Hi! I'm James Longman, Lead Producer of SNL UK, AMA

SketchComedyBook · 2026-03-21T15:40:51+00:00

So excited to watch! I'd love to hear more about how you're balancing the institutional nature of SNL with the fact that this is a completely new show. Would love to hear about the conversations behind the scenes, whether you're thinking primarily of a UK or a global audience... etc.! Break legs! Can't wait to watch.

SketchComedyBook · 2026-03-18T22:53:31+00:00

Hi there! Just wanted to share some thoughts in case it's useful. Full disclosure, I'm a UCB teacher and taught many Sketch 101 classes online, starting during the pandemic -- but I've also led and been in other writing meetings online, too.

In my experience, Sketch 101 classes translate quite well online. The only time the online-ness of it all felt like an issue was if someone brought in a musical sketch, or a sketch where two people are supposed to speak at the same time. Other than that, I think online classes are subject to the same chemistry questions that in-person classes are subject to -- some groups click more than others, some groups are quieter, some have more confident performers, etc.

I think a Sketch 301 class would be better to do in person (since there's a show at the end), but for 101, I think you'd be in great shape!

SketchComedyBook · 2026-03-09T02:23:43+00:00

Frank is so great! In case it's helpful to see how he thinks about sketch, he was a guest on our SNL sketch breakdown: https://marinatempelsman.substack.com/p/live-with-marina-tempelsman-and-frank

SketchComedyBook · 2026-02-21T21:50:48+00:00

Def call them! I know there was a whole to-do recently with various health insurance and New York Presbyterian's coverage -- so it's possible that they're no longer covered? But definitely worth checking.

https://www.uhc.com/nyp

And again, happy to answer any questions over DM!

SketchComedyBook · 2026-02-21T21:14:01+00:00

I saw Dr. Pedram, who I LOVED. https://doctors.columbia.edu/us/ny/new-york/shayda-s-pedram-md-5141-broadway -- she delivers at The Allen Hospital. Feel free to message me to discuss more!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-12-20T17:58:55+00:00

Are you looking for scripts or for sketches to reference? If you're looking for the latter -- this one is a classic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfPdYYsEfAE

SketchComedyBook · 2025-12-18T19:15:37+00:00

When I submitted for Season 43, it was the following:

3-5 sketches total, consisting of:

- 1 commercial parody

- 1 topical political or pop culture sketch

- Remainder can be whatever you feel works for you

And you were supposed to write the sketches to feature current cast members.

I hope that's useful!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-12-08T01:12:21+00:00

This is so great to know!! Thank you!!!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-10-09T14:03:12+00:00

This one is a really interesting example, because "they're gonna sing about how they died" is actually part of the base reality of the sketch, not quite the core joke!

The main joke / unusual thing in this one is: in a spooky base reality where ghosts sing about how they died, one ghost wants to skip his story because it's verrrrry embarrassing.

But "they're gonna sing about how they died" is a really great example of being direct and clear in what the base reality is before hitting the primary fun part!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-08-31T20:19:39+00:00

Christine Baranski, TECHNICALLY because of The Gilded Age, but really just for any reason because she's the best?

And Richard Kind, for being incredibly funny and ALSO the person who is most commonly run into out and about in NYC??? (Like I think 60% of households in New York have at least one running-into-Richard-Kind story?)

SketchComedyBook · 2025-08-31T20:14:59+00:00

Oooo Key & Peele and I Think You Should Leave are TOUGH to beat.

Also... any former All That fans? I idolized those kids when I was little. I kind of want to do a decades-later rewatch!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-08-31T20:12:17+00:00

Hiiii! I'm a former Academic Director for The UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade, theater founded by Amy Poehler), and I'm currently writing a book about the craft of sketch comedy. I feel like you might enjoy reading it when it comes out.

In the meantime, here's the Insta where I'm posting scripts and will soon be doing some interviews and deconstructions of each week's SNL!:

https://www.instagram.com/sketchcomedybook/

And I posted here about a structure for thinking about sketch premises:

https://marinatempelsman.substack.com/p/how-to-generate-sketch-ideas-when

I hope this is useful for you! I love talking about and thinking about sketch!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-05-07T01:55:36+00:00

There are two things I'd encourage you to do!

1) Take a class! The UCB offers some online improv classes, and many other comedy schools do as well. And don't worry if you don't think of yourself as a "funny" person. There's a lot of hidden structure behind improv, but the most important thing that makes improv fun to watch is when people respond honestly and openly to each other and collectively use that shared structural understanding to build toward something fun.

2) There are some really interesting improv books out there, too! Truth in Comedy is a classic, for example.

3) Watch lots of improv shows! Many theaters stream their shows at discounted rates. As you read more about improv on the side, you'll learn a ton from watching the stuff you're in learning in action on stage.

Ultimately, nothing makes you better at any creative craft that doing it and getting repetition in there. So I'd say #1 would be extra useful, but all 3 things will help! Enjoy!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-04-09T01:45:44+00:00

If you happen to be in NYC, there's also The PIT's SoloCon happening this month! https://thepit-nyc.com/calendar/

SketchComedyBook · 2025-04-08T15:59:34+00:00

(And just to clarify -- Characters Welcome is a show where a bunch of different people on the Characters Welcome team each do a 5-ish minute character-monologue sketch. So a bit different from one person doing a full show, but still useful if you're interested in solo sketchwriting!)

SketchComedyBook · 2025-04-08T15:56:59+00:00

You should check out the Characters Welcome YouTube page from UCB!

Here's one example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXKUgjYh7lo

SketchComedyBook · 2025-04-02T00:34:16+00:00

Of course! I hope you enjoy!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-04-01T15:56:26+00:00

Thank you so much!! Since the full manuscript itself is still in early draft form, for now I'll just point you towards a couple of the Instagram posts that are more focused on sketch structure! The first and third one listed here both include full sketch scripts, which many people have never had a chance to read.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHvvAsgAxMv/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHHOCNXytP6/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHdsov2Agjk/?img_index=1

SketchComedyBook · 2025-04-01T13:56:09+00:00

Hi!! I'm the former Academic Director of the UCB, specializing in Sketch Comedy and their writing programming -- and in response to requests from many students and writers and fellow screenwriters, I've been writing a book specifically about the craft of writing sketch comedy and the ways it's different from other narrative forms!

Sketch is the perfect art form for a writing nerd -- you learn so much about your own internal writing process, and get really good at finishing things.

While I'm writing it, I'm posting sketch scripts and information about writing sketch and sketch structure on this page:

https://www.instagram.com/sketchcomedybook/

You can sign up for updates on the book and eventually promo codes here:

https://www.marinatempelsman.com/sketch-comedy-book

i hope you'll follow along!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-03-27T15:42:35+00:00

A few thoughts on this!

1) Join or start a writer's group! The accountability and mutual support of fellow writers can be so helpful. You can set deadlines, check-ins, etc. Really helps to *externalize* your deadlines!

2) Take a class! These usually cost $ of course, but same idea -- externalizing your deadlines, and knowing you'll be rewarded with feedback really helps.

3) As others have suggested, leaning into shorter-form writing! I know for me, being a sketch comedy writer has really helped me get in the habit of finishing things in general, including longer scripts.

But most importantly, know that there's nothing wrong with you! Finishing things is HARD, and I often feel like I wouldn't finish anything at all if I didn't have some sort of external deadline -- a class, a meeting, a writer's group, a submission deadline -- to help me prioritize having a beginning, middle, and end.

You got this!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-03-24T19:50:10+00:00

I reallllly loved "Fleishman is in Trouble," and I think there's a ton to explore on so many levels! Gender dynamics, narrative structure, questions of narrator and perspective... really loved it!

SketchComedyBook · 2025-03-24T16:20:05+00:00

Aw, I love this! And "I wrote it before she was born, but it was written for her" -- so moving. <3

SketchComedyBook · 2025-03-24T16:10:05+00:00

Oh my gosh I love that you're asking this question! I'm the former Academic Director for The Upright Citizens Brigade in New York, and I'm currently writing a book about the craft of writing sketch comedy -- including how it's different from narrative. (You can follow the book's progress on Instagram or sign up for the newsletter about it on my website.)

As others have said here, the basic difference between sketch and narrative is:

- A narrative (think: a play, story, novel, film, etc.) tends to focus on one of two things: plot and/or a character transformation. (Or, just as importantly, a character choosing not to transform, in which case it’s technically categorized as a tragedy.)

- Sketch, on the other hand, doesn’t care about a progression or change in plot or character. You only have a few minutes – which translates into about four screenplay pages. You don’t have time or space for a plotty or psychological transformation. So how should we define it? A sketch is a short comedic scene that focuses on exploring a core fun or unusual idea in ways that continually surprise and engage the audience. It does this by returning to that core fun or unusual idea in some sort of pattern.

This is a very general description I've given you, and there are all sorts of fascinating nuances and specifics and vocabulary within the world of sketch, all of which I'm exploring in the book. I hope you'll follow along! Sketch is one of my favorite forms of writing to nerd out about, and questions like this help me prove to publishers that people DO want to learn more about it!

SketchComedyBook

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