Slashing dramedies/comedies

[agnosticmantis.livejournal.com]

Last night I was watching something, it could've been just the tvguide channel for all I remember and the guy said something like "Remember when comedies were just funny? Where did those days go? I blame you, Alan Alda!" It was really funny. So I don't slash MASH, (yet?!) while I've loved the show and its characters forever, but I do slash the two cops on Monk have friends who slash Hogan's Heroes, and I even know of friends who've talked about slashing characters on Northern Exposure and Trapper John MD! Would anyone be interested in talking about the differences between slashing dramas/science fiction shows and slashing comedies or dramedies. I slashed a drama for years and am now finding out how different it is to slash a dramedy. I think it's harder to slash a dramedy. It's just as hot, but there are things about it that are more difficult.

AM

Comments

[that_mireille]

I'm curious. What do you think is more difficult? I primarily slash sf/fantasy genre-type dramas, but I've written a lot of due South slash (which definitely has a lot of comedic elements), and I'm currently writing a fair bit of Sports Night--and I've written a bit of M*A*S*H slash, as well. Every fandom I write in has its own set of challenges (and also things that are easier to write than in other fandoms). I hadn't really noticed a difference in my own writing, and while I'm not arguing with your experience, I'm curious as to what I'm overlooking. :)

[jaybee-bug.livejournal.com]

*grin* I used to watch Monk. Pretty funny show. Which two cops have you slashed? The boss and his bumbling underling? (sorry, it's been a while, I forget the names)

I have yet to write MASH fanfiction, period, actually. That's why I'm usually quiet here. ^_^' All the shows I've written fanfic on are dramas. I've always been intimidated at the notion of writing fanfic for comedies. All that snappy dialogue and quipping, and the kicky pace, well, seems like something that would take work to really get down pat. I must admit, when I first heard about fanfic for MASH (the notion had never occured to me before, I simply never thought about it), I was shocked and frightened. Heh. I thought, "No! That is NOT the kind of show you can write fanfic on! Gah! It's got to be TERRIBLE!" Of course, I was later proven wrong. But that initial reluctance is still part of me I think-- I've never felt the urge to write any MASH fic yet.

Dramedies

[agnosticmantis.livejournal.com]

I write on Monk for the captain and his lieutenant. The lieutenant character is not as well drawn a character as the other three (Monk, Captain Stottlemeyer and Natalie). My friend who also writes Monk says he is the "-edy" in the dramedy of Monk. The writing of that character is really inconsistent. I used to write Starsky/Hutch. We had a decent timeline, we knew the characters, what they would do, how they'd react.

In Monk with these two, they rely on one another and work well together one week, then the next, one of my pair is shown as being just comic relief. I'm working on a longer story now where I'm trying to show him as being mature and responsible and sexy. I am going off of the eps where he was like that on the show! There are some fans of the show who don't like that character because of eps where he's shown as being bumbling, and they can only remember his being like that. I don't off-hand recall anyone on MASH like that. It's the inconsistent writing that bugs me. They don't pay attention to timeline (Halloween was two-three eps before Columbus Day), little things like that. If you take stuff like that into consideration for fanfic, you want to refer back to episodes, then readers will try and call you on it. What do you do?

I'm guessing it would be a little like writing Hawkeye/Radar. The real meat is written about Hawkeye/BJ or Trapper. There just isn't enough about Radar or Klinger. But also, they serve a different purpose on the show. The main relationship on the show, in a way is Hawkeye and BJ or Trapper. It isn't him with Radar or Klinger. If you see the slash with him and Radar, what's a slasher to do? ;) That's my problem. Most people in MonkSlash write Monk and the police captain. The writers spend lots of time fostering that relationship.

I don't know if dramas are that inconsistent these days too. Anyway, it's that one of my pair is comic relief and inconsistent. They put all the good stuff, the angst and real relationship stuff in the main characters. It's tough. I see the slash in those two. Can't help it. Ha!

Thanks - hope this does not post twice,
AM

Re: Dramedies

[jaybee-bug.livejournal.com]

*nods* Writing a romantic pairing with the more minor characters is always more difficult. The minor characters, whether they're used as comedic foil, an exposition foil, or any other reason, get the short end of the stick. They're being used to make the major characters look good, to push along the plot, or whatever. A good show can balance the characters out and have more of an "ensemble" type cast rather than a few "stars" with their supporting minor characters. . .IMHO. But the "major/minor" character style is still often used on shows, it seems. Which means there always will be characters who are less consistent, get less characterization, less screen time, less everything, basically. They are there for the writer's convenience only, to be "used" for the sake of the plot and major characters. :oP

But, such a style can show up in both dramas and comedies. And dramadies. I guess straight (no pun intended) dramas TEND to use the ensemble style more often, and comedies/dramadies TEND to use the major/minor style more often, though it's by no means a hard-fast rule.

I seriously commend you for writing a more difficult slash pairing, though. Those often end up being way more fun anyway. ^_^

Re: Dramedies

[sarcasticsra]

Haha! This is why I need to read previous comments before commenting myself. *facepalm*

Most people in MonkSlash write Monk and the police captain. The writers spend lots of time fostering that relationship.

Actually, I was under the impression that Monk and Randy were more often slashed. Of course, I'm mostly on the outskirts of this fandom, so I wouldn't know for sure.

The thing about Randy is that I like him because he's bumbling. ^^ It's not that he can't be intelligent, (I mean, he got to be lieutenant somehow, right?) I just think he's jealous of Monk, and in his effort to be just as good as him, he screws up. He wants to be that awesome and to have Stottlemeyer say so, what with the "you're the man" ep. Poor Randy. I love him. *hugs Randy*

I think Hawkeye/Radar is a good comparison! Sometimes it seems like Randy just has this hopeless crush on Stottlemeyer. However, he's older, and not as innocent, so it's less squicky to me.

[sarcasticsra]

but I do slash the two cops on Monk

OMFG, yes. Please tell me it's Disher/Stottlemeyer? I loooooooooove that pairing so much. And if it is... where can I find your stories?

Thanks!

[agnosticmantis.livejournal.com]

You made my day! I've written some vignettes, or ummm, maybe 90% wrote some, but am now working on my first full story. Stottlemeyer/Disher is my OTP in MonkSlash. Not sure if it'll go into a zine or online. Nothing posted/printed up until now. We have a fledgling LJ where there are a few nice short pieces.

There is more of other pairings out there, it's true. But I'm cheering for more S/D. I would love to simultaneously finish my little pieces, but not sure I can do it all at once. I'm editor shopping for the longer piece. I'd written Starsky/Hutch forever and S/D is only my second fandom! Just a riot! Could hardly be more different. Many of my friends have many fandoms. I'm sure I have some MASH slash friends. The fic on this LJ is fantastic!

Thanks again,
AM

Re: Thanks!

[sarcasticsra]

Wow, only your second? I've got so many fandoms. Perhaps this is why I am slightly wary of writing something for Monk - I don't know if I need another fandom, haha.

I'm in a variety of fandoms, some RPS and some fictional, and I mostly write slash. I agree - the fic on this comm is fantastic. There are some awesome writers around here.

Anyway, glad I could make your day. ^^ I like making people's days. xD

[subluxate]

I write mainly MASH, Law & Order (the original), Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit, and House. I'll occasionally take on another show or two, but those four get most of my attention. There's a definite difference between writing for either L&O and MASH or House. L&O, especially the original, lacks character development. It's a plot-driven show, and that gives me room to play with the characters a little more. That, though, also makes it much more difficult to stay in character on those shows.

House is similar to MASH in its character development, but is generally more dramatic. I find House much more difficult to write than MASH, but that's largely because there's only one season to work with. I don't see one as harder to slash than the other--Wilson and House flirt like mad, as did Hawkeye with nearly everyone.

The hardest show to slash that I regularly write is the original Law & Order. That's based purely on small looks, gestures, and tones. SVU has Munch and Fin, which is a nearly canon couple, House has House and Wilson (or Chase and House, or Chase and Foreman, whichever you prefer), and MASH has Hawkeye and almost anyone. L&O has a few leers from a few characters, and that's about it. Again, though, I don't think that's because of the genre--it's because of the style of the show.