About the Book:

Writing Television Sitcoms serves up suggestions for writing a funny script, building jokes, punchlines, pitching a new show, launching your career, and more. As digital technology reshapes the television industry, this all-in-one guide explains how today's writers can get ahead of the curve.

Writing Television Sitcoms is used it as a textbook for classes in sitcom writing. It covers everything from the nuts and bolts of story structure, to basic comedic theory, and how to start a career:

• A complete description of premise-driven comedy, a proven method for "writing funny from the ground up"
• Numerous examples from new and classic shows
• Advice from top writer-producers
• A thorough look at how sitcom story models are changing
• Complete script layout guidelines for all three formats
• Tips on how new-media developments can help you break into the business

What people say:

"Everything a beginning television writer needs to know about the TV industry and writing scripts for sitcoms." — Writers Write

About the Author:

Evan S. Smith is a professor at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and is a regular speaker at the American Film Institute. As a screenwriter, he has written comedy and drama for Paramount, MTM, Fox, USA and other producers, and has worked as a vice president of Program Development responsible for developing TV movies, series, and specials. When not teaching, he writes, studies the craft of writing, and serves as a private script consultant.