Lesson Objectives:

By the end of this lesson students will be able to:

• Focus on visual gags, physical comedy, and succinct dialogue for short films.
• Rely on recurring characters, running gags, and witty banter for sitcoms.
• Keep sketches concise with quick setups, punchlines, and absurd premises.

Comedy Writing for Short FIlms, Sitcoms & Sketch Shows

As a comedy writer you should be able to adapt your material for different formats such as short films, sitcoms, and sketches. When adapting comedy for short films, it's important to focus on visual gags, physical comedy, and succinct dialogue. The limited time frame means that every joke needs to hit quickly and efficiently. Sitcoms, on the other hand, rely more on recurring characters, running gags, and witty banter. Understanding the dynamics between characters and setting up situations for comedic payoff is crucial for sitcom success. Sketch comedy thrives on quick setups, punchlines, and absurd premises. The key is to keep sketches concise and to the point, delivering the laughs in rapid succession.

Short Comedy

A short comedy film is typically between 1-20 minutes long and relies on quick setups, strong characters, and a clear comedic premise.

Examples: "Purl" (Pixar SparkShorts), "The Gunfighter" (short film by Eric Kissack).

Concept and Premise

• Start with a simple, funny idea (e.g., "A delivery robot falls in love with a post man").
• Aim for a concept that can be set up and resolved quickly.
• Use the "What if?" method: What if a hypochondriacal doctor thinks he has every illness his patients describe?

Activity

Write three "What if?" scenarios for potential short comedy films.

Structuring Your Short Comedy Film

Use the three-act structure:

• • Act 1: Setup – Introduce the characters and the comedic situation.
  • Act 2: Conflict – Escalate the problem or misunderstanding.
  • Act 3: Punchline/Resolution – Resolve the situation with a comedic twist.

Example Structure:

Title: The Stubborn Stain

Act 1: A cleaning-obsessed man discovers a mysterious stain on his carpet.

Act 2: He tries everything to remove it chemicals, scrubbing, even hiring a priest.

Act 3: The stain turns out to be a shadow from a plant. He realises this just as he’s burned the carpet.

Activity

Use one of your 'what if?' scenarios from the previous activity to outline a short comedy film using the three-act structure.

Writing Dialogue

• Keep dialogue snappy and character-driven.
• Use repetition, callbacks, or misunderstandings.
• Cut unnecessary dialogue shorter is often funnier.

Example:

JULES
She unmatched me mid-sentence. Like I was typing. I didn’t even get to finish my joke about lesbian astrology doom spirals!

MARA
Honestly, that's rude. At least wait until the punchline.

JULES
I said “our moon signs are incompatible, but I’m willing to emotionally regress for you.” That’s objectively funny!

MARA
That’s also a massive red flag.

JULES
She had a nose ring and a tote bag that said "emotional intimacy or death.” I thought she was the one.

MARA
You say that every time someone follows you back on Spotify.

JULES
And I will continue to do so.

Activity

Using the outline from the previous activity write a short exchange between your two characters.

Using Visual Comedy

• Think about physical gags, exaggerated reactions, or visual punchlines.
• Consider how you can use props, settings, or camera angles for humour.

Examples:

Setup: A character narrowly misses disaster after disaster without noticing bullets whizzing past, anvil barely missing their head, etc.
Gag: They reach safety, sigh in relief, and immediately get hit by something random, like a piano.

Setup: A character is holding what appears to be a priceless statue, treating it delicately.
Gag: They trip, and it shatters, only to reveal a “Made in China” sticker inside.

Activity

Following the same theme, list three visual gags you could include in your short film.

Writer's Tips

• Start with a strong concept.
• Keep it short and focused, every second counts.
• Make sure your characters are distinct and funny.
• End with a strong punchline or unexpected twist.

Sitcom

Sitcoms are typically 20-30 minutes long per episode.

They feature a consistent setting (e.g., an office, an apartment, a family home).

They rely on strong, distinct characters whose personalities clash or complement each other.

Sitcoms can be multi-camera (studio audience, laugh track) or single-camera (no laugh track, more cinematic).

Examples:

• Multi-Camera: "Friends," "The Big Bang Theory."
• Single-Camera: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Parks and Recreation."

Developing Your Sitcom Concept

• Choose a relatable or unique setting (a failing gym, a chaotic newsroom, a paranormal detective agency).
• Think about the central theme (friendship, family, workplace chaos).
• Use the "fish out of water" concept for instant comedy (e.g., a medieval knight in modern New York).

Example:

When a struggling stand-up comedian unexpectedly inherits a failing funeral home from an estranged uncle, he's forced to run it with the help of a cynical mortician, his wannabe influencer sister, and a cast of eccentric small-town clients. Hijinks and occasional heartfelt moments ensue as he tries to keep the business alive ironically while avoiding the development of any emotional maturity.

Activity

Taking all of the above into consideration write a one-sentence concept for your sitcom.

Structuring Your Sitcom Episode

Sitcoms usually follow the same three-act structure:

• • Act 1: Setup – Introduce the problem or misunderstanding.
  • Act 2: Escalation – Complications arise, characters make things worse.
  • Act 3: Resolution – The problem is resolved, often with a comedic twist.

Activity

Based on the concept you have come up with, outline a sitcom episode using the three-act structure.

Writing Dialogue

• Keep dialogue snappy, character-driven, and filled with comedic timing.
• Use callbacks, misunderstandings, and sarcasm.
• Make sure each character has a distinct voice.

Example:

INT. FUNERAL HOME – MORNING

Danny walks into the embalming room eating his breakfast Ruthie is mid-autopsy, unbothered.

DANNY
(eating a mouthful)

You know what really whets the appetite? Formaldehyde before 9 a.m.

RUTHIE
You know what really ruins mine? A grown man eating gas station eggs next to a corpse.

DANNY
(mock offended)
Jared said these were “farm fresh.” He didn’t say whose farm, but still.

RUTHIE
Eat in your office. This one’s missing a toe and I haven’t found it yet.

Activity

You guessed it! Based on your 3 Act Structure outline write a short dialogue exchange between your two sitcom characters.

Balancing A, B, and C Plots

Sitcom episodes often have multiple storylines:

• • A Plot: Main conflict.
  • B Plot: Secondary, character-focused conflict.
  • C Plot: A small, often silly subplot.

Example:

A Plot - Leslie accidentally endorses two candidates in a heated mayoral race.
She scrambles to “un-endorse” one without upsetting voters, culminating in a disastrous debate where she tries to pretend she meant to endorse a third fake candidate.

Conflict: Public perception, personal values, political tightrope.

B Plot - Ron is forced to attend a mandatory “Team Building Improv Workshop.”
He treats it like a hostage situation, refusing to participate until he accidentally becomes the breakout star and wins a trophy for “Best Yes-And Energy.”

Conflict: Ron’s hatred of feelings/human interaction.

C Plot - Tom tries to use a new voice assistant to run his side hustle but it keeps misunderstanding him. He says “Order 20 units of ‘Slick Water,’” and it sends 20 gallons of slick water resulting in the office being full of giant water bottles.

Conflict: Tech miscommunication and Tom’s overconfidence.

Activity

Create an A, B, and C plot for your sitcom episode.

Writer's Tips:

• Start with a strong, relatable concept.
• Make your characters memorable and distinct.
• Use conflict and misunderstandings to drive humour.
• End each episode with a satisfying comedic resolution.

Sketch Show

Sketch shows are composed of multiple short comedic scenes (usually 1-5 minutes each).

They can feature recurring characters, but each sketch is typically self-contained.

Sketches can be based on absurd premises, parodies, observational humour, or character-based comedy.

Examples

• Classic: "Monty Python’s Flying Circus"
• Modern: "Fire Island" SNL

Developing Your Sketch Show Concept

• Decide on a theme or style for your sketches (absurdist, satirical, character-driven).
• Consider a recurring comedic angle (awkward misunderstandings, social commentary, parodies).
• Brainstorm a list of potential sketch ideas.

Example:

A high-concept sketch show that explores what would happen if real-world logic intruded into everyday absurdities of modern life—and vice versa. Think: Key & Peele meets Black Mirror meets Portlandia. Clever, absurd, occasionally satirical. Alternates between high-energy slapstick and quiet, awkward realism.

Sketch Idea: Emotionally Honest Job Interviews

Candidates and interviewers drop all corporate speak and just say what they’re really thinking.

“No, I don’t know Excel. I just said that to get the job and appear successful to my overbearing mother.

Activity

Write three one-sentence sketch concepts using different comedic styles (absurd, satirical, character-based).

Writing Effective Sketches

• Start with a strong premise ("What if?" questions work well).
• Establish the setup, build the joke, and deliver a punchline.
• Keep sketches short and focused—don't over-explain the joke.
• Keep sketches short and fast-paced.
• Avoid slow build-ups, get to the joke quickly.
• When editing, cut any dialogue or actions that don’t directly serve the joke.

Example:

• Title: The Overpolite Robbery
• Setup: A masked robber bursts into a store, but is incredibly polite.
• Build: He apologises for the inconvenience, compliments the cashier, and offers to wait in line.
• Punchline: The cashier gives him the money and some extra from her own pocket because he's been so polite.

Activity

Write outlines for your 3 sketches using this Three-Act structure.

Visual and Physical Comedy

• Use props, costumes, and settings creatively.
• Think about visual gags, exaggerated reactions, and slapstick.
• Keep physical comedy clear and well-timed.

Example: A man in a crowded café is obviously trying to act like a covert spy. He’s in full black trench coat, sunglasses, and earbud.

• He loudly whispers into his sleeve “The eagle has landed. I repeat—target acquired. Engage... stealth mode.”
• Then he casually opens a newspaper but it’s clearly blank and upside down.
• A pigeon lands on his head. he pretends it’s not there trying to stay in 'stealth mode'.
• When his target gets up to leave, he attempts to discreetly follow but knocks over EVERY chair and table behind him in slow motion.

Activity

Come up with three visual gags and incorporate them into your sketches.

Arranging a Sketch Show Episode

• Start with a strong sketch to hook the audience.
• Mix up sketch styles (absurd, character-based, parodies) for variety.
• End with a memorable sketch for a strong finish.

Example:

Cold Open (1:00)
Quick, high-energy gag — sets tone (e.g., “Emotionally Honest Job Interview”).

Sketch #1 (3:30)
Main character-driven sketch (e.g., “The Overenthusiastic DIYer”).

Sketch #2 (2:30)
Short, absurd visual gag (e.g., “The World’s Worst Spy”).

Sketch #3 (4:00)
Satirical social commentary (e.g., “Terms and Conditions Enforcement Squad”).

Fake Commercial (1:00)
Hilarious parody ad (e.g., “BetterSnax Protein Chips™”).

Sketch #4 (4:30)
Recurring segment or character sketch (e.g., “Boomer Court”).

Sketch #5 (3:00)
Quirky closing sketch (e.g., “Sponsored Life”).

Tag (1:00)
A quick punchline or callback gag to end on a high note.

Activity

Write 2 more one-sentence sketch concepts and outline a show plan of an episode for your 5 sketches.

Writer's Tips:

• Be bold and experiment with different comedic ideas.
• Embrace the absurd—sketch shows thrive on unexpected twists.
• Don’t be afraid to cut sketches that don’t work.