Comedy Writers Shift Towards Children's Programming
According to an article from Entertainment Weekly, struggling comedy writers are moving towards working for children's programming.
The dearth of comedies on broadcast TV has prompted scores of out-of-work writers to flock to the kiddie cable networks, where multicamera shows like Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place and Nick's iCarly are thriving, thanks in part to their seasoned writing staffs.
Is this what America's comedy writers have been reduced to? Bringing children joy? Despicable! Also, what does "dearth" mean? Is that a euphemism for poop?
Don't knock your kid's favorite sitcom on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. Chances are those sacchrine punchlines you hear from the mouths of babes come courtesy of the same scribes who once made you laugh at adult-oriented fare on Friends, Mad About You, and Married With Children.
First of all, Mad About You never made me laugh. Second of all, are you shitting in my mouth?! What good are television writers without thinly veiled sexual innuendos? Just imagine if Three's Company were a kid's show! It would be all like, "Oh, Jack, do you wanna do it?" and then he'd be all like, "Do what?" and then Chrissy would say, "Play hopscotch." Wait… I think I've actually seen that episode.
In all seriousness, reading this made me feel good. Comedy writing seemed to take the biggest hit during the writer's strike. Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel are providing these seasoned comedy writers an opportunity for work and some of these shows are actually pretty good. I wish the same compliments could be heaped onto the major networks right now.
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