Screenwriting : Some Input Please by Jessie Bernard

Lawyer.

Proctologist.

Uncaring = funeral director Jaded = councillor Or unemployed mathematician that settle for anything else than $200k a year and can tell you statistically why.

Stand up comedian, like Seinfeld and Louie

My man :) .... here's some input to ponder: who's the most interesting person you know?

Gynecologist?

Rob Petrie probably had the coolest job on a TV sitcom - he was the head writer of a comedy-variety show, and he got to work with Buddy, Sally, Mel and Alan Brady. As an added bonus, he was married to Laura. That was some great life.

Failing business...anything Former success story - trying to come back - Any job

Junk man? I love , Sanford and Son. Now days, Manny.

Professional cat walker.

Jorge - Sanford and Son was adapted from Steptoe and Son, which was an English sitcom. I don't know if you ever listened to any of Redd Foxx's old comedy albums, but man...he made guys like Eddie Murphy and Andrew Dice Clay sound like choir boys. He popped into a Chicago comedy club one night back in the 80's and did an impromptu 15 minutes or so....and absolutely killed everyone. He was and always will be The King of Blue. RIP, Redd Foxx.

You might as well jump on the software engineer/developer train while it's still somewhat fresh. But you gotta learn the craft, the jargon (if you don't already know).

Failed TV Comedy Writer ... that's never been done before ... :)

Their career with be connected to who they are as a character and what you are exploring. When you meet someone for the first time, one of the very first questions is: "What do you do for a living?" - our jobs are one of the important elements that define us. So only you know the answer to this because only you know your character and what this sitcom will be about.

librarian, artist of some kind, realtor, property manager, professor of something obscure, homeschooler, etsy crafter, (brainstorming randomly here from Shawn's comment...). I also find people are most interesting by their hobbies. I might meet someone who seems practical and straight-laced at first and then learn that they do stunt kite-flying, or build tiny boats or doll houses, play live dnd, welding or carpentry, part of a motorcycle gang, big band singer, musical theater work, frisbee golfer, juicing and health, refurbish furniture, indian pole gymnastics, etc.

Bill: Thanks for that little info / back-story on Red Fox. William: You gave the poster, the best answer, in my humble opinion.

William gave a great answer! In terms of building your story in a sitcom, it seems to me that one question to ask is: will this job be driving the franchise of the series, or not? If it's driving the franchise, it needs to be something that allows for stories to be told in it's context - think Will's job at the law firm in Will and Grace, or the guys' gigs as researchers in The Big Bang Theory. If not, then I suppose it matters more as a punchline than anything else (think Chandler's job as a numbers-cruncher in the early seasons of Friends, for example).

Or how about the show about nothing? Seinfeld? Two Broke Girls is another example.

what Matt said.

Sorry, I thought you were looking to bat around fun brainstorming ideas. I have so many, I don't worry about throwing them out there and helping a fellow writer. Would love to have those kinds of collaborative convos. I didn't realize you might be looking for conceptualized writing tips. Either way, hope it's helping you develop fun ideas!

Telemarketer at a major performing arts institution. Works at night phoning to raise money but is supporting himself till his big break as a screenwriter. Then one night while phoning a wealthy Park Avenue Donor to Carnegie Hall, who also happens to be a Hollywood producer, he gets his big break. Also the show could be built around other employees that do the telemarketing gig to support their art. You could have an ensemble cast. For Example: An Actor, Singer, Musician, Dancer, Ballerina, Comedian. The show could be called "Carnegie Call" Get it! Play on the words Carnegie Hall. Now that I think about it It could also work as a comedy feature. Each of the ensemble cast getting their big breaks. This is typical of the life of a New York Performing artist. In the old days the 'Day Gig' was driving a cab or waiting tables. But this could be a very different spin. I like it. After all I am a screenwriter or trying to be one because I only have (2) copyrighted scripts so far. And even though I am the 3rd generation of a New York Show Business family of Actors, Musicians, Composers and Comedians. I have still not made any $$ at this yet. But I have only been at it since August,2014. But I do write everyday. Getting back to your original query, I think "Carnegie Call" could be a sit com if you get someone to write the funny. Someone who has worked there since 1998 and has an intimate knowledge of the day to day operations of the Carnegie Hall telefundraising call center. Wait a minute that's me. Maybe I should write this and cast you. Oh well, Good luck

A ex gang banger turned Criminal defense lawyer, funny new defendent cameos every episode.

I never like in some sitcoms/comedy half hours that they show people who have jobs where they don't actually have to do anything. I mean, I get work is boring so why show it on-screen, but it just...irks me. Give them a mundane job, show it as mundane. Perfect example would be Chandler from FRIENDS. Super boring job in a boring environment, but the character makes the job fun to watch because he's the one doing it.

@Anne Pariseau I was just looking to bat around some ideas ,but you know there always has to be someone who can't resist veering from the question and giving some sort of "faux pro tip". You answered my question perfectly and a number of other people, too. Thank you all!

Defense Lawyer.

The eight characters of comedy by Scott Sedita is a must read for comedy, used by many in the industry as a basic guide! AN ABSOLUTE MUST. On Amazon

The obvious: Scriptwriter

Read Scott Sedita’s 8 Characters of Comedy: a staple for comedy writers & actors for people in the industry! Truly

I’m not sure I really understand the question. Characters in sitcoms can of course have any careers you want. I can think of great sitcoms with characters working in admin advertising, as market traders, vicars, soldiers, comedians, lorry driver, policeman, car salesman, indeed just about any career that’s out there.

Brooklyn hipster with trust fund

A homeless lawyer.

Double life living priest of multiple religions.

B.V Jottsonne Like it! I particularly like those trust fund babies, who have just enough from the trust that they don't have to work, but not enough to be rich.

English murder mystery right? No one notices the mail carrier as a human because it's routine and escapes mental attention. Or the butler actually did do it. Or someone who takes who cleans toilets and tosses trash out - in a top secret facility and steals secrets mixed in with the trash, then [something interesting] happens...

Professional beggar.

A foley artist...

His favorite line would be "that sounds great"

Engineer, Financial Consultant, Artist, CEO, Therapist, I hope these help out a little.

Owner of the greatest underground club chains in a major city (eg: L.A.)

I remember one of the creators of Taxi talking about how the best sitcom location is one with lots of doors. He meant that as being a excuse you can get to brings in lots of new characters.

I am from England. Over here there is a drive for working class comedy. if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. we have all just been dragged through hell because of this virus. People don't wanna see anything of the privileged right now. people need to see things on the screen that they can feel a genuine connection with and experience lives of character's that are sharing similar experience's to those of their own. if laughter can be incorporated into that you have a winner. If i were to write a sit com id make my character something like a bin man or a delivery guy. That way not only will people relate to the struggles of daily life, but you are also opening your character to meeting lots of different people from the same community.

how about a Youtuber

In a comedy, a clumsy Homer Simpson who works at a nuclear power plant.

A low-level office job has some advantages. There is little manual labor and it's easy to give the impression the character is lazy. The concept of a character scheming, rather than working, to get ahead goes back at least as far as "The Honeymooners". This is an American perspective.

Maybe match the career with the character's personality, interests, or hobbies.

Sometimes a boring office/average job makes a contrast with a funny/quirky character, as their shenanigans wil feel more out of place and therefore easier to laugh at. For instance The Office has this as its main premise. Chandler Bing from Friends works well in this environment because everyone walks in suits and talks numbers while he tries to find out why people think he's not heterosexual.

Mike Schur has a knack for surrounding himself with ensembles who have simple, accessible professions (blue collar paper company employees, small town parks and rec department, philosophy professor + wannabe DJ ...+ Arizona boozehound who actually can't hold down a job) but characters that are these huge outlandish things. I say dare to simplify and mundane-ify the career choices, but make the characters themselves sing despite their mundane day-to-day.

I believe that any career can be great for characters in a TV sitcom. As every human can relate to authentic life and characters.

Maybe your character's looking for that great job but doesn't have one yet.

How about a college's sports information director? His or her interaction with administrators, coaches and athletes in various sports, print and broadcast media, alumni, etc., provide possibilities for plenty of good (and funny) stories.