Ever wondered how a TV comedy episode actually gets written? It starts in a writers’ room.
Breaking story.
Pitching jokes.
Killing your darlings.
Now’s your chance to either see it in action or actively be a part of that action!
Australians in Film in partnership the Australian Writers’ Guild is excited to announce the next session in our INSIDER SESSIONS SERIES: Inside a U.S. Writers’ Room – LIVE! Comedy Edition, led by acclaimed writer and producer Sam Laybourne.
Sam most recently served as Co-Executive Producer on the CBS comedy DMV. Prior to that he was showrunner for Seasons 3 and 4 of the hit comedy Acapulco on Apple TV+, where the series earned a 2025 Critics Choice Award nomination and was named Best Series at the 4th Annual CCA Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television.
Sam was an Executive Producer on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist for NBC and wrote for two Emmy-nominated comedies, black-ish and Arrested Development. His extensive writers’ room experience also includes The Real O'Neals, Grandfathered, Cougar Town, Aliens in America, and The Loop.
Sam also co-created and co-showran The Michael J. Fox Show, working alongside Michael J. Fox.
What You’ll Experience
In the first of four sessions, Sam will walk participants through the do’s and don’ts of working in a U.S. comedy writers’ room—how to pitch effectively, collaborate with other writers, make yourself indispensable in the room, and avoid common pitfalls.
In the following three live sessions, eight selected writers will step into the room themselves. Working under Sam’s guidance (as Head Writer), they will collaborate to break the second episode of a pilot—exactly the way it happens in a professional TV writers’ room.
All who register will receive the pilot script in advance to either prepare to contribute if selected as a writer in the room or to follow the process and watch the episode take shape in real time.
How to Join
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Eligibility
To apply for selection in the writers’ room:
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You must be an Australian citizen 18 years old or over.
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You must be willing and available to be an active participant (including any homework between sessions) live online, on the following dates and times:
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Tuesday, May 5, 4.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. PT (In the U.S.)
Wednesday, May 6, 9.00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
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Thursday, May 7, 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. PT (In the U.S.)
Friday, May 8, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
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Tuesday, May 12, 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. PT (In the U.S.)
Wednesday, May 13, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
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Thursday, May 14, 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. PT (In the US)
Friday, May 15, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
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- You must apply with a full-length original TV comedy pilot script. No pitch decks or treatments.
- You’ll need a 250 word personal statement - why you want to be selected for this program. Let us know who you are!
- Submissions close Thursday, April 9, 4.00 p.m. PT (In the U.S) // Friday, April 10 AEST (In AUS)
Application does not guarantee you will be selected. Only eight participants will be chosen. All submissions will be reviewed be industry professionals.
IMPORTANT: If selected as one of the eight writers in the “room”, you’ll be expected to actively participate and follow the guidelines of a professional writers’ room which will be discussed in Session 1. Should the Head Writer determine after the first “room” session that your contribution or behavior falls below expectations, you may be replaced—just as would happen in a real-world setting.
To participate as an observer: All are welcome!
SESSION 1 | Inside the U.S. Writers’ Room (90 minutes)
Learn about navigating a typical U.S. comedy writers’ room - the hierarchy of roles, how comedy rooms differ from drama rooms in structure and tone, ways to stand out and make yourself invaluable, and mistakes to avoid that could hurt your chances of success. You’ll also learn how TV staffing works - how do shows put together their writers’ rooms and make hiring decisions?
We’ll also talk about how to prepare for your first day in a room - you got the job, now what?!
When:
Tuesday, May 5, 4.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. PT (In the U.S.)
Wednesday, May 6, 9.00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
SESSION 2 | Breaking Episode Two - Part Two (2 hours)
After having read the pilot, you’ll hear from your Head Writer some initial thoughts about the pilot and the direction of the show. Participants will discuss the themes of the show and episode, tone, character arcs, and season arcs to build to before jumping in and starting to break the episode.
When:
Thursday, May 7, 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. PT (In the U.S.)
Friday, May 8, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
SESSION 3 | Breaking Episode Two - Part Two (2 hours)
Participants will continue breaking the episode, building off what was settled on in the previous session, and bringing new ideas to discuss and brainstorm.
When:
Tuesday, May 12, 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. PT (In the U.S.)
Wednesday, May 13, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
SESSION 4 | Breaking Episode Two - Part Three (2 hours)
You’ll finish breaking the episode and then have time to reflect on what worked and didn’t work throughout the process.
When:
Thursday, May 14, 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. PT (In the US)
Friday, May 15, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEST (In AUS)
ABOUT SAM LAYBOURNE
Writer/Producer
Sam Laybourne most recently worked as a Co-Executive Producer on the comedy DMV for CBS. Before that, he served as showrunner on Seasons 3 & 4 of Acapulco for Apple TV, where the show was nominated for a 2025 Critics Choice Award and awarded “Best Series” at the 4th Annual CCA Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television. Before running the international hit comedy, Sam was an executive producer on the musical drama, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist with Lionsgate for NBC. Sam has written for two Emmy-nominated shows, black-ish and Arrested Development, and he has worked in some great writers rooms over the years, including The Real O’Neals, Grandfathered, Cougar Town, Aliens in America and The Loop. Sam also had the insane privilege of working with Michael J. Fox as the co-creator and co-showrunner of The Michael J. Fox Show. In addition to working in TV, Sam has written features for Columbia, 20th Century Fox and Sony Screen Gems and has developed both half-hour and drama concepts for CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, Apple TV+ and Freeform.
Register for the room ($150USD)
Register to observe ($75USD)