Staples and Paper Cuts

This week in my TV writing class we learned about "staple scenes". They're those scenes you know in your favorite show that you can count on--a familiar location, a familiar moment. Examples include:

HOUSE--the scenes at the whiteboard, where they rattle off symptoms that move us to the (usually incorrect) treatment for some multi-syllabic illness. Or the scene in most episodes where we go inside the patient via CGI.

BOSTON LEGAL--the scenes at the end of each episode where Alan and Denny sit on the patio having a cocktail and flirting. Honest to god, gayer moments than any WILL & GRACE.

24--Jack Bauer suffers a setback and has a hissy fit, yelling "NOOOOOOOOOOOO". We take bets around my house on when this is going to happen. I've never lost.

In sitcoms, the teacher suggested that most scenes are staple scenes, as the format dictates that the majority of the action takes place in a familiar location with our core characters.

MY NAME IS EARL--The scene in each episode where Earl realizes he needs to cross someone off his list. Haven't watched in a while, so not sure if they still do that, but it was very formulaic in the first couple of seasons.

UGLY BETTY--The scene in each episode where Amanda and Mark say something snarky about Betty's weight, status or appearance.

Some shows are harder to peg. For instance, I'm loving JOURNEYMAN, and find it already has a formula (Jack is in the middle of taking out the trash when he's pulled back through time) but don't know if I could call that a staple scene yet. Or take, THE SHIELD. There are familiar places, but the always-on-edge vibe has made it hard to pick that formulaic moment like Doogie Howser wrapping each episode by writing in his blog.

If you think hard about your favorite program, I'm sure you'll come up with more.

Meanwhile, we read another 10 pages of my House script in class. Overall positive feedback, though my teacher correctly called me out on taking my time in the first act.

I'm at page 20 and still have to finish the "up" note cliffhanger going into commercials. I'm torn about whether to cut or push forward, but believe I need to get the story finished before going back to edit. Otherwise, I'll be one of those guys with a perfect 20 pages of a never-finished script. So I send the perfectionist inside me to sit quietly while he screams to go back and do it right.

Meh.