Notes from a Comedy Showrunner's Panel
I attended an industry panel discussion last night. It was very informative, and not just because of the panelists (who were excellent). The event was put on by, and for, industry assistants (of which I am one). Blind is not a large company, and focused on a small sub-section of the industry, so I haven't had the immersion in "assistant culture" that others experience. Nearly everyone was dressed nicely. Men wore suits and had gelled, close-cropped hair. Women wore fashionable outfits, high-heels, and expensive purses. A few other dudes shared my polo and jeans aesthetic, but we were in the minority.

The event was held in a posh screening room at CAA, one of the big talent agencies. A massive painting hangs in their four-story, open atrium lobby. It looked like Lichtensetein, but I hadn't seen it before. The place was packed to the gills. Planning and fortuitous traffic afforded me a spot in one of the limited seats. But with 20 minutes to go till showtime, there were kids (and I say kids because I'd place the median age of the room at 24) filling all aisles, lining the walls, and shuffling in the back.

Maybe I'm just a total dweeb, but I think I was the only person who took notes there. Is note taking un-cool in LA?

After the panel, I shook hands with Bill Lawrence. I told him I'm a big fan. He thanked me and said I made his night. "Really, I mean it. Thanks."

Below are my transcribed notes:

JHRTS Presents: "A Comedy Showrunner's Panel"
6/22/05, 8 pm, CAA, 9830 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA

Moderator: Brad Johnson ("Clueless", "Coach")
Panel members: Bill Lawrence ("Spin City", "Scrubs"), Josh Goldsmith ("The King of Queens"), Victor Fresco ("Andy Richter Controls the Universe")

"Cite some important mistakes made, and what you learned from them."

Brad - You can't ass kiss too much. Do it early. Do it often.

Bill - Impatience to make a big splash lead to burning through contacts, usually by handing over material before it was really ready.

Josh - Don't go crazy with the food.
- Ass kiss early.
- Be passionate about show. Find something to focus on.

Victor - Be cool with the alcohol.


"Advice for future executives. What was your best/worst note."

Bill - Be helpful. Don't make story suggestions. Ask, "How can I help promotion/budget/etc."
-After having too many instances of "ass" in a script, a note came to be more selective, phrased as "Pick your ass."

Josh - Be driven by courage, not fear of screwing up. (i.e. Who else likes it?)
- Testing = idiotic

Victor - Don't make blanket statements. Ask questions.

Brad - Try writing, if even just once.
- The only creative decision you'll ever make is the writers you select.


"Advice for future writers. How to get a rep? How to stand out from the pile?"

Bill - A rep is the key. You need a middle-man rooting for you to get anywhere.
- find any connection you can get. Don't use them till you have lots of material.
- Volume. build a volume of work, and a diversity. It shows you have a work ethic, and maybe some ability.
- try something different: 1 act play, journal, something to stand out. Risky, but can work if it's good.

Josh - Don't be afraid of not being repped by a one of the big 5 agencies. First agent: 555-TACO
- write a lot, work your way up. Big breaks are unlikely.

Victor - get material to as many people as possible. People are not impressed by how quickly you finished a piece.
- Good at story more important than being funny.
- Don't lose reality of comedic situations.

Brad - write all the time. Former boss of his had 16 specs written before he got his first job
- original little pieces have caught his eye (i.e. 1 act play)

"Advice for agents"
Bill - Have confidence and an opinion

Josh - What convinced him of his own agent: "If you don't have a job, its my problem"
- really believe in people. Be a cheerleader

Victor - Honesty

"Describe a low and high in your career."

Bill - Fired from "Friends" after first year. didn't get to ride that gravy train
- take pleasure in the low points. share it. everyone struggles, and can identify

Josh - Many give up. Don't. Fight.
- couldn't get job after "Pearl", because (secretly) people thought he was "hyper."
- make best of every situation

Victor - at low points, focus on the work, the process. Like a Buddhist monk.

Brad - Don't be an asshole. It *will* come back to bite you.
- take 24 hours before reacting. He's seen some nasty, heat-of-the-moment reactions.

"Who do you trust?"

Bill - Trust yourself. Career advice from others, for him, has always lead nowhere.

Josh - Follow gut. Okay to listen to others. (detail: he learned (by listening) to always pitch to the showrunner).

Victor - Executives, not working out of fear.

Brad - on a final note, there are two rules for shows: #1: Love the characters; #2: make them relatable.