Tag: TV writing

‘Saturday Night Live’ Writer Tom Davis Dies at 59

Saluting our own:

Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian Tom Davis passed away today from throat and neck cancer in his home in Hudson, NY
by Alison Willmore

One of the original writers for “Saturday Night Live” when it premiered in 1975, Davis formed the comedy team “Franken & Davis” with Al Franken when the two were still in high school in Minneapolis. When the pair were first hired at SNL, Lorne Michaels negotiated for them to split a single writer’s salary of $350 per week. In addition to their years of writing and creating famous characters on the comedy institution, they also sometimes performed together on air in sketches like “The Brain Tumor Comedian.” Off air, they cowrote the 1986 film “One More Saturday Night.” read article

Brit Shows We Can All Enjoy

..And you want to know why? Do you? Huh?

Good, ‘cuz we’re gonna tell you. The following UK series are written so much better than 90% of those made in the U.S. that they make us want to leap onto the next transatlantic jet and do whatever it takes to pay those British income taxes.

read article

More Writing Wisdom from Joss

Someone’s right on the cusp of major over-exposure. But, till the fall:

Geeking Out About Storytelling with Joss Whedon
by Charlie Jane Anders

Joss Whedon is in the unique position of being both a cult icon and a huge mainstream creator, thanks to projects like Firefly and The Avengers. But both halves of his success spring from his ability to create addictive stories, that leave you desperate to know what happens next. read article

‘Sleepy Hollow’ Story Headed for TV?

…Set in modern day? By the geniuses who took everything the slightest bit Roddenberryish out of STAR TREK? Yikes!

Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci Pitching Modern ‘Sleepy Hollow’ TV Show With Len Wiseman To Direct
by Kevin Jagernauth

After their attempt at non-explosions filmmaking earlier this summer with “People Like Us” fizzled out, it looks like “Transformers” and “Star Trek” franchise writers/producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are going back to their bread and butter. Only this time, it’s in the shape of Hollywood’s latest favorite trend — take very old (and more importantly, likely copyright free) fairy tales and popular stories, and goosing them up for modern audiences. And the latest to get the treatment is Washington Irving’s “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.” read article

Joss Whedon’s Guide to Avenging Screenwriting

Yeah, the title’s a stretch, but…you know.

Joss Whedon’s Top 10 Writing Tips
by Catherine Bray

Joss Whedon is most famous for creating Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its spin-off Angel and the short-lived but much-loved Firefly series. But the writer and director has also worked unseen as a script doctor on movies ranging from Speed to Toy Story. Here, he shares his tips on the art of screenwriting. read article