How to Choose a Sitcom to Spec
If you're trying to break into the market of television writing, then you better have a portfolio of spec scripts to show off to agents, producers and showrunners to try to land that job. But you can't write just for any TV show. There are certain shows that will help you land that job, and certain shows that will ensure your spec script ends up in an unread pile. Learn how to choose your spec script to get to the top of a script reader's list.
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Instructions
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Create a spreadsheet of all the 30-minute television shows on air right now. If your focus is on comedies, only write down the comedies. If your focus is on dramas, only write down the dramas. For the sake of this article, we'll assume you are pitching comedies.
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Highlight all the shows you watch regularly.
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Highlight the shows you don't watch regularly but would consider writing a spec for.
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Go online and research blogs and online resources--such as the WGAW website--and try to find out what specs are hot right now (see Resources below).
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Highlight the specs on your list that the industry considers good specs to write. Often, the most popular shows are not the best shows to spec because agents receive a deluge of specs for these shows. This means yours will get lost in the pile.
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Email any industry insiders you know or research contact information of industry insiders and email them for their opinions.
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Vet this information against your spreadsheet. From here you should be able to make a determination of which shows you should spec.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to write a spec for a show that isn't in the top 3 most watched shows.
Write at least 2 spec scripts. The first thing an agent will ask you if he likes your first spec is for a second spec.
Do not write a spec for a show that is no longer on the air or that is likely to be off the air come next season.
Do not write a spec for a drama if you want to get into comedy, and vice versa.
Do not include a pilot script in your spec unless asked to do so by an agent.
