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A comedy series is only as funny as its script.
Thats what separates the bad sitcoms from the good ones, and the good sitcoms from the classics.
The Dick Van Dyke Show(CBS, 19611966)
Staff:Jerry Belson (Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.
Plus, he directedTerms of Endearment,Broadcast News, andAs Good As It Gets.
and then immediately and unconsciously contradicts themselves a second later (…
But would you hold me).
Brothers Glen and Les Charles would later createCheers.
Bob Odenkirk had perhaps the biggest influence on sketch comedy with his work onThe Ben Stiller ShowandMr.
Who wrote that episode?
Conan OBrien, whose first professional writing job was forNot Necessarily the News.
13 in the Nielsen ratings; a year later,Cheerswould hit No.
5 and not drop out of the top ten for the rest of its 11-season run.
David Lloyd was one of the most celebrated comedy writers of all time.
And weve only just scratched the surface.
(Louie); Michael Gordon (Conan); Marsh McCall (Just Shoot Me!
1 pick in the Comedy Draft might be the staff ofLate Night With Conan OBrien, circa 19931994.
Also, this Judd Apatow guy.
You might have heard of him.
Dino Stamatopoulos, now most recognizable as Star-Burns onCommunity, created the Adult Swim stop-motion comediesMoral Oreland Mary ShelleysFrankenhole.
Bill Odenkirk and occasionalMr.
Showcontributor Brent Forrester went on to write forThe Simpsons.
Scott Aukerman and B.J.
Paul F. Tompkins has his own beloved podcast inSpontaneanationand has probably appeared on your favorite podcast, too.
The Dana Carvey Show(ABC, 1996)
Staff:Louis C.K.
ButThe Chris Rock Shows talent pool goes even deeper.
Justin Spitzer wrote numerous episodes ofThe Officebefore moving on to his own acclaimed NBC workplace comedy,Superstore.
Im afraid I just blue myself.
At least hes used to premature cancellations.
premise meant that potential guests would have caught on to the joke sooner or later.
Show, as consultants.
Community(NBC, 20092015)
Season three staff:Maggie Bandur (The Michael J. Thats a lot of talented Human Beings.
); and Rich Talarico (Review)
Four words: Oscar winner Jordan Peele.
I bet most of the writers on this list would agree.
Bradford Evans contributed to the original version of this article in 2011.
