TV Script question - existing shows and foreign writers

Google "US tv comedy pilot scripts" and there are quite a few places to get pdf's of pilots and other episodes for currently running shows.

As for the other part- don't know, sorry.

Here's how most shows work:

They have writing teams who produce almost all episodes. I say almost all because their contracts with the WGA require them to have two guest writers every season to do a script each. Those guest writers tend to be friends or even relatives of the producers or staff writers. In any event, they are almost always already working screenwriters. They are given a treatment of an upcoming episode of the show that has already been broken by the staff writers, then go away and write the script. They deliver the script, the staff writers tear it apart and rewrite it, and with luck it moves through production. The guest writer gets paid and gets some credit, the WGA obligations are met, and the writer's agent tries again to get the writer staffed on another show. It is very possible the writer wouldn't hear one word of their dialogue in their episode of the show.

If you're imagining there's someplace where you can send a spec script of a major show for consideration for production of an episode, well, no. Your best bet is to move to Los Angeles and get a job as a writer's assistant or somesuch. And do try to arrange to be a showrunner's cousin.

The answer is yes. You DO write a sample script - but you don't use it for the particular series.

If you're interested in writing comedy for instance, you might write a "How I Met Your Mother" script - half hour sitcom. But you DON'T submit it to that show as a writing sample. They won't look at it. You COULD submit it to another comedy show for a sample of how you write comedy and deal with existing characters.

What Kullervo says is mostly true. It's a pretty incestuous setup. Producers tend to work with folks they know and know well. To 'break in" to it, you need a manager or an agent who can submit your writing sample. So you already have to be 'established' as a writer. Very very few shows will look at something over the transom.

Having said that - yes it has happened. But every week someone also wins the lottery. Just not me.

At the Austin Film Festival for instance, in the spec category - Dan Steele, 2010 Sitcom Teleplay Winner, was admitted into the Warner Bros. Workshop and is now a staffed writer on “Gossip Girl”.

Stephen Scaia and Matthew Federman, 2003 Drama Teleplay Winners, have been writing for TV since almost immediately after their trip to Austin in ’03. They have written on several shows since including CBS’ Judging Amy, ABC’s E-ring, and the entire run of Jericho.

I mention the Austin Film Festival, because I was just there last month, and sat in on a panel comprised of staff writers, who talked about how to break into the biz. Only one of them submitted a script specifically FOR the show she was currently writing on (South Park) and even she advised against sending a sample spec FOR the series.