I wasn't a huge Friends fan, but I found this to be an interesting peak into the writer's room. As I was reading it, I was reminded of the TV show "Reboot" which follows a show writer and actors...
I wasn't a huge Friends fan, but I found this to be an interesting peak into the writer's room. As I was reading it, I was reminded of the TV show "Reboot" which follows a show writer and actors (fictionalized). It is kinda neat to hear about how the sausage is made, regardless of how messy it is (or maybe because it is).
OH wow phew, I thought you were talking about the CG animated TV show, ReBoot (1994-2001 - note spelling) and almost had a heart attack if it was based on writers' bad blood.
OH wow phew, I thought you were talking about the CG animated TV show, ReBoot (1994-2001 - note spelling) and almost had a heart attack if it was based on writers' bad blood.
I really enjoyed Reboot, thought it had great potential. There was a great storyline between Paul Reiser and the actor that played his daughter. And Johnny Knoxville was surprisingly good! Was...
I really enjoyed Reboot, thought it had great potential. There was a great storyline between Paul Reiser and the actor that played his daughter. And Johnny Knoxville was surprisingly good! Was very disappointed to find out it wasn't being pick up for a second season, felt like it had a lot more to offer.
So no one told them life was gonna be this way? But I guess that explains why there's so many videos on YouTube explaining that the FRIENDS are bad friends. Some of the writers must have been...
In all of my fears about the new job, I never predicted one of the challenges I would face was that the Friends writing staff was cliquey, more so than at any other show I would work on.
So no one told them life was gonna be this way?
But I guess that explains why there's so many videos on YouTube explaining that the FRIENDS are bad friends. Some of the writers must have been drawing from personal experience.
That's a good point. I wouldn't be surprised if you were correct about that. I find with cliques l, and some people who still have these in their adult years, haven't fully grown out of their...
That's a good point. I wouldn't be surprised if you were correct about that. I find with cliques l, and some people who still have these in their adult years, haven't fully grown out of their teenage years lol...
I made it halfway through, so if there’s a twist in the latter half where something horrible happens to the author, forgive my ignorance. But this story was rubbing me the wrong way. Going off...
I made it halfway through, so if there’s a twist in the latter half where something horrible happens to the author, forgive my ignorance. But this story was rubbing me the wrong way.
Going off their high school analogy, I think the author’s character is all too familiar. It’s that yo-yo of inferiority/superiority complex. On one hand, you’re the ugly, awkward, loser kid that nobody likes and rightfully so. On the other, you’re better than everyone else, than those guys who will peak in high school. The reality is that if you had more self confidence, you’d connect with the good in others more easily.
I definitely sympathize with the authors own feelings of inadequacy in the story. Yet it manifests so often as smugness. The end result is an article like this that absolutely crucifies everyone else in the writer’s room (and the actors).
Great article! If you liked this and you like podcasts, check out Subtitles On, which is Sean Clements' podcast (there are more episodes and video recordings of the episodes on the "Flagrant Ones"...
Great article! If you liked this and you like podcasts, check out Subtitles On, which is Sean Clements' podcast (there are more episodes and video recordings of the episodes on the "Flagrant Ones" patreon) ostensibly about movies featuring writers; he and the guest frequently use the movies to jump off and talk about what it is like to be a modern-day writer in Hollywood. The short and long of it is that it is rough. The profession is being eroded on all sides: showrunners are choosing not to convene writer rooms; private equity firms that only care about marginal profits are running more of Hollywood than ever; AI is an omnipresent threat; there are fewer places where writers can learn the skills to become showrunners; it is no longer possible to be staffed on a show and earn a living wage.
even the audience seems to be tortured: How is it unconscionable or even helpful to trap humans in a room for 6 hours laughing at the same joke over and over? They had enough fans that they could...
even the audience seems to be tortured:
At 5 p.m. the crowd would be revved up and punchy, but after six hours of sitting in one place, watching the same scenes over and over, they’d be hungry and tired and no longer laughing.
How is it unconscionable or even helpful to trap humans in a room for 6 hours laughing at the same joke over and over? They had enough fans that they could have rotated new people in every hour for 6 hours every week, easily. Get fresh people, get fresh laughs. They wouldn't even have to pay for these people! Why on earth did they not?
Maybe, if writers are not making living wage, if everyone is miserable, and if the only winners are big studios and big stars.....maybe I'm done with eating sausages afterall.
Not sure I would consider the writer a reliable narrator in this. Spoiling the ending, but she was fired after one season on Friends. She was also fired after one season on Breaking Bad. Once...
Not sure I would consider the writer a reliable narrator in this. Spoiling the ending, but she was fired after one season on Friends. She was also fired after one season on Breaking Bad. Once could be a bad fit, but twice?
On the other hand, she was hired for both Friends and Breaking Bad. Which is more than most writers can brag about. And two dismissals in a cutthroat industry is not nearly enough to establish a...
On the other hand, she was hired for both Friends and Breaking Bad. Which is more than most writers can brag about. And two dismissals in a cutthroat industry is not nearly enough to establish a pattern.
True, but if you look at their writing credits, they were never rehired for a second season on any of their shows. Desperate Housewives, Freaks and Geeks, etc. Seems like a pattern....
True, but if you look at their writing credits, they were never rehired for a second season on any of their shows. Desperate Housewives, Freaks and Geeks, etc. Seems like a pattern. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0510937/
Freaks and Geeks only had one season. There were 18 episodes, and she's credited for writing two of them, and story editing 12 of them, which seems pretty standard when looking at the other...
Freaks and Geeks only had one season. There were 18 episodes, and she's credited for writing two of them, and story editing 12 of them, which seems pretty standard when looking at the other episodes.
I wasn't a huge Friends fan, but I found this to be an interesting peak into the writer's room. As I was reading it, I was reminded of the TV show "Reboot" which follows a show writer and actors (fictionalized). It is kinda neat to hear about how the sausage is made, regardless of how messy it is (or maybe because it is).
OH wow phew, I thought you were talking about the CG animated TV show, ReBoot (1994-2001 - note spelling) and almost had a heart attack if it was based on writers' bad blood.
Glad to find somebody else remembers the mainframe.
Yeah I did a bit of a spit take myself when I saw Reboot.
I really enjoyed Reboot, thought it had great potential. There was a great storyline between Paul Reiser and the actor that played his daughter. And Johnny Knoxville was surprisingly good! Was very disappointed to find out it wasn't being pick up for a second season, felt like it had a lot more to offer.
So no one told them life was gonna be this way?
But I guess that explains why there's so many videos on YouTube explaining that the FRIENDS are bad friends. Some of the writers must have been drawing from personal experience.
That's a good point. I wouldn't be surprised if you were correct about that. I find with cliques l, and some people who still have these in their adult years, haven't fully grown out of their teenage years lol...
High School Never Ends.
Not necessarily although usually true. The first that comes to mind is The Good Place, and another is Dead Like Me
I made it halfway through, so if there’s a twist in the latter half where something horrible happens to the author, forgive my ignorance. But this story was rubbing me the wrong way.
Going off their high school analogy, I think the author’s character is all too familiar. It’s that yo-yo of inferiority/superiority complex. On one hand, you’re the ugly, awkward, loser kid that nobody likes and rightfully so. On the other, you’re better than everyone else, than those guys who will peak in high school. The reality is that if you had more self confidence, you’d connect with the good in others more easily.
I definitely sympathize with the authors own feelings of inadequacy in the story. Yet it manifests so often as smugness. The end result is an article like this that absolutely crucifies everyone else in the writer’s room (and the actors).
I'm not sure why you would choose such an uncharitable reading of this personal account.
Great article! If you liked this and you like podcasts, check out Subtitles On, which is Sean Clements' podcast (there are more episodes and video recordings of the episodes on the "Flagrant Ones" patreon) ostensibly about movies featuring writers; he and the guest frequently use the movies to jump off and talk about what it is like to be a modern-day writer in Hollywood. The short and long of it is that it is rough. The profession is being eroded on all sides: showrunners are choosing not to convene writer rooms; private equity firms that only care about marginal profits are running more of Hollywood than ever; AI is an omnipresent threat; there are fewer places where writers can learn the skills to become showrunners; it is no longer possible to be staffed on a show and earn a living wage.
even the audience seems to be tortured:
How is it unconscionable or even helpful to trap humans in a room for 6 hours laughing at the same joke over and over? They had enough fans that they could have rotated new people in every hour for 6 hours every week, easily. Get fresh people, get fresh laughs. They wouldn't even have to pay for these people! Why on earth did they not?
Maybe, if writers are not making living wage, if everyone is miserable, and if the only winners are big studios and big stars.....maybe I'm done with eating sausages afterall.
Not sure I would consider the writer a reliable narrator in this. Spoiling the ending, but she was fired after one season on Friends. She was also fired after one season on Breaking Bad. Once could be a bad fit, but twice?
On the other hand, she was hired for both Friends and Breaking Bad. Which is more than most writers can brag about. And two dismissals in a cutthroat industry is not nearly enough to establish a pattern.
True, but if you look at their writing credits, they were never rehired for a second season on any of their shows. Desperate Housewives, Freaks and Geeks, etc. Seems like a pattern.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0510937/
Freaks and Geeks only had one season. There were 18 episodes, and she's credited for writing two of them, and story editing 12 of them, which seems pretty standard when looking at the other episodes.
According to this list one of her episodes is The Best, and her other is at number 8. https://episode.ninja/series/freaks-and-geeks