With 20 years in the business - as a writer, programming executive, and university instructor - Evan S. Smith knows what it takes to get from spec script to sitcom success. With an expanding television industry hungry for programming, aspiring sitcom writers have more opportunities than ever before to see their best lines appear on prime time. In this comprehensive, lively guide, you'll explore the craft and the business of sitcom writing including tips from writers-producers who have worked on such series as Frasier, The Cosby Show, Ellen, Roseanne, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Home Improvement, and Late Night with David Letterman. It includes the first published description of premise-driven comedy, and numerous examples from classic and contemporary sitcoms. There is an examination of how comedy affects character development and story structure, and advice on how the business works. It also contains script layout guidelines for all three sitcom formats - live-action videotape, live-action film, and animation.
