Single Camera vs. Multi Camera Comedy

[rhimmer]

Hi All,

Thinking of writing another spec tv pilot, even though it's obviously too late for this development season.

Question: Is the multi camera sitcom dead?

The most watched comedy on tv is three camera ("two and a half men"), but virtually every new pilot I read seems geared towards single camera. Am I wasting my time writing a three camera? Why would a studio choose a three camera over single camera?

Somewhat related: What's your favorite comedy pilot of this development season so far (the ones developed for Fall 2010)?

[odocoileus]

Big Bang is the most watched in the 18-49 demo.

However you reckon it, BBT & 2 1/2 Men are one and two, with everything else a distant second. They're both multi-camera.

You may have a point about multi camera pilots not being hip enough for execs and critics. If only they could get the viewers to agree.

[ylekot43]

I've heard of a few people (including a specific network) looking for them in the past year. Why not do one of each?

They definitely have a different joke rhythm than single-cam so I would first determine if your skill set is more geared to a single or mult-cam.

[12916studios]

The two comedies you want to spec right now are The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. Both are incredibly hot at the moment.

I've only read one of the comedies being developed for Fall 2010. I don't remember what it was called off the top of my head though.

[mtoomey]

Funny enough, I actually watched 2.5 Men for the first time tonight and it was easily the worst sitcom I've seen in 10 years. Saying it was 10 pounds of dog sh!t crammed into a 9 pound bag doesn't quite do it justice.

I then tried to watch Big Bang Theory and the first 2 minutes made me throw my remote at the TV in anger. Who watches this crap? If you do, I'm sorry, it's not personal...I'm sure you have other redeeming qualities like nice teeth or mad gardening skillz.

Modern Family, on the other hand, classic.

MT

[12916studios]

Originally Posted by mtoomey

Who watches this crap?

I do. The Big Bang Theory is brilliant. But, you know, two minutes might not necessarily show you that.

And Two and a Half Men is very hit or miss. I've seen every episode, and it has certainly declined in quality lately. I still enjoy it for what it is though: a show primarily about poop jokes.

[Jenny]

Back when I had a TV, the nightly re-runs of early Two and a Half Men seasons were sometimes the best part of my day.

That was some seriously funny writing, I can see why it found such a devoted audience.

I've got some new episodes on Hulu, and some of the charm has definitely dissipated over the years.

[odocoileus]

2 1/2 Men is based on comedic archetypes - the rake, the smartmouthed surly servant, the glutton, the high strung fastidious fool, the old harpy, the young harpy, the silly young girl. You can find pretty much the same things in the commedia dell'arte centuries ago.

And a Malibu beach house where nobody but the servants really has to work comes pretty close to commedia dell'art settings like country houses in Italy.

It works because it always works if you execute it properly - place the action in a recognizable situation, use likeable characters, keep the language and dilemmas current, use plots that first make sense dramatically in terms of the characters' emotions, and then layer in really sharp (if predictable) jokes.

[WritersBlock2010]

Odocoileus is right.

If you want to write for TV, learn your archetypes. It doesn't matter what kind of show:

-Police Procedural
-Teen Drama
-1/2 Hour sitcom
-Reality TV show <--- These DO have writers, by the way

The archetype is your bread and butter because it is the foundation your living, breathing 3D characters are built upon. Archetypes are the most accessible character types there are. Even more so than stereotypes because archetypes are universal vs. stereotypes that rely on specific (physical) exaggerations.

The biggest archetype itself in the TV world is the Family Unit.

Even if the characters aren't genetically related, the relationships and how their archetypes fit into a larger social unit often resemble the traditional Family unit. Audiences can relate to this on a subconscious level and it gives them a familiar base where they can immerse themselves into the world you are creating.

You can tell who is the "dad", the "mom", the "big brother", "little sister", etc. is by their archetype and how they interact with each other.

The parental figures are the ones who have wisdom, patience, etc. However, they don't have to be physically, or chronologically older to play the role of "mom", or "dad". Brenda and Brandon Walsh, on the original "90201" were the parental figures in their clique of friends.

Once again, this is why archetypes are so important because they aren't restricted by physical factors and are interchangeable on a universal level that allows you to create unique & original characters based on the archetype.

[mtoomey]

Originally Posted by odocoileus

2 1/2 Men is based on comedic archetypes - the rake, the smartmouthed surly servant, the glutton, the high strung fastidious fool, the old harpy, the young harpy, the silly young girl. You can find pretty much the same things in the commedia dell'arte centuries ago.

And a Malibu beach house where nobody but the servants really has to work comes pretty close to commedia dell'art settings like country houses in Italy.

It works because it always works if you execute it properly - place the action in a recognizable situation, use likeable characters, keep the language and dilemmas current, use plots that first make sense dramatically in terms of the characters' emotions, and then layer in really sharp (if predictable) jokes.

I understand the formula, it's the execution that seemed dreadful to me. It was the "sharp jokes" that were missing. Which is a shame, because I've always liked Charlie Sheen in film. Maybe I need to give it more than one episode, but I won't because there are too many other good shows on TV to watch.

MT