Fawlty Towers creator, John Cleese, gives advice to wannabe

Calling all budding writers, we asked John Cleese what advice he has for all wannabe sit-com writers and how to deal with rejection.
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Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• john
• cleese
• fawlty
• towers
• re-opened

[Riotnz]

Damn straight they are some of the funniest actors I've ever seen.

[taxmonkey123]

By your logic 50 cents is one of the greatest musicians of the current age, and Avatar is the greatest accomplishment in the history cinema. The masses don't know shit about the arts.

[Digmen1]

Yes its that old story.

10% talent and 90% luck (right place at the right time)

[acrobaticaromatic]

@taxmonkey123 but in the case of things like Fawlty Towers, they start with small audiences, and with minor critical support, and then the masses -after being told so many times that something is good - will come to the same conclusion, basically because, in a way, they've been told to. So while Fawlty Towers has millions and millions of fans worldwide, I wonder how many are truly appreciative of how good it is, and how many people just watch it because it's so often mentioned as being great.

[acrobaticaromatic]

@taxmonkey123 Yes! I tell people the exact same thing! It's nice, kind of validating to see others coming in with the same opinions and thoughts as oneself. If something appeals to the masses then it means it's safe, and boring, with nothing truly exceptional about it, which is how it appeals to such a big audience. True, honest art always finds smaller audiences, and that's because it is unique and it resonates with people who share some of it's sensibilities.

[Kalleesto]

@chibago1

"... the ticket buying public is in my opinion the most expert art critic."

You cannot possibly be serious ... !

By that logic, Britney Spears is the artistic genius of the century with Paris Hilton running a close second.

Clearly, you have not thought this through ... >.>

[nicck]

I'd understand this discussion on some kind of political video, but not a video of a british comedy actor,

Nobody cares.

[ilovewombles]

if john cleese n ricky gervais were in a room with my id lick their salty balls, fucking heros

[chibago1]

'What's wrong with being elitest?' ?? You must be a Liberal or Demo. If you believe in art for its own sake and don't seek government handouts to pursue your hobby then there is nothing wrong with that type of elitism. But most films, music etc have to get support from the market and the ticket buying public is in my opinion the most expert art critic. Furthermore he is saying 'something should succeed if it is critically acclaimed'. Himself defining success by ticket sales.