I’ve been a huge Wanda fan for years, so I was thrilled about the chance to work with her.  For me, Wanda’s at her best when she’s serving as the voice of the everyman, breaking down large social and political ideas into hilariously simple, digestible, no-bullshit bites and articulating thoughts and questions everyone’s thinking but is afraid to ask. 

This is my first time working on a network late-night talk show.  (I produced a late-night talk show pilot for E! a couple years ago, but this is a whole different ballgame…)

The show mixes traditional talk show elements, like the opening monologue, with dashes of “The Daily Show,” “Real Time with Bill Maher,” and “Chelsea Lately.”  It’s got a bit of everything: one act makes fun of that week’s news and clips, another has Wanda and a panel of guests debating controversial social topics.

I work with the writers, putting together all the clip-based segments… finding the clips, developing sketches or jokes around them, etc.

So far it’s been a great time… a lot of hard work and late nights as we figure out how the show plays, what works/what doesn’t, which sketches fit with Wanda’s voice… but an incredible experience.  This writing staff has some of the most talented writers I’ve ever worked with… watching them brainstorm, pitch, and punch the jokes is an incredible education.

Anyway, over the next few weeks and months, I hope to be able to bring you first-hand reports from the world of production, as well as interviews and advice from the writers and staff.  And if you have questions, please email them in… and if I can’t answer them myself, I’m sure someone here can!

In the mean time, here’s one of my favorite Wanda stand-up bits…

Friday, November 06, 2009 4:55:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [1]