2. Where do I begin?!? Know your targeted audience Need to choose a network that your TV show would appear on In order to know your audience, you must watch the commercials Commercials are targeted to the projected audience by what shows are shown on that channel Are the commercials about Dove, investment banking, adult beverages, football?

3. What is my pilot going to be about? If you can’t summarize your script in a few sentences, you’re probably not ready to start writing Your “pitch” – think of an elevator ride with a network exec What does a good pitch include? Plot of your pilot, essential character traits or flaws, have a clear beginning, middle and end, and will usually start by introducing the main character

4. Characters Make sure characters are radically different from one another A variety of archetypes lends itself to potential conflicts and humor Write who you know Take characters from other TV shows and interject them into their own In many TV shows, characters don’t change Can you think of any shows where the character is a ghost of their former self?

5. Think in Acts Think in acts stuck between commercial breaks Begin with a short, highly-comedic or highly-dramatic teaser which stands alone from the rest of the episode Many shows end with a short “outtro” that pays off a lingering joke, plot line, or cliff hanger called a tag Half-hour sitcom Teaser – commercial – Act I – commercial – Act II – commercial – Tag Hour sitcom Teaser – commercial – Act I – commercial – Act II – commercial – Act III – commercial – Act IV – commercial – Tag

6. ABC’s A plot (60) Fuels the actions of the main characters in the script and generally pushes the story along B plot (40) (30) Expresses the emotional entanglements and problems of your main characters tangentially to the scenario that is unfolding C plot (10) Hour-long shows usually have a C plot which focuses on the parallel lives of supporting characters

7. The importance of a cliffhanger Act breaks are the scariest part of TV script writing If not constructed carefully, potential to lose audience Cliffhangers can be A or B plot Plot-based or emotional Arrange your scenes so that big, juicy moments are happening right before the end of an act Remember that major plot points always play out on screen