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- Writers Resources - |
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Writing Television Comedy |
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| Writing Television Comedy by Jerry Rannow Allworth Press 211 Pages, 1999 ISBN 1581150423 Reviewed by Marion E. Cason If your goal is to write television comedy, or if you want to know the process behind it, then Writing Television Comedy by Jerry Rannow is a book you will enjoy. Jerry Rannow writes a compelling book about all the thrills, agony, and ego trips in the writing world of television sitcoms. Rannow wrote many zany situation comedy scripts for Welcome Back Kotter, Head of the Class, Happy Days, Love Boat, and for The Jonathan Winters Show and others. Those shows reflect pure comedy at its best. Sharing his rich experience, Rannow gives solid background information on the steps needed to get into this writing arena. He takes you step by step through the process. First, you must be a good writer. Everyone is born with a sense of humor, but good writing is essential. He shows you how to develop an idea into a story synopsis - a story with structure that makes it dramatically compelling. Once your idea has been sold, Rannow walks you through the next phase of writing the story outline and dividing it into individual scenes. When the producer accepts your script and staff writers go over the story with you, they will have other ideas and want you to rewrite. This is no place for an ego or thin skin to surface. Rannow suggests you keep an open mind. He points out that sometimes you have to stand your ground when others suggest changes that endanger the story's goal. The book holds a wealth of information on script formats, agents, and organizations to help a writer in his/her pursuit of writing television comedy. Rannow ends with this thought, "...I'm going to get off by reminding you that humor is a positive force that uplifts the human spirit. As a humorist, you have a responsibility to fashion a wake-up call for this, and succeeding generations. And don't worry if you fail to get a big laugh - a simple smile is reward enough." Both funny and immensely informative, this is an excellent handbook for writers. |
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