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Comedy Episode

Episode - 619

November 21, 2023 Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John welcomes Jesse David Fox (Comedy Book, Good One) and Greg Iwinski (Last Week Tonight, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) to “explain the joke” and discuss how comedy works.

They explore everything from harnessing your comedic voice, building a career in comedy, the importance of diversity in late night, to fundamental questions about the art form: How do jokes work? Is laughter always the primary goal of a comedy? Do you need to put your work online? How has the algorithm changed our consumption of comedy? And where does comedy go from here?

In our bonus segment for premium members, Greg, Jesse and John talk about their shared love for The Simpsons. What makes it so funny, and how has it shaped a generation of comedy nerds?

Links:

* [Greg Iwinski](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8660569/) on [Twitter](https://x.com/garyJackson) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/garyjackson/)
* [Jesse David Fox](https://www.vulture.com/author/jesse-david-fox/) on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jessedavidfox/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/JesseDavidFox)
* [Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604721/comedybook) by Jesse David Fox
* [Good One: Podcast About Jokes](https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/good-one) by Jesse David Fox
* [Julia](https://www.max.com/shows/julia/9fab087a-73f8-4e08-b778-bd502697295e) on MAX
* [The Great Stewardess Rebellion](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/636297/the-great-stewardess-rebellion-by-nell-mcshane-wulfhart/) by Nell McShane Wulfhart
* [Everything You Want (ft. MUNA)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQvcDLUFaS8) – Matt Rogers, from his album [Have You Heard of Christmas?](https://shop.capitolmusic.com/collections/matt-rogers/products/matt-rogers-have-you-heard-of-christmas-lp)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Jonathan Petkau ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/619standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-30-23:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2023/scriptnotes-episode-619-comedy-episode-transcript).

John August

Everyone loves links!

The Scriptnotes Book

Twelve years in the making, the Scriptnotes Book distills ~~everything~~ ~~most~~ a lot of what we’ve learned and discussed on the podcast into a handy book form. Available December 2, 2025, it’s a perfect gift for the screenwriter in your life (including yourself).

The hardcover book is 325 pages and 43 chapters on the craft and business of screenwriting. It also features interviews with some of our favorite guests.

Available now for preorder worldwide! → scriptnotesbook.com

Highland Pro

Highland Pro is the app my company makes for screewriters. Every word I’ve written for the past 10 years has been in Highland. The new version is incredible.

You can get Highland Pro for Mac, iPad and iPhone on the App Store. It’s much better than Final Draft, at a quarter of the price.

Birdigo

Birdigo, our very fun Wordle × Balatro game is now on Steam!

johnaugust.com

My screenwriting blog, where you can also see my credits.

Scriptnotes

Scriptnotes, my weekly podcast with Craig Mazin. We have amazing t-shirts and hoodies!

Writer Emergency Pack

Writer Emergency Pack, the perfect gift for any writer (including yourself).

Arlo Finch

Arlo Finch, my middle-grade adventure series. You can get signed books and official t-shirts.

Weekend Read

Weekend Read is for reading scripts on your phone.

Courier Prime

Courier Prime is designed specifically for screenplays.

Quote-Unquote Apps

Quote-Unquote Apps is my tiny software company that makes these apps.

Contact

For film/TV, I’m repped at UTA.

For books, I’m repped at Writers House.

For press and other inquires, email ask@johnaugust.com

Clearing out the Mailbag

November 14, 2023 Scriptnotes

John offers a host of career-focused insights as he tackles our overflowing mailbag to answer as many listener questions as he can.

What’s the best way to keep track of shower thoughts? How do you build a good creative workplace? How do you disclose your past wrongs to a future employer? What is Appendix A? And who picks up the tab at a coffee meeting?

In our bonus segment for premium members, bells are ringing as John and newlywed Drew discuss what makes a wedding work.

Links:

* [Oppenheimer: The Official Screenplay](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/125485818) by Christopher Nolan
* [WGA Appendix A](https://www.wga.org/uploadedfiles/credits/Appendix_A.pdf)
* [An Extremely Detailed Map of New York City Neighborhoods](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/upshot/extremely-detailed-nyc-neighborhood-map.html?unlocked_article_code=1.6kw.kcs8.he_hQaxqP5Vb) by Larry Buchanan, Josh Katz, Rumsey Taylor and Eve Washington for the New York Times
* [TFI Photo Lab in Danvers, MA](https://www.tfiphoto.com/index.html)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Nico Mansy ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/618standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-30-23:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2023/scriptnotes-episode-618-clearing-out-the-mailbag-transcript).

Sidecast: SAG-AFTRA has a deal

November 13, 2023 Scriptnotes, Sidecast

After 118 days on strike, SAG-AFTRA has a tentative deal with the AMPTP. John and Drew look through the details of the agreement to see what gains the actors union was able to make on streaming, self-tapes, performance capture, AI protections, and residuals. What are the current effects of this agreement? And what’s next for organized labor in Hollywood?

Links:

* [SAG-AFTRA Summary of 2023 Tentative Agreement](https://www.sagaftra.org/files/sa_documents/TV-Theatrical_23_Summary_Agreement_Final.pdf)
* [SAG-AFTRA 2023 TV/Theatrical Contracts Hub](https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/contracts/2023-tvtheatrical-contracts)
* John on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/SC37standard.mp3).

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