The Management Secret That Makes SNL’s Chaotic Writers Room Succeed - Fast Company
Pictured: (l-r) Gilda Radner, Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels during the ‘Restaurant’ skit on November 4, 1978. BY CHARLES DUHIGG You’ve been invited to join one of two teams of comedy writers working on a TV show. The first group, Team A, is composed of exceptionally smart comedians. They’re polite and courteous to each other, and they take turns speaking. No one interrupts. When another person veers off topic and starts telling a funny story, a colleague gently reminds him to focus on the script, then steers the conversation back on track. The team is efficient. The meeting ends exactly when scheduled. The second group, Team B, is evenly divided between successful writers and young comedians who’ve never worked on a television show before. Teammates jump in and out of the discussion haphazardly. Some ramble, others bring up half-formed ideas. They all talk so much that it’s sometimes hard to follow the conversation. When a team member abruptly changes the topic and starts telling a funn
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