Mon, Sep 10, 2012
A panel of scholars, entertainment journalists and people who have worked in comedy explore the social and cultural implications of half-hour scripted television comedies. Panelists discuss: the relationship between economic cycles and the demand for humor and comedies; comedies as a reflection of our society's anxieties, fears, and hopes; and comedies as political satire. The panel is moderated by Howard Rosenberg, Pulitzer Prize winning former television critic for the Los Angeles Times.
Mon, Sep 17, 2012
How do writers on a television comedy develop their material? Writers from current and recent comedies come together at the Pollock Theater at UCSB. They take stories "ripped from the headlines" and discuss how they would handle them in their shows - through jokes, characters, and stories. The writers are from television comedies: Cheers, M*A*S*H, Frasier, According to Jim, Ellen, Drew Carey, Newhart, Bob, and The Simpsons.