Jonathan Hayman Writing for a Television Show

Most people know Jonathan Hayman as a writer for one of the hit televisions shows of all time, Seinfeld. If you are on the outside looking in, it may seem like an easy job. Write a few jokes, come up with a quick story line, enjoy all of the applause. However, there it takes so much more to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch.

Timing

Remember, as you watch a television show, it goes without saying that it isn't happening right then and there. Episodes are taped in advance of the season. In fact, there are times when an entire season will be filmed before the first one hits your television set. So imagine an episode and how long ago it was taped. Then remember that before they could film, the needed to have rehearsals. Before that, they needed to have a script to read. And before all of that, someone had to have an idea for a story line. You can see how someone like Jonathan Hayman might have a tendency to stay busy.

Levels of Writing

When it comes to shows on television, there are several different steps that go into putting an episode together. For most shows, an episode has to fit within the way things have been going throughout the season. While it may have its own story line and individual details, it still needs to fit in with everything else going on.

Once an idea is given, the specifics need to be worked out. What is going to happen? What characters are going to be present? How can it tie into the episode before and leave room for the next one? With Seinfeld, Jonathan Hayman needed to balance out the Jerry, George, and Elaine. Taking each characters personality, it is necessary to make sure that everything fits. Then, the script comes into play with dialogue added. Some scripts are set in stone and cannot be changed, however most need to adapt to changes that are decided on at any point in the process.

The Good and the Bad

Being a writer for Seinfeld, Jonathan Hayman learned firsthand about the ins and outs of the business. If the show is a success, the stars are given credit. When things go wrong, everyone looks to the writer. It is a difficult job that involves constantly multitasking and making sure that things are staying on track. As with most things in life, there is a deadline and there are no exceptions.

Many people find friendship with the individuals that they work with on a daily basis. Because so much time is spent together, they have a tendency to begin to think alike or be able to comfortably argue a difference in opinion. It requires interpersonal skills, strong writing skills, and with a show like Seinfeld, it was imperative to have a sense of humor. Jonathan Hayman was able to successfully balance everything, ensuring his place in Hollywood history.