Situation: Comedy, Episode 5 & 6: We Need More Writers!

Welcome to episodes five and six of Situation: Comedy, the show that follows the trials and tribulations of several young writers attempting to create their own sitcom pilot. In episode four, we saw the writers begin to select their sets and then continue the casting process.

Before I go too far in this review, I want to mention that both pilot episodes are available for viewing at AOL at this link. I encourage you to watch both of them and vote for your favorite. You can only vote once a day and the voting continues until September 2nd.

Episode five begins with the continuation of the casting process. Now that Team Sperm has finally written some good sides (i.e., short samples of the jokes in the scripts), good actors are starting to read for the parts.

They audition several young women for the part of the daughter who was conceived by artificial insemination. Some of the women look like the mother, Kaitlyn, whose part has already been selected. Others don’t look anything like the mother. But that is okay, since the father is an unknown commodity at this point.

Stan and Maxx look to the script for some help trying to find the daughter’s “character.” They are not sure that the script gives them enough information. But, they press on.

Soon, however, they have made some choices and the actors have gathered for a table read. This is where the actors all meet each other for the first time and read the parts together. Chemistry between the actors can be very important at this point and can either make or break a show. The table read goes well, with plenty of laughs all around. The NBC executives say that the script is light-years better than when they last read it. It’s still a bit “soft,” however, they add.

But, they have a few comments on the father. Currently, the part of the father is written for a slovenly, ill-mannered man. But, Stan and Maxx suggest that, perhaps, the part could be rewritten to show the father as an ex-Ivy League professor, so that he would fit in line with the mother’s character. But, the notes from NBC indicate that they wanted the father character to be a little more “dangerous” and to have a little more attitude.

Shoe says that it is really exciting to hear people actually laughing at their script for once, rather than simply pointing out what’s wrong with it.

But, Maxx cannot stay and help the boys fix up their script. They have another table read to attend.

Stephen’s Team is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Josh Flitter, who sent in a really first-rate audition tape the week before. He is being flown in from New York. Josh finally arrives and is brought into the read room with the other candidates for the position.

Stan and Maxx are a little worried, in that many actors look great on tape, but then tank when in front of a live audience. If he doesn’t do well, they just will not hire him no matter what the writers think.

Soon, they have Josh and the other actors ready to read the whole script together. Things go very well, except for the part of Stephen’s babysitter. This is being read by Joanna, Andrew’s real sister. She was cast for the part without competition, despite having no real experience as an actor.

But, it turns out that she is not very good. In fact, everyone in the room, who is laughing really hard at all the jokes, stops dead in their tracks when Joanna reads a line. It’s pretty embarrassing.

The representatives from NBC, who were watching the reading of the script, sent only one major note to the producers. And that was to get rid of Joanna. They say she’s horrible. The problem seemed to be, however, that she was too nervous and just blew it at the read. The NBC people were concerned that she didn’t stick to a style and injected several different moods in the same scene. Even worse, Joanna plays the part as if she hates Stephen.

Everyone wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but there really wasn’t time to get everything done AND teach her how to act. The director, Fred Savage, says that, if she isn’t going to work, they need to replace her as soon as possible.

This created a big rift between the producers and the writers. Andrew was upset that Maxine, who had been Joanna’s biggest supporter, suddenly turned 180 degrees once the network suits said that they didn’t like her. Andrew even wanted to punch out Stan at one point.

However, when it became clear that she wouldn’t work out, Andrew’s fellow writer, David, did manage to suck it up and tell her that she did poorly. Unfortunately, she fell apart and the situation did not go very well. We don’t know if she’s still part of the show or not. Stan is now worried that Joanna will now fall completely apart in front of the camera.

But, it’s time for the next State of the Union address. Maxx and Stan bring both teams into their office to give them their report card for the week.

The main topic of discussion is Joanna and the way the boys handled telling her that she stinks. The writers are not supposed to have any contact with the actors. That is the job of the director. Maxine has a big problem with the boys interfering with the normal process. This is why family members are not cast like this. It undermines the production.

Mark and Shoe get off easy. Maxx and Stan don’t even talk to them. They dismiss the teams and disgustedly tell them to “get out of here.”

And with that, episode five is over. I’m going to review episode six immediately, because the voting for the pilot episodes has now opened and I want to get in the review and a plug for you to vote while you still have plenty of time.