The Eight Characters of Comedy: Guide to Sitcom Acting and Writing

I mean, seriously. Someone FINALLY sat down and wrote a book that deconstructs all the different characters (there's 8, by the way) that appear in comedy, sitcoms specifically. Sedita manages to set forth a simple, concise, easy-to-read (AND understand) method to determining, from an acting standpoint, WHICH character you are (I'm, surprisingly, a "lovable loser" and not, as I had hoped and dreamed, a "womanizer"), and which specific traits are most often and commonly associated with PLAYING these characters ("hopeful" and "optimistic" are two big ones for the "lovable loser"). I can only begin to tell you how incredibly helpful this book has been in my audition preparation and my character creation. If you've ever thought about acting, especially in comedy, PICK UP THIS BOOK!

Now I truly understand comedic timing! Sedita is a master at communicating the true technique of the comedic actor and how to apply it to your performance. I learned more from this book about acting than any other acting book I have read. He writes in simple straight forward terms that any actor can use to improve their performance and truly makes you respect the great comedic actors of our time. Thanks Scott!

Scott Sedita's Eight Characters of Comedy provides the actor and/or writer wonderful tools for making sit-com characters come alive! All artists interested in the world of sit-com will benefit from this book! And it's fun to read, too - Unique and incredibly insightful!

This book finally says the things you know, but have been unable to put your finger on. It is easy to read, and funny too. Well, one would hope with a book about sit-coms. As an actor, I found this helped me tremendously. It gave me insight into what to do, and how to do it. I can already see the results. As a writer, I find it easier to make choices for my characters, now that I have a guideline for their intentions. Even the difficult part of starting the script is made easier when you just decide what character would go with the ones you already have. Definitely a must have!

Much more than a terrific guide for actors and writers looking to build a career in the sitcom world, this book celebrates everything that we love about sitcoms...the characters, the storylines, the jokes, the catch phrases, the addiction that keeps us tuning in week after week. As an actor, this book has helped me focus on what casting directors want at sitcom auditions and what directors want on set. I now know what my comedic strengths are and where I should be focusing my energy. And the results have been tremendous! Scott does an an amazing job of channeling his years of industry experience and his charismatic teaching ability into each and every page, leaving every actor and writer who reads this book confident he or she WILL work in sitcoms. But the book also attracts a much broader audience. After I finished reading it, I gave my copy to my dad (a steelworker with no interest in acting whatsoever) and he finished it in a few days, laughing out loud from time to time as he came across a show, a character or a bit of dialogue that struck his funny bone. That's where this book excels over other acting and writing books. It doesn't limit its audience. Rather, it allows anybody and everybody who loves sitcoms to come along for an exciting and hilarious ride!