send your script out to a producer or competition. And don't worry if you miss the Sitcom Geeks Script Competition deadline - the next BBC Writersroom deadline is closer than you think.

Episode 126 - Honing Your First Ten Pages

With the November 17 deadline approaching for the Sitcom Script Challenge, Dave and James talk about extracting maximum mileage from your characters. Spoiler alert: they don't have to be likeable.

Episode 125 - Creating Comedy Characters

It's half of our name but we don't talk often enough about the situation. Dave and James talk to producer David Tyler (Cabin Pressure, Dinnerladies, Milton Jones and loads more) about what makes a good sit, plus James's chapter on this from Writing That Sitcom.

Episode 124 - What's Your Sit?

Dave and James look at the recent Emmy successes for British shows Fleabag and Succession, and talk about what makes a successful career, and why overnight success can be years in the making.

Episode 123 - Building A Writing Career

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.

hubhopper

Sitcom Geeks

hubhopper