Overview

To the beginner, writing effective comedy can seem like a mysterious knack you need to be born with. But to Emmy award-winning comedy writer Gene Perret, comedy writing is a set of skills that anyone can study, improve, and master.In ?Comedy Writing Self-Taught,? Perret (a legendary comedy writing teacher as well as a famous TV comedy writer and producer) teaches aspiring comedy writers how they can teach themselves the essential principles of comedy writing through comedy analysis and writing exercises.Covering the essential principles of writing stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, and TV situation comedy, ?Comedy Writing Self-Taught? is professional level training from a master who has spent decades at the very top of the entertainment industry. Expressly designed for home self-study, ?Comedy Writing Self-Taught? teaches that the most effective way to learn is to create comedy yourself. Perret teaches how to analyse the work of professional comedians to learn the principles of comedy and presents a full set of writing exercises to hone one?s skills. A companion workbook provides even more comedy writing exercises, giving readers the equivalent of a master class in comedy. ?Comedy Writing Self-Taught? also gives readers valuable advice from an experienced professional on how to pitch one?s work, break into the business and get paid for writing comedy. Combining expert knowledge, rigorous training, shrewd observations about the nature of the entertainment business, and hilarious jokes, ?Comedy Writing Self-Taught? is a must-read book for every aspiring comedy writer and comedian. AUTHOR: Gene Perret taught himself to write comedy in the early 1960s by studying the technique and the writing style of the great comedians of the day, especially Bob Hope. This led to his writing comedy material for many nightclub performers, including Phyllis Diller and Slappy White. In 1968, Gene was signed to contribute to ""The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show."" That led to a television career writing for ""The Jim Nabors Hour,"" ""Laugh-In,"" ""The New Bill Cosby Show,"" ""The Carol Burnett Show"" and others. Later, he produced such hits as ""Welcome Back Kotter,"" ""Three's Company,"" and ""The Tim Conway Show."" Gene also worked with Bob Hope on all of his personal appearances and TV specials for 38 years, the last 12 of which he served as Hope's head-writer. Perret has won three Emmys and one Writer's Guild Award. He is also a well respected teacher of comedy writing and is the author of over 45 books, including ""The New Comedy Writing Step by Step"" and ""The Ten Commandments of Comedy.""

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9781610352208

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Reviews

Any would-be comedy writer -- especially those just starting out in the genre -- need this and its accompanying workbook. --The Bookwatch

A must for any comedy writer who wants more of a workbook approach to learning, along with industry specifics. --California Bookwatch

Author Information

Gene Perret has written for many of TV's top-rated shows, including All in the Family, Laugh-In, Mama's Family and The New Bill Cosby Show. He is the winner of three Emmy Awards as part of The Carol Burnett Show staff and was a producer on Three's Company and Welcome Back, Kotter. He is the author of over 40 books, including the bestselling Comedy Writing Step by Step.

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