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Veteran television writer and producer Jerry Rannow gives aspiring and experienced comedy writers a humorous and eye-opening insider's view of the process of conceiving, writing, and marketing a winning TV sitcom. Irreverent and brutally honest, the author reveals what it's like to work with network and studio executives, producers, directors, agents, writers, and stars, including detailed advice on:

• Turning real life into comedy
• Constructing a story outline
• Developing characters
• Writing dialogue
• Crafting successful jokes
• Collaborating with other writers
• Structuring and formatting scripts
• Drafting a "spec" script
• Pitching to producers
• Creating a pilot

Chapters include instructive script excepts from successful shows and provide exercises to help writers create their own television comedies. Valuable appendixes include lists of agents, contacts, and organizations. Full of laughs and profitable tips for making a living in the business while still having fun. Writing Television Comedy is an invaluable tool for all writers who want to break into the talent-hungry industry of TV comedy.