How Can I Make My Pilot Sitcom Script FUNNIER?

Why you should start in the middle of your pilot sitcom script.
Sign up for The Situation Room mailing list for more help on how to create sitcom characters, plot stories and much more:
thesitutationr...
What are the 14 most common problems with your sitcom script? jamescary.samc...
Or sign up for my comprehensive video course here:
jamescary.samc...

[@Geek_Pie]

More useful stuff and although you've said this a thousand times on the podcast the way you've summarised it here made it really hit home. Nice lighting BTW! 👍🏻

[@thesituationroom9026]

Thanks Mike! I appreciate the encouragement!

[@kingsleyabunene9106]

What's the name of the podcast?

[@d-resmin]

MASH is probably the most famous sitcom to do that. It doesn't start with the beginning of the war and no new person comes to the 4077th. Hawkeye is already clashing with Frank and trying to acheive a goal.

[@davidaarthur]

I just watched the pilot for the US series 'Just Shoot Me', and it was really bizarre in exactly this respect. It starts in the middle, with the main character working at a television station, and it works instantly. But after a couple of minutes, she's fired - and the rest of the show is about her starting a new job!

[@thesituationroom9026]

HA! Thanks for pointing that out, David. Yes, breaking the rules can work if you're experienced and already have a deal with the network, etc. But if you're starting out, start in the middle and stay there, I reckon.

[@grandmastersethy]

Haha, I was totally going to start my pilot on her first day of work. Thanks for this!

[@thesituationroom9026]

It can be done - but I think it's very hard to make the main character active. So I personally would avoid it. It could be someone else's first day and your protagonist has to show them around, or deal with them in some way.

[@WannabeWryter]

​@thesituationroom9026 So if my character with in an animated cartoon & starting a super hero revolution, against a grimdark empire. Would it be decided to start at thier 1st hijacking, for the revolution or with the event that triggered the revolution? Because I've been stuck for like a year working on the latter, so maybe I'll try the former

[@KarpoCottage]

I've been wanting to make "gag" comics, but I kept writing the beginning and feeling it was taking forever to get the the status quo. Thank you so much for this!

[@SM-gd6jh]

I really loved it❤❤❤❤❤❤ would use your wisdom ❤

[@pedrocatoira2695]

The Nanny

[@gianttwinkie]

You have a different definition of sitcom when you kill someone on their first day at work. In the States we refer to that as a tragedy.

[@KAZVorpal]

"Start in the middle" is the most mindlessly overdone thing in video media, today.