What Streamers Really Want From Their Sitcoms, With a Netflix Showrunner

The Town with Matthew Belloni

The Ringer

Society & Culture

4.3 • 847 Ratings

🗓️ 17 April 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Matt is joined by David Stassen, co-creator of Netflix’s ‘Running Point,’ to talk about the many ways that TV comedy has changed in the streaming era. Dave uses his experience as a working writer and producer for over 15 years to shed some light on what's changed the most in the TV business, including why seasons of television are so much shorter now, how a shorter season affects the writing and pitching process, what streamers are looking for in the comedy space, and how the definition of success has changed (02:21). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the new Ryan Coogler film ‘Sinners’ (27:19). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! [email protected] Host: Matt Belloni Guest: David Stassen Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the brand new Zach Lowe Show.
0:04.0	That's right.
0:04.7	I'm back to have the same in-depth NBA conversations you're used to.
0:09.0	We're going to talk about the games, the X's and O's, the drama, the playoffs are coming up.
0:13.5	And now you get to see every episode in full on video on Spotify and on my own YouTube channel.
0:20.6	Episodes drop every Monday and Thursday with a collection of guests you're going to love.
0:25.1	So make sure you follow and subscribe to the brand new Zach Lowe show on Spotify or wherever
0:30.7	you watch or listen to your podcast.
0:33.2	Let's go!
0:36.7	It is Thursday, April 17th.
0:39.6	Man, the feeling in town among film and TV writers is pretty grim these days.
0:45.1	The Writers Guild told members last week that writing jobs are down 42% from the pre-strike
0:50.7	numbers.
0:51.6	Production way down to fewer shows, fewer movies, fewer opportunities.
0:55.8	It's especially challenging for comedy writers, literally dozens of outlets that used to air
1:00.5	sitcoms and single-cam comedies. They've either stopped making them or have gone away entirely.
1:06.4	And the streamers are, for the most part, global platforms, less inclined to take chances on a comedy that might not play as well in other markets.
1:13.6	Yet this is not a doom and gloom show. There is success in Hollywood beyond the Shonda Rhymes or Taylor Sheridan types for showrunners.
1:20.6	The definition is just changing. And a good example of success these days is my guest today.
1:25.6	Dave Stassen is a writer-producer you probably haven't heard of.
1:29.6	He's a creator and showrunner, along with Mindy Kaling and others of the Netflix comedy
1:34.1	Running Point, starring Kate Hudson.
	...

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