Showrunner Rules from Jeffrey Lieber: Numbers 161–170

Jeff Lieber is a screenwriter and TV writer. His movie credits include Tuck Everlasting and he is currently an executive producer of the USA Network series “Necessary Roughness.” On Twitter (@JeffLieber), he has run a series of tweets called Showrunner Rules. For background on Jeff and this Twitter series, go here.

Today: Numbers 161–170:

Showrunner Rule #161 (1 of 2): Shows shot in 6 months often take place over 1 year, which is when ugly reality of SEASONS rears its head…

Showrunner Rule #161 (2 of 2): …location has one weather/show world another, so crew places fake fall trees outside location windows. #oy

Showrunner Rule #162: Start positive notes calls by pimping NAME of episode writer. Easy for staff to get overlooked in fog of production.

Showrunner Rule #163 (1 of 2): Unless you’re incredibly lucky/unlucky this show will not be your last, therefore every cast/crew member…

Showrunner Rule #163 (2 of 2): …is both an ally now & discovery for future adventures. Treasures of last show are 1st call for next one.

Showrunner Rule #164: Casting is ‘nother chance to improve script. Actor dynamic/persona can add/refine/improve character that’s on page.

Showrunner Rule #165: 93% of TV puking fails to elicit intended feeling. Fun to type “She blows chunks” but actual blowing mostly gets cut.

Showrunner Rule #166: Crew sees 6 7/8 page day as doable. Maybe not so with 7 1/8. Formatting changes can get day made based on moral alone.

Showrunner Rule #167: Weekend w/ less than 1 cut to note + 1 script/outline = WINNING! Weekend w/ more = something will become the shatty.

Showrunner Rule #168 (1 of 2): Best relationships between Exec/Writer are when former IDENTIFIES problem and trusts latter to SOLVE it…

Showrunner Rule #168 (2 of 2): …worst relationship is when Exec DEMANDS their solution & Writer INCAPABLE of discovering solutions on own.

Showrunner Rule #169: Learn to — What? Yes, I’ll take the call. OK, learn to — No, Act 3. Learn to think QUICKLY, because you’ll be interu —

Showrunner Rule #170: BA’ll ALWAYS insist there’s no time 2 get work visa 4 foreign actor. If Ugandan is best & ya got 2 wks, roll the dice.

Here is Jeff’s bio:

One day in 1986, after blowing up a glass beaker in a lab in high school, Jeffrey Lieber’s science teacher, Dr. Nagoi, turned to him and said, “Jeffrey… you be an actor… you be a writer… maybe have a family… but please, dear God, don’t be a chemist.” And it was those words that launched a journey that has ended up with Mr. Lieber becoming a screenwriter, showrunner, blogger, father and husband (Credits? Go here). Every day, while pursuing his passions, Mr. Lieber takes a moment to stop and thank Dr. Nagoi for his sage advice.

We can look for more Showrunner Rules from Jeff in the weeks and months to come. You can follow them live on Twitter (@JeffLieber) as Jeff rolls them out. Then with every group of ten, I’ll post them here and add them to the archives.

For all of the Showrunner Rules, go here.