I'm surprised at some things people are surprised about.

Why are people surprised that other reviewers found a script funny that they did not? - or vice versa - Surely comedy is the genre that most splits opinions as humour is such a broad spectrum.

Why are people surprised that a lot of writers struggle with writing comedy? It's a board for amateur and unrepresented writers with a wide range of experience and skills across all different genres - It's not surprising at all - I can't write comedy, I'm not funny... I've never researched or studied how to do it, so it's not surprising to me that my script this round is bombing on the comedy front.

Anyhoo... I've enjoyed most of these entries so far - Well done all

I base my judgement not only on my own tastes but also include everything I've seen. Some people like Mrs Brown's Boys and others will prefer Ben Elton. Just because I find it funny doesn't mean that others will. Also, if the writer finds it funny, it stands to reason that others will somewhere. Comedy is so subjective it's too difficult to label what is and isn't funny.

Also, something we find funny at one moment, may pass us by on another depending on our mood. It's very easy to hate on a script in this round simply because you're not in the mood to find something funny. The writers should all be more forgiving of each other during this round.

There are many I didn't find funny this round, some I did. Those I didn't were scored on the basis of me seeing the attempts at comedy.

So far, and I think I only have 3 left to read, I've only marked one as not being a comedy. I genuinely could not even see the attempts. I'll give it another read before I submit my scores, but I don't think I could have been any more forgiving.

If I only passed the ones I found funny that number would be much different.

I think everyone had a pretty good crack at the genre, even if they didn't quite get there.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I base my judgement not only on my own tastes but also include everything I've seen. Some people like Mrs Brown's Boys and others will prefer Ben Elton. Just because I find it funny doesn't mean that others will. Also, if the writer finds it funny, it stands to reason that others will somewhere. Comedy is so subjective it's too difficult to label what is and isn't funny. Also, something we find funny at one moment, may pass us by on another depending on our mood. It's very easy to hate on a script in this round simply because you're not in the mood to find something funny. The writers should all be more forgiving of each other during this round.

Agreed - In all the of the entries I have read so far I have seen at least an attempt at comedy, whether it worked for me personally or not. Some are a lot more in your face slapstick, others have a more subtle comedic tone - but I haven't penalized any for lack of attempt.

I only have 1 question mark next to 'criteria' for my scoring - but has nothing to do with genre, it's for the use of sewer and whistle.

There are definitely some dropped marks for criteria... is genre under the criteria section for marking?

Never mind. I suppose it would have to be. How would you give 3 points for only being partly action?

Quoted from DustinBowcot There are definitely some dropped marks for criteria... is genre under the criteria section for marking?

Yes it is. But criteria is also a yes (5) or a no (1). So you only need to not have one of the pieces to potentially get a no.

Comedy isn't about making you laugh. It can do that, but it doesn't have to to fit the genre. The Blues Brothers didn't make me laugh, but the over-the-top antics were fun. The Big Lebowski didn't make me laugh once, but it's a fun ride (I might have chuckled).

Comedy is meant to be fun, not necessarily funny. It's meant to surprise, catch us off guard. It can poke fun at things, even ourselves. It can tear down the most horrible things by making them absurd, and hopefully those make us laugh for the catharsis.

I didn't mean that funny made me laugh. Perhaps, I like to think of them as 'inward chuckles'. I wrote a comedy using dry wit. You're not meant to laugh but you are meant to find it funny. I suppose this is just semantics.... but I can find things funny without them making me laugh.

The definition of funny says: causing laughter or amusement.

Amusement. That's a good word for the bar these scripts should be setting.

Quoted from ReneC Amusement. That's a good word for the bar these scripts should be setting.

TOMMY DEVITO

You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little fucked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

Quoted from FrankM TOMMY DEVITO You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little fucked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

Quoted from FrankM TOMMY DEVITO You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little fucked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

Ooh! A reference I actually understand!

Quoted from Matthew Taylor I'm surprised at some things people are surprised about.

I find that surprising.

I'm surprised how dumb some peeps are, based on their reviews.

Such simple, simple things they don't get.  I just have to shake my head and laugh out loud.

I need to really dumb down my writing for this crowd.