Topic Guide
What Is Oscar writing?
Oscar writing is a subject covered in depth across 1 podcast episode in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in Oscar writing
The conan language
This concept refers to the specific comedic style and tone of Conan O'Brien's shows, which a writer must learn to 'speak' to successfully contribute. Skyler Higley explains that adapting his individual comedic voice to fit Conan's world, despite their differences, allowed him to produce 'the best stuff' and integrate his unique perspective into the show's established humor (19:22).
What Experts Say About Oscar writing
- 1.Conan O'Brien's Oscar writing team, including Skyler Higley, is highly valued, despite Conan's performative 'over-the-top insults' and 'cartoonish disappointment' in the writer's room (01:01).
- 2.Skyler Higley's comedy origin story began in a sheltered Salt Lake City upbringing, where comedy served as a window into the wider world and helped him navigate anxiety (06:05, 10:09).
- 3.The 2010s comedy boom, fueled by podcasts and YouTube, alongside shows like '30 Rock,' 'Community,' and 'Parks and Rec,' normalized comedy as a viable career path for Skyler Higley's generation (06:05, 09:07).
- 4.Landing a writing job with Conan involved submitting a unique packet, including a deliberately provocative idea like 'Conan O’Brien does blackface,' to catch attention amidst many submissions (16:16).
- 5.The 'bullshitting' and seemingly off-topic tangents in a comedy writer's room are essential for fostering a creative, fun environment, even if the direct output doesn't make it to the final show (21:27).
- 6.Working on a high-profile event like the Oscars, though scaled immensely, involves the same fundamental creative process of pitching and refining jokes as smaller shows (26:34).
Top Episodes to Learn About Oscar writing
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Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend