Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Nunuf Urbuznuz' on Wed Oct 18 13:44:10 BST 2000:

We are drawn to this forum in the same way that plumbers asked to do a very difficult job would defend themselves from endless, unconstructive attack, based on not understanding the issues involved in writing something like 11ocs.

I think ABO11OCKS's comments are fair. God knows I don't want to spend the rest of my life on 11ocs, but I've got a family, you know...

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Wed Oct 18 13:52:44 BST 2000:

>We are drawn to this forum in the same way that plumbers asked to do a very difficult job would defend themselves from endless, unconstructive attack, based on not understanding the issues involved in writing something like 11ocs.

What are "the issues"? The fact that you have to dumb it down if it gets too intelligent? Or write for the sort of people who should be hosting ToTP rather than people with any ability to perform comedy?

>I think ABO11OCKS's comments are fair. God knows I don't want to spend the rest of my life on 11ocs, but I've got a family, you know...

I think it's sad, you writers on the 11 O'Clock Show probably do have to work within a vast number of restrictions and adhere to certain dumbed-down ideas about what TV comedy should be these days. The thing is, back in the 50s and 60s there was heavy censorship of comedy and there were certain things writers couldn't say or do. As a result they came up with clever ways to be rude or cover the controvertial topics they wanted to. In a lot of cases the restrictions made these shows even funnier. Why can't you on the 11 O'Clock Show do the same?

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Timmy' on Wed Oct 18 15:13:36 BST 2000:

Thanks for responding Nunuf. I haven't actually checked out any plumbing forums. Maybe I should. My point is - why does the "endless, unconstructive attack, based on not understanding the issues involved in writing something like 11ocs" bother you so much when it comes from a tiny, tiny handful of Internet users? Do the opinions here matter in the big scheme of things? Or indeed any scheme?

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Mr Finger's fancy cream' on Wed Oct 18 16:16:42 BST 2000:

>Why do they care so much what we think? There can't be more than about 25 regular users.

They think it's the same 25 as watch the show.

Go on, you can use that for nothing.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'tvspaulmoore' on Wed Oct 18 17:02:52 BST 2000:

>Do the opinions here matter in the big scheme of things? Or indeed any scheme?
>

Are you saying you *don't* want them to take any notice or even bother responding?

I might have missed the point, but the merits of the show aside, well done to whichever writers choose to stand up for themselves here. Better that than them ignoring everything that's been posted.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Anonymous' on Wed Oct 18 17:08:42 BST 2000:

I'd imagine they come here for the same reasons as the rest of us.
a) They're interested in the opinions of others with similar interests.
b) They're a bunch of incredible nerds with too much time on their hands and ready access to the internet.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Timmy' on Wed Oct 18 17:43:39 BST 2000:

I'm curious, that's all, as to why the opinions herein spark off such furious to-ings and fro-ings.

I think if there's a real answer it may be that using this Forum is addictive.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Stuart O' on Wed Oct 18 18:04:20 BST 2000:

>I'd imagine they come here for the same reasons as the rest of us.
>a) They're interested in the opinions of others with similar interests.
>b) They're a bunch of incredible nerds with too much time on their hands and ready access to the internet.

I resent that. I'm a highly credible nerd and I have the zits to prove it.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Nunuf Urbuznuz' on Thu Oct 19 13:07:00 BST 2000:

To Bean is a Carrot:

11ocs is but one job of mine. If you were to come to my live show, or watch/listen/read to my other contributions to TV, radio, and print, you wouldn't be basing your opinion of me on the fact I write to a specific brief on a show over which I have no editorial control.

I'm sorry you don't like 11ocs, but I'm sure there's something else I've done that you would find intelligent, funny, moving and anything else you want for your buck.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Thu Oct 19 14:00:15 BST 2000:

To Nunuf:

You completely missed the point of what I was saying.

Firstly, my comments were not directed at your specifically, they were directed at all writers of the 11 O'clock show.

Secondly, you very obviously failed to answer any of my questions or comment on any of the points I made. The fact that you don't have the guts to tell us on this forum, under a false name, what the restrictions are which you have to write within for the the 11 O'Clock Show is very strange.

I'm sure your non 11 O'Clock Show stuff is very funny and you're obviously aware that your 11 O'Clock Show stuff isn't, so why aren't you willing to discuss why this might be so in an environment where people will AGREE WITH YOU? Instead you conveniently ignore the issue. You're not winning any friends or making me reconsider my opinion.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Squidy' on Thu Oct 19 14:01:17 BST 2000:

Nunuf Urbuznuz - What else have you done, then?
(This may sound insulting, but it's not, I'm genuinely interested).

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Nev' on Thu Oct 19 16:47:02 BST 2000:

I'm not actually sure Nunuf IS a writer on the show - to many of you this probably is a plus point - but I was flicking through this site and at the time the posting came up, I looked around and every writer was occupied and not surfing the net. (This could of course mean that he's a gag writer who send unsolicited jokes, but hey, I'm not Hercule Poirot here)

I've also noticed he's not very specific about the 'inside dirt' he's promised others earlier.

I'm very sorry to Nunuf if i'm wrong, but if I'm not, I think it's unfair to string Jon and others along.

Perhaps to be a little more specific..?

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Louis Barfe' on Fri Oct 20 12:22:29 BST 2000:

> If a plumber bollockses up your washing
> machine installation he shouldn't say "You > do it then if you're so clever". He's a
> professional, he should do it properly
> himself.

It's of tangential relevance, but it reminds me of the rather good story about the plumber called in to fix a noisy immersion heater. He takes one look at the offending device, taps it with a mallet, and all is quiet. The boiler's owner is pleased until he sees the plumber hand him a bill for £100. "But you just hit it with a mallet," he protests. The plumber takes back the docket and amends it to read "Hitting boiler with mallet - £1. Knowing where to hit - £99".

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Jon' on Sat Oct 21 08:29:50 BST 2000:

Nev, it's piss easy to post to this forum whilst appearing to be hard at work at something else on your PC. That's what I do all day.

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Nev' on Sat Oct 21 08:35:37 BST 2000:

If only someone had told me that two months ago...

Subject: Re: Comedy writers
Posted By 'Jake' on Sat Oct 21 16:44:47 BST 2000:

I think someone already explained why some writers appear here - to reply to criticism and to correct you when you are factually incorrect.
And because it passes the time between naps.