Sitcom Writer’s Job - Behind TV's Funniest Scenes

Sitcom Writer

7/1/25

What does it really take to make people laugh for a living? That’s the job of Dawn DeKeyser, a veteran comedy writer for hit shows like Ugly Betty and News Radio. She pulls back the curtain on the world of television writing career.

Dawn describes the collaborative chaos of a writer's room - a place she calls "a full contact sport" where writers physically act out jokes and jump on tables to sell their ideas. She reveals the structured approach to crafting an episodes, while sharing her personal battle with writer's block and her solution via "the swill draft."

Whether you're curious about television-writing, fascinated by the creative process, or simply want to understand how your favorite shows come together, Dawn's story offers both entertainment and inspiration.

Topics

1:20 Finding Inspiration in Real Life

3:15 Breaking Into Television Writing

5:55 Dawn's First show

7:38 Collaborating With Other Writers

9:25 A show Runner

11:44 Wiring For Uggly Betty

12:22 The Writer's Room

15:38 Residuals and The Changing World of TV

18:16 Comedy Writing

20:25 Beating Writer's Block and AI Challenges

24:43 Career Highs, Lows, and Missed Opportunities

27:28 Ways To Break In

30:05 Writing as a Muscle and Career Advice

33:02 Writing Format

Resources

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0215245/

https://www.dawndekeyser.com/

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