3rd Annual TV Comedy Screenwriting Contest

THE WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW THE WINNER

TV comedies have never been more smart, diverse and laugh-out-loud funny. Managers, producers and development executives are on the hunt for the next ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, BARRY, or HACKS. Audiences love a good TV comedy - TED LASSO and ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING are successful for a reason! We’re here to give your TV comedy project that kind of success.

Last year, we set up our winner with 9 one-on-one meetings with industry pros currently working on TV comedy content. Our 10 finalists get amazing exposure too; last year’s finalists had their work requested by top production and management companies including Citizen Skull and Afterglow Pictures!

If you have a TV comedy story that needs to be told, now is the time to show us what you've got, because our goal is to amplify your voice, give you the access Stage 32 is known for, and take your writing career to the next level!

STAGE 32 CONTEST WINNERS & FINALISTS NOW WORK WITH:

Congratulations to our Winners!

Congratulations to our Finalists!

Congratulations to our Semifinalists!

Congratulations to our Quarterfinalists!

Our Grand Prize winner will:

• Be flown to LA for meetings (travel permitting) to meet with 9 top professionals currently working in the industry at companies like SONY, APA, THE CARTEL, and more with credits including THE CONNERS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, and THE DREW CAREY SHOW!
• Work with Stage 32 to develop your winning script’s pitch deck for the market
• Have your professional biography sent to an exclusive roster of over 30 agents and managers who have a First Look deal with Stage 32 and are actively looking for new clients and material
• Receive a free membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room, a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!
• Free access to Stage 32’s educational webinar library, which includes over 2,000 hours of content featuring top industry professionals
• Continued support from the Stage 32 team to help move your career forward and get you in front of decision makers!

ALL 10 Finalists will:

• Have your loglines presented to over 500 industry executives including literary managers, agents and producers in a Stage 32 lookbook. Past lookbook writers have been set up on meetings with and even signed with companies like 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA, APA, Art/Work Entertainment, Zero Gravity and more!
• Get a free month of membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room, a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!

Stage 32 will be a champion for your script - once you’re part of our community, we make sure you rise to the top!

Our TV Comedy Screenwriting Winners See Results

Stage 32 has launched the careers of hundreds of writers over the last 11 years. Stage 32 has quickly emerged as the leading source for industry executives to uncover new talent! Is this your year to move the needle on your career?

• Last year's winner, Hannah Rae Dillon, met with industry professionals from APA, Westbrook Studios, Cinemand, & more!
  

Hannah: "My experience with Stage 32 has been great! The exposure from winning the 2nd Annual TV Comedy Writing Contest for my pilot Beshert has been amazing. It’s wonderful meeting with the contest judges, who are all so encouraging, informative, and dynamic. The Stage 32 team continues to help me connect with industry professionals and champion my work! This gave me a much-needed boost."

• Last year’s finalists had their work requested by top production and management companies including Citizen Skull and Afterglow Pictures!

• Want to see some of our hundreds of success stories, click here!

Don't believe us? Let Comedy Screenwriting Contest Winner Jenny Rauch tell you why you should enter!

About the Exposure For Your Script

The Grand Prize Winner Will be Flown to Los Angeles to meet with:

GRAND JUROR

• Matt Ember, Producer/Writer (THE CONNERS, THE DREW CAREY SHOW)

JUDGES

• Jackie Wertheimer, Manager of Comedy Development, Sony (company credits include A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, THE AFTERPARTY)
  

• Sam Newman, Creative Executive, Semi-Formal Productions (THE DROPOUT, SEARCH PARTY)

• Ryan Noggle, Writer/Producer (THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MARLON)

• Andrew Kersey, Literary Manager, Kersey Management (client credits include VACATION FRIENDS, VARIETAL)

• Audrey Knox, TV Literary Manager, The Cartel (client credits include GROWN-ISH, HACKS)

• Alison Mann, Talent Manager and President, Fourth Wall Animation Production Co and Fourth Wall Management
  

• Rob Kutner, Writer/Producer (THE DAILY SHOW, CONAN)

• Joe Fronk, Agent, APA (LAST MAN ON EARTH)

• Tyler Straessle, Writer (THE GOOD PLACE, PARKS AND RECREATION)

• Ashley Henderson, Television Coordinator, Westbrook Studios (COBRA KAI, BEL AIR)

Judge’s Credits and Company Credits Include:

In addition to these meetings, the winner will also receive access to Stage 32’s Educational resources, be promoted on Stage 32’s social media, and have their professional biography sent to an exclusive roster of over 30 agents and managers hand picked by Stage 32 who are actively looking for new clients and material. Stage 32 will facilitate introductory meetings to any of the representatives who respond to your material and bio. This is the type of exposure that will change your career forever!

If you reach the Finals, you still get massive exposure to decision makers!

ALL FINALISTS will receive a FREE MONTH OF THE MEMBER'S ONLY STAGE 32 WRITERS' ROOM, an exclusive community of writers who gather online for inspiring and educational webcasts from top industry pros, and will be in a Stage 32 Lookbook which includes their script title, logline & bio mailed to over 400 industry executives including, managers, agents, producers, development executives, and financiers! Stage 32 Lookbooks are some of the most sought after talent resources for the industry and have helped secure meetings with places like Verve, Good Fear, 3 Arts, APA, Echo Lake, Amazon, UTA, CAA, WME, First Friday, Pathfinder, The Cartel, Art/Work and many, many more.

Important Dates to Be Aware Of

Super Early Bird Deadline: April 20th, 2023

Early Bird Deadline: May 10th, 2023

Regular Deadline: June 7th, 2023

Final Deadline: June 28th, 2023

Quarterfinalist Announcement: August 25th, 2023

Semifinalist Announcement: September 8th, 2023

Finalist Announcement: September 22nd, 2023

Winner Announcement: October 13th, 2023

Submission Options

Feedback & Resubmission Option

Would you like immediate feedback on your submission and the option to make changes and resubmit? Using our NEW Feedback & Resubmission Option you will get 3-5 pages of coverage/notes back in 5-days with a guaranteed option to resubmit one (1) revised draft of your script up to 10 days after the Final Deadline! See what elements of your script are working and what still needs to be developed. You can position yourself for the best chance of success - all for an additional fee of only $99. Please submit revised drafts to contests@stage32.com.

This option is good for a one-time use and is non-refundable/non-transferable if you do not enter an updated draft. See full terms in the Rules Section. The last day to submit new drafts is July 8th.

Feedback Option

We offer discounted coverage for $49.00. With this option, you will receive 1-2 pages of coverage/notes after the Quarterfinalist Announcement on August 25th. See full terms in the Rules Section.

Resubmission Option

We offer the option to resubmit a new draft of your script later in the contest for $39.00. You only have until the Final Deadline on June 28th to submit a new draft. You cannot submit a new draft after the reading process has commenced or after any announcements have been made.

If you have any questions regarding this contest, check out frequently asked questions here.

Matt Ember (Grand Juror) - Writer/Producer,

Matt Ember is writer/producer who got his start writing for television in the 1990's. He wrote episodes for THE FAMILY MAN, STEP BY STEP, and HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS before turning to producing. He rose up the ranks of television producing on shows like THE WAYANS BROS, LUSH LIFE and THE DREW CAREY SHOW.

Matt returned to writing in the early 2000's, this time in comedy features. His first feature film, FAILURE TO LAUNCH, was a huge hit. The romantic comedy stars Matthew McConoughey and Sarah Jessica Parker, and is still a classic today. He followed it up with another smash, GET SMART, an action-comedy feature based on the classic television show. Stars Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway made the film an instant success.

Next, he wrote two animated features, EPIC and HOME. Matt returned to producing television in 2019 with THE CONNERS, a spinoff of ROSEANNE. He currently has two more features in production.

Jackie Wertheimer (Judge) - Manager of Comedy Development, Sony

Jackie Wertheimer is a Manager of Comedy Development at Sony. Prior to her time at Sony, Jackie worked in the Comedy Touring department at UTA. Jackie also worked at NBCUniversal in Scripted Content and in USA/Syfy Alternative Programs, Oxygen Network in Production and Operations, 3 Arts Entertainment, and CBS on the show THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

Sam Newman (Judge) - Creative Executive, Semi-Formal Productions

Sam Newman is currently a Creative Executive at Semi-Formal Productions. The company was co-founded by Michael Showalter and Jordana Mollick and signed a multi-year first-look film deal with Amazon MGM Studios in July 2024, following a previous long-term deal at Warner Media. 

During the past few years, Sam has had a role in the production of their award winning films and series, which include: the Emmy Award Winning series THE DROPOUT (Hulu), the two time Oscar Winning film THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE (Searchlight Pictures), the Oscar-nominated THE BIG SICK (Amazon), the Emmy-winning series GRACE & FRANKIE as well as SEARCH PARTY (Max) starring Alia Shawkat, THE SHRINK NEXT DOOR (Apple), I LOVE THAT FOR YOU (Showtime), SPOILER ALERT (Focus), the 2025-slated Paramount Plus podcast series adaptation HAPPY FACE, and more! Sam has worked with writers such as Elizabeth Merriwether, Sharon Horgan, Georgia Pritchett, Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Charles Rogers, Dan Savage and among others. As well as with producers Nina Jacobsen (THE HUNGER GAMES) and Christine Vachon (CAROL).

Sam started his career at ICM Partners, HBO, Color Force, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Killer Films and ABC.

Sam works across genres, formats and budget levels (and has worked on small indie films to features with budgets over $50 million). He enjoys championing up and coming voices with fresh perspectives and new stories to tell.

Ryan Noggle (Judge) - Writer/Producer, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON, THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Born and raised in Indiana, Ryan Noggle is a writer/producer/lyricist whose credits include stints at Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, CBS’s hit comedy The Neighborhood, starring Cedric the Entertainer, Netflix’s Marlon, starring Marlon Wayans, Nickelodeon, SYFY, and Dreamworks Animation. Ryan also served as the head writer of the CBS Sketch Comedy Showcase. Ryan recently completed writing his first full-length musical, currently being workshopped in New York.

Andrew Kersey (Judge) - Literary Manager, Kersey Management

Andrew Kersey is a Literary Manager working in feature film and television who's clients have worked with all of Hollywood’s major film studios and streamers. His amazing clients have sold pilots to or been staffed on TV series for ABC, FOX, NBC, Disney Channel, CW, Nickelodeon, and WGN America, to name a few. Clients have also appeared on Hollywood’s buzzy Young & Hungry List.

Recently, Amazon Studios bought his client’s action comedy spec NEVER TOO OLD TO DIE with Sylvester Stallone attached to star which was featured in Deadline. Thunder Road Pictures (JOHN WICK franchise) is producing another client’s project, SUSPENSION, and is now currently out to talent.

His clients previously wrote VACATION FRIENDS starring John Cena and Lil Rel was Hulu's biggest 3-day weekend opener for an original in the streamers history. A sequel, VACATION FRIENDS 2, was immediately fast-tracked.

Andrew sold his client sci-fi spec script, VARIETAL, to Universal with Mike De Luca, the Oscar-nominated producer behind THE SOCIAL NETWORK and the FIFTY SHADES OF GREY movies, producing! You can read more in The Hollywood Reporter here.

His clients have been represented by all the major talent agencies, including WME, CAA, UTA, Gersh, APA, and Paradigm. His clients’ projects have been packaged — and many sold — with such names as Sandra Bullock, The Rock, Lil Rel Howery, Chris Pratt, Anna Faris, Ice Cube, Sylvester Stallone, Zach Galifianakis, Maggie Q, and Adam Scott.

Andrew worked his way up through the industry, starting as a production company intern before working for the management and production powerhouse 3Arts Entertainment. He left 3Arts to get experience in development at a Universal production company, before starting his own management company, Kersey Management, in 2004.

In the film space, clients of Andrew’s literary management company have had projects distributed by IFC, Saban Films, Well Go USA Entertainment and Anchor Bay Films.

Audrey Knox (Judge) - Literary Manager, The Cartel

Audrey Knox is a TV literary manager at The Cartel - a management and production company. Audrey most recently staffed her client on the series SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, GINNY & GEORGIA, P-VALLEY, GROWN-ISH, HACKS, and UPSHAWS for Netflix.

Audrey recently signed a writer she met through a Stage 32 Script Service consultation. The writer's Feature project was produced by The Cartel -- CRUSHED, is currently available to watch on Tubi!

Audrey has a background in both scripted and unscripted television, on set, in production, and in writers’ rooms. Prior to joining The Cartel Audrey worked in development at WME and Lighthearted Entertainment and in the literary department at Gersh. In television Audrey’s worked in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation writer’s room and was the showrunner’s assistant for the hit Bravo show Millionaire Matchmaker.

 

Alison Mann - Co-President, Fourth Wall Animation

Alison Mann is the President of Fourth Wall Animation Production and also a talent manager. Before that, she was the Vice President of Creative & Strategy at Sony Pictures Animation. In her role, Mann manages the development and talent for the studio’s feature film, international, and series-based projects, collaborating with business affairs, recruiting, and the creative team to foster new relationships with key creatives within the animation industry.

 

As an artist, Mann always knew she wanted to work in animation. She began her career at Nickelodeon in the finance department as their recruiter/coordinator of talent relations. Through her almost two decades in the industry, she gained experience in TV, film, and gaming while working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Zynga, Disney Interactive, Paramount Pictures Animation,and Illumination Entertainment.

 

Mann is the co-founder of the BRIC Foundation, an organization set up to solve how to create new access points for women and people from underrepresented groups so they can excel at creative leadership and to enable culture change through engaging and empowering talent. She recently received the June Foray Award at the Annies.

 

As a creative and supporter of talent, Mann is passionate about storytelling and identifying and working with inspiring creators who can continue to elevate the animation industry.

 

Alison is specializes in animation Feature Film and TV scripts.

Rob Kutner (Judge and Mentor) - Writer/Producer, "CONAN", "THE DAILY SHOW"

Rob Kutner is an Emmy, Peabody, and Grammy Award-winning late night television writer who has worked on shows like CONAN and THE DAILY SHOW. Starting out as a writers’ assistant on DENNIS MILLER LIVE, Rob is also the author of the satirical end-of-times bestseller Apocalypse How: Turn the End Times into the Best of Times! and has written material for the Oscars, Emmys, Writers’ Guild Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Guys’ Choice Awards, and two White House Correspondents’ Dinners. Rob has spent the majority of his storied career operating and thriving in the world of late night television.

Joe Fronk (Judge) - Agent, Agency for the Performing Arts (APA)

Joe Fronk is an Agent at Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) representing Writers, Directors, and Talent in Film, Television, and New Media, including proud members of the D.G.A, W.G.A, P.G.A, SAG-AFTRA, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Previously, Joe was a manager at Island Park Entertainment where he set up the hour-long drama pitch Tinacious from writer Evette Vargas. Tinacious is set up MGM Television with Propagate Content, Rosario Dawson are set to Executive Produce alongside Marc Guggenheim, who will Executive Produce and Co-Showrun with Evette.

Joe began his career at UTA in departments including Motion Picture Talent, Literary, and Business Affairs. He left UTA for Chris Morgan Productions (CMP) at Universal as the assistant to writer/producer Chris Morgan, CMP’s VP of Production, and Director of Development.

In his time there, CMP sold four pilots in its first season of TV development, with CMP / Imagine’s “Gang Related” ordered to series for 20th Century Fox. Joe worked on set in production for the entire first season of "Gang Related" before continuing on to work in production on notable films including Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK, ANNABELLE, WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS and series including “Masters of Sex”, “Sons of Anarchy”, “Stalker” and “Kevin from Work.”

Fronk has also worked at the premium network EPIX for Head of Original Programming Jocelyn Diaz. The department's success contributed significantly to MGM’s $1 Billion acquisition of the network in March 2017 from previous joint venture partners Paramount / Viacom and Lionsgate.

 

Tyler Straessle (Judge) - Television Writer, PARKS & RECREATION, MASTER OF NONE, THE GOOD PLACE

Tyler Straessle is a television writer who specializes in TV Comedy. He started his career as an intern on THE DAILY SHOW, and then worked on the production staff of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES during its eighth season. While there, he developed a good relationship with showrunner Marc Cherry, who took Tyler on as his assistant on his next venture, DEVIOUS MAIDS. Tyler also worked in the writer's rooms of huge comedies like PARKS & RECREATION and MASTER OF NONE before landing a position on THE GOOD PLACE, where he stayed throughout its three-year run.

Ashley Henderson (Judge & Mentor) - Television Coordinator, Westbrook Studios

Ashley Henderson is the TV Coordinator at Westbrook Studios, a subsidiary of Westbrook Inc., the media company launched in 2019 by founders Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Miguel Melendez, and Ko Yada, focused on empowering artists to tell stories that connect the world. Led by Co-Presidents, Terence Carter (Television) and Jon Mone (Film).

Ashley recently made her transition into Television and formally was doubling as a Creative Executive at Busted Shark Productions, the company behind 2019 Toronto International Film Festival official selection BLACKBIRD starring Susan Sarandon and Kate Winslet, as well as, a Coordinator at The H Collective the producers behind BRIGHTBURN and THE PARTS YOU LOSE.

At Busted Shark Productions, she received an Associate Producer credit on the feature film WISH UPON directed by John R. Leonetti and starring Joey King & Ryan Phillippe. In addition, she will be receiving a Co-Producer credit on the upcoming film JOLT directed by Tanya Wexler and starring Kate Beckinsale and Stanley Tucci later in 2021.