Have you ever thought, while watching your favorite British comedy program,
"This comedy writing lark looks easy-peasy. I wager I could write jokes and funny situation such as these we're currently watching with absolutely no difficulty - in my sleep , with half a wit tied round my back"
Well if you have you're not alone, though you are probably wrong. Writing comedy is awfully hard work and should only be attempted by trained professionals and alumnus of Cambridge Footlights.
Or people with an Internet connection.
That's right, thanks to the BBC and BBC America you now have two chances to show off, or embarrass yourself, in the high-pressure world of TV comedy. Here's how...
If you'd like to audition for the first Internet-written sitcom visit The Writer's Room at BBCi (http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/) and check out the rules and regulations for "Cleaners"
From the site:
"Aspiring comedy writers will be invited to audition for the team by submitting a sample scene from 'Cleaners', a format created by the television comedy development unit involving a group of late-night office cleaners.
Six writers will be selected to form the team, which will work at a virtual writers' table, viewable by everyone but accessible only to the writers.
An associated message board will allow for public comment. "
Sounds surprisingly cool.
Of course only half a dozen writers will be chosen but if you miss out maybe you'll have better luck over at BBC America where they are running a Fawlty Towers Fan Fiction competition. Having a, relatively, officially sanctioned fan fiction contest is pretty rare and the winner snares The Complete Series of Fawlty Towers on DVD so that's also surprisingly cool. There are rules - you need to include at least three of the four main characters, a Norwegian, a fish, and a metal spring in your scenario - and other prizes. Check out
http://www.bbcamerica.com/genre/comedy_games/fawlty_towers/ft_fanfiction.jsp
for complete details.
DVD News
Upcoming releases include...
Lord Peter Wimsey: Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - another classic turn by Ian Carmichael as Dorothy L. Sayers upper-class sleuth
UFO - Live action Sci-fi goodness from the people who brought you Thunderbirds.
Thunderbirds - the complete set now available in one might box
Doctor Who - Tomb of the Cybermen (a personal fave) and Ark in Space
Are You Being Served? - Though it will be hard to top the recent Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy set this is set I'm most looking forward to - August cannot come to soon!
Plus a bit later on there will be box sets of The Young Ones, Red Dwarf, the first three seasons of As Time Goes By (joining the already released season four) and tons more Doctor Who.
