Oh, you like podcasts?
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
This week, theWriters Guild of America voted to authorize a strikefor the first time since 2007.
Basically, I came into the industry ten years too late, and Im pissed.
Steve Levitan:There are so many effects that its kind of hard to sum up.
Streaming opened a lot of doors, because there was suddenly this tidal wave of new shows.
In the old days, it was broadcast.
If your idea is too specific, or its too niche, people wont go for that.
Like, Oh, a show with gay people will be too off-putting to too many people!
Fortunately, things like that changed.
But streaming became very much the nichier (is that a word?
), the better.
The more specific, the weirder, the louder, the more personal, the better.
That was all very, very good.
It was a handful of American and some British producers.
but Whyshouldwe do that?
It was very, very British no offense.
But it occurred to me recently that we have, in fact, become them.
Before, it was those four networks that were the gatekeepers for everything.
Well, fuck you then.
They can pay people whatever they want, which helps and doesnt help.
Those kinds of things seem to be slipping away.
Basically, I came into the industry ten years too late, and Im pissed.
SL:There are incredible opportunities out there to tell your story.
The downside is that there isso muchproduct that its getting harder, harder, harder to break through.
There are amazing shows out there that you havent heard of.
And the talent pool is spread thinner than ever.
Its harder to get a writing staff that is experienced.
Rachel Bloom:What everyone is articulating are the issues going on with the WGA right now.
The internet is all of the TV you watch.
Its just a really turbulent, weird time.
SL:Heres what I think happened:Rebootscancellation was a collision of events.
Our show was not inexpensive just by the very nature of Rachel.
Our cast was this all-star cast.
I dont like to be a complainer about it.
Ive been so lucky in this business.
Its a time when you say, Cut.
Its not working for us today.
Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut.
I think thats what happened.
RB:I had a pilot with Hulu that Aline Brosh McKenna and I created.
It was our second show afterCrazy Ex-Girlfriend calledBadass (and Her Sister).
I want to play twins!
About a month and a half before cancelingReboot, Hulu passed on our pilot.
And I said to one of the executives, Whats the deal?
Did we not deliver?
because they were so excited about our pitch.
And the executive just keeps saying, We dont have money.
We dont have money.
Basically, hes like, We liked your show.
There are just some others we like better, and we had to pick and choose right now.
There definitely seems to be a crunch, specifically over at Hulu, happening.
With Bob Iger back, I know there aretalks about Disney selling Hulu.
Im sure its very scary to be a Hulu executive right now.
Its just a really turbulent, weird time.
You would ask, What are they looking for?
and nobody really knew what that streamer was looking for.
Comedy should make you fucking laugh.
I have nothing against those shows.
I dont even think Im being insulting.
Theyre not trying to get a laugh.
But then its competing in a Best Comedy category.
Not that awards are the end-all or ultimately that meaningful.
Do we need to start saying, Best Half-Hour Show?
Do we need to add categories?
I believe there was a speech in one of our episodes that Paul Reiser gave.
Its important that people laugh, and Ive always felt that.
I love hearing when people say whatModern Familymeant to them when they were going through rough times.
I dont think its quite right to call something a comedy when its a half-hour drama.
But its not a comedy, so therefore I cant vote for it for that.
GY:Im a stand-up, so Im a comedy purist.
Its a comedy show youre supposed to laugh!
Yeah, our show is educating people, but thats what my comedy is.
Im feeding you medicine, but its coated in sugar, right?
But youve got to laugh!
Our shows a multi-cam, and there was a time when multi-cams were huge.
Were getting overlooked, because were not part of whatever the Zeitgeist, the moment, whatever it is.
A lot of shows get hype because their companies are willing to spend more on publicity.
Its not necessarily how good the show is.
Its how much hype theyre getting because of how much people are willing to spend on that.
But having said that, comedy should make you fucking laugh.
SL:A good comedy is very rare.
So often, I hear people say, Oh my God, my kids watch this show every night.
I want to go to something comfortable.
Theres a real place for that in the world.
But its a long-term game if you think about that.
Now were going to have fewer of those.
People dont get as invested in those.
This idea of understanding what success is doesnt actually exist.
What Ive learned recently is that no one really knows anything.
So when they say, Were not looking for funny comedies right now, thats not a thought.
Executives are primarily scared and reactive, so the idea of Whats the key?
I dont think anybody knows until you put something out in the world and see how it goes.
And if you have no marketing money, that greatly affects it.
But this idea of understanding what success is doesnt actually exist.
There are all these conspiracy theories about Hollywood and who runs Hollywood and the Hollywood agenda.
No one knows anything!
They cant agree with each other!
Everyones just going, I dont know, what do you think?
I dont know, what doyouthink!?
We just lost a lot of money!Aah, whats the internet?Aaahhhh!
These interview excerpts have been edited and condensed.
