TV Comedy
TV Comedy explores the history, structure, and techniques of comedic television shows. You'll analyze classic sitcoms, sketch comedy, and modern single-camera comedies. The course covers writing for TV comedy, character development, joke construction, and the evolution of comedic styles. You'll also learn about production processes, audience engagement, and how social issues are addressed through humor in television.
TV Comedy isn't typically considered a super tough class, but it's not a total breeze either. The workload can be pretty hefty with lots of shows to watch and analyze. The trickiest part is often the creative assignments, like writing your own comedy sketches or sitcom scripts. It's fun, but coming up with original, funny content can be challenging. Overall, if you're into comedy and TV, you'll probably find it more enjoyable than difficult.
Introduction to Film and Television: This course provides an overview of the history and development of film and TV. You'll learn about key movements, technologies, and influential works in both mediums.
Screenwriting Fundamentals: In this class, you'll learn the basics of writing for the screen. It covers story structure, character development, and formatting for both film and television scripts.
Sitcom Writing Workshop: This hands-on course focuses specifically on writing for situational comedies. You'll develop your own sitcom concept and write episodes throughout the semester.
History of Television: This class takes a deep dive into the evolution of TV as a medium. You'll explore how different genres, including comedy, have developed over time.
Stand-up Comedy Performance: While not strictly TV-focused, this course teaches the art of writing and performing stand-up comedy. Many TV comedians start in stand-up, so it's a valuable skill to learn.
Sketch Comedy Writing: This class focuses on writing short-form comedy sketches. You'll learn techniques used in shows like Saturday Night Live and Key & Peele.
Film and Television Production: Students learn all aspects of creating content for the screen, from writing and directing to editing and post-production. It's a hands-on major that prepares you for various roles in the industry.
Comedy Writing and Performance: This specialized major focuses on developing comedic skills for various mediums. Students learn writing techniques, improv, and performance skills applicable to TV, film, and live comedy.
Media Studies: This major takes a more analytical approach to film, television, and other media forms. Students examine the cultural impact of media and learn critical analysis skills.
TV Writer: You'll work on writing teams for comedy shows, developing scripts, and pitching jokes. TV writers collaborate to create episodes and series concepts.
Comedy Development Executive: In this role, you'll work for a TV network or production company to find and develop new comedy shows. You'll read scripts, work with writers, and help shape comedic content.
Talent Agent (Comedy Specialization): As an agent, you'll represent comedic actors, writers, and directors. You'll help your clients find work, negotiate contracts, and manage their careers in the TV comedy world.
Comedy Podcast Producer: You'll create and manage comedy podcasts, which are becoming increasingly popular. This job involves developing show concepts, booking guests, and overseeing production.
Do I need to be naturally funny to succeed in this class? Not necessarily. While a sense of humor helps, the course teaches techniques and structures that anyone can learn to create comedy.
Will we only study American TV comedies? Most courses include some international content, but the focus is often on American shows. Ask your professor for the specific curriculum.
Is there a lot of group work in TV Comedy classes? Many classes include group projects to mimic the collaborative nature of TV comedy writing. Be prepared for some team assignments.