Exploring the evolution of comedy in TV: Insights from industry experts
The dynamic duo: Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels in ‘Hacks’
At the end of “Hacks” Season 3, the relationship between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) reaches an unprecedented point. Co-creator, co-showrunner, executive producer, and writer Jen Statsky reflects on the challenge of balancing comedy with the emotional depth of their relationship.
“You always want to be funny first and think of the comedy and think of the jokes, but their relationship is very real, very fraught, very difficult,” Statsky shares. “And that also gives us a lot to play with.”
For those who haven’t yet experienced the magic of “Hacks,” you can catch a glimpse of the dynamic duo in the Hacks trailer.
The art of authenticity in ‘Abbott Elementary’
Randall Einhorn, director and executive producer of “Abbott Elementary”, brings a unique perspective to the show, drawing from his extensive experience in reality TV. Having worked on shows like “The Office,” “Parks and Rec,” and “Survivor,” Einhorn employs techniques from reality and documentaries to enhance the authenticity of the scenes.
“For instance, whenever we see Janine and Gregory together, we just back up and get longer on the lens,” Einhorn explains. “It makes the scene ring truer. It kind of veneers it with this authenticity of, I believe that they’re not aware of the cameras.”
Curious about the charm of “Abbott Elementary”? Check out the Abbott Elementary trailer.
The mockumentary magic of ‘What We Do in the Shadows’
Jake Bender and Zach Dunn, writers and producers of “What We Do in the Shadows”, delve into the mockumentary format that defines the show. Bender emphasizes that the format is “the whole joke of the show.”
“We get into it a little bit in the final season, the idea about who this documentary is for and what it is,” Dunn adds. “There’s very strict rules. In the ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ movie, they were really strict about it feeling like a real documentary and not doing cheats that couldn’t happen in a documentary.”
For a taste of the supernatural comedy, watch the What We Do in the Shadows trailer.
The unexpected finale of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Jeff Schaffer, writer, director, and executive producer of “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, reveals that the team didn’t initially plan for the last season to be the final one.
“The only reason we ended the series is because the funniest version of this season’s finale was if it was the series finale,” Schaeffer explains. “That’s it.”
For those who want to dive into Larry David’s world, here’s the Curb Your Enthusiasm trailer.
The changing landscape of TV comedy
The panel of comedy writers and producers also discussed the evolving nature of TV comedy, particularly the trend of shorter seasons. Schaeffer reminisces about the days when comedy seasons would run for 22 or 24 episodes, a stark contrast to today’s typical 10-episode seasons.
“It feels hard enough to do 10 episodes, let alone double that,” Schaeffer notes. Statsky adds that her team has adapted to fit the number of episodes to the story they want to tell. Reflecting on her previous work, she says, “When we did 22 [episodes] on Parks and Rec, I’m like, ‘How the fuck?'”
The art of saying goodbye
Schaeffer also touches on a more philosophical aspect of human interaction, particularly the difficulty people have in saying goodbye.
“They can’t seem to say goodbye without attaching, ‘And we’ll have lunch or do something,'” Schaeffer observes. “No one’s going off to war. Goodbyes can just be goodbyes. That’s one of the things that Larry’s the best in the world at. When we’re on the phone and we’re done talking, he just hangs up and it’s great.”
Final thoughts
The insights shared by these industry experts offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative processes behind some of today’s most beloved TV comedies. From the emotional depth of “Hacks” to the authentic feel of “Abbott Elementary,” the mockumentary style of “What We Do in the Shadows,” and the unexpected finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” each show brings something unique to the table. As the landscape of TV comedy continues to evolve, these creators remain at the forefront, pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to make audiences laugh.
For more on these shows, explore their trailers and immerse yourself in the world of TV comedy.