Radio & TV: Comedy Writers

There is nothing funny about being funny, at least not for TV comedywriters. Many have gone from gags to riches, but the men who sell theirwit to TV comics insist that the job of writing a series of shows thatare supposed to make people laugh, week after week, is the mostgrueling job ever invented in the name of humor.

There are probably not more than 250 practicing TV comedy writers in theU.S. As part of a research project for a master’s degree, Frank Orser,graduate student in the department of speech at Ohio State University,queried as many as he could track down for some basic information.Fifty-six answered, including such famed TV writers and comedians asSteve Allen, Henry Morgan and Garry Moore. A summary of their answers:

¶ On their own vital statistics: the average TV comedy writer is 38.8years old. Most of them are married, come from large cities, have hadsome college education, are Jewish and, before becoming writers, dideverything from washing dishes to assisting veterinarians.

¶ On relations with their employers: “A comedian is usually an insecure andfrightened man. The more contact he has with his writers, the moreconfidence he is apt to have in the script.”

¶ On writer-comedianconferences: “An incredible bore . . . Most comedians are not qualifiedjudges of the kind of material they should use.”

¶ On how tobecome a comedy writer: “Marry a rich girl; short of this— marrya funny girl who can write for you; short of this— be GeneralSarnoff’s son.

“∧ On “the finest writer in TV today” : manywriters voted for themselves, but over all, the man named most oftenwas Nat (the Phil Silvers Show) Hiken. Said Hiken last week:”Sure, I think I’m the best, and every other professional comedywriter who’s any good thinks he’s the best. He’s gotta. It’s that kindabusiness ” Hiken added, after a moments reflection: “Butdon’t let them kid you.

I’m really the best.”