Blog Archives - Dan Fiorella: Writer @ large

Dan Fiorella

Sketchy Tales 8: The Misfit Sketches

4/28/2018

The Misfit Sketches

I've felt my sketch writing as evolved over time (I would hope so!) but not just talent; I think the format has as well. When I first started writing sketches, I was imitating what I watched on TV. SNL. Carol Burnett. Bob Hope. And others. The sketches usually broke down into two styles; the skit and the black-out sketch (made very popular by Laugh-In). Most did sketches that would run 7 to 8 minutes (back in the era of "Your Show of Shows," they ran even longer). I remember some early SNL sketches that were closer to short one-act plays than comedy sketches. But it did seem to be the norm. Then Monty Python and SCTV came along.

SKIT HAPPENS: The CPHCCVDMF

4/22/2018

Is there anything that has a shorter shelf life than a topical sketch that isn't selected? Other than that Mork & Mindy spec script. It's rough. You pull together a decent take on today's headlines only to learn they didn't pick your sketch to be in this week's show. Then what? Submit it around to the hundreds of comedy troupes that are looking for sketches from strangers? Do a podcast about it? Or, do you just start posting on your own blog because you never know (actually you do, but you do it anyway)? I guess, technically, this sketch isn't totally dead. It's a holiday bit. It mocks a cable channel that seems to be in it for the long haul (am I right TruTV?). But it didn't get picked. But it may serve double duty...I've already reworked it as a comedic monologue to submit to a group I deal with annually. But, until that time, here's...

The CPHCCVDMF

A Writer’s Journal Journey 45

4/18/2018

The Final Entries

I've been looking back on my adventure in Hollywood, culling pages from my journal...

Previously on a Writer’s Journal’s Journey: I am introduced to a low-level producer who likes my stuff. A meeting is arranged…

So a few days later, I meet with Ralph Cooper, low-budget producer. My new contact, Bernadette, was there and some other guy (Joey Kato—who?) at Club USA. I have the barest of memories of being in this quiet bar on a Monday night. Cooper was very, very impressed with “Peking Duck.” And he’s willing to do whatever he has to do get Duck to his contacts, including cut a deal with Night Hawk Entertainment. Cooper feels his contacts are placed high enough and are anxious enough to see something from him that he has to act quickly.

Cooper thought a lot of himself.

SKIT HAPPENS: Hillary Card Collection

4/17/2018

Is there anything that has a shorter shelf life than a topical sketch that isn't selected? Other than that charcoal sneaker insole. It's rough. You pull together a decent take on today's headlines only to learn they didn't pick your sketch to be in this week's show. Then what? Submit it around to the hundreds of comedy troupes that are looking for sketches from strangers? Make a puppet show? Or, do you just start posting on your own blog because you never know (actually you do, but you do it anyway)? I often delve into political humor and that dates really fast. I try not to be too specific, but fortunately, a lot of the same stuff just comes up again and again. Seriously, it's like they can't let it go. So, maybe it hasn't dated just yet. For example, this proposed short video script...

Hillary Card Collection

A Writer’s Journal Journey 44

4/16/2018

As the 1994 went along, I wound up in a meeting with Chris Deluca, of the Staten Island writers group. He was producing a show(case) at the local Art Center, a comedy troupe he had pulled together, and he was looking for some material. Naturally, I inundated him with sketches. As it turned out, the show was “half my material, half Chris.”

I also started working on a rewrite of “Closed Set.” Nothing much else happened as August began.

SKIT HAPPENS: Oh, Donald!

4/15/2018

Is there anything that has a shorter shelf life than a topical sketch that isn't selected? Other than that container of sour cream that looks like a science project now. It's rough. You pull together a decent take on today's headlines only to learn they didn't pick your sketch to be in this week's show. Then what? Submit it around to the hundreds of comedy troupes that are looking for sketches from strangers? Turn it into a Kindle ebook? Or, do you just start posting on your own blog because you never know (actually you do, but you do it anyway)? I often delve into political humor and that dates really fast. But some of the stuff I just really enjoyed writing an was really pleased the way it came out. But, the comedy show I submitted it to really doesn't do song parodies, so that was a huge obstacle I built for myself...

Oh, Donald!

A Writer’s Journal Journey 43

4/15/2018

I've been looking back on my adventure in Hollywood, culling pages from my journal...

A rare bit of my personal life slips into the journal as I note the passing of my father-in-law. He was taken out by a staph infection he got in post-op. It was a 3-week ordeal for him. Awful. A shock to all of us.

“So, of course, in the middle of all that, things start happening, writing-wise,” I write. It’s late June and a place called Hawk Entertainment loved my “Peking Duck” script and wanted to show it to money people. He asked for 3 more scripts, “Ghostwriter,” “Closed Set” and “Kringle Project” to send to other partners. I tell Hawk that Kevin has “Kringle” under option. Hawk asks if I’d call Kevin to see if they can work something out.

SKIT HAPPENS 5 - Talking Trump

4/10/2018

Is there anything that has a shorter shelf life than a topical sketch that isn't selected? Other than that Easter Egg you just found behind the couch? It's rough. You pull together a decent take on today's headlines only to learn they didn't pick your sketch to be in this week's show. Then what? Submit it around to the hundreds of comedy troupes that are looking for sketches from strangers? Or make copies and go door-to-door? Or, do you just start posting on your own blog because you never know (actually you do, but you do it anyway)? Sometimes you can stretch the definition of "topical" by mixing politics and pop culture. At least that's what I tried to do last November...

Talking Trump

A Writer’s Journal Journey 42

4/9/2018

I've been looking back on my adventure in Hollywood, culling pages from my journal...

It's now March 1994 and I'm just treading water: Sending out the book material to some publishers, exchanging scripts with my online friend, Getting feedback from the producing wonder, Sheri Upbin.
Whatever I sent her she "loved!" Oh, I do note what I sent, some relationship sketches I did with John Rawlins, my former frequent cowriter, as part of the "So You Wanna Get Married" revue that never went anywhere. As for Upbin, we were still deep in the "getting to know you" phase.

TMI Minute 2018 1Q

4/8/2018

It took 3 months, but was finally able to piece together a minute of jokes from the TMI Minute.

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