With season 2 of “You’re the Worst” wrapping up on Wednesday, 10:30pm PT, showrunner Stephen Falk chatted about his experiences writing and directing for the show during a conference call on Monday. Falk praised the net for a fluid collaboration. “I think that [FX] is the best network for someone like me.” Having worked at Netflix, he explained how the hands-off approach of some SVOD services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon can be overwhelming for writers. “Some [network] guidance is great,” he said.

A graduate of NYU with a BFA in acting, Falk—who came to LA to start a theater company—said that his theater background has informed his writing. “[Playwriting] is sort of how I got into writing in the first place,” he said. An overlap exists between TV writers and playwrights, many of whom are TV writers just to make ends meet, he said. So it’s important for all of his actors to have a theater background. “It’s part snobbery,” he admitted.

But Falk’s “snobbery” evades the writers’ room where he and You’re the Worst writers strive to deliver raw, honest comedy. The show follows a long-form storytelling format in which the entire season follows one narrative. While Falk’s aware that this may be a disadvantage to new viewers, he’s confident that there is “enough standalone stuff that’s funny.” He also touched on the show’s highly-specific pop culture references, which may escape some viewers. “I’m aware that those kind of references can often not be evergreen, but at the same time, my belief is that the more specific you get in building your world, the more universal you can be.”

You’re the Worst has been green-lit for a season 3. The showrunner was careful to laud not only the writers, but also the actors. He praised them for their ability to deliver subtlety. “I’m excited to get back into the writers room in January. I think we’ve learned a lot about what the network has tolerance for, what the audience has appetite and intellectual capacity for, and I’ve certainly learned—even though I already knew—how I can stretch the actors and writers in surprising directions. I think the landscape is wide open.”

The Daily

Subscribe
Friday–December 13

State of DEI: NAMIC, AIM Analyze Workforce Representation

At a time when investments in DEI efforts are being questioned, NAMIC is checking in to remind the industry of the tangible change these initiatives are making.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Apr 16
Cablefax 100 Awards Nominations Open November 13th, 2024.
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.