Rating: 
Summary: Best One on the Market
Review: "Writing Television Comedy" is a well-written, articulate look at writing television comedy--AND it is downright hysterical! As a profressional critic and author, I find this to be one of the few "laugh out loud" books on the market--including those that are supposed to be comedy! Even if you 've no plans to write for television (and especially if you were a fan of the 1970's TV when comedy didn't rely on sex and vulgarity to get laughs), the book is a great read. It's filled with jokes, gags, anecdotes, excercises, examples and an insider's look at the industry. And, yes, there are even a couple of stories of some of the hottest stars of the 70's. If you are a writer, this is THE book to own. The information on its pages is invaluable whether you are a veteran or a novice writer. Rannow writes with depth, insight, authority and considerable wit. It is no wonder USC is recommending this book. I cannot help but add my voice to that recommendation--in the strongest terms possible. Buy this book. It will inspire, educate and entertain you!
Rating:
Summary: Best One on the Market
Review: "Writing Television Comedy" is a well-written, articulate look at writing television comedy--AND it is downright hysterical! As a profressional critic and author, I find this to be one of the few "laugh out loud" books on the market--including those that are supposed to be comedy! Even if you 've no plans to write for television (and especially if you were a fan of the 1970's TV when comedy didn't rely on sex and vulgarity to get laughs), the book is a great read. It's filled with jokes, gags, anecdotes, excercises, examples and an insider's look at the industry. And, yes, there are even a couple of stories of some of the hottest stars of the 70's. If you are a writer, this is THE book to own. The information on its pages is invaluable whether you are a veteran or a novice writer. Rannow writes with depth, insight, authority and considerable wit. It is no wonder USC is recommending this book. I cannot help but add my voice to that recommendation--in the strongest terms possible. Buy this book. It will inspire, educate and entertain you!
Rating:
Summary: Best One on the Market
Review: "Writing Television Comedy" is a well-written, articulate look at writing television comedy--AND it is downright hysterical! As a profressional critic and author, I find this to be one of the few "laugh out loud" books on the market--including those that are supposed to be comedy! Even if you 've no plans to write for television (and especially if you were a fan of the 1970's TV when comedy didn't rely on sex and vulgarity to get laughs), the book is a great read. It's filled with jokes, gags, anecdotes, excercises, examples and an insider's look at the industry. And, yes, there are even a couple of stories of some of the hottest stars of the 70's. If you are a writer, this is THE book to own. The information on its pages is invaluable whether you are a veteran or a novice writer. Rannow writes with depth, insight, authority and considerable wit. It is no wonder USC is recommending this book. I cannot help but add my voice to that recommendation--in the strongest terms possible. Buy this book. It will inspire, educate and entertain you!
Rating:
Summary: Wow! Take it from a pro...read this book
Review: As a d-girl for Appitite Productions I read a lot of bad scripts every day that could benefit from a dose of Jerry Rannow's comedy elixer. If you want to learn how to make a sitcom script breathe with life outside of the cliche ridden ghetto, read this book, read it again and then read it twice more and then write your script and send it to me.
Rating: 
Summary: Watch Out!
Review: Do not believe the hype! While Jerry Rannows Writing Television Comedy gives a fairly accurate picture of the wellknown "spec-script/pitching" process that could land you a professional assignment, there is not much in here that would make you carry this assignment through. Stale, inadequate and set in a jokey, unbearably selfimportant prose. I advise any interested in the subject to checkout John Vorhaus "The Comic Toolbox" or the books by Jürgen Wolff or Gene Perret. These are full of insights and healthy tips on method to the madness.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best "How To Write" Books -- Ever!
Review: Having written professionally for thirty-plus years, I've read dozens of books on "how to write." They range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and only a relative few have been -- and continue to be -- helpful. Jerry Rannow's delightful Writing Television Comedy is a welcome addition to my bookshelf, not because I'm interested in writing TV comedy but because it helps me WRITE -- period! While the book does target the aspiring sitcom writer, it also offers valuable tips and inspiration for ALL writers. I often struggle with so-called writer's block, and Rannow's book provides me with several different techniques for breaking through it. The chapter entitled Managing The Story Muscle is particularly helpful, but I can open the book almost at random and find a jump-start to get me going. Sometime's it's just a reminder, like: "So-called writer's block is simply FEAR, but when you sit down and concentrate and focus on the story at hand, you erase that fear." And sometimes I discover that the problem was in my plot, or a character wasn't ringing true. The book also reminds me of ways to look for the humorous aspects of life, because I frequently use humor in my own writing: in radio and TV spots, print ads, newspaper articles, and the novel I'm currently completing. So if you're already a paid professional or still a wannabe writer, I highly recommend Jerry Rannow's book. It really IS well worth the price, and a whole lot more!
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best "How To Write" Books -- Ever!
Review: Having written professionally for thirty-plus years, I've read dozens of books on "how to write." They range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and only a relative few have been -- and continue to be -- helpful. Jerry Rannow's delightful Writing Television Comedy is a welcome addition to my bookshelf, not because I'm interested in writing TV comedy but because it helps me WRITE -- period! While the book does target the aspiring sitcom writer, it also offers valuable tips and inspiration for ALL writers. I often struggle with so-called writer's block, and Rannow's book provides me with several different techniques for breaking through it. The chapter entitled Managing The Story Muscle is particularly helpful, but I can open the book almost at random and find a jump-start to get me going. Sometime's it's just a reminder, like: "So-called writer's block is simply FEAR, but when you sit down and concentrate and focus on the story at hand, you erase that fear." And sometimes I discover that the problem was in my plot, or a character wasn't ringing true. The book also reminds me of ways to look for the humorous aspects of life, because I frequently use humor in my own writing: in radio and TV spots, print ads, newspaper articles, and the novel I'm currently completing. So if you're already a paid professional or still a wannabe writer, I highly recommend Jerry Rannow's book. It really IS well worth the price, and a whole lot more!
Rating:
Summary: Get It!!!!
Review: I am going to keep it simple: THIS GUY KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT!!! Whether you actually want to take the leap into the crazy, unpredictable world of Hollywood writing or just want a professional peek into how some of the classics were-- and still are-- put together, this is the book to buy. I loved it-- and I'm not even headed to Hollywood!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ
Review: I'm one of many out there who can only dream of becoming what Jerry Rannow is; a successful professional writer. Yes, Jerry specializes in sitcom comedy only because that's where his passion and special gifts led him. After reading his book, I learned that it takes more than a "dream" to succeed as a writer. Jerry's insights come from the bowels of the Hollywood monster so many attack and so few vanquish. He had to risk his professional life many times in order to help shape the direction of that profession. Don't pass up this book just because you don't see yourself as a sitcom writer. Yes, many of the specific facts in the book pertain to writing sitcom, however, so much more applies, in general, to what it takes to succeed as a writer in any specialized field of writing. In the context of his successful experience, he explains the necessity for traits like patience, perseverance, learning when to replace anger with wisdom, being where the writing "action" is, forming collaborations and connections, learning to value criticism, and learning to pitch what you create ... just to name a few. For most of us wannabe writers, the prospect of earning a living writing is some kind of serious holy quest. Jerry's writing style skillfully uses brilliant injections of humor to demystify the whole Hollywood world and make it seem almost accessible to us mere mortals. For example, at the beginning of Chapter 8 he begins, "Congratulations! Boot camp is over. Now your story will begin to breathe as you write an actual FIRST DRAFT. You are about to create a new reality. A 'life' that never existed before. EGAD! Frankenscript!" Such humorous diversions really lift the spirits of the reader and the book is full of them; on page after page. In chapter 10, talking about re-writing a draft he says, "After all, nobody gets it all right the first time. The last person to do that was crucified." And on page 131, warning about the need to be able to pitch your ideas Jerry writes, "They have trouble expressing themselves verbally, so they don't sell and end up teaching Chaucer to drill-press majors at the local technical school." Jerry's book is so inspirational that after reading it you might start a bonfire with that 800 page great American novel you've been working on for the last 10 years and buy a bus ticket to Hollywood to write your first sitcom spec script! Seriously, you will be motivated and empowered with valuable inside information to push your level of professionalism as a writer in the direction of the standards that men like Jerry Rannow have set for the profession. Richard Bencriscutto (Author and a technical writer by profession)
Rating:
Summary: The Way All Books About Writing Should Be Written!
Review: I'm one of many out there who can only dream of becoming what Jerry Rannow is; a successful professional writer. Yes, Jerry specializes in sitcom comedy only because that's where his passion and special gifts led him. After reading his book, I learned that it takes more than a "dream" to succeed as a writer. Jerry's insights come from the bowels of the Hollywood monster so many attack and so few vanquish. He had to risk his professional life many times in order to help shape the direction of that profession. Don't pass up this book just because you don't see yourself as a sitcom writer. Yes, many of the specific facts in the book pertain to writing sitcom, however, so much more applies, in general, to what it takes to succeed as a writer in any specialized field of writing. In the context of his successful experience, he explains the necessity for traits like patience, perseverance, learning when to replace anger with wisdom, being where the writing "action" is, forming collaborations and connections, learning to value criticism, and learning to pitch what you create ... just to name a few. For most of us wannabe writers, the prospect of earning a living writing is some kind of serious holy quest. Jerry's writing style skillfully uses brilliant injections of humor to demystify the whole Hollywood world and make it seem almost accessible to us mere mortals. For example, at the beginning of Chapter 8 he begins, "Congratulations! Boot camp is over. Now your story will begin to breathe as you write an actual FIRST DRAFT. You are about to create a new reality. A 'life' that never existed before. EGAD! Frankenscript!" Such humorous diversions really lift the spirits of the reader and the book is full of them; on page after page. In chapter 10, talking about re-writing a draft he says, "After all, nobody gets it all right the first time. The last person to do that was crucified." And on page 131, warning about the need to be able to pitch your ideas Jerry writes, "They have trouble expressing themselves verbally, so they don't sell and end up teaching Chaucer to drill-press majors at the local technical school." Jerry's book is so inspirational that after reading it you might start a bonfire with that 800 page great American novel you've been working on for the last 10 years and buy a bus ticket to Hollywood to write your first sitcom spec script! Seriously, you will be motivated and empowered with valuable inside information to push your level of professionalism as a writer in the direction of the standards that men like Jerry Rannow have set for the profession. Richard Bencriscutto (Author and a technical writer by profession)
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