They are preying on the desperation of TV writers looking for work, and asking way too much. Do the Colbert producers feel that this is reasonable? It isn’t. “I’m estimating that it would amount to a 30-plus-page submission packet. “If you know Colbert’s show, you will also know that it would take a competent, experienced late-night TV writer a week to generate this much material, and that’s working full time,” said one informed and empathetic writer who thinks the show is asking for too much free material from job seekers. Shouldn’t be hard, right? If we didn’t think you had the ability, we wouldn’t be asking you to write this submission” – for free. The show advises applicants to “Be inventive, be funny, be clever, be passionate, be informed, be curious, be careful, be thoughtful, be empathetic, be deliberate, and be yourself. And no fiddling with the margins and font size.” ![]() They shouldn’t be more than a few paragraphs long, a page, tops. You don’t need to script them out, but explain how the bit would go, and provide a few examples of jokes that they would include. “These are just ideas for something funny you’d like to see on the show. We have also found that it is more valuable to have confessions that feel true and relatable (‘I only floss on the morning I go to the dentist’) to buy us the rare trip to CrazyTown (“If I got two cats, I would name them ‘Cat One’ and ‘Cat Three’ so everybody felt sorry for me.’)”įinally, the show wants to see two pitches for segments, at least one of which must be an idea for a guest segment. These aren’t sins, per se, but things that feel wrong somehow. Then the show wants to see three Confessions, where Stephen “admits to faults and asks the audience’s forgiveness. WGA West Pushes For Diversity On Its Own Board Of Directors “At times, they are reacting to the news of the day, or interacting with a guest other times they’re just wacky weirdness.” Then the show wants to see five opening monologues jokes: “Think of them as mouth-tweets for TV,” the ad says. These bits “often feature Stephen backstage, or in the office, preparing for the show,” the ad says. You’ve already demonstrated an ability to read, so you’re off to a great start.”Īs part of a submissions packet ( see it here), the show wants to see two examples of cold opens that air before the credits roll. ![]() “We are looking to hire a staff writer to join us at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “Hello, talented person and/or sentient AI program!” begins the CBS late-night show’s amusing help-wanted ad. And you won’t get paid unless you’re the lucky one hired. But first you’ll have to send him a lot of free jokes, and you’ll have to knock them out real fast: the deadline for submissions is Tuesday. ![]() UPDATED: Think you’re funny? If Stephen Colbert thinks so too, he might just offer you a job on The Late Show, which is looking to hire a new staff writer.
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