How sitcoms are written and made...a website to explain?

[Yong Fang]

I am interested in how a successful sitcom works. For example for a show like Modern Family. a successful program which has been on six seasons and renewed for a seventh.

1. How many writers are on a show like this? There is a head writer and his subordinates. How many writers altogether? How do these writers work? Independently for ideas, or work more as a group? Each writer has their own ideas. If I were a writer for this show, I would make Cam a successful college football coach making more than Mitchell. The other writers can like or dislike my idea, and can get a green light or a fail from the head writer. Or do these people sit in a room all day brainstorming ideas?

2. When do the actors work? Now, there is about 16-18 shows per season. When do they start work to make these shows? When a successful show begins a new season, how many episodes are in the can and how many are there to be made?

3. How long do the actors and everyone have to make a particular episode? How many days or weeks does it take for them to make one 18 minute TV show? Since a sitcom is about 18 to 22 minutes long, how much does each actor spend rehearsing an episode? How much memorization is involved? Or do the actors work mainly off cue cards. I do know that actors do sit in a conference room with the new scripts sitting around the table "doing lines (not cocaine, the dialogue).

4. What is a show runner? This is an important person, although it sounds like the gopher who gets the Starbucks coffee to everyone in the morning (or the coffee, cigarettes and booze for late night sessions).

5. For a show like Modern Family, do they hire writers from previous shows? They must. Does Brooklyn Nine Nine have the same or similar writers as Michael Shur's other shows, The Office and Parks and Recreation?

Is there a website that can explain this? Or can you? Interesting to see how a show works.

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I am interested in how a successful sitcom works. For example for a show like Modern Family. a successful program which has been on six seasons and renewed for a seventh.

1. How many writers are on a show like this? There is a head writer and his subordinates. How many writers altogether? How do these writers work? Independently for ideas, or work more as a group? Each writer has their own ideas. If I were a writer for this show, I would make Cam a successful college football coach making more than Mitchell. The other writers can like or dislike my idea, and can get a green light or a fail from the head writer. Or do these people sit in a room all day brainstorming ideas?

2. When do the actors work? Now, there is about 16-18 shows per season. When do they start work to make these shows? When a successful show begins a new season, how many episodes are in the can and how many are there to be made?

3. How long do the actors and everyone have to make a particular episode? How many days or weeks does it take for them to make one 18 minute TV show? Since a sitcom is about 18 to 22 minutes long, how much does each actor spend rehearsing an episode? How much memorization is involved? Or do the actors work mainly off cue cards. I do know that actors do sit in a conference room with the new scripts sitting around the table "doing lines (not cocaine, the dialogue).

4. What is a show runner? This is an important person, although it sounds like the gopher who gets the Starbucks coffee to everyone in the morning (or the coffee, cigarettes and booze for late night sessions).

5. For a show like Modern Family, do they hire writers from previous shows? They must. Does Brooklyn Nine Nine have the same or similar writers as Michael Shur's other shows, The Office and Parks and Recreation?

Is there a website that can explain this? Or can you? Interesting to see how a show works.

I would go to kenlevine.blogspot.com for answers to a lot of these questions, since Mr. Levine is a long-time sitcom writer and past sitcom "showrunner" (main producer), as well as a sitcom creator, working both with and independently of his longtime writing partner, David Isaacs. He even answers some questions submitted by his readers weekly each Friday.

[factsoflife]

I don't work in TV so I don't really know for sure, but here is my speculation based only on what I've read over the years:



1. How many writers are on a show like this? There is a head writer and his subordinates. How many writers altogether? How do these writers work? Independently for ideas, or work more as a group? Each writer has their own ideas. If I were a writer for this show, I would make Cam a successful college football coach making more than Mitchell. The other writers can like or dislike my idea, and can get a green light or a fail from the head writer. Or do these people sit in a room all day brainstorming ideas?

I think it depends on the show, but a successful sitcom can have anywhere from a few (2-3) writers to a large staff (10 or more) writers. I think that the head writer (normally credited as Executive Producer) typically writes out an outline of the season storylines, particularly if there are continuous archs throughout a season. They usually let their staff write the actual script, but they have final approval and can rewrite mostly anything they want.

Obviously, the more senior you are, the more input you'll get, but typically the executive producer (also called "show runner") has final approval. Depending on the series, the network may have more pull than on other series. I assume some of the executive producers allow their staff more leeway than others.



2. When do the actors work? Now, there is about 16-18 shows per season. When do they start work to make these shows? When a successful show begins a new season, how many episodes are in the can and how many are there to be made?

I Don't Know. I assume a lot of that is decided by the actors contracts, salaries and other external factors. For example, an actor who is very popular with the network may suddenly find themselves with a much bigger storyline, thus meaning they work longer hours.



3. How long do the actors and everyone have to make a particular episode? How many days or weeks does it take for them to make one 18 minute TV show? Since a sitcom is about 18 to 22 minutes long, how much does each actor spend rehearsing an episode? How much memorization is involved? Or do the actors work mainly off cue cards. I do know that actors do sit in a conference room with the new scripts sitting around the table "doing lines (not cocaine, the dialogue).


I don't know. I think it varies greatly show to show. I do know that many actors have commented that rehearsal times are basically zero now. It seems now the trend is to do basic blocking (figuring out where the actors will stand, to figure out camera shots) and that's about it. I get the impression rehearsals were more common back in the 80's and 90's when most sitcoms were filmed in front of a live audience or on multiple cameras.




4. What is a show runner? This is an important person, although it sounds like the gopher who gets the Starbucks coffee to everyone in the morning (or the coffee, cigarettes and booze for late night sessions).

The Show Runner is not an official title, but is more of a colloquial expression (or industry jargon) used to describe the most senior person in charge of running the show. They run the daily operations of the series and are responsible for the majority of day to day decisions. They have the most control over the creative and business decisions. In some cases they may share their duties with another, for example Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre at The Big Bang Theory.


5. For a show like Modern Family, do they hire writers from previous shows? They must. Does Brooklyn Nine Nine have the same or similar writers as Michael Shur's other shows, The Office and Parks and Recreation?

It depends. I would imagine it is a good mix, more experienced writers probably cost more and demand more creative control, but it is not uncommon for a show runner to hire people they have worked with before and who they trust. I've heard it is difficult to find work as a writer if you are new to the industry, so there must be a healthy dose of hiring from within or hiring well known writers who have worked on other series.

[factsoflife]

This might answer some of your questions...

http://dailyfig.figment.com/2013/04/...com-writer-do/

I also suggest you try just going into Google and doing a search for "How does TV Writing Work" or "TV Writing".