Ken Levine (a writer who's worked on MASH, Cheers, Frasier and many other shows) discusses the intractable problem of fixing a script that just ain't funny, retelling an encouraging story about how early on The Odd Couple was failing to get laughs in its third act, and how a critic-inspired idea fixed it. Ken wraps up with a nice ShameAntidote:
When geniuses like Neil Simon and Mike Nichols can't put their fingers on a problem, what hope is there for the rest of us?
So when you get stuck just know, there is no Dr. House for writing. At times we’re all Frank Burns.
