We Have a Script Too, You know

An attractive female who I used to know recently contacted me via Facebook and asked what I was up to. I proudly stated that I was writing for a certain show on Comedy Central. It felt good to be able to say that I a) actually had a job, and b) on a show that isn't completely embarrassing.

I expecting a hearty congratulations or maybe even a "wow! way to go!". 3 days passed. And then the email came back...

It was a little of the congratulations, but it was more of a punch in the balls. Because she wrote:

"That's great. But are you still trying to write your scripts too?"

Oh. The show I write for isn't good enough for you? We're not real? We don't have scripts?

Nothing was italicized or underlined in her email, but here's where I imagined them:

"But are you still trying to write your scripts too?"

Every single part of that question is dripping with "aw, that's nice, but maybe some day you can do better".

Now, I know she didn't mean it that way. But the fact is is that I'm very sensitive to this "scripted" notion. I go on a lot of meetings. And in every single one of them, the "executive" I'm talking to says the following:

"Oh, so you're trying to break into the scripted world, huh?"

And they all say it like they are on top of the mountain and I'm down in the slums. I guess, to a certain extent, they are right. But that doesn't mean it can't piss me off.

I always respond to them by saying: "well, we have to write a script too".

At that point, they fumble around with "Oh I meant...you know...the half hour world" and it gets more and more uncomfortable from there.

They are right though. There is a hierarchy. Sketch/comedy/variety on the bottom, cable in the middle, and network half hour/hour on top. I am on the bottom, and I would like to be on top.

And yet...man, those network shows sure do suck.