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What is the difference between a “spec script” and a “spec pilot”? (TV Writing 101)

What is the difference between a “spec script” and a “spec pilot”? (TV Writing 101)

I’ve been getting a few questions relating to “what is a spec script”, so here goes…

In its basic definition, a “spec script” is a screenplay written on “speculation” (that someone out there will want it). In other words, a script written out of the volition of its writer—without any kind of deal or monetary compensation in place.

Although similarly uncompensated, a spec script in television specifically refers to a “sample episode“. The goal of the TV spec script is to showcase your writing abilities.

If you are an aspiring drama writer, then you might write (for example) a Mad Men spec script. Your goal will therefore be to show that:
a) you can write a compelling, novel story; and
b) you can write within the Mad Men parameters, i.e. mimic an episode of the show.
That means that you need to write with the same format/structure as the show (e.g. four acts), and also be able to channel the showrunner’s (Matthew Weiner’s) “voice”.

In recent years, spec pilots have overtaken spec scripts in terms of what executives and showrunners want to read for new hires. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write sample episode spec scripts!
Even outside of the TV writing fellowships, they are amazing exercises. In fact, your TV writing career will primarily be about your ability to write for a showrunner.

You can learn more about the “dos and donts” of writing TV spec scripts by checking: “Ten Spec Writing Rules (and why you should care)”

Spec pilots are a sub-division of spec scripts. Much like their counterparts, they are written unsolicited. They are here, once again, to show that you can write. This time though, with you own original well-executed ideas.

Note that spec pilot scripts should not be written in the hopes of getting produced. There’s only been a handful of TV spec pilots being made. One of those famously being Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men. He was already established as a TV writer when he AMC bought it. He had used his Mad Men spec pilot as a writing sample to get on The Sopranos. And now others spec his show. The circle is complete.

Drama Spec Script 2013 – What is hot and what is not

Drama Spec Script 2013 – What is hot and what is not


UPDATED:
A brand new 2019 list has been posted.
Click here to access it.

Like every year, it is now time to review which TV shows are good to spec, and which are not.
Dedicated posts will be made respectively for the best comedies (half-hour) and the best dramas (one-hour).
As the title says, this post is all about the dramas.
In addition, you’ll also find (when available) a script for the corresponding show.
Canceled or dead shows have been removed since last season’s spec list.

NOTE:
Given Warner Bros’ new rules for their fellowship, I have indicated with an asterisk (*) series that they will not accept specs for (mainly first-season shows).

Let’s do another quick recap of how the list works:
The shows are divided into five categories regarding their appeal to readers and how well they are known/read:
– Over-specced (shows that have passed their prime, try to avoid doing them)
– Mainstream (shows that have matured enough that they have become on-the-nose speccers–and a lot of people are speccing them)
– Wild Cards (soon, everyone will spec those, maybe you can get a head start)
– Outsiders (specs that will get you out from the pack)
– Gamblers (risky shows that could pay off, or bomb)

There is also a grade regarding the show’s longevity in relation to its speccability.
Meaning, how long can you keep your spec script fresh without having to throw it in the trash?
To do this, we will use the greatest grading system on Earth; stars:
★★★★★ – Excellent
★★★★★ – Very Good
★★★★★ – Average
★★★★★ – Fair
★★★★★ – Poor

And here we go.

Over-Specced

Re-tool your spec if you have one, but you probably shouldn’t bother beginning a new one for these shows.

Bones/Castle (FOX/ABC)
Type: Light police procedural
They’re not the most popular choices for specs, however the length of the shows calls for a category reassessment.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – They may continue for decades on end (doubtful), but there are so many mystery twists one can handle.

Breaking Bad (AMC)
Type: Serialized character/family drama
Shoulda gone with it when it was not almost over.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Everything breaks loose this season.

Burn Notice (USA)
Type: Light action procedural
Tic-toc…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …the final season is coming up.

CSI/Criminal Minds (CBS)
Type: Police procedurals
Lol.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’ll outlast all of us probably.

Dexter (Sho)
Type: Serialized crime drama
After eight years, it’s tough to keep this one fresh.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Season 8 is (finally?) the final season.

Glee (FOX)
Type: Light serialized high-school dramedy
Glee was one of the hotest specs when it first premiere, and although the heat has died down a lot, the overflood of specs cries out for originality.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s difficult to keep up to date with the show when the relationships are like musical chairs.

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Type: Medical procedural
The last of the medical mohicans.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – No.

Mad Men (AMC)
Type: Serialized historical drama
For the longest time, Mad Men was the top-dog when it came to fancy drama specs. No longer worth it.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Probably only has another season left in it.

The Mentalist (CBS)
Type: Police procedural
The momentum has shifted for this 5-year old show.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – There won’t be massive changes in the show, but who’s to say when your case will be done.

True Blood (HBO)
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
By this point, the show has become too repetitive.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – With Alan Ball gone, who the hell knows how many seasons will keep stagnating.

The Walking Dead (AMC)
Type: Ensemble/horror drama
Probably the most shocking displacement this season, The Walking Dead has been a very hot spec since the first episode aired. And that was three season ago. Crafting a brand-new Walking spec may prove, well, unoriginal. Time to make room for fresh blood.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The recent changes in the show proved that it is finally starting to follow the comics a little bit more. In other words, massive cast changes ahead.

Mainstream

The current and new widespread shows in town that are getting read.

Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Type: Serialized historical drama
Who doesn’t love those eyes?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – New faces, but still going strong.

Game of Thrones (HBO) *
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
This is one tough show to spec. Either you’re rehashing the books (not really original), or you go out of the story too much.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Difficult to predict, unless you’ve read the books.

Grimm (NBC)
Type: Fantasy procedural
The little show that could. One of the only genre shows still on network TV (let alone NBC), Grimm has been slowly working its way up.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s one of NBC’s most solid shows, surprising considering it’s on Friday

The Good Wife (CBS)
Type: Legal procedural
The lack of running storylines this past year has allowed for a renewed focus on “cases of the week.”
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Constantly on the bubble.

Hart of Dixie (The CW)
Type: Serialized medical/family drama
Not that specced, but new enough that storylines can be told.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Careful with the soapy aspect.

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)
Type: Police/Action procedural
There are two go-to action procedural specs. This is number one.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Insert story, add action.

Homeland (Sho)
Type: Serialized thriller
Clearly in its prime. The show has now become the spec front-runner, now that both Mad Men and Breaking Bad are leaving us.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Watch out with Brody’s future. You never know what season 3 will be like.

Justified (FX)
Type: Police procedural
Another hot police spec, with a more dramatic twist than the rest. Definitely a fan-fave.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Keep up the good work.

NCIS:LA (CBS)
Type: Police/Action procedural
There are two go-to action procedural specs. This is number two.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s a spin-off on CBS. What could possibly go wrong?

Nikita (The CW)
Type: Action/spy procedural
Like most of the network’s series, Nikita is not that widely specced, which is ironic considering it’s…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …one of CW’s only watched show.

Once Upon A Time (ABC)
Type: Fantasy family drama
The show has succesfully reinvented at least twice over, with the third time coming up this fall.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Dwindling in the ratings, but a spin-off on the way.

Parenthood (NBC)
Type: Serialized family drama
The classic family drama spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – NBC isn’t giving up so “soon.”

Person of Interest (CBS)
Type: Crime procedural
Yet another CBS procedural, although this one has a twist to it. And successful enough to actually be a one of the most specced shows around.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s still a procedural.

Revenge (ABC)
Type: Serialized family drama
Creative shift in the second season meant a different storyline.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – How long can they sustain these character arcs?

Scandal (ABC)
Type: Serialized political drama
Shonda Rhimes’ latest shows pulled the rare feat of increasing viewership during its second season run. The phenomenon is growing by the day.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – If Rhimes’ previous shows are any indication, ABC is going to keep this one up for a while. Careful with the serialization though.

Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Type: Serialized ensemble drama
Critical darling that, like its brother in arms (Justified), is fairly popular.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Can you keep up?

Suits (USA)
Type: Light legal procedural
Suits is the unsung hero of USA, and a fast-rising spec choice.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – When has USA canceled anything that went beyond a first season?

The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
Replace True Blood with The Vampire Diaries. Boom.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – So. Many. Changes.

White Collar (USA)
Type: Light crime procedural
Hey, look, USA has another popular spec choice. And also underrated.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – So many twists and turns, it’s very hard to follow. Or not.

Wild Cards

Not quite fully widespread but will get there given the chance.

American Horror Story (FX) *
Type: Serialized horror
One of the hardest shows to spec as storylines constantly change.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – New theme every year, but an FX success.

The Americans (FX) *
Type: Serialized thriller
If you love period shows with a more political bend, this might be the jackpot.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s serialized.

Arrow/Beauty & The Beast (The CW) *
Type: Action/Fantasy procedural
Chances are you can dust off that old Smallville spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Why would CW cancel anything?

Elementary (CBS)*
Type: Police procedural
The new procedural kid on the CBS block.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – CBS’ biggest hit isn’t going anywhere.

The Following (FOX) *
Type: Serialized police procedural
Kevin Bacon is on TV!
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Who knows how long FOX will keep this “limited series.”

Nashville (ABC) *
Type: Musical/Family drama
Well-received, stars Connie Britton, and contains music. What’s not to love?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Despite a strong open, it ended up spending much of its season as a bubble show. Fortunately, it’s still considered a success for ABC.

Revolution (NBC) *
Type: Serialized post-apocalyptic family drama
Its very, very slow mythology reveals may be a good thing for your spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – NBC has a hit?


Outsiders

The shows (mostly cable) you may be tempted to take a risk on, getting you on top of the reading pile. Beyond that, it depends on the willingness of the reader and his/her knowledge of the show. Who knows, maybe the showrunner is into less popular shows and will value your risk-taking.

Bates Motel (A&E) *
Type: Serialized family drama/horror
Who knew a Psycho prequel could be a decent show?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – A&E may wanna keep one of its most popular series.

Being Human (Syfy)
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
Take a look at its UK counterpart for some inspiration.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s Syfy, so who knows how long the show has.

House of Cards (Netflix) *
Type: Serialized political thriller
Pretty tough to spec for Kevin Spacey (and a serialized political drama), but you can always try it out.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Netflix’s major production may not last past a second season.

The Killing (AMC)
Type: Serialized police drama
The cop drama without a pay-off may actually be a good spec choice.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Back from the dead. But for how long?

Royal Pains (USA)
Type: Light medical drama
Another USA show that could work very well on spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It got the rare double-renewal last September.

Gamblers

For one reason or another, these are much riskier specs to do right now. You have been warned.

Chicago Fire (NBC) *
Type: Serialized drama
It’s not Rescue Me, but it’s…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …another (!) NBC success.

Covert Affairs (USA)
Type: Action procedural
4th USA show on this list. You better believe it.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Not the most well-known USA show, and often on the bubble.

Dallas/Major Crimes (TNT) *
Type: Serialized family drama
Two different shows on the same network. They’re not that well-seen (and therefore read) however.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Could be difficult to create new spec stories for old concepts.

Defiance (Syfy) *
Type: Science-fiction procedural
Syfy has a sci-fi show? Shocker. Great mythology and the small-town procedural aspect, although annoying as a viewer, may work great for a spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It just got renewed.

Forty-seven shows are listed this time around. As always, a few things can be noted.

First off, nearly half of the listed shows are brand-new ones from this past season. Although network dramas came back in force last year, the aging cable dramas have left their spots to brand new forays, including Netflix and A&E. In other words, the network’s turf is still slowly being eaten away by new territories.
With a few surprise hits, NBC is back on the board with 3 shows, while CBS continues to be the classic procedural king. The big shocker in the list is FOX’s near-absence (save for a dwindling musical and a limited series). USA meanwhile is gaining momentum with 4 dramas on the list, over-taking, of all networks, HBO.

Serialization is slowly starting to take a step back with procedurals back at the forefront of this year. The increasing popularity of speccing serialized shows from the get-go (e.g. Walking Dead or Homeland) has put a strain on the type (there are only so many popular series of the kind).
First and second-season series continue to be fairly popular. It looks like fresh is still considered the best for most people.

This leads to a continuing question from last year: Are people aiming for “throwable specs” that barely last a full seasons? The focus being still on original pilots. Only time will tell.

Show your voice, write original, and make your choice.

Click here for the Comedy Spec Script list.

What is the best UK show no one knows about?

What is the best UK show no one knows about?

In the past few years, British series (first comedies and then dramas) have become increasingly popular in the US. From poor US adaptations (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery) to broadcasting the original (on PBS or BBC America), the American public is recognizing that there may be TV quality beyond its borders. Yet, with limited (legal?) access to the wide variety of British dramas out there, most of the quality programming from across the pond still has a niche audience.
So what are you missing out on?
This post is based on little-known shows that have yet to be broadcast on American screens (with one exception). That means that, no, Sherlock is not gonna be on this list. Neither are Luther or Downton Abbey. In addition, this is only about current UK series, so no House of Cards or Coupling.

Special mentions:
The Hour (by Abi Morgan)
Sadly canceled earlier this week, the show still has two good seasons behind it. It stars Dominic West, Ben Whishaw and Romola Garai and is set in the mid-1950s at the BBC (around the Suez Crisis).
It is true that the first season was broadcast very recently on BBC America (and the second is co-produced by them), but despite this, the show remains fairly unknown at large.
Some are describing it as the UK version of Mad Men, which I can understand if only for the time-frame of the series. Beyond the 1950s angle though, I feel the stories are usually more engrossing than its American counterpart, but maybe that’s the setting. I’m a fan of any show that can handle TV production in a topical manner while still maintaining some level of objectivity. Honestly, you should probably give up Newsroom for The Hour.
Sorry Sorkin.

Mr. Selfridge (by Andrew Davies)
Coming back from a long break due to–let’s just say mercury poisoning, Jeremy Piven stars in his first British drama.
The show is already being compared as “the new Downton Abbey,” which, beyond its period aspect, is ridiculous.
Newsflash: any serial will have some soapy element to it (like all the shows on this list), especially one set in a novelesque period like the early 20th century.
The show follows Piven as Harry Gordon Selfridge, an American commonly known in the UK for having founded the Selfridges department store. It is interesting to see the actor in something a little different from what he’s recently been known for (either Entourage or Old School). To be fair however, Selfridge is kind of the 1900s version of Ari Gold. Maybe this is some kind of parallel universe spin-off.

Cuckoo (by Robin French & Kieron Quirke)
Let’s put a comedy in the mix. Once again, the cast speaks for itself: Greg Davies (from Inbetweeners fame), Helen Baxendale (Emily from Friends) and, wait for it, SNL‘s Andy Samberg as an obnoxious American. That’s right, Samberg is shedding his Lonely Island skin to jump in something actually fresh. The pitch is very simple: Set in the West Midlands of England, the parents of a teenager learn that she got married to a hippy-like American. Although a fun comedy, I have the same issues with the series as with FX’s Wildfred. I can enjoy the humor behind the concept as well as some of the comedy, but it does get tiring after a few episodes. Unlike Wilfred, the show has only six episodes so one can easily finish the season.

Dancing on the Edge (by Stephen Poliakoff)
Here’s the third period drama on this list. I sense a trend.
Before talking about the show, let me just list the cast:
Chiwetel Ejiofor. Matthew Goode. John Goodman.
Anthony (ex-Stewart) Head. Jacqueline Bisset. *mic drop*
That alone should make you want to tune it to, at least, the pilot.
The show focuses on “a black jazz band in the aristocratic world of 1930s London.” It may not sound like the most compelling logline ever, but the grandiose of the time and engrossing plotlines pull you in (plus, again, superb cast). I widely prefer it to the latest season(s) of Downton Abbey (sorry, I’m not that interested in Bates’ prison routine).

At this point, I also wanted to give a nod to a few UK dramas from the past couple of years that have since ended, but should still be recognized for their quality.

The Shadow Line (by Hugo Blick)
First I need to acknowledge an awesome 2011 British mini-series by Hugo Blick, also featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor. The show stars on top of that Christopher Eccleston, Rafe Spall, Stephen Rea and Richard Lintern. Pretty solid casting if you ask me.
Since I’m lazy, I’ll just quote Wikipedia as to the show’s description: “The Shadow Line is about a murder investigated by both sides of the line – police and criminals – and the opposing methods they use to solve it. But the real line is the morality within each character and how far they will go before they cross it”
Sounds like The Departed/Internal Affairs. It kind of is, but with seven episodes, you can guess that it goes deeper (not like Inception). It opens on a murder, and from there everything goes to shit. Shadow Line goes dark with pretty much no redemptive value for its characters (no white knight here). You’ll probably end up hating (or at like dislike) most, if not all of the people, but the story is so engrossing that it does not matter in the end.

Inside Men (by Tony Basgallop)
This mini-series came and went with four episodes starring Warren Brown, Ashley Walters and Steven Mackintosh (who looks like a British Dylan Walsh). Like anyone who knows me can tell you, I like structure, especially when it is played with successfully. Inside Men pulls the trick of telling a fairly classic story (armed robbery) in a very interesting way: flashbacks and flashforwards. Yes, I do enjoy my time jumps and flashes. In this case, it works really well as beyond simply witnessing the robbery itself (which legitimately should not last more than an episode or two anyways), we go through the events that lead up to it, as well as the aftermath (going months after). For such a short series (again, four episodes), Inside Men was very entertaining. Warning: the ending may disappoint some people (I was).

There you have it.
Almost.
There’s one more show.
*anticlimactic drum roll*

And the best UK show no one knows about is…

Black Mirror (by Charlie Brooker)
[Alright, alright. I’ve been talking about this show for the past two years now, so you probably already know about it. Doesn’t matter because, despite my incessant need to mention this show, most people have no idea what I’m talking about. Plus it is legitimately (one of?) the best show on this list.]
So, what is Black Mirror?
Simply put, it’s an anthology series. Like all good UK series, a “season” is only made out of three episodes (albeit 1-hour instead of 90-minute movies like Sherlock).
As soon as you mention anthology series, The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits are brought up. You can calm your excitement because Black Mirror has virtually nothing to do with either. Although Twilight Zone/Outer Limits (and even Tales from the Crypt) were structured around some kind of moral wrapped in a (literally) fantastical metaphorical tale, Black Mirror is more about the unease in our current modern life.
I probably lost half of you with that sentence, but it’s way more interesting than it sounds.
Black Mirror oftentimes likes to take one aspect (or problem) of our technological culture/future and turn it up to eleven. The most obvious example is undoubtedly “The Entire History of You,” the third episode of the first season, which takes the concept of life-logging to its extreme. In a future where everyone has an implant capable of recording every sight & sound one experiences, a man goes crazy trying to figure out if his fiancée is cheating on him (by reliving memories).
Surprisingly, Robert Downey Jr. optioned this particular episode and is planning to make a feature version of it. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the idea simply because it’s rarely a good idea to beef up a novella into a full novel. On top of that, I think the 2002 movie The Final Cut did a brilliant job of turning a similar concept into a thriller piece.
Going back to Black Mirror.
The first episode of the second season premiere this past week. Unlike the first season, the show doesn’t seem to go in as bleak a direction. As Charlie Brooker said:

We’re trying something slightly different. I didn’t want them to all just be bleakly depressing. One of them doesn’t have that much dread in it, and one of them has more dread than you’ve ever seen, so we’ve portioned out the dread in slightly different quantities! Last time there was always a point where someone smashes everything up in a rage, and they don’t all reach that point this time around. A couple of them are slightly more delicate, and then there’s one that’s a right old fist in the face.

I’m personally very interested to see what this very, very bleak episode is going to be like.
In addition to using “near-future” tech in pretty much the most realistic portrayal I’ve seen on TV, Black Mirror is truly about characters. The most successfully emotional scenes are the ones with only two characters interacting, bare bones. It may sound ridiculous to think that such a high-concept series is that good, but Charlie Brooker and his writers are excellent at capitalizing true human emotions and real drama out of preposterous concepts (I can’t bring myself to pitch you the first episode).
This is the ultimate example of the oft-repeated adage: ‘It’s all about the execution.’
That is why Black Mirror is the best UK show currently on TV.