How to Produce Comedy Bronze

by Jon Plowman, Dawn French (Foreword)

In HOW TO PRODUCE COMEDY BRONZE, legendary TV producer Jon Plowman lifts the hood on the comedy industry so you can peer inside and wonder how any of it ever got made in the first place. In a career spanning 30 years Jon has learned (almost) everything there is to know about comedy and now wants to share his wealth of knowledge, before he becomes completely demented and forgets how to do it. Working with Fry and Laurie, travelling with the cast of Absolutely Fabulous, saying 'yes' to The Office - together these stories combine to tell the uncensored story of how TV comedy works, from the first germ of an idea to the after-party at the Emmys - all through a life in comedy. Read this book and if you're not careful learn how to make the world laugh at your ideas too!

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2018

Reviews

[Xanthi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook format. It was read by Hugh Dennis, who I am familiar with via Mock the Week.
I had not heard of this author before and decided to give his a book a go, on a whim because I liked some of the comedies he worked on.
Some of the stories he told on the nature of producing these comedy programs was interesting, including insights to the stumbling blocks, pressures and absurdities.
There were parts that didn’t really hold my attention well because they were about shows I didn’t like or had not heard of or had seen.
Overall, an okay, casual read that was made better by Hugh’s narration.

[Isla Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and insightful read about many of Britain's top sitcoms (primarily sketch show type comedies of the 1980s through to the 2010s. It gives you a feel for what it was like working in comedy in the BBC at the time - budget pressures and casting difficulties etc. etc. some shows I'm less keen on than others but it was certainly informative and interesting and its an entertaining read, whether your interested in the industry side of things, or as a comedy fan. I'd recommend this book, yes.

[Richard Luck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete joy - but then what else would you expect? Jon Plowman's from Welwyn Garden City, a magical town where the extraordinary is ordinary and where effortless accomplishment is the norm. We also have a Bill's.

[Vaughan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up based upon the title without reading the blurb. Wasn't expecting it to be an auto-biography... was expecting more specfic "how-to" expertise. Given I didn't know him, or watch many of the shows referenced it was more entertaining to skim than I'd expected.

[Francesca Pashby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky bit of reading material, taking me back to some of the highlights of GREAT BRITISH COMEDY (there is such a thing).

A few juice morselettes revealed and others hinted at ... Plowman is a lucky man.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny insight into how some top comedy is made, well worth a read

[Jonny Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically written, with nuggets about French & Saunders, 1991's Comic Relief and League of Gentlemen.

[Lara K · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining read, not much value if you are pursuing TV producing advice.

[Rory Tregaskis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Plowman produced much of the best British comedy of the last 30 odd years. It's a real treat to read his anecdotes about the shows he watched on. His affection for the art form really rubs off. I think comedy is very undervalued and not respected nearly as much as it should be, so it's lovely to read someone who does. I loved reading about how Rik Mayall (RIP People's Poet), broke his arm, how Jenifer Saunders wrote Ab Fab, the creation of League of Gentlemen, Vicar of Dibly, and tons more.

Don't expect an actual how-to, this is more of a memoir of his career.

Jon Plowman created some really meaningful comedy and it sounds like he had a lot of fun doing it.