Transcribed

John and Craig welcome writer and performer Ashley Nicole Black (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, A Black Lady Sketch Show) to discuss comedy and variety shows — how they’re written and how to get a job writing them.

We also talk about studio diversity programs, why additional training can send the wrong message, and how to speak up in a writers room. Then we answer listener questions on idea ownership, writing police stories, and follow up on digital writer’s rooms.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we talk about fireworks.

Links:

* [Ashley Nicole Black](https://twitter.com/ashleyn1cole) on Twitter
* [Ashley’s Twitter Thread on Diversity Programs](https://twitter.com/ashleyn1cole/status/1272673440374243329)
* [Ashley on Drunk History](https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/44936398/video/44936689/Season-5-Episode-3-Ashley-Nicole-Black-Nichelle-Nichols) on Nichelle Nichols
* [NPR’s reading of the Emanicipation Proclamation](https://www.npr.org/2020/06/19/880754393/celebrating-juneteenth-a-reading-of-the-emancipation-proclamation)
* [The Loveland Foundation](https://thelovelandfoundation.org/)
* [Mike Birbiglia’s Working it Out](https://www.birbigs.com/working-it-out-pod)
* [The New One](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52894214-the-new-one)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Eric Pearson ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/457standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 7-3-2020** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-457-getting-staffed-in-comedy-variety-transcript).

John and Craig follow up and give updates on the many topics we’ve been talking about the past few weeks, including police on screen, assistant pay, short seasons and restarting production.

We also hear from a past Three-Page participant on their experience post-challenge and cover highlights from the WGA’s Inclusion and Equity report.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we’ll be talking about computers: what we’re using, and what we’d like to see.

Links:

* [Chevalier’s Local Author Event, Saturday June 20th at 2pm](https://www.chevaliersbooks.com/local-authors-060620)
* [Police officers are often glorified on TV shows. Here’s what it looks like when they aren’t.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/06/10/police-officers-tv-episodes/) by Bethonie Butler
* [WGA Inclusion and Equity](https://www.wga.org/uploadedfiles/the-guild/inclusion-and-equity/WGAW_Inclusion_Report_20.pdf)
* [Shorter and Fewer Seasons, Is TV Sabotaging Itself?](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/is-tv-sabotaging-itself)
* [The Metrosexual episode of Decoder Ring by Willa Paskin](https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring/2020/06/the-metrosexual-craze-david-beckham-queer-eye)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Joey Hillenbrand ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/456standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-19-20** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-456-too-much-at-once-transcript).

John and Craig explore that icky feeling something’s wrong with your script and what to do about it. They also discuss the difference between story and screenplay, both as official WGA categories and how we use those terms everyday.

We follow up on French hours, whether you should send editable documents to producers, and offer tips on discussing story ideas with friends and colleagues.

And in our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig read erotic fiction.

Links:

* [Larchmont Author Extravaganza](https://www.chevaliersbooks.com/local-authors-060620) with Chevalier’s this Saturday June 6 with guests Stuart Gibbs, Aline Brosh McKenna, Derek Haas and more!
* [Sports Medal Recycling](http://sportsmedalrecycling.com)
* [How Pac Man Works](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4RHbnBkyh0)
* [FiLMiC Pro](https://www.filmicpro.com/)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by John Venable ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/scriptnotes/454standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-4-20** The transcript for this episode is now available [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-454-that-icky-feeling-transcript).