Punching Up with Sean Conroy

I'm Sean. I'm a comedian and a writer. I've written TV for over twenty years, and comedianed for way longer than that- stand-up, sketch, improv, one-person shows, podcasts... If you want to learn to write a sitcom pilot, I'm gonna share some of the insights I wish I had when I was starting (maybe even all). I'm also gonna talk to lots of writers about career paths, comedy, and writing habits. We're gonna talk extensively about the craft of television writing, and of comedy writing in general. Performing, too. And the art! Comedy is an art! Check out the show. See you there.

Punching Up with Sean Conroy is a comedy podcast hosted by Sean Conroy, with 30 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sean Conroy hosts Punching Up with Sean Conroy, a comedy show with 30 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #12

  Michael Curtis Survives Friends and The Jonas Brothers

  Aug 19, 20261h 19mS2

  My old pal (and sitcom writer and producer) Michael Curtis ( Friends , Love, Inc. , JONAS , Phil of the Future ) sits down with me to break down television comedy. Michael shares some insider stories from writing on Friends during some of its peak seasons (I mean, they were ALL peak, right?), the fun of fixing scenes on the fly, and the real truth behind Billy Crystal and Robin Williams' famous guest spot. Plus, he tells us about the original JONAS pilot (which sounds very fun, and also insane), what it was like on The Joe Schmo Show ( how did I never know he was the head writer on that show? ) , essential writer's room etiquette (you have to live with these people), and life after Hollywood in Italy. I really think this one is a must-listen masterclass (like all of them).

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  Episode #11

  Win An Emmy, Get Canceled: The Curse of the One-Season Wonder

  Aug 14, 202624 minS2

  "Hey, you guys are great. Goodbye." That’s Hollywood, baby!. This week, I'm looking at some critically acclaimed one-season wonders. Starting with Emmy-winning Disney+ hit The Muppets Mayhem , I talk some screenwriting mechanics, discuss the difference between movie endings and TV series engines, and hmention. some truly great, memorable television shows that only lasted a single season. All worth a watch, but what are they? Listen and find out!

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  Punching Up with Sean Conroy

  Mark Hoffmeier Talks Bottle Shows, Spec Scripts, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

  Aug 5, 20261h 22m

  How do you survive for decades in Hollywood while writing for hit animation, live-action TV, and huge video game franchises? Mark Hoffmeier has credits that go back to the Stone Age (or at least The Flintstones). He’s worked on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers , Back to the Future , Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions , and lots of other fun stuff. We talk about what it takes to write effective spec scripts (and how nobody does that anymore, and why they should), how to stand out as a writer who’s budget-conscious (always an asset to a producer), what to do when you get crazy notes (sometimes it does happen, believe it or not), and why improv skills are a writer's ultimate secret weapon. We also get into some Jonathan Winters stuff, how writing dialogue for a video game is different from writing a TV script, and why Mark decided to write a novel. Enjoy!

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  Episode #9

  Kate Spencer: From The Dead Moms Club To Rom Coms

  Jul 28, 20261h 14mS2

  Author, podcaster, and UCB alum Kate Spencer joins me to talk about turning life’s toughest moments into art. We talk about her raw, funny memoir The Dead Moms Club, and how she pivoted from that to romance novels (that happen to be funny). Kate explains how long-form improv principles help her writing process. We get into the disgusting messiness of draft revisions, overcoming creative self-doubt, managing ADHD, and shifting your definition of success away from external metrics. Plus, Kate’s choicest red carpet celebrity encounters, morning creative routines, and why showing up for an audience of one matters just as much as an audience of thousands (which, if you get that, you’re doing great).

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  Episode #8

  Bad Exposition, Bad Accents, & Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

  Jul 19, 202616 minS2

  Writing is like the gym, the dentist, or peanut butter—it’s all about consistency. But what happens on those days you have absolutely nothing left in the tank (like, um, today)? This week I get into the unglamorous side of the creative process (hopefully someday I will reach the glamorous side), from surviving my bad week, to some questionable exposition choices in Netflix’s I Will Find You , to the online controversy surrounding Alice & Steve . I also answer a question I kind of bailed on at my workshop last week (not really on purpose, just time crunch, but still: bad workshopper, bad workshopper) about where I get my ideas. And where does anybody? Want to learn directly from me? Sign up for my weekly dispatch, The Second Draft , at https://seanconroy.com to get details on my upcoming free writing workshops!

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