Universal Televisions topcomedydevelopment executives said business is thriving with EVPJim Donnellycalling the moment oddly busy.
The world is crazy right now and people love the comfort of comedy.
I feel like we need comedy more than ever.
Jake Giles Netter/HBO Max
He was joined by colleagues Megan Macmillan and Beth Miyares, both SVPs for Comedy Development.
Of course challenges there are.
We miss those days of 24 episodes year, and its a real challenge for everyone right now.
How do you train people where there are so few episodes?
We dont know the answer, said Donnelly.
The group said Universal Television has a stable of top show runners committed to fostering talent.
A more existential question lately is around categories what defines a comedy or drama.
Honestly, said Miyars, The Bearis a half hour.Successionwas an hour.
We all thinkSuccessionwas funnier thanThe Bear.Not that they didnt loveThe Bear.
But its different these days.
So, its, its a really complicated answer.
Its very difficult to define.
In a drama, you want to keep the audience guessing for as long as possible.
You want a big reveal at the end.
With a comedy, you want the audience in on the jokes as early as possible.
You want to get them to know the characters.
Because in a comedy, the very last line of the scene is the joke.
So, if you get rid of the joke, it just, its informational.
