Every TV comedy needs a theme or what is known in feature-film development as a ‘controlling idea’. This inspires a show’s moral framework, the subtextual message that drives the show. Once you’ve had some initial thoughts about a project, take the time to identify your narrative comedy theme. Often this is implicit in the show’s…
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Mastering the Principles of Comedy
The principles of comedy are ancient. Like the problem-complication-resolution pattern of classic stories, funny stories, characters and dialogue generally adhere to simple principles. These are not formulae – they cannot tell us exactly what to do next – but they can define the spectrum of options available. Comedy’s principles relate to all types of humour,…